Northeast Mississippi Community College

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NEMCC President Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Community Physician to Establish NEMCC Health Services Center

by Tony Finch

BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- (10/27/2022) — When he became Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) President in 2015, Dr. Ricky G. Ford had a vision to create an all-encompassing learning environment, affordable and close to home for its students.

Today, a key piece of that vision became reality.

President Ford signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Laurence L. Dennis, MD, to establish the NEMCC Health Services Center to be located at 202 North First Street, Booneville, MS.

President Ford, an avid runner, instituted a health and fitness initiative early in his tenure, believes that there is a direct correlation between student retention and performance with student access to quality healthcare especially for mental healthcare resources.

"Student success means investing in a student's life. The establishment of the NEMCC Health Services Center reflects my commitment to ensuring that every student at our great community college has access to quality healthcare - especially student access to their mental health resources."

NEMCC's partnership with Laurence L. Dennis, MD, a local physician, who has practiced medicine in Booneville for over 30 years is the culmination of a multi-year effort on both their parts to establish a unique community-driven partnership that benefits this generation and future generations of students.

"I am proud and privileged to have practiced medicine In this community for a generation. During that time my priority has been to protect and improve the health of this community," said Dr. Dennis. He continued "Working with President Ford to create the NEMCC Student Health Center will work to achieve our mutual goal of keeping the NEMCC community healthy and engaged - to ensure they flourish physically and mentally."

President Ford concluded "Having a clinical site this close to campus is a win for both the students and faculty of our health science programs," Ford said. "Students in nursing, medical lab, radiology, our new digital sonography program will all benefit from this new facility."

Officials will conduct a pilot in early 2023 with the center set to open in March 2023.

--NEMCC--

Information about Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast Mississippi Community College, located in Booneville, Mississippi, is continually moving forward.

In the spring of 2020, Northeast became just one of four community colleges in the world to reach the prestigious Apple Distinguished School designation. NEMCC was the recipient of the Ellucian Impact Award for 2020 that recognizes the college's advancements in technology and is the only school in the nation to receive the award with the second award going to the University of Greenwich in London and Kent, United Kingdom.

Northeast has been named one of the top colleges and universities in Mississippi and was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as the Healthiest Workplace in Mississippi as it pertains to colleges and universities.

In addition to being one of the top colleges and universities in the nation, OnlineColleges.com recognized Northeast as the top school in the state of Mississippi for online education out of all colleges and universities, including four-year colleges and universities.

ZIPPIA has honored Northeast as the top community college in Mississippi in preparing students for the workforce and Northeast became the first college or university to offer a Z-degree (zero textbook cost) degree in the state of Mississippi as well.

Northeast athletics can also boast that it is home to a new ultramodern baseball and softball facility and currently holds the record for largest video boards for both sports in the community college ranks in the state.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has designated the college as one of its 'Best Places to Work For,' and CollegeChoice.net has named Northeast a Top 25 Community and Junior College in the country while The Center for Digital Education has recognized Northeast as a Top 10 Digital Community College in the nation.

Campus Labs recently named Northeast as one of two educational institutions in the nation as a Campus Labs Trailblazer Award honoree. The Campus Labs Trailblazer Award is based on the college creating a culture of assessment on campus through Campus Labs Planning to increase institutional adoption, focus on continuous improvement, and closing the loop in the institutional assessment priorities.

For more information about Northeast Mississippi Community College, visit http://www.nemcc.edu.

Media Attachments

Dr. Laurence Dennis and Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford look to emcee Will Kollmeyer at a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing for the NEMCC Student Health Services Center: Center for Health & Mental Wellness Center at a celebration in the Claude Wright Room in the Haney Union on the college’s Booneville campus Thursday, October 27, 2022. (Photo by Michael H. Miller)

Dr. Laurence Dennis and Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford trade Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) at a signing for the NEMCC Student Health Services Center: Center for Health & Mental Wellness Center at a celebration in the Claude Wright Room in the Haney Union on the college’s Booneville campus Thursday, October 27, 2022. (Photo by Michael H. Miller)

Dr. Laurence Dennis and Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford share a laugh at a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing for the NEMCC Student Health Services Center: Center for Health & Mental Wellness Center at a celebration in the Claude Wright Room in the Haney Union on the college’s Booneville campus Thursday, October 27, 2022. (Photo by Michael H. Miller)

Dr. Laurence Dennis and Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the NEMCC Student Health Services Center: Center for Health & Mental Wellness Center at a celebration in the Claude Wright Room in the Haney Union on the college’s Booneville campus Thursday, October 27, 2022. (Photo by Alli Mooney Scott)

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