Coahoma Community College

Coahoma Community College

Former names	Coahoma County Agricultural High School Coahoma Junior College and Agricultural High School
Type	Public historically black community college
Established	1949; 75 years ago (1949)
Academic affiliation	Space-grant
President	Valmadge Towner
Students	1,612 (2020)[1]
Location	Coahoma County, Mississippi , United States 34°15′21″N 90°34′11″W
Campus	Rural, 99 acres (400,000 m^2)
Colors	Maroon and white[2]
Nickname	Tigers
Sporting affiliations	NJCAA, MACCC
Website	www.coahomacc.edu

Coahoma Community College (CCC) is a public historically black community college in Coahoma County, Mississippi. The college was founded in 1949 and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It offers associate degree and certificate programs in more than 70 areas of focus.^[1][3]

The 99-acre (400,000 m²) campus lies in an agrarian setting along Clarksdale-Friars Point Road near the Mississippi River and serves Coahoma, Bolivar, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica counties.^[3]

CCC's athletic teams, the Tigers, compete in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).^[4][5][6]

History

Coahoma Community College was founded in Coahoma County in 1949 as an extension of Coahoma Agricultural High School (1924), Mississippi's first agricultural high school for black students. Upon the establishment of the college, the high school was renamed Coahoma Junior College and Agricultural High School. The college initially offered courses to black students under the separate but equal doctrine. It was the first community college in Mississippi for black students.^[7][8]

Before becoming affiliated with Mississippi's public junior colleges system in its second year of operation, CCC was fully-funded by Coahoma County.^[7]

In 1989, the Board of Trustees and State Board for Community and Junior Colleges approved renaming the junior college to Coahoma Community College.^[9]

In 1995, the Mississippi Legislature granted the college its own district consisting of Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica Counties.^[9]

Superintendents and presidents

Prior to 1945, the college was led by a superintendent. Superintendents and presidents of the college have included:^[10]

• M. L. Strange, 1924–1925
• J. M. Mosley, 1924–1929
• J. W. Addison, 1929–1937
• J. B. Wright, 1937–1945
• B. F. McLaurin, 1945–1966
• J. E. Miller, 1966–1979
• McKinley C. Martin, 1980–1992
• Vivian M. Presley, 1992–2013
• Valmadge Towner, 2013–present

Administration and organization

CCC operates under four divisions: Academic, Career & Technical Education, Health Sciences and Workforce Development.^[10][11]

A typical academic year contains two 15-week terms during the fall (August–December) and spring (January–May). Within the full terms are two accelerated eight-week terms each fall and spring, as well as a two-week winter session (December–January).The full summer term is eight weeks long (May–July) and contains two accelerated four-week terms. An academic year begins on the first day of the fall term and ends on the last day of the summer term.^[10][12]

CCC's endowment had a market value of approximately $2.77 million in the fiscal year that ended in 2019.^[13]

Academics

CCC has an open admissions policy.^[1]

The college offers dual enrollment programs to local high school students.^[14] In addition to its associate and certificate degree programs, CCC offers adult education courses as well as non-credit continuing education and workforce development courses.^[15][16]

CCC has transfer agreements with every public four-year institution in Mississippi. The agreements allow students to automatically transfer after completing an associate degree at CCC.^[17]

CCC is a TRIO program participant through its Educational Talent Search program, which is a government-funded program that supports low-income and first-generation college students in achieving their postsecondary, career and economic goals. The program offers educational support, high school and college entry guidance and academic advising to local students in grades 7 through 12.^[18][19]

Student life

Student body

As of fall 2020, CCC's student body consisted of 1,612 students. There were 78 percent full time and 22 percent part time students.^[1]

Demographics of student body in fall 2020^[1]

	Full and Part Time Students	U.S. Census[a][20]
International	1%	N/A
Multiracial American	0%	2.8%
Black/African American	92%	13.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0%	1.3%
Asian	0%	5.9%
Non-Hispanic White American	6%	60.1%
Hispanic/Latino American	1%	18.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0.2%
Other/Unknown	0%	N/A

Organizations

More than 30 student clubs and organizations operate at CCC, including student government, special interest and service organizations.^[21]

CCC holds '"Mr. Coahoma Community College" and "Miss Coahoma Community College", annual beauty pageants that honor a select group of current, high-achieving students within the college's student government association.^[22]

Athletics

The CCC athletic association chairs six varsity athletic programs. The teams are collectively known as the Tigers. They belong to the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference and Region 23 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Men's sports include basketball, baseball and football. Women's sports include basketball and softball. CCC also chairs a co-ed track & field team. Although it is not affiliated with the NJCAA, CCC also chairs a co-ed cheerleading squad.^[6][5]

Notable alumni

• Chris Claybrooks — professional football player^[23]
• Earnie Killum — former professional basketball player^[24]
• Orlando Paden — member of the Mississippi House of Representatives^[25]
• Timothy Pollard — former NCAA Division I basketball player^[26][27]
• Davion Taylor — professional football player^[28]

Notes

1. People who identify as Hispanic/Latino are included in applicable race categories.

References

1. "College Navigator - Coahoma Community College". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
2. "CCC Brand". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
3. "Programs of Study". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
4. "MACCC announces men's and women's basketball players of the week". Retrieved December 21, 2021.
5. "Organization of NJCAA Regions". NJCAA. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
6. "Official Athletics Website". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
7. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Fact Book: Junior & community colleges. The Division. 1983. p. 3. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
8. Ownby, Ted; Wilson, Charles Reagan; Abadie, Ann J.; Lindsey, Odie; Thomas, James G. Jr. (May 25, 2017). The Mississippi Encyclopedia. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 256–257. ISBN 978-1-4968-1159-2. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
9. "History". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
10. "Coahoma Community College 2019-2021 College Catalog" (PDF). Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
11. "Home". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
12. "Academic Calendar". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
13. "Coahoma Community College". Data USA. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
14. "Dual Enrollment". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
15. "Adult Education - CCC Workforce Development". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
16. "Continuing Education Units (CEUs)". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
17. "Articulation Agreement". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
18. "Educational Talent Search". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
19. "$1.3 million grant renews CCC Talent Search program". Coahoma Community College.
20. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
21. "Clubs & Organizations". Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
22. "Coahoma Community College Student Activities Handbook" (PDF). Coahoma Community College. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
23. Jordan, Jonah (April 25, 2020). "Three former Tigers selected in 2020 NFL Draft". Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
24. "Former Stetson star Earnest Killum dies at 72". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. June 12, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
25. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
26. "Timothy Pollard". Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference Athletics.
27. "Mighty Tigers Bounce Back at Homecoming 2020". Coahoma Community College Athletics. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
28. Jhabvala, Nicki (February 17, 2020). "'I never gave up trying to play': Why Davion Taylor is one of the most intriguing NFL Draft prospects". The Athletic. Retrieved January 3, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• Official athletics website