The Mount Carmel College of Baler (Kolehiyong Monte Carmelo ng Baler in Filipino), commonly referred to as MCC

Baler or MCCB, is the oldest Catholic school in the Philippine province of Aurora.[1] It was founded in 1948 by the
American Carmelites, who were invited by Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon (1888-1949), former First Lady of the Philippines (1935-
1944), wife of the late Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon, to build a Catholic mission school in the town
of Baler. It is currently a member of the Catholic Association of Schools in the Prelature of Infanta (CASPI).

Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon (1888-1949), former First Lady of the Philippines (1935-1944), invited the American Carmelites to establish

a Catholic mission school in Baler.

Contents

 1History
o 1.11940s–1960s
o 1.21970s–1990s
o 1.32000–present
 2Notable faculty
 3Notable alumni
 4Degree, non-degree, and graduate programs
 5Professional examinations
 6Controversies
 7Sister schools
 8References

History[edit]
Heads of

Mount Carmel College of Baler

Rev. Gabriel (Richard) Gates†, director, 1947-1951

Rev. Leo McCrudden†, director (1947-1948), who died

at Baler Bay on July 6, 1948, together with his
companions including Bro. Vincent Sheerer, in search and
rescue of lost fishermen during a storm, the incident of
their loss at sea for five days being detailed in the book A
Man Shall Scatter by Sean Buckley [2][3]

Rev. Basil Nolan†, OCD, director, 1954-1955

Rev. Athanasius Danieletti†, director (1955-1956),

together with Rev. Cayetano Serafines, the first ordained
Carmelite from the Prelature of Infanta, who chose
layman’s life after retirement from religious life and who
served as his assistant

Rev. Herman J. Esselman†, OCD, director, 1958-1961

Rev. Andrew LeFebvre†, director (1961-1964), with Rev.

Simon Lindgren, OCD, and Rev. Nicholas Riddell, OCD,
as assistant directors (1962–1963, 1963-1964,
respectively)

Rev. Dominic Sheerer†, OCD, director (1964-1967), with

Rev. Marius Martin and Rev. Benjamin Green as assistant
directors

Rev. Joseph Mary Flannery†, OCD, director, 1967-1968

Rev. Alfred Wood, OCD, director, 1968-1970

Rev. Arnold S. Boehme, OCD, director, 1970-1971

Rev. Ignacio Read, OCD, director, 1971-1973

Rev. Alan Rieger, OCD, director (1973), the first

episcopal vicar of education for the whole prelature of
Infanta; the first executive vice-president (1980)

Sister Bernadette Rodriguez, CM, directress, 1974-1976

Dr. Epitacio S. Palispis, the first layman to become the

president of MCC Baler, 1976-1982

Sister Francine Pacis, SFIC, executive vice-president,

1982-1986

Sister Mercedes E. Salud, SFIC, executive vice-

president, 1986-1994

Sister Esperanza L. Vistro, SFIC, executive vice-

president, 1994-2000

Sister Tarcela O. Taa, SFIC, executive vice-president,

2000-2003

Rev. Edwin C. Agapay, acting executive vice-president,

2003-2004

Sister Mary Paul A. Plasabas, SFIC, executive vice-

president, 2004-2008

Dr. Nida V. Hugo, officer-in-charge, executive vice-

president, 2009

Rev. Andres A. Lumasac, executive vice-president,

2009–present

1940s–1960s[edit]

1970s–1990s[edit]
Such programs as the Bachelor of Science in Commerce (BSC), major in economics and the BSC, major in accounting were offered
in 1978 and in 1985, respectively, but the latter was phased out in 1993.
The 1970s, which marked the growth of social awareness, challenged the school to “direct its education for social
justice and respect for the dignity of persons.” The school thus defined its thrust towards the “formation of Christians who are
witnesses to God’s love and are active participants in the improvement of life in the locality."[7]
The school had a consortium with the Philippine Wesleyan College (PWC), now the Wesleyan University of the Philippines (WUP),
from 1977 to 1981 for a graduate program in administration and supervision.
Upon the invitation of the Most Reverend Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD, DD, bishop of the Prelature of Infanta, the Franciscan
Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SFIC) arrived in 1982. Since then, the school administration has been entrusted to the SFIC.
The mission statement of the prelature necessitated the formulation of the mission statement of Carmel schools in the prelature,
which could define the thrust to build the church of the poor. Thus, the school formulated its first mission statement in 1987 with its
programs and activities geared toward holistic human formation of its academic community.
An agreement with Saint Joseph’s College of Quezon City (SJCQC) for extension of classes in the masteral
level for faculty upgrading took effect from 1987 to 1991.
The need for a more relevant and contextualized Christian formation program (CFP) was felt in 1990 which led to the setting up of
the CFP Office headed by a coordinator.
For the first time, the school hosted the CASPI assembly on July 16, 1990, the day when the 1990 Luzon earthquake shook the
province and other nearby provinces.
The research and development office (RDO) was set up in 1992 to conduct research and evaluation studies as baseline data for
planning and decision-making. One of its first outputs was the review and reformulation of the 1987 mission statement of the school.
The San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish, the historic Baler Catholic church, by which Mount Carmel College of Baler stands.

Catholicism took a new life in Baler when three pioneering Discalced Carmelite (OCD) friars arrived in 1947[4][5][6] upon the invitation
of Doña Aurora. Soon after, Mount Carmel High School of Baler (MCHS Baler), now known as Mount Carmel College of Baler (MCC
Baler), was built near the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish, the historic Baler Catholic church, to fill the need for an evangelical
mission in this town.

1970s–1990s[edit]
Such programs as the Bachelor of Science in Commerce (BSC), major in economics and the BSC, major in accounting were offered
in 1978 and in 1985, respectively, but the latter was phased out in 1993.
The 1970s, which marked the growth of social awareness, challenged the school to “direct its education for social
justice and respect for the dignity of persons.” The school thus defined its thrust towards the “formation of Christians who are
witnesses to God’s love and are active participants in the improvement of life in the locality."[7]
The school had a consortium with the Philippine Wesleyan College (PWC), now the Wesleyan University of the Philippines (WUP),
from 1977 to 1981 for a graduate program in administration and supervision.
Upon the invitation of the Most Reverend Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD, DD, bishop of the Prelature of Infanta, the Franciscan
Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SFIC) arrived in 1982. Since then, the school administration has been entrusted to the SFIC.
The mission statement of the prelature necessitated the formulation of the mission statement of Carmel schools in the prelature,
which could define the thrust to build the church of the poor. Thus, the school formulated its first mission statement in 1987 with its
programs and activities geared toward holistic human formation of its academic community.
An agreement with Saint Joseph’s College of Quezon City (SJCQC) for extension of classes in the masteral
level for faculty upgrading took effect from 1987 to 1991.
The need for a more relevant and contextualized Christian formation program (CFP) was felt in 1990 which led to the setting up of
the CFP Office headed by a coordinator.
For the first time, the school hosted the CASPI assembly on July 16, 1990, the day when the 1990 Luzon earthquake shook the
province and other nearby provinces.
The research and development office (RDO) was set up in 1992 to conduct research and evaluation studies as baseline data for
planning and decision-making. One of its first outputs was the review and reformulation of the 1987 mission statement of the school.
The first alumni homecoming was held on December 28, 1994 with approximately 500 attendees who were high school and college
graduates.
Aspiring to be truly with the Church of the poor, the school consequently aligned its thrust and objectives, such as the promotion of
the fullness of life and the nurturance of humanizing relationships, with the 1995 mission statement of the prelature.
The "Panalangin ng Carmelian" (literally, "Prayer of a Carmelian") was formulated in 1995 by the college so as to further
strengthen devotion to Mary, mother of Christ, whom the prelature called "ina ng sambayanan ng mga dukha" ("mother of the poor
people"). Originally written in Filipino, it has been one of the most recited prayers in school programs and activities since then.
An agreement with SJCQC for the conduct of graduate school extension classes was renewed in 1995 and lapsed in 1998.
The school served as an evacuation center for the people of Baler who were affected by flash floods on December 24, 1995.
To keep pace with the technological progress, the school offered new programs, such as the Bachelor of Science
in Accountancy (BSA), the Computer Secretarial, and the Computer Science, in the academic year 1995-1996. The Bachelor
of Secondary Education (BSEd), major in religious education, was offered in the school year 1997-1998 to grant the request
for teachers of Christian formation subjects.
The school celebrated its golden jubilee on February 18, 1998, the same day when one of its buildings, the Aurora Building, was
dedicated in loving memory of Doña Aurora.
The Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen scholarship fund for the financially poor but academically capable students of the prelature was
launched on July 23, 1999, the same day when a two-storey retreat house was dedicated to the bishop.

2000–present[edit]
The Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim) program was offered in 2003.
The basic education and the higher education departments of the school were restructured in 2004.
The mission statement of the school was revised in 2007 with the inclusion of the Carmelian spirit of prayer, compassion, and
prophetic action. The vision and mission of the school were reformulated as follows: “We, the Catholic schools in the Prelature of
Infanta, inspired by the Blessed Trinity, strive towards the holistic formation of the person and society in communion with the
Church, the community, and the family under the maternal care of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We commit ourselves to follow Jesus
Christ and the Gospel values, with openness to formation, imbued with the Carmelian spirit of prayer, compassion, and prophetic
action, as we continually strive for quality education in the service of the Church and society.”[8]
The school celebrated its diamond jubilee on February 18, 2008.[9]
For the second time, the school hosted the CASPI assembly from July 16 to 19, 2013.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the college extension campus in Barangay Pingit, Baler was held on December 28, 2013. It was
attended by the school administrator, faculty, staff, studentry, and alumni.
In 2016, the vision and mission of the school were revised as follows: “The Mount Carmel College of Baler as a member of the
Catholic Association of Schools in the Prelature of Infanta and mission partner in building the Church of the poor, inspired by the
Blessed Trinity, envisions to be a center of holistic formation of the person in communion with the family, the Church, and the
community under the maternal care of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We follow Jesus Christ, the center and life, by living the
Carmelian spirit of prayer, compassion, and prophetic action, as we continually strive for quality education in the service of the
Church and society.”
In June 2016, MCC Baler, in partnership with the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) (Cabanatuan City), opened graduate
programs such as Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), with majors in educational management, early childhood
education (ECE), guidance and counseling, English, Filipino, mathematics, sociology, and physical education (PE).

Mount Carmel Hymn

Hail Mount Carmel! Hail to thee!

We, thy children, sing today.
Loud we praise in song of glee.
One and all, we'll faithful be.
Honor, worship let us pay
Name of glory, victory.

Dearest school, we're proud of thee;

Suffer not our steps astray.
Nothing can thy pow'r withstand;
None can pluck us from thy hand.
We will stand and fight for thee,
Might in hand and heart for thee.

Dear Mount Carmel,

Love Mount Carmel,
Hail, hail to thee!

What the college seal means

The Latin statement Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo
exercituum (With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord
God of hosts) on the sash encircling the shield is
the motto of MCC Baler. It is the utterance of
the prophet Elijah, expressing his passion to
serve Yahweh more than anyone or anything else, which
can be found in the First Book of Kings, Chapter 19, Verse
14 in the Holy Bible.

The mountain silhouette on which a cross stands

represents Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in
northern Israel, where the first hermits settled in the late
12th century and became the
mendicant Carmelites in Europe.

The cross on the mountain silhouette stands for Jesus

Christ, the center of the Carmelian life,
whose Gospel message of salvation was proclaimed by
the Carmelites (who founded the school in 1948 and
administered it for 34 years) and is still being proclaimed
by the Franciscans (to whom the school administration
has been entrusted since 1982).

The golden yellow star at the center of the mountain

silhouette represents Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, the
Blessed Virgin, otherwise known as Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. The two golden yellow stars near the cross
represent Elijah, the greatest prophet of the Old
Testament, and his successor Elisha, both of whom are
significant figures in the religious Carmelite Order.

The carmel brown color stands for humility and
the yellow color for joy or optimism in the service of the
marginalized sectors of the society.
 As a whole, the school insignia represents the Marian and
the Elijahn traditions of MCC Baler as a
Catholic mission school of higher learning.

Panalangin ng Carmelian Prayer of a Carmelian

(Original Filipino text) (English translation)

Maria, aming ina, igawa mo ako ng pusong mapagpakumbaba at payak na patuloy na naghahanap sa
Panginoon. Igawa mo ako ng pusong matatag at marangal na hindi pinanghihinaan ng loob sa mga
pagkatalo at pagkabigo, isang pusong hindi nagtatanim ng galit at marunong magpatawad na kung
hindi nauunawaan ay mananatili pa ring tapat. Igawa mo ako ng isang pusong marunong dumamay sa
paghihirap ng iba…pusong marunong magpahalaga sa mumunting biyaya ng pag-ibig…pusong patuloy
na nagbibigay kahit pasakitan at talikdan ng iba…pusong buong-layang naglilingkod para sa bansa at
sa sambayanan ng Diyos…pusong kailanman ay hindi nawawalan ng pag-asa sa mga nagbabantang
pagsubok. O Maria, ina ng Diyos at aking ina, ihubog mo ako ng pusong katulad ng kay Kristo, puno ng
pag-ibig ng Ama at para sa lahat, isang pusong pinaghaharian ng Espiritu ng pag-ibig.

Degree, non-degree, and graduate programs[edit]

Currently, the higher education department of MCC Baler offers seven Commission on Higher Education (CHED) programs and
three Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) programs. Its CHED programs are the Bachelor of Arts (AB),
major in history, philosophy, and sociology; the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd), major in biological science, mathematics,
English, Filipino, social studies, and values education; the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) with specializations in general
content area and in preschool education; the Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA); the Bachelor of Science in
Business Administration (BSBA), major in financial management, human resource development and management, and marketing
management; the Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim); and the Teacher Certificate Program (TCP). Its TESDA programs
are the Caregiver Training Program, the Personal Computer (PC) Operation, and the Computer Hardware Servicing NC II.
Since June 2016, MCC Baler, in partnership with the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) (Cabanatuan City), has been
offering graduate programs such as Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), with majors in educational management, early childhood
education (ECE), guidance and counseling, English, Filipino, mathematics, sociology, and physical education (PE).

Professional examinations[edit]
MCC Baler produced college graduates of education and criminology who traditionally performed well in licensure examinations. Its
BEEd and BSEd graduates of 2013 obtained 100% passing rates in the September 29, 2013 Licensure Examination for Teachers
(LET).[17][18] A year earlier, its BEEd and BSEd graduates of 2012 obtained passing rates of 100% and 66.67%, respectively, for first
timers in the September 30, 2012 LET.[19][20] Its BSCrim graduates of 2011 obtained a passing rate of 59.26% for first timers in the
October 2011 Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE).[21]

Controversies[edit]
Philippine Senator Edgardo J. Angara called MCC Baler a "bulok na paaralan," that is, literally, a "rotten school," in his speech
delivered on August 19, 2011 at the municipal plaza of Baler across the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish on the occasion of the
402nd foundation anniversary of this town attended by local government officials and employees, teachers and students, and other
townspeople.[22] He unleashed a broadside against the Prelature of Infanta, accusing it of "claiming possession of the municipal
plaza and the lot where the college stands." He waved to the crowd photocopies of documents allegedly showing that the plaza has
been owned by the parish and the college grounds by the municipal government since 1929. He said that the prelature was able to
transfer in its name possession of the plaza and the college site in 1980. He suggested that the college now being run by the parish
"be vacated and transferred to another site to pave the way for the restoration of the Baler church." He noted that the college
building is an eyesore as it was built "higher than the church, obstructing the religious structure from public view." In a more
conciliatory tone, he said that he offered PhP30,000,000 as assistance to the local parish to transfer to a better location where it
could put up a brand-new campus complete with playground and academic facilities. He mentioned that in 2007 he already made
the offer, but it was refused. He clarified that the national government, through his representation, has been providing assistance to
MCC Baler students, contrary to the prelature’s claim that it was the one helping them. He further said that for the last five years
these students received a total of PhP26,000,000 in subsidy from the national government through the Government Assistance to
Private Education (GASTPE) program which he authored in the Senate.[23] A few weeks later, the prelature issued an official written
statement posted on the college bulletin, vehemently denying all of the senator's accusations, calling them as pure fabrications,
particularly the alleged 30-million offer for the parish to transfer to another site where it could build a new school.[24]

Sister schools[edit]
In the province of Aurora, other Carmel schools in partnership with MCC Baler are Mount Carmel College of Casiguran (MCC
Casiguran) (founded in 1968), Mount Carmel School of Dinalungan (MCS Dinalungan), Saint Patrick's Academy (founded in 1968)
in Dingalan, Father John Karash Memorial High School (founded in 1966) in Dipaculao, Mount Carmel School of Maria
Aurora (MCS Maria Aurora) (founded in 1952), Mount Carmel School of San Luis (MCS San Luis) (founded in 1962), and Our Lady
of Consolacion Learning Center (OLaConLeC) in San Luis.[25]
In the province of Quezon, other Carmel schools in touch with MCC Baler are Mount Carmel High School of Burdeos (MCHS
Burdeos) (founded in 1949), Mount Carmel High School of General Nakar (MCHS General Nakar) (founded in 1990), Mount Carmel
School of Infanta (MCS Infanta) (founded in 1962), SIDS in Patnanungan, and Mount Carmel School of Polillo (MCS Polillo)
(founded in 1962).

Controversies[edit]
Philippine Senator Edgardo J. Angara called MCC Baler a "bulok na paaralan," that is, literally, a "rotten school," in his speech
delivered on August 19, 2011 at the municipal plaza of Baler across the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish on the occasion of the
402nd foundation anniversary of this town attended by local government officials and employees, teachers and students, and other
townspeople.[22] He unleashed a broadside against the Prelature of Infanta, accusing it of "claiming possession of the municipal
plaza and the lot where the college stands." He waved to the crowd photocopies of documents allegedly showing that the plaza has
been owned by the parish and the college grounds by the municipal government since 1929. He said that the prelature was able to
transfer in its name possession of the plaza and the college site in 1980. He suggested that the college now being run by the parish
"be vacated and transferred to another site to pave the way for the restoration of the Baler church." He noted that the college
building is an eyesore as it was built "higher than the church, obstructing the religious structure from public view." In a more
conciliatory tone, he said that he offered PhP30,000,000 as assistance to the local parish to transfer to a better location where it
could put up a brand-new campus complete with playground and academic facilities. He mentioned that in 2007 he already made
the offer, but it was refused. He clarified that the national government, through his representation, has been providing assistance to
MCC Baler students, contrary to the prelature’s claim that it was the one helping them. He further said that for the last five years
these students received a total of PhP26,000,000 in subsidy from the national government through the Government Assistance to
Private Education (GASTPE) program which he authored in the Senate.[23] A few weeks later, the prelature issued an official written
statement posted on the college bulletin, vehemently denying all of the senator's accusations, calling them as pure fabrications,
particularly the alleged 30-million offer for the parish to transfer to another site where it could build a new school.[24]

Sister schools[edit]
In the province of Aurora, other Carmel schools in partnership with MCC Baler are Mount Carmel College of Casiguran (MCC
Casiguran) (founded in 1968), Mount Carmel School of Dinalungan (MCS Dinalungan), Saint Patrick's Academy (founded in 1968)
in Dingalan, Father John Karash Memorial High School (founded in 1966) in Dipaculao, Mount Carmel School of Maria
Aurora (MCS Maria Aurora) (founded in 1952), Mount Carmel School of San Luis (MCS San Luis) (founded in 1962), and Our Lady
of Consolacion Learning Center (OLaConLeC) in San Luis.[25]
In the province of Quezon, other Carmel schools in touch with MCC Baler are Mount Carmel High School of Burdeos (MCHS
Burdeos) (founded in 1949), Mount Carmel High School of General Nakar (MCHS General Nakar) (founded in 1990), Mount Carmel
School of Infanta (MCS Infanta) (founded in 1962), SIDS in Patnanungan, and Mount Carmel School of Polillo (MCS Polillo)
(founded in 1962).

References[edit]
1. ^ Mount Carmel College - Baler, Aurora
2. ^ Virtual Memorials: Celebrating Life Stories
3. ^ The Knickerbocker News, Albany, New York, July 8, 1948
4. ^ Olag Stories: Reminiscence
5. ^ Baler and Its People, the Aurorans
6. ^ The Carmelite Tradition and Spirit in the Prelature of Infanta
7. ^ "Mount Carmel College of Baler: A Historical Sketch". The Student Handbook of the Higher Education Department of
Mount Carmel College of Baler. Quezon corner San Luis Streets, Barangay 04, Poblacion, Baler, Aurora: Mount Carmel College
of Baler. 2008. p. 1.
 8. ^ "Mount Carmel College of Baler in a Capsule". Brochure of Mount Carmel College of Baler. Quezon corner San Luis
Streets, Barangay 04, Poblacion, Baler, Aurora: Mount Carmel College of Baler. 2010.
9. ^ From MCC@60 with Love: A Concert

The Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB), formerly the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior
Colleges (SBCJC), is a statutory coordinating board tasked with oversight of the public community and junior colleges of the state
of Mississippi.

Contents

 1Institutions
 2History
 3Virtual community college
 4Divisions of the board
o 4.1Services
o 4.2Adult basic education and GED
o 4.3Athletics and activities
o 4.4Career and technical education
o 4.5Distance education
o 4.6Information Services
o 4.7Workforce education
 5Statistics
 6References
 7External links

Institutions[edit]
Board members are appointed for staggered terms by the Governor of Mississippi to oversee 15 schools: fourteen community
colleges and one junior college.

 Coahoma Community College

 Copiah-Lincoln Community College
 East Central Community College
 East Mississippi Community College
 Hinds Community College
 Holmes Community College
 Itawamba Community College
 Jones County Junior College
 Meridian Community College
 Mississippi Delta Community College
 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
 Northeast Mississippi Community College
 Northwest Mississippi Community College
 Pearl River Community College
 Southwest Mississippi Community College
Conditions for enrollment to these colleges include dual, early admit, occupational, college transfer, high School diploma, GED, and
those requiring high school units. Additionally, students have access to the Mississippi Virtual Community College which enables to
students to take courses, via distance learning, at any of the 15 community colleges and receive support from a nearby college.

History[edit]
The Legislature created the board in 1986 to receive and distribute funds from the state, federal government, and other sources to
the community and junior colleges. The initiation of the SBCJC can be traced back to the 1920s. Senate Bill 131, Laws of 1928,
approved April 26, 1928, authorized the establishment of junior colleges, and also created a State Commission for oversight of
these institutions. The first action of the Commission consisted of identifying its authority, establishing standards by which existing
junior colleges must meet to qualify for state aid and develop criteria required of agricultural high schools seeking junior college
status. This action of the Commission constituted the birth of Mississippi State System of Public Junior Colleges, giving Mississippi
the distinction of having the first state system of comprehensive two-year colleges in the nation. The Commission had no staff but
was served by personnel within the State Department of Education. In 1968, a separate operational division for junior colleges was
created in the State Department of Education, which provided state services and oversight until 1986.

Virtual community college[edit]

The Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) is a consortium of the 15 physical community colleges in the Mississippi
system that allows students to take classes over the Internet from any community college located in the state. After almost three
years of research and planning, MSVCC was inaugurated in January 2000 under the MCCB Distance Learning program, and
currently serves over 20,000 students each semester.
As an example of how the consortium works, a student from Northwest College (acting as host college) can take a class on the
Internet offered from Pearl River Community College (acting as provider college). The host college supports the student with any
other resources that they may need—including academic advising and counseling, financial aid, and campus network access—and
the course credit from the provided class is subsequently awarded through the host college. Through this mechanism, the virtual
community college provides an opportunity for students take classes that are not offered at their "home" college. Additional learning
support is provided by the Mississippi Electronic Libraries Online (MELO), a shared resource hosted by the MCCB that is made
available to students and instructors through their respective campus networks and administered under the Distance Learning
program.
The mission of the Mississippi Virtual Community College is to provide educational opportunities to constituencies who live within
the various community and junior college districts in Mississippi and to others beyond those boundaries. The mission includes
providing access to instructional offerings through advanced technologies for those individuals who currently cannot take advantage
of the offerings of the community and junior college through traditional means and to those individuals who are seeking alternative
educational delivery systems.
The MSVCC maintains an articulation agreement amongst all of its constituent community colleges that is explicitly designed to
avoid drawing any distinction between online and traditional lecture courses in order to facilitate a unified curriculum system-
wide. Accreditation of the MSVCC is maintained under the oversight of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Divisions of the board

The State Board was formerly made up of 11 members.[1]

Services[edit]
In 1995, the SBCJC adopted the accreditation standards as set forth by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The
board uses these standards for quality, accountability, and financial adequacy.

Adult basic education and GED[edit]

The Mississippi Community College Board participates in the administering of the Adult Basic Education Program. This program is
beneficial to adults because it allows them the opportunity to take a second chance at earning and education. To be competitive in
today's society, one must possess basic literary competencies (i.e. areas such as math, reading, writing, communication, teamwork,
and computer skills. The Adult Education Program offers assistance to adults in need of gaining these skills. In addition, the
program provides adults with sufficient basic education to enable them to benefit from job training and to retain productive
employment so that they might more fully enjoy the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship, and enables adults who desire, to
continue their education to at least the level of completion of secondary school.

Athletics and activities[edit]

All fifteen of the Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges have athletics at their schools. Fourteen of the institutions are affiliated
with the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges athletic conference (MACJC). The only exception is Meridian
Community College (MCC), which athletically participates independently since 2008. MCC decided to drop from the MACJC due to
recruiting districts which they have to share with East Mississippi Community College and MCC felt they were at a disadvantage
when it came to recruiting. The MACJC is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Region XXIII comprises the
MACJC as well as the MISS-LOU Junior College Conference, which are only schools in Louisiana. Aside from sports, schools have
bands and dance teams.

Career and technical education[edit]

The Career & Technical Division Education is responsible for working with Community/Junior College Deans and other
Community/Junior College personnel to assist with evaluation of programs, the reimbursement process for state upgrade
equipment, salaries for Career-Technical personnel and reviews their requests for new programs, deletions or modifications to
existing programs and serves as liaison between Community/Junior College Deans, the Mississippi Department of Education and
the Research and Curriculum Unit.
The Career & Technical Education division works directly with the community and junior colleges to ensure that curricula and
courses are adequate for the various career and technical programs offered. There are currently 97 programs of study available to
the students enrolled in Mississippi Community Colleges. This board ensures that college personnel are informed of the various
governing policies and program requirements. Additionally, the Career and Technical Education division assists Community/Junior
College personnel in developing and reviewing the following: Qualifications Manual for Career-Technical personnel, Practical
Nursing Accreditation Manual, the Practical Nursing Self-Study Process, and the Equipment Manual.

Distance education[edit]
Distance learning responsibilities of the SBCJC include coordination of the Mississippi Virtual Community College and online course
offerings for workforce training. The Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) is a consortium of 15 of Mississippi's
community colleges. Through the MSVCC, students may take courses from community colleges anywhere in Mississippi while
getting support services from a local college. Also, an active partnership with Mindleaders opens the door to skills training courses in
information technology, management, and other valuable areas at an affordable cost in support of workforce training initiatives.[2]
The fifteen members of the Mississippi Virtual Community College include: Coahoma Community College, Copiah-Lincoln
Community College, East Central Community College, East Mississippi Community College, Hinds Community College, Holmes
Community College, Itawamba Community College, Jones Junior College, Meridian Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast
Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College, Northeast Community College, Northwest Community College, Pearl
River Community College, and Southwest Community College. Each of the 15 member schools provides a Distance Learning
Coordinator (DLC) who handles local MSVCC operations. The DLC at each campus serves as local support for students who are
enrolled in MSVCC classes. Some of the local Distance Learning Coordinators also serve as Directors or Deans for the system at
large.[3]

nformation Services[edit]
The information service division is responsible for identifying implementing technology initiatives within the agency as it responds "to
the changing needs of the community and the citizens of Mississippi". Their services provide information to all of the community and
junior colleges in the state of Mississippi. This team will constitute the agency's leadership for suggesting, requesting and
implementing technological needs as it strives to fulfill its mission. The information service consists of training and support services,
network management, and application development. Ray A. Smith is the director of information services. There is a head in each of
the three departments under the information services. Tina Bradley is the support services manager for the training and support
services. Ive P. Burnett is the application development manager for the application development department. There is no named
head for the network management area. These department heads all have areas of expertise in their field and are at the disposal of
the community and junior colleges in the state of Mississippi.

Workforce education[edit]
The Workforce Education Division is responsible for facilitating the Boards' goals of using state resources to provide workforce
education to the citizens of Mississippi giving them the skills needed to be more productive and have an improved quality of life, and
to provide the employers of our state a better trained and educated workforce.

Statistics[edit]
In state fiscal 2008, there were 71,490 full-time equivalent students and 93,978 non-duplicate total credit: 63.9% female, 55.2%
white, and 97.1% in-state.