Minutes of the Education Achievement Council August 24, 2017 ▪ 1
Minutes of the Education Achievement Council Meeting
Thursday, August 24, 2017
BE IT REMEMBERED, that the Education Achievement Council (EAC) met in the
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board Room in Jackson, Mississippi at 10:30
a.m. on August 24, 2017.
Council Members Present:
Mr. Milton Anderson, President, Mississippi Association of Proprietary Schools
Dr. Kim Benton, Mississippi Department of Education, representing Dr. Carey Wright
Mr. Lee Bush, Chair, Mississippi Community College Board
Dr. Jim Borsig, President, Mississippi University for Women
Dr. Glenn Boyce, Commissioner, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Dr. Kim Benton, representing Dr. Carey Wright, State Superintendent, Mississippi Department
of Education
Dr. Harold Fisher, Executive Director, Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and
Universities
Dr. Jim Haffey, President, Holmes Community College
Dr. Andrea Mayfield, Executive Director, Mississippi Community College Board, via
teleconference
Chairman John Moore, Chairman, House of Representatives Education Committee
Chairman John Read, Chairman, House of Representatives Appropriations Committee
Mr. C.D. Smith, Trustee, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, via teleconference
Dr. Jesse Smith, President, Jones County Junior College
Dr. Billy Stewart, President, East Central Community College, via teleconference
Mrs. Cheryl Thurmond, Board Member, Mississippi Community College Board
Chairman Gray Tollison, Chairman, Senate Education Committee
Council Members Absent:
Mrs. Rosemary Aultman, President, Mississippi Board of Education
Dr. William Bynum, President, Jackson State University
Chairman Eugene Clarke, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
Mr. Tom Duff, Trustee, Institutions of Higher Learning
Chairman Josh Harkins, Chairman, Senate Universities and Colleges Committee
Chairman Nolan Mettetal, Chairman, House of Representatives Universities and Colleges
Committee
Mr. Adam Moore, Mississippi Department of Mental Health
Dr. Laurie Smith, Education Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Phil Bryant
Mr. Blake Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mississippi Economic Council
Minutes of the Education Achievement Council August 24, 2017 ▪ 2
Others Present:
Mr. Eric Atchison, Director of System Analysis, Research, & Enrollment Management,
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Mrs. Stephanie Bullock, Complete 2 Compete Project Coordinator, Mississippi Institutions of
Higher Learning
Ms. Melia Dicker, Woodward Hines Education Foundation/Get2College
Ms. Kim Gallaspy, Director of Legislative Services, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Ms. Chellese Hall, Woodward Hines Education Foundation
Ms. Audra Kimble, Assistant Executive Director for Academic and Student Affairs, Mississippi
Community College Board
Ms. Kierstan Knaus, Woodward Hines Education Foundation/Get2College
Dr. Shawn Mackey, Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Accountability, Mississippi
Community College Board
Ms. Jean Massey, Associate Superintendent, Mississippi Department of Education
Mr. James McHale, President & CEO, Woodward Hines Education Foundation
Ms. Heather Morrison, P-20 Project Coordinator, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Ms. Amber Palmer, Project Coordinator, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Ms. Lee Anne Robinson, Budget Officer, House of Representatives
Ms. Jennifer Rogers, Director, Office of Student Financial Aid
Ms. Stacy Sneed, Woodward Hines Education Foundation
Mr. Kell Smith, Director of Communications, Mississippi Community College Board
Dr. Jim Turcotte, Chairman, Mississippi Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance Board
Dr. Casey Turnage, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Mississippi Institutions of Higher
Learning
Ms. Kim Verneuille, Director of Proprietary Schools, Mississippi Community College Board
Ms. Apryll Washington, Director of Policy and Planning, Office of Student Financial Aid
Ms. Shanell Watson, Associate Program Officer, Woodward Hines Education Foundation
I. Welcome
Dr. Jim Borsig opened the meeting and requested that members review the minutes.
II. Approval of Minutes
Accepted as corrected.
III. Elevating Mississippi to a Higher Degree: Presentation from Woodward Hines
Education Foundation
Mr. McHale presented a report on the establishment of the Woodward Hines Education
Foundation. The organization began as a secondary market for student loans and an organization
to assist students with college access. The Get2College program is a statewide initiative to help
students prepare for college. WHEF priorities are access and entry, persistence and completion,
and connection to meaningful employment.
Minutes of the Education Achievement Council August 24, 2017 ▪ 3
A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes.
IV. Update on SREB Ready Courses
Ms. Jean Massey gave an update on the SREB Ready Courses. They have been re-named
Essentials for College Math and Essentials for College Literacy. The data presented by Ms.
Massey shows progress of students in the courses. The SBE board policy mandates that all
schools offer the courses beginning in the 2918-19 school year. A copy of the handout is
attached to these minutes.
V. Update on Complete 2 Compete Website Launch
Stephanie Bullock demonstrated the Complete2Compete website and presented information
about website traffic and applications. Paid Google and Facebook ads promoting the website are
beginning today. In mid-September, a marketing campaign will begin to contact Mississippians
who may have earned enough credits to be awarded a degree without additional coursework.
The website address is www.msC2C.org. More information about the campaign will be shared
at the October meeting.
VI. Discussion of Plans for EAC
Dr. Borsig opened a discussion about reducing the number of meetings and focusing more
directly on the role of sustaining attention to increasing educational attainment as required in the
EAC statute, Mississippi Code §37-163-1.
After discussion, the consensus was to develop a proposal for a two or three meeting format for
consideration at the October meeting. The schedule may include a meeting/presentation during
Legislative Session to the Education and Universities and Colleges Committees so more
legislators can hear about the work of the Council. The October meeting will also include
presentations of the report cards and longitudinal analysis of the data.
VI. Other Business
Dr. Jesse Smith announced that he is stepping down as Co-Chair of the Council. He praised the
progress made so far.
VII. Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Education Achievement Council will be held on October 26, 2017 in the
IHL Board Room.
IX. Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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Elevating Mississippi to a Higher Degree
Vision and Mission
ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
Our mission is to help more Mississippians obtain postsecondary credentials, college certificates, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment.
We envision a Mississippi where all people can secure the training and education beyond high school that will allow them to enhance their quality of life, strengthen their communities, and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous future for our state.
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Our Priorities
ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
• Access and Entry
• Persistence and Completion
• Connection to Meaningful Employment
Priorities 2017-2020
ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
Scaling Get2College:Seed innovation and new collaborations
Shape institutional policies and practices
Grant Making
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ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
Get2College received a $55,000 grant from the National College Access Network (NCAN) through the Kresge Foundation to increase the level of FAFSA completion in the Jackson Public School District.
NCAN Grant FAFSA Completion Grant partners:
ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
FAFSA Completion Grant Partners:
100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc.Belhaven UniversityCity Council of JacksonCity of JacksonGreater Bethlehem Temple ChurchGreater Jackson Chamber PartnershipJackson Public SchoolsJackson State UniversityMississippi Department of EducationMississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Mississippi Office of Student Financial AidMississippi Public BroadcastingMississippi State UniversityMississippi University for WomenNew Horizon Church InternationalPhi Theta Kappa Honors SocietyTougaloo CollegeUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterUniversity of MississippiUnited Way of the Capital Area
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ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
Pilot School Locations
ELEVATING MISSISSIPPI TO A HIGHERDEGREE
Pilot School Services
• Professional Development for Counselors and Teachers
• One‐on‐one Individual Counseling Days with Students
• Student Workshops
• Parent Engagement
• College Application Completion Days
• FAFSA Completion Days
• College Tours
• Signing Days
• Transition Workshops