13 February Campus forestry efforts earn ICC national recognition February 13, 2026 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Itawamba Community College has been named a 2026 Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of its commitment to campus tree care and environmental stewardship. The national designation honors colleges and universities that meet five core standards, including maintaining a campus tree advisory committee, implementing a tree care plan, investing dedicated funds in tree management, observing Arbor Day and engaging students in service-learning projects focused on trees. The effort was spearheaded by Emily Loden Jones, Forestry Technology Program director, with assistance from John Wayne Harris, director of Physical Plant Operations; Jerry Hodge, Fulton Campus grounds supervisor; the Office of the President; Clay Hinds, forestry technology student; and Michael Crab, outreach officer for the Mississippi Forestry Commission. President Dr. Jay Allen said the recognition reflects ICC’s commitment to preserving and enhancing the natural spaces that make the institutions locations so special. By earning the designation, ICC joins institutions nationwide that prioritize sustainable campus forestry and hands-on environmental education. Related Articles ICC Respiratory Care Technology program earns national recognition Itawamba Community College’s Respiratory Care Technology program has been recognized for the second consecutive year by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care with the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award, a national honor that highlights programs demonstrating exceptional student achievement and outcomes. The award is part of CoARC’s ongoing effort to emphasize the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential as a benchmark of professional excellence. From an accreditation and outcomes perspective, the organization views RRT credential attainment as a key indicator of a program’s ability to prepare graduates for success and encourage them to reach their highest professional aspirations. Programs selected for this recognition must meet rigorous, objective criteria based on data reported in the 2025 Annual Report of Current Status. To qualify, programs must have at least three years of outcomes data, maintain full accreditation without the need for a progress report, achieve an RRT credentialing success rate of 90% or higher and meet or exceed established benchmarks for high cut scores on the Therapist Multiple-Choice exam and student retention. “This recognition speaks to the consistency, quality and commitment of our faculty and ... ICC's Forestry program, Student Activities to celebrate Arbor Day with special Feb. 13 ceremony Itawamba Community College’s Forestry Technology program and Student Activities will celebrate Arbor Day at 9 a.m., February 13, with a special ceremony on the Fulton Campus. The public is invited. “Thanks to the Mississippi Forestry Commission and Walton’s Greenhouse, three 15-gallon trees, including an Eastern Redbud, Chinese Fringetree and Sweet Bay Magnolia will be planted to replace those that have been removed because of weather damage or age,” said Emily Loden-Jones, Forestry Technology instructor. The event will be in front of a ceremonial tree of love, a large water oak in the courtyard area between the eLearning Building and Community Relations. Loden-Jones said that students, faculty, staff, alumni and Early Learning participants are invited to complete Valentine Day hearts including why they love ICC or if they met their sweethearts at the college, and they will be collected and hung on the tree. Those who attend from the community will have an opportunity to complete a heart onsite at the ceremony. “ICC is working toward achieving Tree Campus USA recognition with the Arbor Day Foundation,” Loden-Jones said. “A ... ICC alumnus Jason Dickinson returns to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student Itawamba Community College alumnus Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has returned to his alma mater to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. On July 1, Dickinson started his new job after spending 23 years working patrol and investigating. Dickinson said he applied because he wants to make a difference in the young lives of the students. Although he has never worked in the college environment, he wants to help or keep them on the right path and explain to them what a bad decision can bring. Dickinson earned two associate’s degrees from ICC, one in agribusiness and the other, in Law Enforcement Technology. “My first stint as a student was in 1993, and it was an adjustment straight out of a small high school. The best part was I met my wife of 25 years now in music appreciation class.” Dickinson’s second time as a student begin in 2015, when he enrolled to obtain a law enforcement degree. He was working full-time as an investigator with the Itawamba County Sheriff’s ... ICC's Dickinson elected Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association president Itawamba Community College Campus Police Chief Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has been elected president of the Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association for a two-year term. Dickinson returned to ICC in 2021 to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. He previously spent 23 years working patrol and investigating in such roles as chief of police, chief investigator, captain patrol, commander special operation group, sergeant patrol and patrol officer. A graduate of Mantachie High School, Dickinson earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in Agribusiness and Law Enforcement at ICC. He has received numerous honors during his career in law enforcement, including the youngest Chief of Police (Mantachie) in 1998-99. In addition, his career has included serving as Patrol Sergeant for the Baldwyn Police Department and Chief Investigator for the Itawamba County Sheriff’s office. Among his certifications, Dickinson has earned the full-time Law Enforcement Certificate and every state teaching certificate. He is a nationally certified Active Shooter instructor and K-9 handler and state-certified Criminal Investigator and SWAT Operator. Dickinson and his wife, Amanda, have ... Upcoming ICC Paralegal Technology celebration coincides with national commemoration Itawamba Community College’s Paralegal Technology program has scheduled a special celebration, Oct. 23 to coincide with the commemoration of a national event. Its 2024 National Paralegal Day Celebration from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Academic and Student Center lobby on the Tupelo Campus will enable participants to mix and mingle with area industry members, especially those in the profession and attorneys, as well as to learn more about ICC’s Paralegal Technology program and the paralegal profession, according to director Haley Carpenter. She has a variety of student stories to share regarding the importance of ICC’s Paralegal Technology program. “One student said that she and her mother experienced a hard time after her father died intestate (without a will). They worked with the probate court to settle his estate, and the process was confusing. She wanted to become a part of a legal team to ensure her clients that they would have an advocate in their corner.” Another student, who was the child of a bitter divorce and custody battle, wants to be a voice for the children and help ... Adult learners have opportunity to take advantage of C2C program at ICC Adult learners who haven’t completed work for a college degree can return to Itawamba Community College this fall and possibly take advantage of the Complete 2 Compete program. An initiative of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board, Complete 2 Compete concentrates on removing barriers that keep adult learners from returning to complete their degrees. Since its inception in 2017, the program assisted more than 2,100 former students in returning to complete their degrees, and more than 4,000 former students, who had not been enrolled in classes for more than two years, were enrolled on a fast path to degree completion. To date, 91 associate’s degrees have been awarded by Itawamba Community College through the C2C program, said Dr. Emily Tucker, ICC recruitment coordinator and adviser and liaison for the C2C program. ICC participants in the C2C program have received $539.344.76 in C2C grant money to date. Additional figures show that 349 total students have been enrolled through the C2C program, and 75 in 2021. Among ... Comments are closed.