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Community College Faculty Seek Raises, More Funding

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Community College Faculty Seek Raises, More Funding

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Mississippi community colleges are lobbying lawmakers for more funding saying faculty and staff haven't had a state raise in 12 years. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.

Faculty at Mississippi community college say they haven't had a state-funded raise in 12 years. Marilyn Ford is with the state's faculty association for community and junior colleges. She says instructors are leaving to teach at other institutions because they can make more money.

"It's difficult to keep up with our universities counterparts or even our K-12 peers because of the lower salaries," said Ford.

Ford says they still need faculty, staff and equipment to provide workforce development training, dual enrollment and GED programs.

"Currently we are funded at only 7 cents of every educational dollar spent in our state, however we're constantly being tasked with doing more with less," said Ford.

Michael Evans an alumnus of Pearl River Community College studied electronic and industrial technologies. He works as an electro mechanic in Hattiesburg and is at the capitol to support the effort. Evans says the colleges help lift young people out of poverty.

"It's going to start with education. They need skills, knowledge that they need to get a better job, advance themselves in life. I think the community college is the answer to that," said Evans.

The governor's budget asks for $100 million in one time monies for workforce training. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann says the Senate is considering raises.

"We started out as you know with funding teachers and assistants and now we're going to fund Pre-K
in Mississippi. The obvious next step is to look at our community college and university system," said Hosemann.

Hosemann says it's too soon to know if they can increase funding for programs.