MEETING HELD REGARDING 2011 COMMUNITY COLLEGES 11-08-2010

A REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING WAS HELD MONDAY AT THE GREENVILLE HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER TO PROMOTE A 2011 FISCAL AGENDA FOR THE STATE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES MEETING, HOSTED BY MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PRESENTED A FISCAL YEAR 2011 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO INVITED LEGISLATORS. DR. ERIC CLARK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES, WAS ALSO ON HAND. THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE SESSION WAS TO LET LEGISLATORS KNOW BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION JUST WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THE STATE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES. DR. CLYDE MUSE, PRESIDENT OF HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PRESENTED THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. CLARK ALSO OFFERED THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FULLY FUNDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IN THE STATE WHICH HAS GROWN BY ALMOST 54 PERCENT SINCE 2000. THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN PRESENTED HAS A PRICE TAG OF NEARLY $186-MILLION. FOLLOWING THE SESSION ATTENDED BY STAFF WITH MDCC AND COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LEGISLATORS, STUDENTS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM PROVIDED REFRESHMENTS THAT SHOWED OFF SOME OF THE SKILLS OF ONE OF MDCC'S MORE SUCCESSFUL CURRICULUM PROGRAMS.