Mid-South Welding Students Continue Certification Perfection

Welding students at Arkansas State University Mid-South continue to ace certification exams at a 100 percent clip, and lead instructor Ed Cook says he couldn’t be more pleased.

“It tickles me to death,” said Cook who has 30 years of welding experience. “I’ve been welding all my life, and every time you take a test, you get nervous. It’s not like welding every day. And all it takes is one little piece of trapped slag, and you fail.

For us to go three years and not have something like that happen is amazing.”

The feat is even more impressive when the volume is added to the equation. This spring, ASU Mid-South students passed 53 of 53 tests.

“That’s a pretty good number,” Cook said. “We’ve had really good students who take pride in what they’re learning. We’re putting out a pretty good product, and industries are calling me right and left looking for welders.”

College Becomes ASU Mid-South; Focus Remains on Students, Community

Mid-South Community College officially became Arkansas State University Mid-South on July 1, but while visual changes will begin appearing soon, the focus on student and community needs will remain the same.

“We have changed what we call our institution, but we have not changed who we are,” said Dr. Barbara Baxter, ASU Mid-South interim chancellor. “Our mission to meet the higher education needs of our region continues to be our driving force. Other than new signs, new logos, new ID cards, and new web and email addresses, our students probably won’t see a great deal of change in the next few months.”

“Our long-term hope is that our merger with the ASU System will bring enhanced program offerings to our campus and even greater opportunities for our students to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees without leaving Crittenden County.”

MSCC to Add ‘Real-World’ Welding Fabrication Area

Mid-South Community College will increase the physical size of its Welding Technology lab inside its current location and will construct a new building for maintenance equipment that will be displaced by the program expansion.

MSCC’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the $600,000 project at its June meeting.

Ed Cook, Lead Faculty for Welding Technology, said the additional space will be used to mirror conditions and situations welders face on the job, like pipe, confined-space, and aerial welding.

“We’re calling it a ‘real-world welding fabrication’ area,” Cook said. “Our advisory committee encouraged us to do this because, while our students are great welders, they sometimes have difficulty when facing a challenging work environment.”

Mid-South Trustees Receive Honorary Degrees at Final Meeting

During what is most likely the final meeting of the Mid-South Community College Board of Trustees, the institution awarded honorary degrees to board members for 2014-15. The college also presented Board Chair Mary Toney with a plaque for her leadership over the past 12 months.

The trustees, in turn, recognized Dr. Glen Fenter and Dr. Barbara Baxter with mementos in honor of their 20+ years of service. Both are retiring from the college this summer.

Pending approval of the Higher Learning Commission, MSCC will become part of the Arkansas State University System as ASU Mid-South on July 1, and the Board of Trustees will become a Board of Visitors.

While some of the trustees suggested special recognition for the three founding members – Toney, Solon Anthony, and Alex Coulter – Toney said she felt everyone should receive something for their time, effort, and place in MSCC history.

“I’ve tried to do everything this year that members asked, other than one thing. The board told me to do something for myself, Mr. Anthony, and Alex, but I wanted to do something for everybody. So I exerted my authority as chair.”

MSCC Foundation’s ‘Campaign For Hope’ Moving Steadily Toward Goal

The Mid-South Community College Foundation’s Campaign for Hope, a $250,000 scholarship fund-raising effort to honor outgoing president Dr. Glen Fenter, has topped 60 percent, and the effort is entering the home stretch.

Dr. Fenter, who has served the college and community for nearly 23 years, will retire from MSCC on June 30 and become chief executive officer of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce. A Donor Appreciation Event and Tribute Dinner has been scheduled for June 26, and contributors of $500 or more will be invited to the special event.

“I am humbled by the outpouring of generosity in support of this scholarship,” Dr. Fenter said. “When members of our Foundation Board first discussed this idea with me, I told them I thought they could raise a whole lot more money if the fund were to pay me to leave town, not create scholarships.

Debra West Appointed Chancellor at Arkansas State University Mid-South

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. – Arkansas State University System President Dr. Charles L. Welch today announced the selection of Dr. Debra West as chancellor of the ASU Mid-South campus.

West, an Arkansas native with broad experience in community college workforce training initiatives, will succeed Dr. Glen Fenter, who will resign June 30 as the first president of Mid-South Community College to become CEO of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce. Pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission at its June 25-26 meeting, the college will become Arkansas State University Mid-South on July 1.

 “We conducted an extensive national search, had four outstanding finalists and I believe hired one of the most competent and visionary administrators in the country,” Welch said. “An added benefit is Dr. West’s strong knowledge of, and commitment to, this institution and the Delta region as a whole. One of the search advisory committee members stated she was looking for a candidate who was strong in communication, motivation and innovation. Dr. West definitely excels in those areas, and the response received from all campus constituencies was overwhelmingly positive regarding her leadership abilities.

Delaware North Co-CEO Helps MSCC Dedicate Hospitality Center

Louis Jacobs, co-chief executive officer of Delaware North, talked about family, history, and community spirit while participating in Mid-South Community College’s dedication of the $2.2 million Jeremy Jacobs Hospitality Center on June 2.

Speaking to a large crowd gathered in MSCC’s newest facility, Jacobs started his presentation with regrets from his father, whose name will appear on and in the building.