Houston County Commission presents proclamation to WCCD declaring April “Community College Month” in Houston County

Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver presents a proclamation declaring April “Community College Month” to Dr. Ashli Wilkins, WCCD.

The Houston County Commission has proclaimed the month of April as “Community College Month” in Houston County. The commission presented Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD) with a proclamation on Monday, March 28, 2022, at their regularly scheduled commission meeting. Dr. Ashli Wilkins, WCCD Vice President and Dean, Institutional Services and Community Development, accepted the proclamation from the Commission.

“Over 40 percent of Wallace students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester were from Houston County,” said Dr. Wilkins, “so we are very grateful to the Houston County Commission for this recognition. Like all community colleges throughout our great nation, Wallace is here to change the lives of those we serve. We embrace this mission, and we look forward to continuing to work with Houston County as we educate, train, re-train, and improve the lives of the citizens not only in Houston Countybut all over the Wiregrass region.”

“Community College Month” acknowledges the importance of community colleges and their impact on the communities they serve. Community colleges attract students from all backgrounds and educational levels with their mission of providing open access and affordability to those seeking a post-secondary degree or credential, giving everyone the opportunity to succeed. Community colleges provide students with the ability to increase their earning potential and assist the community in economic development and industry recruitment by producing a highly skilled and highly trained workforce.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges, over 10 million students are enrolled at community colleges across the country, and 39 percent of all undergraduates in the United States are enrolled at community colleges. Attending a public, in-state, four-year college costs on average $10,740 a year, compared to $3,800 a year at a community college, and the median national earning of full-time employees with an associate degree is $48,776.

Wallace Community College enrolls approximately 5,000 credit students in its academic, health science, and career technical education programs each year, and serves approximately 3,000 students annually through its adult education, workforce training programs, and continuing education programs. For more information about programs and services offered by WCCD, please visit wallace.edu.