19 July No tuition increase at ICC this fall July 19, 2022 By Thomas, Donna S. Career Center, General 0 When Itawamba Community College begins its fall semester in mid-August, there will be no tuition increase. “We realize that with the economy and price increases, such as fuel, now more than ever, the College needs to make extra sacrifices to meet the needs of the people we serve,” according to ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “By not increasing tuition, Itawamba Community College can continue to make education more affordable to help families during these stressful economic times,” Allen said. Again, this summer, ICC has extended its workday hours from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays-Thursdays, and closed on Fridays to conserve energy, which has been especially important during the extreme heat during June and July. The College also reviews each employee departure and evaluates if a reorganization and absorption of duties is a better fit for the College at that time or should the position be rehired. “Like our business partners and private citizens, ICC is doing more with less,” Allen said. “ICC continues to attempt to remove barriers and increase access to education while maintaining its reputation for academic excellence.” In addition to maintaining its tuition level, several other options have been implemented to ensure students have an opportunity to continue their education through a more transparent process with the streamlining of student fees. Instead of numerous individual fees, a combined single student fee will begin this fall for part-time and full-time students. This fee includes one for student activities that will be utilized for expanded programming for student groups at all three ICC locations, Allen said. Room and board costs were adjusted for an updated residence hall tier pricing list. Last month, Allen announced salary increases for those who were employed at ICC on or before April 30. “This increase is attributed not only to our Board of Trustees, but to the state legislature for additional funding that was provided for raises. The extra funding made it possible to give raises without increasing tuition.” Board of Trustees Chairman Gill Simmons of Tupelo commended ICC administrators who, through strategic expenditures, have made this significant step to continue to make education affordable possible. “With today’s economy and high gas prices, it is imperative that ICC provide this much-needed assistance to students, who are our number one priority.” Eight counties including Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc continue to participate in ICC’s guaranteed tuition program to ensure high school graduates in those localities have the opportunity to attend for a minimal cost. The program covers funding up to the cost of tuition and registration fee if no other aid is available. In addition, adult learners can take advantage of scholarships especially designated to assist with either their return to ICC or enrollment as new students. Registration is continuing for the fall semester during normal business hours as well as special open sessions, August 10, 11 and 12. Related Articles ICC's enrollment increases this fall Itawamba Community College’s fall enrollment has increased even during turbulent economic times, according to figures released by the Mississippi Community College Board. With full-time enrollment beginning at more than 4,700 and an increase in credit hours, the increase equates to 1.3 percent. The increase is determined by comparing enrollments for the 2021 and 2022 fall semesters. In August, ICC opened Magnolia Hall, a state-of-the-art residence for honors students and student leaders at the Fulton Campus, which accommodates 246 additional students, and an increased emphasis has been placed on student activities, said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “This is very exciting news, since the increases are in headcount, full-time equivalencies and credit hours and places us on an upward trend to pre-pandemic enrollment,” Allen said. “The increase in the number of students that ICC is serving is significant because we have additional opportunities to provide a solid educational foundation and the best start for those in our five-county district and beyond.” “Statistics show that the more students are engaged on campus, the more successful they will be in the ... ICC fall semester enrollment increases Itawamba Community College’s fall enrollment has increased even in the unique environment caused by COVID-19. With full-time enrollment beginning at more than 5,000 and an increase in credit hours, ICC also has 705 students who are participating in the dual credit program, which enables high school students to earn college hours. The increase is determined by comparing enrollments for the 2019 and 2020 fall semesters. “This is very exciting news, since the increases are in headcount, full-time equivalencies and credit hours,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “The increase in the number of students that ICC is serving is significant because we have additional opportunities to provide a solid educational foundation and the best start for those in our five-county district and beyond.” Enrollment figures include online, academic and career education classes, but not workforce totals, which are not measured on semester basis, Allen said. Because of COVID-19, ICC has altered its instructional delivery methods, which now include face-to-face only, face-to-face hybrid which has an online component, face-to-face Zoom and online. “We are ... ICC, TPSD sign MOU for innovative Associate Degree Nursing Preferred Candidacy Middle College program to begin this fall Itawamba Community College and the Tupelo Public School District signed a memorandum of understanding today to announce the innovative Associate Degree Nursing Preferred Candidacy Middle College program, which will begin this fall. The agreement, which was signed by ICC President Dr. Jay Allen and TPSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Picou in a formal ceremony, will promote early entry into the two-year nursing program. Qualified applicants will begin this track in their junior year. “Graduating seniors are often attracted to the idea of ‘going away’ to experience the first year of college,” Allen said. “Many of those graduates return home for various reasons and do not have a degree. If we can attract graduates early, we can educate them and give them an opportunity early that will open unlimited doors.” “Nursing offers a variety of job opportunities, both locally and beyond,” said Dr. Dana Walker, director of ICC’s Associate Degree Nursing program. During recent years, nursing programs across the nation have experienced a decline in qualified applicants. “The early entry opportunity would offer high quality students who are focused on ... ICC's Brown returns to the classroom this fall from nine-month deployment to Kuwait Service is an important word to Itawamba Community College instructor Ashley Brown of Blue Springs. Fresh off a nine-month deployment to Kuwait, Brown has returned to the classroom this fall as an industrial maintenance, robotics and electrical technology instructor at the Belden Center. He is now in a different kind of service. He is responsible for recruiting students; building and maintaining the curriculum; ensuring students achieve the skills necessary to be functional, entry-level employees in related career fields; maintaining relationships with industry and prospective employers and linking them. That’s a long way from what Major Brown was doing in western Asia, where he was the logistic officer for a rotary aviation maintenance unit. Brown has been in the military for more than 17 years, beginning as an enlisted private. He has served as an armor crewman in an M1A1 Abrams tank, a calvary scout, completed a 12-month deployment to Iraq and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. After six years of enlisted time, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and became ... ICC reopens key health program this fall using innovative instructional delivery method Itawamba Community College is reopening a key health science program this fall using an innovative instructional delivery method. Diagnostic Medical Sonography will combine an in-person boot camp/lab session at the beginning of both the fall and spring semesters, clinical rotations and online didactic courses. DMS will begin as a one-year (three-semester) program in general sonography, according to instructor Amanda Stone. Graduates will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and will be eligible to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography examinations, including Principles and Instrumentation to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in Abdominal and Obstetrics/Gynecology. There will also be an option for students to continue into a second year of Cardiac and Vascular Sonography. Beginning in the fall of 2023, licensed professionals may enter that option. The program format will offer an opportunity for potential students from outside ICC’s geographical area to participate as long as clinical sites are approved, Stone said. “We are excited to offer an innovative curriculum that encompasses both in-person labs and clinicals with online didactic courses,” Stone ... Adult learners enrolling at ICC this fall have scholarship options Adult learners who plan to attend Itawamba Community College in the fall have two scholarship opportunities for financial support. They include ICC’s Adult Learner Incentive and the statewide Complete 2 Compete. ICC’s Adult Learner Incentive scholarship, which provides $2,000 ($500 per semester for full-time students and $250 for part-time), is designed to provide an incentive for returning or new students, age 21, or older to pursue a degree at ICC. Criteria for selection include enrollment in a minimum of 12 hours (scholarship can be reduced to $25o per semester for part-time – six hours – status), meeting admission requirements and in good standing at ICC. The application deadline is Aug. 15, and the form is available at www.apply.iccms.edu. To find out more about the Adult Learner Incentive scholarship, contact Candace Thomas, assistant director of Financial Aid, at cdthomas@iccms.edu or call (662) 862-8261. Qualification requirements for the C2C grant include at least 21 years of age but no greater than 59, Mississippi residency and U.S. citizenship, household income that meets the Grant Household Income ... Comments are closed.