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More minority students choosing JCC

Jackson Community College’s minority enrollment has increased 18 percent this Winter semester compared to the 2006 semester, and is up 30 percent from five years ago.

Nearly 10 percent of the total Winter 2007 opening day enrollment is of ethnic minority, at 537 students, compared to 454 the same time last year, an additional 83 students.

“I think the continued increase reflects the College’s efforts to reach out into the community, particularly the community of color, and make sure that JCC remains an open and inclusive campus,” said Cindy Allen, executive director of community relations and the performing arts. “With large community events such as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event and the new Youth Leadership Summit, I believe our community appreciates our continued efforts and ongoing commitment to diversity.”

The College’s Office of Multicultural Relations Director Lee Hampton has been with the College for about 15 months now and has helped strengthen ties with the minority leaders in this community, Allen noted. He also visits local junior high and high schools to meet with students and encourage them to pursue higher education.

“I believe that JCC is doing a tremendous job of making inroads in the community of color,” Hampton said. “The message is getting out to Latino, African American, Native American and different ethnic groups that higher education is for everyone, and that is it needed to be competitive in this global economy.

“This increase can be attributed to a lot of hard work in many areas, all spearheaded by President Phelan and the Board of Trustees, who have really made a strong commitment to diversity. This is a critical part of our strategic plan, and it has been more than lip service, they are really putting support behind this effort.”

There are nine categories in the College’s accreditation program, the Academic Quality Improvement Program of the Higher Learning Commission, one of which is valuing people. The JCC faculty is working on implementing a curriculum that actively promotes classroom instruction that reflects the contributions and influences of minorities and other underrepresented segments of society. It also addresses supporting, promoting and educating the student body on the multicultural and diversity organizations in student life.

In addition to communitywide events and school outreach, JCC’s Office of Multicultural Relations oversees diverse student organizations, such as the Multicultural Student Organization, International Student Organization and College Incentive Program (CIP) Student Organization, which allow students to connect to others and having opportunities to take a leadership role on campus. The College as a whole has committed one professional development day each year for a number of years now to educate faculty, staff and administration on diversity issues.

President Daniel J. Phelan said: “The College remains steadfast in our commitment to serve our whole community and its diverse citizenry. We work to provide an atmosphere that is open, warm and accessible to all students. As more ethnic minority students choose to attend JCC, we feel these efforts are working and will continue to make the College a vital choice for their educational needs.”