12 August ICC launches new academic year with ‘Accelerating Excellence’ Convocation August 12, 2026 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Itawamba Community College employees gathered Wednesday at the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center on the Fulton Campus for Convocation 2026, officially launching the new academic year under the theme “Accelerating Excellence.” The annual event brought together full-time employees from across ICC’s Fulton, Tupelo and Belden locations for a morning focused on institutional progress, collaboration and the College’s path forward. ICC President Dr. Jay Allen delivered his annual State of the College address, highlighting accomplishments from across the institution and recognizing the employees whose work continues to strengthen the student experience. He also reflected on the impact of last year’s “The Power of One” theme and challenged employees to build upon that momentum. “Excellence is not a destination we reach and then maintain without effort,” Allen said. “It requires us to keep moving forward, remain focused on our students and never become complacent with past success. ICC has tremendous momentum, and it is our responsibility to accelerate it.” Allen also emphasized ICC’s commitment to thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence into teaching, learning and College operations. Dr. Michelle Clouse, vice president of instruction, provided employees with additional information about the steps ICC is taking to prepare faculty, staff and students to use emerging technologies responsibly and effectively. Mike Mooney served as the keynote speaker and shared lessons from his experience in motorsports, communications and leadership. His remarks reinforced the importance of preparation, trust, adaptability and the collective effort required for an organization to perform at a high level. “Success on a racetrack is never the work of one person, and the same is true at ICC,” Allen said. “Every employee has a role in helping our students succeed. When we understand our purpose, trust one another and work toward the same goal, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.” Convocation also included opportunities for employees to reconnect with colleagues, participate in interactive activities and learn more about community and institutional initiatives. The program marked the beginning of ICC’s 2026-27 academic year and concluded with a charge for employees to honor the College’s tradition of excellence while continuing to pursue new opportunities for innovation, growth and student success. For more information about Itawamba Community College, visit www.iccms.edu. Related Articles ICC launches partnership with TimelyMD to connect faculty, staff, students with mental and physical health resources Itawamba Community College has launched a partnership with TimelyMD to connect full-time faculty and currently-enrolled students to the support and resources in both mental and physical health they need to succeed. TimelyCare provides on-demand 24/7 service that offers virtual health and well-being to currently-enrolled students and full-time faculty and staff for free, according to Dr. Brad Boggs, vice president of Student Services, including mental and emotional support, health literacy guidance and crisis management by masters-level behavioral health professionals. “It also provides a dedicated phone line for full-time faculty and staff to reach the TimelyCare team for guidance and support in cases of student distress.” Those covered may choose the visit modality that works best for them - video, phone or video chat. The simple, flexible scheduling enables students to choose their provider, day and time as well as cancel a visit and select the next available time that works best for them. Also, students can choose to add a parent, translator or even an adviser to the conversation. According to TimelyMD, “A modern virtual care platform starts with the technology that ... Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... ICC President Allen opens fall 2025 convocation with challenge to 'create a masterpiece;' new faculty/new roles announced Itawamba Community College President Dr. Jay Allen challenged faculty and staff to “create a masterpiece” during his remarks at the fall 2025 convocation Wednesday at the Fulton Campus. “Each year when we gather for convocation, I’m reminded that our work here is more than a list of tasks, programs and budgets – it’s a living, evolving canvas. And this year, our theme reminds us of ‘The Power of One: The Big Picture Begins with You!’ Think of ICC as a great mural in progress. Across its expanse are the colors, textures, patterns and decades of service – brushstrokes laid down by those who came before us, strokes that define our heritage and our foundation.” Those who attended had an opportunity to paint a section of an art piece in the lobby. Allen said that masterpieces don’t happen all at once. “They are built one stroke at a time. One deliberate motion of the brush, and each of you holds a brush in your hand.” Allen noted that there are those who add bold colors, bring delicate details, work in the foreground while ... ICC realigns C.O.R.E. Program, launches partnerships with Lee County Sheriff's Office and Tupelo Police Department Itawamba Community College has realigned its C.O.R.E. (Candidates on Rapid Entry) Program and announced its first formal partnerships with the Tupelo Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office following an Insight Luncheon held April 2 at the ICC Belden Center. Originally established in 2021 in partnership with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the C.O.R.E. Program has been restructured to strengthen the pipeline of qualified candidates for public safety careers. The event brought together local and state agencies to learn more about the updated program, which is housed within ICC’s criminal justice offerings and provides students with a structured pathway into law enforcement through academic coursework, skills development and direct engagement with agencies. Through the partnership, agencies will provide hands-on instruction and mentorship opportunities, while ICC will equip graduates with comprehensive portfolios documenting skills, credentials and career readiness. “This is workforce development at its best, aligning education with real-world need,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. "Our goal is simple: to build a stronger, more prepared workforce pipeline that directly benefits the communities we serve." ICC plans to expand partnerships with additional agencies across ... Three years later...Neither ICC nor TPSD could have imagined magnitude of Middle College success Three years ago, neither Itawamba Community College nor the Tupelo Public School District could have imagined the magnitude of success of its Middle College partnership. The accelerated journey to simultaneously achieving diplomas from both institutions has grown significantly, according to Brittany Terrell, transition counselor. “When reflecting on the past three years of the Middle College program, I am proud of the success these students have shown. I have witnessed students come out of their shell and find confidence in their academic abilities. Not only have they blossomed academically, but they are heavily involved with ICC’s extracurriculars, clubs and organizations.” Jay Salters of Tupelo, who received both his Tupelo High School and Itawamba Community College diplomas last spring, was president of the Tupelo Campus Student Government Association, one of only 12 members selected by faculty and staff members to the prestigious Hall of Fame and a member of the ICC Indian Delegation and a THS Ambassador. He was invited into membership in both Phi Theta Kappa (ICC) and the National Honor Society (THS). However, he’s not the only example. Austin Acosta, currently a ... ICC to partner with Get2College to offer onsite assistance with FAFSA completion Itawamba Community College is partnering with Get2College to provide onsite assistance with FAFSA completion, July 17 and 18. Times and locations are from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., July 17, Academic and Student Center room 231, Tupelo Campus; and July 18, Boggs Humanities Building room 103, Fulton Campus. The sessions are designed to assist current and incoming students with FAFSA questions and form completion. Appointments are preferred, according to Terry Bland, director of Financial Aid at ICC, but walk-ins will be accommodated. To schedule an appointment at the Fulton Campus, www.iccms.edu/FAFSAFulton or for the Tupelo Campus, www.iccms.edu/FAFSATupelo. Get2College is a college access program of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, whose mission is to help more Mississippians obtain postsecondary credentials, college certificates and degrees that lead to meaningful employment. For more information, email finaid@iccms.edu. Comments are closed.