With the fall semester approaching, many students are taking advantage of East Mississippi Community College's new tuition guarantee program and school officials are expecting many more to do so.
"They are taking advantage," said EMCC Vice President of Finance Debbie Gard, noting students can register and participate in the inaugural program up until the semester starts, in the second week of August. "We're registering for fall already and we've had tremendous interest shown."
"The EMCC tuition guarantee program is an essential factor in today's economy in providing access to higher education for many students," said Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Dr. Del Phillips, noting about 42 percent of the Columbus High School Class of 2009 graduating seniors plans to take advantage of the "unique opportunity" presented by the program.
"It is removing barriers for students and their families, while encouraging students to pursue an advanced education," he added.
"East Mississippi Community College's tuition guarantee program has been well-received by the public, especially by parents who want to get the most for their education dollar, people who have been in doubt about whether they could afford to send their son or daughter to college," said EMCC President Dr. Rick Young. "In these trying economic times, the tuition guarantee program is removing some of the barriers that have prevented people from pursuing higher education."
The program covers the cost, minus federal and state aid and scholarships, for eligible students to attend EMCC for a maximum period of four consecutive semesters, excluding summers.
To be eligible, a student must be a resident of EMCC's six-county district, which includes Lowndes, Clay, Oktibbeha, Noxubee, Kemper and Lauderdale counties.
Additionally, a student must be a graduate of an accredited high school program in the EMCC district, must apply for all federal and state aid and applicable EMCC scholarships, must register as a full-time - with 12 or more semester credit hours - EMCC student in the fall following high school graduation, and must maintain a minimum of 12 semester credit hours each semester.
If enrollment drops below 12 semester credit hours each semester, the student will lose tuition guarantee funding and will be ineligible for the program.
To be eligible, a student also must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better.
Students who graduated prior to May, who transfer from other colleges, or who enroll in programs not approved for financial aid are not eligible for the tuition guarantee program.
EMCC will hold a series of financial aid workshops for students, during the weeks of June 23, June 30, July 9 and July 16.
"If you talk to students at EMCC graduation ceremonies, you find that many of them plan to attend four-year universities - Mississippi University for Women or Mississippi State University," said Young. "The tuition guarantee program makes all of that more possible by empowering and supporting a student's first educational step past the high school level.
"But whether students enter the work place after graduation from EMCC or go on to pursue bachelor's degrees, their futures are more secure; they have more options," he continued. "And the Golden Triangle area and its employers benefit from access to a stronger workforce. Those two things are really the long-term benefits of the tuition guarantee program."
Dr. Rick Young, his staff and the EMCC board continue to build EMCC into one of the strongest and greatest community college districts in the state. Job well done and I encourage everyone, younger and older, to take advantage of this program. You will get a quality education if you work at it.
But how about actually make sure the student athletes go to class and make their grades so when they leave EMCC they can survive. But I guess that athletics come before academics. We are talking about free money for education for the needy and students that participate in sports on scholarship. The money should be held accountable not only to the students that receive it but to the college officials that give it out. The same rules should apply to all students and student athletes. EMCC is a great 2yr community college but the Golden Triangle will always need highway trash picker-uppers. Make them go to class make the grades then they will be successful in life after EMCC by continuing their education first and athletics second. If they are adults make them act like adults, but the adults that are giving out the free money need to be held accountable. You won't pass if you don't go to class. EMCC admistration you make the rules then enforce the rules. The definition of maintain means do what is expected of you don't bend the rules for anybody whether they are students or student athletes. SCOOBA TECH 2009
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