Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has been named a 2015 Top 100 Associate Degree Producer by Community College Week.

Ranking 85th nationally, MGCCC was again the only community college in the state and surrounding states –Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee– to make the list.  The college has been on the list 12 times since 2002.

In individual category rankings for degrees produced, MGCCC was ninth in Engineering and Engineering-Related Fields; 12th in Family and Consumer Sciences, Human Sciences; 18th in Education; 18th in two-year certificates; 48th in African-American completers; and 61st in non-minority completers.

“Being named to the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers shows that MGCCC is dedicated to ensuring our students complete their degrees,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president.  “This is a significant accomplishment for any college, and it is a testament to our commitment to educating and training students and to our students’ success.”

Earlier this summer, the Mississippi Community College Board reported that MGCCC led the state in academic and technical degrees awarded during the 2014-2015 academic year, awarding almost 16 percent of the associate degrees and 19 percent of the associate of applied science degrees.  MGCCC also contributed 27 percent of the certificates and diplomas awarded in the state.

The state leader in workforce training, MGCCC is responsible for almost 70 percent of the workforce development in its four-county district.  The average gain in individual compensation after receiving workforce training at MGCCC is almost $3,000 annually.  Additionally, the college trained 16,685 workers at more than 2,000 training events and placed 700 workers in welding and shipfitting jobs along the Gulf Coast this past year.

While enrollment headcount numbers were slightly down for fall 2015 semester, Dr. Jason Pugh, vice president of Teaching & Learning/Student Services/Community Campus, said that MGCCC’s full-time equivalency (FTE) count has remained consistent. FTE is what funding is based on in the state.

Pugh said, “As a result of MGCCC recently providing the opportunity for students to take 15-21 semester credit hours under a single pricing model and the many advantages of the community college for both full-time and part-time students, the college’s FTE count has remained consistent even though head counts have dropped this term. This signifies a continued educational value to citizens in South Mississippi and that MGCCC continues to serve its students at a high level.”

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