ELLISVILLE – According to the Mississippi Community College Board’s statewide-enrollment report, Jones College had the most significant growth in student headcount since the Fall of 2011, with 4,995 students reporting on the 10th day of classes. The report shows Jones College had a 10.4 percent increase in student headcount from fall semester 2023 to 2024, compared to the state’s 14 other community colleges. Additionally, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Dr. Finèe Ruffin, said the report also shows Jones College had the highest semester credit hours in a fall term since the Fall of 2020.
“This achievement is a direct result of our dedicated faculty and staff, who are committed to providing exceptional experiences. By fostering a student-centered campus environment, we have been able to attract and retain students,” said Ruffin. “Our team has been relentless in exploring and implementing innovative strategies to promote growth. This year’s record-breaking enrollment is a testament to the effectiveness of our efforts. By focusing on initiatives that address the specific needs of our students, we are creating a more accessible pathway to educational and career success,” said Ruffin.
The largest increases in enrollment at 12.73 percent, are in the Career and Technical Education programs with 17 of the 31 CTE programs being completely full at Jones College. The biggest increase of all of the CTE programs at 26 percent can be found in the Industrial Services programs like welding, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, diesel mechanics and the utility lineman programs.
“We attribute a lot of this to the fact the spotlight has been on career and technical trades nationwide and the impact of the skills gap in this country and in the state. More people are seeing value in career and technical education and are enrolling in more programs,” said Vice President of Instruction, Rod Tolbert.
A lot more students are opting for career paths that have not traditionally been spotlighted nationally and are in demand according to Tolbert. Partnerships with our district high schools have also been instrumental in driving enrollment success stated Ruffin.
“Together, we have worked tirelessly to create innovative programs and streamline the transition from high school to college, making higher education more accessible to students from all backgrounds. We are grateful for the continued trust and support of our students, their families, and the community. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to providing a world-class education that prepares our graduates for success.”
The MCCB’s statewide enrollment report also shows that the statewide Community College system’s enrollment headcount average is up by 2.4 percent from fall 2023 with the total statewide enrollment headcount at 67,547 students enrolled. With increases in students, the Community College’s statewide average in the number of credit hours being taken from fall 2023 to now, is also up by 2.1 percent with 830,235 credit hours.
As more people are being trained for skilled jobs in addition to the increased number of academic courses completed, lifetime salaries are more likely to improve according to the Community College President’s findings in the Mississippi Community College Return on Investment Report in 2020.
Registration for the spring semester classes begins on October 1, at Jones College with classes beginning on Monday, January 13, 2025. The Spring 2025 Mississippi Virtual Community College online, eight-week short-term classes, and Dual Enrollment classes begin on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. For more information on enrolling in courses at Jones College click on the website and learn how to become a student, https://www.jcjc.edu/