BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — With new opportunities for workforce training, increased enrollment and the potential for national recognition, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) is experiencing a time of growth.
New workforce training opportunities
MGCCC President Dr. Mary Graham said part of a community college’s value is that it provides training for all levels of the workforce.
“We train teachers, doctors. We train welders, you know, process technicians, diesel mechanics,” she said. “Our goal is always to try to provide for the workforce and make sure we’re training in relevant areas.”
One of MGCCC’s newest training programs is for artificial intelligence.
Graham said, upon recognizing the technology’s economic potential five or six years ago, the school began developing opportunities for students to engage with and learn about the AI sector.
While MGCCC is the lead on the grant, the initiative, known as the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network, is for community colleges, universities and other education partners across the state.
“We have partnered with Intel, with Dell, with Accelerate Mississippi. The governor’s been very generous in support of our initiative. We’re working with K-12 to teach them to use it, but also to create this ecosystem in Mississippi where we can invite economic development. We’ll have a workforce ready to utilize that technology,” she said.
Enrollment
With new workforce training comes the potential for higher enrollment numbers.
Graham said MGCCC’s fall enrollment numbers are up 7 percent, following a summer session that also saw an increase in enrollment. The increases come at a time when enrollment rates were projected to drop because of a dip in birth rates during the Great Recession nearly 20 years ago.
MGCCC adjusted its recruitment strategies toward high school and adult students to account for the dip.
“The enrollment cliff is a real thing nationally. We’re working with the high schools in our district to make sure that those students have the opportunity to complete college work and to potentially get their associate’s degree while still in high school. We’re also working with military. We’re working with adult students to make sure that we are giving an opportunity,” Graham said.
Aspen Award finalist
MGCCC is one of 10 finalists for the Aspen Award, a national award given to one of more than 1,200 community colleges in the U.S.
“We’re more than excited, as you can imagine. One may compare this to the Heisman. Okay. That’s my analogy. But we’re excited,” Graham said.
Judging is based on outcomes, retention, transferability and graduation rates.
“If a community college is doing what it’s built to do, these are things that matter. And so we’ll know in April. They’ll come for a visit this fall.”
With a $1 million prize on the line, Graham said the school would use the money for scholarships or enhancing the campuses in MGCCC’s system.
One of the criteria, transferability, is an area of success for MGCCC, she said.
“We have great partnerships with Mississippi State, with the University of Southern Miss. Actually, we have partnerships with over 16 different universities for our students to transfer.”
Graham said when those partnerships are formed, MGCCC works to ensure guaranteed transitions, with built-in scholarships.
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