MGCCC and USM Presidents Sign Memorandum of Agreement
Mon, 07/10/2023 - 10:19am
The presidents of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) and The University
of Southern Mississippi (USM) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on June 26 in
Hardy Hall on USM’s Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach. The MOA allows MGCCC to offer
freshman and sophomore classes at the Gulf Park Campus and provides students on any
MGCCC campus who complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree a seamless
pathway to admission to USM. If a former MGCCC student is already a USM student, they
will be able to transfer hours back to MGCCC to complete an associate degree.
“We are excited about this unique partnership with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College,” said Southern Miss President Joseph S. Paul. “This new pathway will help MGCCC students move seamlessly from their associate degree to a Southern Miss bachelor’s degree, will provide classroom space on our beautiful Gulf Park campus for MGCCC to deliver select courses to their current students, and will allow MGCCC students to have a first-hand view of all Southern Miss has to offer them on the Coast as the next step in their education.”
He continued, “I want to thank MGCCC President Mary Graham and her team for their tireless efforts to bring this vision to life, as we work together to educate the next generation of qualified professionals who will join our coastal workforce.”
Benefits to students include eligibility for stackable scholarships at USM and ease of transition and admission to USM upon completion of their degree at MGCCC.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for our students at MGCCC as USM is in our own backyard,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president. “Students can conveniently take classes through MGCCC at Gulf Park beginning this fall. They can also join the Two-Plus-Two pathway and, upon graduating from MGCCC, be assured admittance to USM. There are also other benefits such as meeting with USM advisors at an MGCCC campus to discuss their degree plan and on what to expect after transferring.”
USM and MGCCC have a long-standing commitment to partnerships that provide South Mississippi students outstanding education programs. The institutions have a variety of MOU and partnership agreements in place for Honors College, the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Research Scholars Program, and focuses on both the blue economy and Teachers Academy.
MGCCC is scheduled to offer five classes at the Gulf Park Campus this fall. Please visit the Two-Plus-Two pathway with USM for more information.