Bishop State Community College: A Legacy of Education and Community Service

Bishop State Community College, a public, historically black community college, has been a cornerstone of education in Mobile and Washington Counties, Alabama, for nearly a century. Established in 1927, the college has evolved from a small extension program for teachers to a comprehensive community college offering a wide range of academic and vocational programs. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Bishop State remains committed to providing accessible and affordable education to the residents of its service area.

Origins and Early Years

Bishop State Community College traces its roots to the summer of 1927 when it was established as the Mobile Branch of Alabama State College (now Alabama State University) in Montgomery. During the presidency of Dr. Harper Councill Trenholm, the college began as an in-service program, offering extension courses to African-American elementary and secondary teachers in Mobile. For nine years, the college operated during the summer months, catering to the needs of working teachers seeking professional development.

In 1936, O. H. Johnson was appointed as dean, marking a significant step in the college's development. The first full-time faculty consisted of seven individuals, including prominent Mobile educators such as Dr. Benjamin F. Baker, Mary Wilbur Weeks Burroughs, and C.F. Powell. Dr. Sanford D. Bishop, Sr., joined the teaching staff in 1938 as an instructor of English and music, later becoming dean in 1941.

Transition to Independence

The college acquired property on Broad Street in 1942. The location of the present Main Campus consisted of a two-story framed building, previously used by the Voluntary Fire Fighters Society #11. The acquisition was made possible through a loan, which was subsequently repaid by students through fundraising efforts.

A pivotal moment arrived in August 1965 when Alabama legislation officially declared Bishop State Community College a state junior college, independent from Alabama State College. This action granted the institution its first independent legal status, and it was renamed Mobile State Junior College in November 1965. Dr. Bishop was appointed president of the newly independent junior college.

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Honoring a Legacy: The Naming of Bishop State

In September 1971, the Alabama State Legislature again changed the name of the College to S.D. Bishop State Junior College in honor of its first president, Dr. Sanford D. Bishop. This renaming recognized Dr. Bishop's contributions to the college and his commitment to providing educational opportunities for African-American students in the region.

Following Dr. Bishop's death on June 21, 1981, Dr. Joseph Christopher Mitchell was selected to serve as interim president. In September 1981, Dr. Yvonne Kennedy was appointed as the second president of Bishop State.

Expansion and Growth

On February 23, 1989, the Alabama State Board of Education renamed the College to Bishop State Community College to reflect its growth in vocational/career offerings, transfer offerings, and community service activities. This name change signaled the college's expanding mission and its commitment to serving the diverse needs of the Mobile community.

Further expansion occurred on August 22, 1991, when the Alabama State Board of Education consolidated two technical colleges in Mobile - Southwest State Technical College and Carver State Technical College - with Bishop State Community College. These colleges now serve as campuses of Bishop State Community College, broadening the institution's program offerings and geographic reach.

Campus Locations and Facilities

Bishop State Community College operates several campuses and instructional sites throughout Mobile and Washington Counties, providing convenient access to education for students across the region.

Main Campus

The Main Campus, located at 351 North Broad Street in Mobile, is the original site of the college. Situated on 15 acres, the campus comprises 14 buildings that house classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, and student support services.

In February 2021, the Mobile County Commission approved $350,000 to fund the construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Health Sciences Facility on Main Campus. The 80,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center is designed as a skilled workforce development training ground, equipped for careers in process technology, industrial maintenance, electronics engineering technology, and robotics, among others. The Health Sciences Facility will include a 1,150 square foot nursing simulation site to train nursing students in patient care.

Southwest Campus

The Southwest Campus, located at 925 Dauphin Island Parkway, has a rich history of its own. Established in 1947 as Southwest State Technical College, a vocational school, it was consolidated into Bishop State Community College in 1991.

Southwest State Technical College was established to provide postsecondary vocational training in the Mobile area under the 1947 Regional Trade School Act. The city of Mobile provided the 26 acres of land for the campus. The first graduates of 1954 were 15 members of a practical nursing program who had begun classes in January 1953.

Carver Campus

The Carver Campus, located at 414 Stanton Road, also has its roots in vocational education. Established in 1962 as Carver State Technical College, a vocational school, it was consolidated into Bishop State Community College in 1991.

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Carver State Technical College was chartered by the Alabama State Legislature on January 1, 1961. It was constructed in 1962 in the Toulminville area of Mobile. On November 19, 1976, the Alabama State Board of Education approved changing the name of Carver State Technical Trade School to Carver State Technical Institute and later to Carver State Technical College.

Former Baker-Gaines Central Campus

The Former Baker-Gaines Central Campus, located at 1365 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, has a unique history. In 1995, the Mobile County School Board sold the campus, formerly Central High School, to Bishop State for one dollar. The two-story building sits on 5 acres.

In 1995, the College added an extension to the Main Campus with the opening of the Baker-Gaines Central site. This site was formerly the historic Central High School. The facility houses the Division of Health Related Professions. In addition, it includes a museum, child care center, 1,200-seat auditorium, multimedia center and a bookstore.

Other Locations

In addition to its main campuses, Bishop State Community College offers classes at several other locations:

Semmes Location: 9010 Forest Street in Semmes, Alabama
Theodore Location: 5808 US-90 in Theodore, Alabama
Truck Driving Site: 4551 Halls Mill Road in Mobile

Academics and Programs

Bishop State Community College offers a wide array of academic programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and the community. These programs include:

Associate Degrees: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and Associate of Occupational Technology degrees.
Certificates: Certificates in various fields, including career and technical programs.
Academic Transfer Programs: Programs designed to prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
Workforce Development Programs: Programs designed to provide students with the skills and training needed to succeed in the workforce.

A typical academic year contains two 15-week terms during the fall (August-December) and spring (January-May). Within the terms are two four-week accelerated sessions or mini terms. The full summer term is ten weeks long (May-August).

Bishop State has transfer agreements with every public four-year institution in Alabama.

Bishop State is a Student Support Services TRIO program participant.

Student Life and Athletics

Bishop State Community College offers a vibrant student life with various clubs and organizations, including honors societies, student government, special interest groups, and service organizations.

The Bishop State athletic association chairs six varsity athletic programs. The teams are collectively known as the Wildcats, and belong to the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) and Region 22 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Men's sports include basketball, baseball, and golf.

Presidents of Bishop State Community College

Since its establishment as an independent college, Bishop State Community College has been led by several dedicated presidents:

Dr. Sanford D. Bishop (1965-1981)
Dr. Joseph Christopher Mitchell (Interim, 1981)
Dr. Yvonne Kennedy (1981-2007)
James Lowe, Jr. (Interim, 2007-2008; President, 2008-2015)
Dr. Ullysses McBride (Interim, 2015)
Dr. Valerie Richardson (Interim, 2015; President, 2015-2016)
Dr. Reginald Sykes (Acting President, 2016-2017)
Dr. Reggie Sykes (2017-2021)
Dr. Olivier Charles (2021-Present)

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

In accordance with the official policy of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, Bishop State Community College is committed to equal opportunity in employment and education. No person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment on the grounds of race, color, disability, sex, religion, creed, national origin, or age.

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