11 October ICC among nation's best October 11, 2017 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Highlighting higher education attainment, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today named Itawamba Community College as one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation and the opportunity to compete for the significant Aspen Prize,” said President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College, its status as a premier community college and a testament to our exceptional faculty and staff.” The Aspen Institute also selected ICC as a top community college in 2015 and 2017 and a contender for the prize, which is awarded every two years. It is the nation’s signature commendation of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. With a singular focus on student success, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning; certificate and degree completion; employment and earnings; and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students. According to the Aspen Institute, higher education attainment has never been more important. Estimates from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce suggest that out of the 11.6 million jobs created in the post-recession economy, 11.5 million require at least some college education. The vast majority of students who enroll in community colleges do so because they believe that postsecondary education will provide them a path to rewarding work, stable employment and family-sustaining wages. The top 150 community colleges were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on student outcomes. Located in 39 states in urban, rural and suburban areas, serving as few as 300 students and as many as 95,000 students, these colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. ICC enrolls approximately 5,200 students each semester at its three locations, Fulton, Tupelo and Belden. “Especially in the current social and economic climate, it is exceptionally important that our nation’s community colleges develop the diverse talent needed to fuel democratic engagement, social mobility and economic opportunity and growth,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Through this competition we’re working to inspire other institutions across our country to ensure more students succeed in college and their lives beyond those campuses.” The top 10 finalists for the 2019 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2018. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data, including employment and earnings data. A distinguished prize jury will select a grand prize winner, finalists with distinction and rising star(s) in spring 2019. Related Articles BestColleges.com recognizes ICC as best in Mississippi and among nation's top 10 Itawamba Community College has been recognized as the best online community college in Mississippi and among the top 10 in the nation by BestColleges.com, a leading online resource for college planning and advice. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected the best in the state and among the best in the nation by BestColleges.com,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “Exceptional recognitions such as this are indications of the success of the College, its continuing status as a premier community college and a testament to our exceptional faculty and staff, without whom it would not be possible. Success breeds success, and our students and alumni are proof that the BEST start here.” This year, BestColleges.com revised its approach to school rankings, focusing on the most important factors that students consider in their college-decision making process,” according to information from Nicholas Linden, senior communications manager. The metrics were taken directly from its College Choice and Admission survey, reflecting the top preferences and priorities of students from across the country. In the 2023 College Choice and ... Paralegal program selected among nation's best Itawamba Community College’s Paralegal Technology program has been selected as one of the top online Paralegal degree programs in the nation by TheBestSchools.org. It achieved a ninth-place ranking among the top 25 Best Online Paralegal Associate Programs. ICC offers two degrees in paralegal studies: an online Associate of Applied Science degree in paralegal technology and an Associate of Arts degree in general studies with a paralegal studies emphasis. The two-year A.A.S. degree in paralegal technology includes coursework in legal research, family law and legal writing. Coursework in wills and estates, civil litigation, real property and family law introduces students to subsets of the legal field while providing information about legal principles and procedures, according to program director Jamie Hall. Students gain the analytical, communication, research and technical skills needed to work alongside legal professionals. The program also includes an internship during which students apply learned concepts. ICC’s online paralegal technology program prepares students for entry-level positions as paralegals and legal assistants in law firms, government agencies and businesses. Students can complete the 61-62 ... ICC selected among winners of Mississippi Business Journal's 2023 Best Places to Work in Mississippi Itawamba Community College has been selected among the winners of the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2023 Best Places to Work in Mississippi. ICC was a finalist in the large category, which includes businesses with 150 or more employees. “On behalf of our Itawamba Community College family, we appreciate this significant honor from the Mississippi Business Journal, which is a testament to how our employees see us,” said President Dr. Jay Allen. “At ICC, we are more than administrators, faculty and staff members. We are friends, and most importantly, we are family.” According to Mississippi Business Journal Publisher Tami Jones, “We are so pleased to have such great companies that set the example of a great place to work. It is even more exciting that this award comes from how the employees view their employers. What better way to gauge and interact with your employees and the success of your company?” ICC opened its doors, Sept. 1, 1948, and is celebrating its diamond anniversary. It is situated on what was once a cotton and corn field on a 100-acre parcel of ... OnlineU selects ICC as 2024 Best Online Community College in Mississippi for affordability Itawamba Community College has been selected the 2024 Best Online Community College in Mississippi for affordability by OnlineU. “Mississippi offers many online degrees through its network of online community colleges,” said representatives of OnlineU. “These online degrees combine convenience with strong academic standards while maintaining low tuition costs for budget-minded students.” ICC takes the top spot for its affordability with an annual tuition of $2,750, placing it among the most cost-effective schools in the country, according to OnlineU. Additional highlights of its selection of ICC included 99 percent of students receive financial aid support through federal loans or grants and a support system that helps in managing educational expenses effectively. Adding to its appeal, ICC enrolls over 1,323 online students, which is within the top 31 percent of schools offering popular online programs. “We are honored to be recognized by OnlineU as we strive each semester to teach our students the most relevant skills and provide the foundational knowledge that they will need to be successful as they either continue their educational journey or to enter the workforce,” said ... ICC ranks among state leaders in full-time enrollment increase Itawamba Community College ranks among the leaders in the state in full-time enrollment increase, according to figures released this week by the Mississippi Community College Board. With spring enrollment at 4,774 at the end of the 10-day reporting period, figures from spring 2024-spring 2025 show a 6.7 percent increase, which comes after a multi-year increase in both fall and spring enrollments. The continuing increase over the last two reporting periods can be attributed to multiple factors, according to ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. They include additional housing opportunities tailored to student needs, including the addition of Magnolia Hall, exclusively for student leaders, and reopening of both Sheffield and Monroe Halls with spaces designed to accommodate the ICC student of today as well as an enhanced emphasis on activities.” “This very exciting news demonstrates a collaborative effort between all areas of the college to allow for continued enrollment growth,” Allen said. “What the figures don’t show is that residence halls remain at a more than 95 percent capacity this spring. The increase in the number of students that ... ICC's Paralegal Technology program is in the nation's top 10 Itawamba Community College’s Paralegal Technology program has been selected as one of the top 10 online Paralegal degree programs in the nation by BestColleges. ICC offers two degrees in paralegal studies: an online Associate of Applied Science degree in paralegal technology and an Associate of Arts degree in general studies with a paralegal studies emphasis. The two-year A.A.S. degree in paralegal technology includes coursework in legal research, civil litigation and legal writing. Coursework in wills and estates, family law, torts and real property introduces students to subsets of the legal field while providing information about legal principles and procedures, according to program director Jamie Hall. Students gain the analytical, communication, research and technical skills needed to work alongside legal professionals. The program also includes an internship during which students apply learned concepts. ICC’s online paralegal technology program prepares students for entry-level positions as paralegals and legal assistants in law firms, government agencies and businesses. Students can complete the 61-62 hour credit program in two years. “ICC’s general studies associate degree with an emphasis ... Comments are closed.