Northwest Mississippi Community College is a two-year public community college located in Senatobia, Mississippi, United States and has been in existence since 1928. As of August 2008, Northwest's enrollment exceeds 7,100 students. There are approximately 3,000 students on the Senatobia campusâ€"1,100 of which reside in the college's residence halls. Slightly over 3,000 students are enrolled at the DeSoto Center in Southaven, Mississippi, and nearly 1,200 are enrolled at the Lafayette-Yalobusha Center in Oxford, Mississippi.
Overview
One of fifteen state community and junior colleges in Mississippi, Northwest boasts a 247-acre (1.00Â km2) main campus in Senatobia with satellite campuses in Southaven and Oxford. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees along with professional career certificates. The Northwest campus has 43 buildings, many built or renovated in the last decade. Northwest's district covers Tate, Desoto, Marshall, Benton, Tunica, Panola, Lafayette, Yalobusha, Quitman, and Calhoun Counties in northwest Mississippi.
History
Northwest began as Tate County Agricultural High School in 1915. The College began in 1928 with support from Tate and Quitman Counties and the Mississippi Junior College Commission. The first President was Porter Walker Berry.
The school changed with the times. Depression era students were allowed to pay for room and board with produce, and World War II male students studied at an accelerated pace to join the war effort. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools gave accreditation to Northwest in 1953. The college serves an eleven county district and gradually expanded its offerings. Today, Internet classes, noncredit classes, and non-traditional offerings for adults round out the modern campus.
Campus
The main campus sits on 247 acres (1.00Â km2) in Senatobia, Mississippi. Yalobusha Hall, renovated in 2000, holds several offices, including the Registrar, Admissions, Financial Aid, and Recruiting offices. The James P. McCormick Administration Building, site of the original primary building for the old Tate County Agricultural High School, holds the administrative offices of the president, other officers, and the Business Office. The McCormick Building was named a Mississippi Landmark in 1993.
The DeSoto Center campus is situated on a 47-acre (19 ha) site in Southaven, Mississippi. The site was donated by the W. E. Ross family. The post-modern  2 1â„2-story steel frame features a glass-and-steel tower that forms the atrium/commons. The building contains 28 classrooms, four computer labs, a practical nursing lab, and two science labs. DeSoto County is also the home of the Olive Branch, Mississippi career-technical campus, established in 1985.
The Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center at Oxford, Mississippi, open in 1983, offers a science lab with internet capable lab stations for viewing dissections.The center also uses Dynamic Human software for health education.
Academics
Northwest offers classes to prepare students for further academic achievement or for career advancement. Northwest has an "open door" policy for admissions. The Registrar's Office requires that potential students complete the following steps:
- Have completed and turned in an application.
- An official copy of SAT or ACT scoresâ€"ACT scores are required for Mississippi students.
- An official copy of a transcript from an accredited high school that includes a graduation date; or an official copy of GED scores; or an official copy of college or military transcript(s) from all colleges attended; or if attending another college full-time and attending Northwest part-time, attending an evening class or during a summer semester, a letter of good standing from the full-time college attended.
- Degrees offered
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Applied Science
- Certificate
The college offers programs in several areas. Technical and vocational instruction covers many areas,including Automotive Technology, Agricultural Technology, Collision Repair, Medical Office Technology,and Cosmetology. Pre-professional areas include architecture, law, engineering, pharmacy, forestry, agriculture, and accountancy.
NWCC has a Disability Services Office, as many colleges, and as of the 2015-16 academic year, has employed several sign language interpreters for the benefit of deaf and hard of hearing students. Deaf students in the North Mississippi and Memphis metro area are encouraged to contact the Disability Services offices at this link: http://www.northwestms.edu/index.php/?page_id=753.
Student affairs
There are over 30 student organizations that offer diverse experiences and provide opportunities to compete for awards and scholarships. Leisure activities include pep rallies, cookouts, a workout center, swimming, dancing, and free movies and concerts.
Student publications The newspaper, the award-winning Ranger Rocket, was the first Mississippi junior college newspaper. Students create the Rocketeer yearbook with guidance from faculty. Students are encouraged to contribute to the student literary publication, the Northwest Review, which is published each spring.
Notable alumni
- John Avery, former NFL player
- Adrian Banks, basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League
- Willie Blade, former NFL player
- Leonard Burton, former NFL player
- Dan Footman, former NFL player
- John Grisham, author, lawyer and politician
- Damon Harrison, NFL player
- Donald Hawkins, NFL player
- Germany Kent, media personality
- Cortez Kennedy, former NFL player
- Will Hall, football coach
- Alton Montgomery, former NFL player
- Ronnie Musgrove, politician, served as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
- Gerald Perry, former NFL player
- Roell Preston, former NFL player
- Cody Reed, MLB pitcher
- Daniel Thomas, former NFL player
- Fred Thomas, former NFL player
- Leonard Wheeler, former NFL player
- Colston Weatherington, former NFL player
- Gizmo Williams, former NFL player
Athletics and sports
Northwest athletic teams are called the Rangers. The school offers sports programs in football, soccer, softball, baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, rodeo, and golf.
References
External links
- Official website