A recent study shows Copiah-Lincoln Community College studentsare entering four-year colleges more than adequately prepared forthe challenges.

The 2006-2007 Institutional Effectiveness Indicators Surveyresults were released to the Co-Lin Board of Trustees at theirmonthly meeting Thursday afternoon. The survey compares GPAs andtest scores of students coming from CLCC into the state’sinstitutions of higher learning with those of students who startedat the four-year schools.

“This is just to show improvements from year to year,” said Dr.Ronald Nettles, dean of the college. “We’re not trying to use it asa bragging piece, but we do like to see our progress.”

The study shows that Co-Lin transfers to Delta State Universityaverage a GPA of 3.13, compared to DSU’s four-year students’ 2.85average. Transfers from Co-Lin to the University of SouthernMississippi amass a cumulative GPA of 2.74 on the average, ascompared with the native students’ 2.85.

Both Mississippi State and Ole Miss students seem to maintainthe same average across the board, with MSU’s reported as a 3.04and Ole Miss’ at 2.91.

Eight of Co-Lin’s career and technical programs ranked first inthe state, and of 18 career/technical programs listed in the study,CLCC ranked above the statewide mean.

The study also showed annual placement rates for all the careerand technical programs offered at Co-Lin, and of the 18 listed, sixhad a 100 percent placement rating. Students in electronicstechnology, food production and management technology, heating andair conditioning technology, hospitality and tourism, medicallaboratory technology and respiratory care technology all showed100 percent job placement upon graduation.

Student evaluations of their facilities were also listed on theInstitutional Effectiveness Survey, with 100 percent at the Wessoncampus reporting being very satisfied with admissions and records,the business office, and the counseling services offered by theschool. It was also unanimous that the Workforce Development Centermet the expectations of the student body, and those surveyed saidthey would use it again.

The board also discussed the weight room and fitness centerproject that is under way for students and employees of theschool.

Co-Lin President Dr. Howell Garner said the school is working ona $40,000 budget for the 4,000 square foot athletic center.Overall, there is $80,000 in the budget to build and equip thefacility.

Physical Plant Director Daryl Jordan said the foundation is”ready to go,” and hopefully after Christmas the slab would bepoured. Co-Lin’s own staff will be working on the construction forthe building, which has taken a little longer than expected as theold building, upon review, was rotten in places and neededextensive renovation.

“The old weight room just needed to be torn down to be honestwith you,” Garner said.

The board also approved acceptance of the Upward Bound grantthat had been denied the school earlier in the year.

“This is the grant we didn’t believe we’d be refunded for,”Garner said, speaking of the fact that the state had not renewedthe program for the college at first, but then ended up comingthrough with funding. The grant, which spans from Dec. 1, 2007 toNov. 30, 2008, totals $349,911.