Summer Term President’s List Announced
Ellisville, MS – Jones College has announced the 2026 Summer Semester honor roll scholars. Full-time students with 15 hours or more and who maintain the following grade-point averages will make the honor roll: President’s List–4.0; Dean’s List–3.99-3.5: Faculty List–3.49-3.0.
| Michelle Leigh Barron | Adams |
| Wyatt Cole Pope | Covington |
| Matthew Joseph Bush | Forrest |
| Donald Lafreda Parhm | Forrest |
| Elijah Robert Whiddon | Hancock |
| Courtney Daniele Butler | Harrison |
| Maurice Anthony Wheaton | Jasper |
| Trace Bradford Townsend | Jasper |
| Mason Kenneth Phillips | Jones |
| Hayden Davis Cox | Jones |
| Christian Xzavier Dobbs | Jones |
| Jo Ann Gordon | Jones |
| Matthew Jack Harrelson | Jones |
| Marcie D. Harrison | Jones |
| Robin Anne Weeks | Jones |
| Brandon Gregory Garrett | Jones |
| Sergio Solano Meja | Lamar |
| Darrin Cade Robbins | Lamar |
| Jacqueline Linell Shows | Lowndes |
| Sarah Nicole Kelly | Marion |
| Cassidy Kay Cowan | Newton |
| Gary Douglas Dunnam | Perry |
| Lindsey Renee Walker | Simpson |
| Reese Shumock | Smith |
| Connor Jason Adcock | Smith |
| Samuel Rhys Smith | Smith |
JONES COLLEGE CLEAR BAG POLICY
Effective for Athletic Events
To enhance the safety and security of students, employees, guests, and visitors, Jones College will implement a Clear Bag Policy for athletic events held on campus.
The policy is designed to provide a safer environment for everyone attending Jones College events while helping streamline the entry process.
PERMITTED ITEMS
Guests may bring the following items into designated Jones College events:
- Clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc-style)
- Small clutch or wristlet no larger than 4.5″ x 5.5″
- Diaper bags, stroller bags, and medically necessary bags (may be subject to inspection)
- Blankets and quilts carried separately or folded over the arm (may be subject to inspection)
- Stadium seats and folding chairs, when permitted for the event (may be subject to inspection)
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items will not be permitted:
- Regular purses, backpacks, and other non-clear or opaque bags larger than the approved clutch size
- Containers or bottles
- Tobacco products, alcohol, illegal drugs, or weapons of any kind
- Any additional items prohibited by Jones College policy or applicable law
BAG INSPECTION & EVENT SECURITY
All permitted bags and items are subject to inspection upon entry. Guests who arrive with a prohibited bag or item may be asked to return the item to their vehicle before entering the event.
Additional security measures may be implemented for certain events as necessary. Event-specific guidelines will be communicated in advance when possible.
Jones College reserves the right to prohibit any item that may pose a safety concern or interfere with the enjoyment of an event.
Seat Ready for Success: Jones Up Close Prepares Incoming Freshmen for the Fall 2026 Semester
Ellisville, MS – The Fall 2026 semester is right around the corner, and Jones College is locked in on making sure students begin the academic year with confidence through Jones Up Close, a two-day event designed to ensure students are “seat ready” before the first day of classes on August 17.
Held August 5 & 6 on the Ellisville campus, Jones Up Close provided students with the opportunity to complete important checklist items while connecting face-to-face with the faculty and staff who will support them during their time at Jones.
Throughout the event, students visited with representatives from Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Housing, Student Affairs, the Business Office, Information Technology, Student Affairs, and other campus departments to finalize schedules, ask questions, and receive personalized guidance before the semester begins.
Students were able to tour the campus with members of the Bobcat Brigade student recruitment team to learn where their classes would be located to ensure an easy first day of class. Brigade members also spoke with students about the importance of getting involved in campus life and the benefits of joining clubs and organizations.
By bringing essential services together in one location, students were able to leave campus knowing they had the resources they needed for a successful start.
The commitment to first-time student success extended beyond the main campus as well. Understanding that some students were unable to travel to campus before classes began, Jones College also offered an online orientation experience. The virtual option allowed students to complete the same essential preparations remotely, ensuring they had access to important information and campus resources regardless of where they lived or their individual circumstances.
At Jones, student success begins long before the first day of class. Through opportunities like Jones Up Close and online orientation, the college remains committed to helping every student feel prepared, supported, and confident on their educational journey.
Good news- there is still time for prospective students to become part of the Jones family this fall! Students may continue enrolling before face-to-face classes begin on August 17, with online classes beginning on August 24.
Throughout the semester, Jones College faculty and staff will continue standing ready to assist students who may still need help finding classrooms, navigating campus, adjusting schedules, or connecting with the resources they need to succeed.
Apply at the link below to join the Jones family this fall!
www.jcjc.edu/apply/
Destination Ready
Jennifer Griffith Leads New Effort to Connect Jones Students to Careers
ELLISVILLE – Long before being named Jones College’s new Executive Vice President of Corporate and University Development, Jennifer Griffith was a college student working full-time by day in the shipping department of a processing plant while attending night classes, determined to earn the education that she knew could create the future she wanted.
“It was hard,” Griffith said. “It was incredibly hard.”
There were long days and late nights, but Griffith never lost sight of the future she first imagined after discovering Jones College as a young girl and later returning for Junior Preview Day. Every sacrifice brought her one step closer to the life she knew education could make possible.
Today, those experiences aren’t just part of her story—they’re the foundation of her purpose.
“I tell students all the time, ‘You can do this,'” Griffith said. “I promise you, it will be worth it.”
While academics will always be at the heart of Jones College, Griffith’s vision extends far beyond the classroom. She wants every student who walks across the graduation stage to leave Jones with more than a diploma.
“I want students, when they come on campus, to know where they’re going to end up,” she said. “I want them to understand how Jones helps them get there.”
Griffith hopes to prepare students for successful careers by equipping them with the professional skills, workplace knowledge, and career guidance needed to enter the workforce with confidence.
“A career is different than a job,” Griffith said. “We want students to understand the whole picture.”
Through expanded partnerships with businesses and industries across South Mississippi, Griffith hopes students will gain hands-on experience through internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities that all begin while they’re enrolled at Jones. The goal is to forge relationships early, allowing students to explore career paths while allowing employers to invest in the workforce they’ll one day depend on to continue their legacy.
“We want students to be destination-ready,” Griffith said.
Griffith believes Jones College plays a vital role in strengthening South Mississippi’s workforce by partnering with local industries to prepare graduates with the skills employers need from day one.
“If you don’t have a trained, educated workforce, companies won’t locate here, and they won’t stay here,” Griffith said.
She sees Jones College as more than a place where students earn credentials. She sees it as an anchor for the region, a foundation that helps local businesses grow, attracts new industries and creates opportunities that allow graduates to build successful careers without leaving the place they love – home.
But while workforce development is central to her role, it always comes back to people.
She talks about the student working 30 hours a week while carrying a full course load because that’s the only way they can afford to stay in school, and she thinks about the single parent trying to build a better future.
It’s why she refuses to let students believe they’re alone in the struggle.
“It’s okay not to know,” she said. “Figure out what kind of life you want, and then let your education help you get there.”
Before becoming an educator, Griffith never imagined she’d spend her life in education at all. It wasn’t until she accepted a substitute teaching job at her alma mater, South Jones High School, that everything changed. One unexpected opportunity became a calling, and she hopes Jones College can help students experience those same moments of discovery before they ever leave campus.
When asked what she hopes people will remember about her years from now, Griffith didn’t mention enrollment numbers, new initiatives or workforce partnerships.
Instead, she paused.
“I hope people say that I cared.”
She referenced a quote that has stayed with her throughout her career and has become her philosophy: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
As Jones College continues embracing its “All Roads Lead to Jones” campaign, Griffith believes every student’s road should lead somewhere even greater.
Whether their next step is a university or a career, Griffith believes every Jones graduate should leave with both a diploma and a clear destination.
Because while all roads may lead to Jones, Griffith hopes every road that begins here leads students to purpose, opportunity, and a future they’re proud to build.
Mississippi Community College System Proposes New Performance-Based Workforce Investment Program
Mississippi’s community colleges have proposed a new performance-based workforce investment initiative that would prepare an estimated 5,500 additional workers each year for high-priority careers while tying new state funding directly to workforce outcomes.
The Jobs Promise Performance Program (JPPP), recently approved as part of the Mississippi Association of Community College’s (MACC) legislative agenda for the 2027 session of the Mississippi Legislature, is a new concept in workforce development and performance-based investment. Should the program receive funding by the Legislature, it will allow the State of Mississippi to make targeted investments aimed at equipping an additional 5,500 workers annually with skills required for high-priority occupations, in order to promote economic growth in the state.
As policymakers in Mississippi continue discussing how public education can better serve its stakeholders, such as students, employers and taxpayers, the ongoing debates about accountability and performance-based investments center on a common question: How should public investment be measured by public outcomes?
The Jobs Promise Performance Program suggests one way to do that.
Dr. Courtney Taylor, Executive Director of Accelerate MS said, “Mississippi’s workforce momentum requires us to continually think about how we align education, training, and economic opportunity. Conversations like this are valuable because they keep the focus on preparing more Mississippians for high-demand careers while ensuring public investments deliver meaningful results.”
Instead of just looking into enrollment numbers, the proposed program focuses on successful completion of high-priority workforce programs and producing graduates who are prepared to join Mississippi’s workforce. By tying community college performance to Mississippi’s economic development needs, the initiative provides additional incentive to increase the number of graduates working in occupations that are experiencing shortages.
“Mississippi’s Jobs Promise Performance Program shows our commitment to give our students the tools they need for the current workforce,” said Dr. Ricky G. Ford, president of Northeast Mississippi Community College and chair of the MACC. “By aligning education with workforce demands, we are helping to both improve job prospects for our graduates and facilitate economic development of our communities. It is all about making sure that the process of transitioning from education to workforce becomes smooth and efficient.”
At the recent Mississippi Association of Community College Trustees Conference, Mississippi community college leaders discussed workforce demands in Mississippi. Additionally, it is estimated that the state will need tens of thousands of additional trained workers in the coming years in order to meet workforce demands in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, aerospace, IT and other high growth industries. The Jobs Promise Performance Program was developed in response to these workforce challenges.
“Across Mississippi, there is an important conversation taking place about accountability in public education and the return taxpayers receive on their investment,” said Dr. Scott Alsobrooks, president of East Mississippi Community College and co-chair of the MACC Legislative committee. “The Jobs Promise Performance Program reflects our belief that community colleges should be measured not simply by how many students enroll, but by how many complete high-priority workforce programs and enter careers that strengthen Mississippi’s economy. This proposal demonstrates our willingness to align public investment with measurable results.”
Should the program receive approval from the Mississippi Legislature, it will introduce a new Economic Development Priority as part of the community college funding model and recognize workforce production as the measure of the statewide investment.
“For decades, Mississippi’s community colleges have responded to changes in employer demands by launching training programs in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, IT, public safety, construction and many other high-priority industries,” said Dr. Michael Heindl, president at Northwest Mississippi Community College and co-chair of the MACC Legislative committee. “The Jobs Promise Performance Program builds on that tradition by encouraging and incentivizing colleges to produce even more graduates in the industries that are driving Mississippi’s future economy.”
The program will require the investment of $41.5 million in exchange for the preparation of an estimated 5,500 additional workers annually in high-priority sectors, highlighting once again the historic role of the community college system in Mississippi as the primary provider of workforce training.
Jones College President Dr. Jesse Smith said, “At Jones College, workforce education is about more than filling available jobs. It is about creating pathways that allow individuals to support their families, advance within their professions, and contribute to the vitality of their communities. The Jobs Promise Performance Program potentially increases a college’s capacity to connect local students with credentials that lead directly to meaningful employment and long-term economic mobility. When we help one student move from the classroom into a rewarding career, the impact extends to that student’s family, the employer, the community, and ultimately the entire state.”
Mr. Kell Smith, Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB), added: “Our college missions have always been to empower Mississippians through education and training. The Jobs Promise Performance Program continues that mission by rewarding results that matter—more skilled workers, stronger employers and continued economic growth across Mississippi.”
As discussions about the future of public education funding in Mississippi continue, the program demonstrates the community college system’s commitment to performance, partnerships, and delivering value to its stakeholders.
