Bishop State Community College: A Comprehensive Overview

Bishop State Community College is a state-supported, open-admission, urban community college located in Mobile, Alabama. The College consists of four city campuses, dedicated to serving the residents of Mobile and Washington counties in southwest Alabama. As part of the Alabama Community College System, Bishop State offers university transfer programs and one- and two-year career programs.

Accreditation and Programs

Bishop State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. The College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.

Students can earn degrees and certificates in 26 different fields. Popular programs include: General Studies, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.

Campus Life and Student Body

Bishop State Community College is a medium, 2-year, public school located in a city in an urban setting. Its campus is located in a city with a total enrollment of 2,176. The school utilizes a semester-based academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 14-to-1. As of fall 2020, Bishop State's student body consists of 2,176 students.

Student Demographics

Part-time enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,421
Age Distribution (Fall 2022):
- Under 18: 21%
- 18-24: 48%
- 25-64: 31%
- Over 65: 0%

Several student clubs and organizations operate at Bishop State Community College, including honors societies and student government, special interest and service organizations.

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Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

In-state tuition and fees for 2020-2021 were $4,860, and out-of-state tuition and fees were $8,550. There is no application fee. At Bishop State Community College, 83 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $4,734. Books and supplies are estimated at $2,000.

Campus Locations and Facilities

Bishop State has one on-site campus and several on-site instructional sites in Mobile County.

Main Campus: Located at 351 North Broad Street, it contains 14 buildings and covers 15 acres (0.061 km2). As of February 2021, the Mobile County Commission approved $350,000 to fund the construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Health Sciences Facility on Main Campus. The 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) Advanced Manufacturing Center is designed for skilled workforce development training grounds for careers in process technology, industrial maintenance, electronics engineering technology and robotics, among others. The Health Sciences Facility will include a 1,150 square foot (107 m2) nursing simulation site to train nursing students in patient care.
Southwest Campus: Located at 925 Dauphin Island Parkway. Established in 1947 as Southwest State Technical College, a vocational school, it was consolidated into Bishop State Community College in 1991.
Carver Campus: Located at 414 Stanton Road. Established in 1962 as Carver State Technical College, a vocational school, it was consolidated into Bishop State Community College in 1991.
Former Baker-Gaines Central Campus: Located at 1365 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. In 1995, the Mobile County School Board sold the campus, formerly Central High School, to Bishop State for one dollar. The two-story building sits on 5 acres (0.020 km2).
Semmes location: Located at 9010 Forest Street in Semmes, Alabama.
Theodore location: Located at 5808 US-90 in Theodore, Alabama.
Truck Driving Site: Located at 4551 Halls Mill Road in Mobile.

Academics

A typical academic year contains two 15-week terms during the fall (August-December) and spring (January-May). Within the terms are two four-week accelerated sessions or mini terms. The full summer term is ten weeks long (May-August). Bishop State has transfer agreements with every public four-year institution in Alabama. Bishop State is a Student Support Services TRIO program participant. The school has an open admissions policy and offers credit for life experiences.

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar is semester-based.

Athletics

The Bishop State athletic association chairs six varsity athletic programs. The teams are collectively known as the Wildcats, and belong to the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) and Region 22 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Men's sports include: basketball, baseball and golf.

History and Background

Bishop State Community College was founded in 1927 as the Mobile, Alabama, extension of Alabama State College, and initially offered courses to African-American certified teachers. In 1936, it was organized into a two-year college and renamed Alabama State College - Mobile Center, with O.H. Johnson serving as the first dean. In 1965, Alabama legislation officially declared Bishop State Community College a state junior college independent from Alabama State College, and it was renamed Mobile State Junior College. The Alabama State Board of Education renamed the college S.D. Bishop State Junior College for its first president, Dr. Sanford D. Bishop, in 1971.

Former Names

Alabama State College - Mobile Center
Mobile State Junior College
S.D. Bishop State Junior College

Additional Information

Type: Public historically black community college
Established: 1927; 99 years ago
Affiliation: Alabama Community College System
President: Olivier Charles
Dean: Dr.

Read also: Education at Bishop Heber College

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