MGCCC
named one of 100 best in U.S.
MISSISSIPPI
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com or mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
THE SUN HERALD
After reading this article, I contacted the, "Community College Week," and asked if the Sun Herald was accurate.
The below is there email:
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Mr. McCaleb,
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. The reporter's story is correct. The editor's headline, however -- "MGCCC named one of 100 best in U.S." -- makes a claim our annual list does not.
We "rank" colleges according to how many associate's degrees and certificates they award annually. That is, unlike the rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, et al., Community College Week's list is quantitative, not qualitative. We make no claims about whether colleges that produce more degrees are that much (or any) "better" than colleges which produce fewer degrees (by that logic, any large state college would be considered "better" than Harvard).
As for accessing the list online, here's the direct URL:
http://www.ccweek.com/top100/pdf/2003/assoc_alldisc.pdf
If you'd like more information about how the numbers and rankings are compiled, link to
http://www.ccweek.com/top100/index.asp
Regards,
Scott Cech
Editor
Community College Week
10520 Warwick Ave. Suite B-8
Fairfax, VA 22030
USA
www.CCWeek.com
scottc@cmabiccw.com
Phone: (703) 385-2981
Fax: (703) 385-1839
>>> <Mccaleb5thdist@aol.com> 06/27/03 01:45PM >>>
I read this article in my local newspaper but when I went to your web site I
could not confirm MGCCC standing at your web page.
Can you explain how I can find your article showing MGCCC in the top 100.
As you know Mississippi is 50 out of 50 in education, so I was surprised to
read this article.
Sincerely,
Steven A. McCaleb
Steven A. McCaleb
Posted on Fri, Jun. 27, 2003
MGCCC named one of 100 best in U.S.
By MELISSA M. SCALLAN
THE SUN HERALD
GULFPORT - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has been named one of the
top 100 community colleges in the nation.
GULFPORT - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has been named one of the top 100 community colleges in the nation.
The college was ranked No. 93 by Community College Week, a national industry newspaper that releases a top 100 list each year. This is the second year in a row that MGCCC has been named.
The list is based on the number of degrees and certifications awarded to students throughout the academic year. MGCCC is the only community college in the state to make this year's list.
"Full-time student enrollment has increased 26 percent since fall 2000 at Gulf Coast," said Willis Lott, president of MGCCC. "The college's showing in this national ranking reflects that growth and our commitment to helping students achieve their educational goals."
The community college also placed in the top 100 for the number of degrees given in various fields of study, including education, health and science and nursing.
The college's ranking is an indication of how important community colleges are to the area, said Wayne Stonecypher, executive director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.
"The Mississippi community college system is one of the oldest in the nation and the major higher education access point for the majority of our state's residents," he said. "It speaks well for the state and for MGCCC to achieve top 100 ranking from a field of more than 1,200 two-year community and technical colleges in the nation."
Nearly 10,000 students attend MGCCC, which has campuses in George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties.
MGCCC ranking
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was listed in the top 100 community colleges in the nation. Several of the school's degree programs also were listed in the top 100:
Overall ranking: No. 93
Degrees to education majors: No. 6
Degrees in health science/related fields: No. 16
Degrees in nursing: No. 18
Degrees to blacks: No. 32
- MGCCC
Melissa Scallan can be reached at 896-0541 or at mmscallan@sunherald.com.