As construction of a $13 million academic and career-technical building continues, Hinds Community College’s Vicksburg-Warren Campus continues to grow in student numbers.

Hinds CC President Dr. Clyde Muse and Vicksburg-Warren County Campus Vice President Marvin Moak spoke before the Warren County Board of Supervisors during a recent work session to give an update on student enrollment, as well as progress on the new building, which is the first new construction on the campus in 25 years.

According to Muse, construction is expected to be complete in February on the two-story, 44,000-square foot facility. He added Hinds was able to secure a $2.7 million new market tax credits to equip the building with the latest in technological equipment.

“I call it a gift from heaven,” Muse said.

The new building will house classrooms and laboratories for academic and career technical programs and the Vicksburg Warren School District’s River City Early College, where high school students can earn college credit along with their high school diploma.

“This building you are building for us is needed today,” Muse said. “It will be full.”

Moak said the facility is designed to be a “one-stop career center” to help people get a job.

Enrollment is up

As far as enrollment, the HCC Vicksburg campus has increased nearly 51 percent. At this time last year, there were 580 students enrolled at the Vicksburg campus. Currently there are 875 students enrolled in Vicksburg.

Much of that increase can be attributed to the number of part-time academic students at the Vicksburg campus. According to the figures, that area saw a significant jump this year with 329 currently enrolled, which is a 115 percent increase from the 153 a year ago. Muse said it has become a growing trend for community colleges in recent years.

“More and more students are taking courses online and not coming to the school,” Muse said. 

The number of academic students overall increased more than 52 percent from last year with 596 currently enrolled, compared to 390 a year ago.

The number of technical students — those who are also taking academic classes — is up 67 percent from a year ago, but there was a dramatic increase in the number of part-time technical students. Last year, there were 14 enrolled on the Vicksburg campus, but currently there are 104 part-time technical students — an amazing 642 percent increase.

The number of career students — those who are taking specific classes for workforce training, such as welding or deckhands — remained about the same.

“Mi-Best” program

The “Mi-Best” adult education program “is one of the best in the community college system,” according to Moak.

“We are helping people who may have problems and help them become somebody and then help them get a job,” Moak said.

The innovative workforce training program helps adults pass the GED test, while at the same time prepare them for a career.

The Vicksburg campus currently offers skills in culinary arts, industrial maintenance, office systems, and welding.

“We’re moving people from dependency to independency,” Moak said.

For more about what all Hinds Community College has to offer, visit hindscc.edu.