The History of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the Legacy of Jefferson Davis
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) has a rich and complex history, evolving from its humble beginnings as an agricultural high school to a multi-campus institution serving diverse communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The story involves not only growth and expansion but also adaptation to changing social values, as evidenced by the recent renaming of the Jefferson Davis Campus. This article will examine the historical trajectory of MGCCC, paying particular attention to the establishment and evolution of its various campuses, including the campus formerly known as Jefferson Davis.
Early Beginnings in Perkinston
The seeds of MGCCC were sown on September 5, 1911, when the Harrison County School Board established the Harrison County Agricultural High School. The town of Perkinston became the chosen location, thanks to the donation of 566 acres of land and $626 by prominent citizens. This marked the beginning of what would eventually become Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. One of the first junior colleges was founded in conjunction with the Harrison-Stone Agricultural High School. In the summer of 1925, Jackson County joined forces, and on September 14, 1925, the Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College opened its doors, offering the first year of junior college work. The sophomore classes were added during the 1926-27 session, and on May 20, 1927, the first class, consisting of one student, graduated.
For 50 years, the Agricultural High School division played a vital role in the community. However, in May 1962, it was discontinued as local high schools began to cater to the needs of the community's youth.
Transformation into Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College
A significant turning point arrived on May 10, 1962, when the Governor of Mississippi signed House Bill 597 into law, thus creating the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District. This legislation dissolved county lines for college purposes, paving the way for regional growth and collaboration.
In September 1965, Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College expanded to become a tri-campus institution, opening two new campuses on the Gulf Coast: Jefferson Davis Campus in Handsboro and Jackson County Campus in Gautier. This expansion reflected the growing demand for higher education in the region and the college's commitment to serving a wider population.
Read also: Thomas Jefferson on Education
Expansion and Adaptation: New Campuses and Centers
The college continued to evolve in response to the changing needs of the community. In 1965, the Seabee Base Manpower Training Center, established the previous year, became a branch of the new Jefferson Davis Campus. After relocating to the Industrial Seaway in 1968, this branch was renamed the Harrison County Occupational Training Center.
Further expansion occurred in 1972 with the opening of the George County Occupational Training Center (renamed George County Center in 2001) in Lucedale as a branch of Perkinston Campus. In 1973, Keesler Center opened at Keesler Air Force Base as a branch of Jefferson Davis Campus.
In spring 1991, the college relocated the Harrison County Occupational Training Center to Intraplex 10, marking the opening of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Applied Technology and Development Center. The center's name was changed to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center in spring 2007. This center, established as a partnership among Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Mississippi Power Company, and Harrison County Development Commission, was founded to serve as a training facility in support of economic development activities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
In August 2000, the Naval Construction Battalion Center at the Seabee Base in Gulfport became part of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Classes began in January 2001, providing even more services to meet the diverse needs of Gulf Coast residents, both military and civilian.
The Renaming of the Jefferson Davis Campus
In a move that reflects changing social values and a commitment to inclusivity, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees voted to rename the Jefferson Davis Campus as the Harrison County Campus. This decision, announced in 2020, was made to align the campus with the mission, vision, and values of the school.
Read also: Jefferson Programs: Acelero Learning's Impact
According to MGCCC Board of Trustees 2nd Vice-Chair, Dr. Mike Tatum, the renaming was part of a strategic plan to ensure the college remains "community-bound" and welcomes all students.
The decision to remove the name of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, was met with mixed reactions. Some alumni, like Rickey Toles, praised the move, stating that it removed a "stain" and signaled a new era of inclusivity for students of all ethnic backgrounds. Toles believes that the name change lets students know that the Coast is changing and they have an opportunity to be whoever it is that they want to be.
The renaming of the Jefferson Davis Campus underscores the ongoing dialogue about historical figures and their legacies, particularly in the context of education. By choosing a name that reflects the local community, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College aims to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
Coastal Alabama Community College
It is important not to confuse Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College with Coastal Alabama Community College. Coastal Alabama Community College was formed in 2017 through the consolidation of Alabama Southern Community College (located in Monroeville, Thomasville and Gilbertown), Faulkner State Community College (located in Bay Minette, Fairhope and Gulf Shores) and Jefferson Davis Community College (located in Atmore and Brewton).
The roots of Coastal Alabama Community College go back to the creation of Alabama’s 13 original two-year colleges via Act No. 1970. Yancey State’s name changed to James H. Faulkner State Junior College to honor a prominent Baldwin County citizen. The college’s Fairhope site also begins offering classes. In 1972, Hobson State was accredited by the SACS Commission on Occupational Education Institutions. In 1975, Faulkner’s Fairhope campus added permanent staff, student services and expanded offerings of programs and services to the community. In 1992, James H. Faulkner State Junior College was renamed Faulkner State Community College to more accurately reflect its mission and purpose.
Read also: Exploring Jefferson Community and Technical College
Coastal Alabama Community College (also known as Coastal Alabama Community College - South) is a public community college with campuses in southern Alabama. Jefferson Davis was founded in 1963, and Atmore State Technical College was founded in 1972. Patrick Henry State Junior College and Hobson State Technical were founded in 1963.
Jefferson Davis Community College (JDCC) was a community college within the Alabama Community College System with campuses in Brewton and Atmore, both located in Escambia County. In August 2017, it was consolidated into the larger Coastal Alabama Community College system, which also subsumed the former Alabama Southern Community College and Faulkner State Community College.
JDCC was created by action of the Alabama State Board of Education (BoE) on December 13, 1990, through the consolidation of Jefferson Davis Junior College (JDJC) and Atmore State Technical College. Sandra McLeod, president of JDJC, became president of the new institution. Jefferson Davis State Junior College had its origin when three legislative acts establishing a junior college system passed by the Alabama State Legislature in May 1963, during the first administration of Gov. George C. Wallace. Brewton was selected as one of the junior college locations by the State Board of Education. The city government and the Escambia County Board of Commissioners purchased approximately 100 acres of land in the Alco area of Brewton and donated it for the college site. The first president, Woodfin Patterson, was appointed by the State BoE, and he assumed official duties February 1, 1965. Classes began with approximately 186 students on September 30, 1965, and were held at the First United Methodist Church until the first campus buildings were completed. There were seven full-time and three part-time instructors and a librarian. Classroom subjects included English, mathematics, physical education, history, art, music, botany, zoology, speech, and business. In 1965, the BoE created attendance policies for individual colleges based on transportation routes, and JDJC was designated as the campus for free bus transportation for residents of parts of Escambia, Conecuh, Covington, and Monroe counties. Boundaries of the designated areas changed as other community colleges opened in the region. Other construction projects over the years include the Woodfin Patterson Auditorium (1972), which continues to be used by local school systems as well as arts and cultural organizations. The facility has hosted such notable speakers as popular psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers and oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau). The Fine Arts Center, constructed in 1979, houses the Thomas E. McMillan Museum, which displays natural, cultural, and historical materials and documents from Escambia County, and the Alabama Room, which contains rare documents, books, and other locally significant historical and genealogical references. The Neal Colonial Center and Hines Building were constructed in 1982 and 1983. W. T. (Tom) Neal Jr. Park (1983), located on the campus, includes a lake, tennis courts, a baseball field, a maintenance building, and a public three-hole golf course and driving range. The William A. Atmore State Technical Institute (later Atmore State Technical College) was created by Act. No. 2295 on September 30, 1972. In May 1974, classes formerly conducted in Atmore by the J. F. Ingram State Vocational School in Deatsville, Elmore County, were placed under the supervision of the Atmore State Technical Institute. The school merged with Jefferson Davis Junior College in December 1990. Malcolm Jones was the only president of the Technical College until the merger. Both campuses provide two-year programs leading to associate degrees in both arts and sciences designed to facilitate transfer to a senior college or university. Degrees in Applied Science are available in Drafting and Design Technology, Nursing, and Office Administration. Certificates are offered in several technical programs. The Nursing Program, created in 1972, culminates in a Registered Nurse degree. Adult Basic Education classes are offered on both campuses as well as at the G. K. Fountain Correctional Center and the Holman Correctional Center.
Current Offerings and Locations
Today, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has multiple campuses and centers throughout South Mississippi, including:
- Perkinston Campus (main campus)
- Jackson County Campus in Gautier
- George County Center in Lucedale
- West Harrison County Center in Long Beach
- Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Center in Gulfport
- Keesler Center at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi
- Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport
- Bryant Center at Tradition in Harrison County
MGCCC also offers a Community Campus that provides workforce education programs, onsite and online, to South Mississippi residents and employers.
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