In 1922, the Mississippi Legislature authorized the inclusion of college courses in agricultural high schools. In response to the needs of students in Jones County, the Jones County Agricultural High School (founded in 1911) Board of Trustees in 1927 adopted a resolution to “hereafter be known as Jones County Agricultural High School and Junior College.” The first 26 college students began their instruction in September 1927. The junior college district soon expanded to include seven additional counties: Clarke, Covington, Greene, Jasper, Perry, Smith, and Wayne. In 1957, Jones County Agricultural High School was separated from the junior college because of the reorganization plan for the public schools of the State of Mississippi.
Ellisville, the home of Jones County Junior College, is a city of approximately 4,567 residents (2016 estimates). Ellisville is located just off Interstate 59, eight miles south of Laurel and 20 miles north of Hattiesburg, about 100 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico in the southeastern portion of the State.
The climate is inviting, environmental conditions are good, and an excellent spirit of cooperation exists between the citizens of the community and the College.
Additionally, the College offers credit and non-credit classes at four learning centers within its eight-county district. They are the Clarke County Learning Center located in Stonewall, Greene County Learning Center located in Leakesville, the Jasper County Learning Center located in Bay Springs, and the Wayne County Learning Center located in Waynesboro.
During its history, Jones County Junior College has been led by five presidents including the current president, Dr. Jesse R. Smith, who assumed leadership in July 2006. The College is governed by a 20-member Board of Trustees.
President’s Leadership Team is comprised of the President and four Executive Vice Presidents: Chief Academic and Financial Officer; Chief Enrollment Management, Information Technology, and Marketing Officer, Vice President of Student Affairs and Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Athletics, Dean of Students.
The teaching faculty is integral to the health and educational productivity of Jones College. Primarily concerned with instruction aimed at the needs of individual students, instructors attend professional meetings, workshops and seminars, as well as enroll in graduate courses on a periodic basis in order to remain current with new methods and thought in their educational fields.
Profile by highest degree (N=179): Doctorate (16.2%); Masters+45 (7.8%); Masters+30 (7.8%); Masters+15 (8.4%); Masters (36.3%); Bachelors (7.3%); Certificate/AAS (16.2%).
Jones College consists of 390 acres of land including all the principal buildings and playing fields for the athletic programs. The President’s home is also located on the grounds.
The Terrell Tisdale Library is a 44,000 sq. ft. building opened in January 1987. The Library collection consists of over 54,000 items, 320 E-books, and access to an education streaming video collection. The online catalog is provided by Sirsi Corp.’s Unicorn Library Management System. Computers with Internet access enable the use of online databases and indexes. The Library also houses a coffee shop.
Everything we do at Jones College is WORKFORCE! The mission of Jones Online Workforce College is to cultivate an educational environment that allows individuals to customize their learning, work at their own pace, and obtain the credentials needed to secure employment in fields that are high-demand and high-paying. This is accomplished by engaging business and industry to development education and training that is innovative, on-demand, and easily accessible.
A varied program in intercollegiate and intramural athletics is offered throughout the academic year to provide for competitive athletic teams and educational experiences to develop physical, social, and academic skills as well as emotional well-being. Intercollegiate athletics is under the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Division and is an integral part of the total educational program. The JC Bobcats compete in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, and tennis under guidelines established by the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges, and the local JC Board of Trustees. JC cheerleading squad is nationally ranked. The intramural athletic program provides opportunities for students to participate in basketball, beach volleyball, disc golf (individual and team), dodge-ball, football, indoor volleyball, racquetball, soccer, softball, table tennis, tennis, and ultimate frisbee.
AY 2021 Degrees Awarded / Graduates
During the 2021 academic year, 1,333 degrees were awarded to 1,082 students. Degrees awarded are as follows: 625 (46.9%) Associate in Arts (AA) degrees awarded; 166 (12.5%) Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees awarded; 188 (14.1%) Technical Certificates; and 336 (25.2%) Career Certificates awarded.
SPRING 2022 HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT 4,057
Sixty-nine Mississippi counties (out of 82) and 17 states are represented by the Spring 2022 student body;
Top twelve counties in Mississippi contributing students in descending order are Jones, Forrest, Smith, Wayne, Jasper, Lamar, Greene, Covington, Clarke, Perry, Rankin, and Marion.
District Residency: In-District enrollment (8 county service area) is 66.8%; Out-of- District enrollment is 27.7%; Out-of-State enrollment is 5.4%; Out-of-Country/Not Reported is < 1.0%;