Jefferson State Community College
Encyclopedia
Jefferson State Community College, more often known as 'Jeff State', is a two-year college in the Alabama Community College System. The current campus locations are the Jefferson Campus in eastern Jefferson County
, the Shelby-Hoover Campus in northern Shelby County
, the St. Clair-Pell City Center in Pell City, and the Chilton-Clanton Center in Clanton
.
Jefferson State offers more than 120 university transfer programs, 20 career programs with multiple options, and numerous certificate programs. These programs are offered during the day, evening, weekends and via the Internet. The school is well known for its competitive Heath and Biological Science programs. It has an ESL program as well as a variety of community and continuing education classes. It hosts a Career Center, workforce training, and call center classes on campus. Each campus is equipped with computer labs and libraries available to all students, faculty, and staff.
In addition to its outstanding academic programs, Jeff State has a variety of campus organizations and activity groups. The activity groups include the College Scholars Team, Intramural Sports, Speech Team (Forensics Team), Jefferson State Singers, Writer's Roundtable, and the Wingspan Literary Magazine. The campus organizations include professional and social/community groups. These are as follows: Alpha Beta Chi, Association of Clinical Laboratory Technician Students, Association of Radiologic Technology Students, Designers and Builders Club, Sigma Phi Sigma, Student Nursing Association, Student Chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Tehnicians, Jeff State Ambassadors, Art and Animation Guild, Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Student Government Association, and Students in Free Enterprise.
to award the Associate Degree. Individual academic programs are nationally accredited by 10 different professional evaluating organizations
Huntingdon College
now offers a bachelor’s degree program that has classes at three of Jeff State's campuses. The courses are accelerated so that students can attend class one night a week and complete their bachelor’s degree in a traditional time frame. Classes last 5 weeks and students can receive financial aid through Huntingdon for this program.
officially changed the name of the school to Jefferson State Community College on February 23, 1989.
The original campus is located on 274 acres (1.1 km²) in Birmingham, Alabama
. The thirteen buildings that make up the campus are named for community benefactors (H.Y. and Ruby Carson, John B. Bethune, Harvey DeRamus, and Eugene Fitzgerald), elected officials (James B. Allen, George C. Wallace, Lurleen B. Wallace, and Harold C. Martin), and former Jeff State presidents (Leroy Brown and George L. Layton).
The college opened an extension center in Shelby County, Alabama
in January 1993. In June 1996, the center was designated a branch campus by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education
. The Shelby Campus in Hoover, Alabama
has three multi-purpose buildings on 60 acres (242,811.6 m²).
In 2003, the Alabama State Board of Education revised the college's service area to include the western part of St. Clair County, Alabama
. Classes began meeting at the St. Clair Center in Moody, Alabama
in Fall 2003. On April 22, 2004, the board approved another insturctional site for St. Clair County in Pell City, Alabama
, and classes started meeting there in Fall 2004. With 50 acres (202,343 m²) deeded to the school by the St. Clair Economic Devleopment Council, Jeff State constructed a new center in Pell City. The college offered classes in that three-story facility in Fall 2006.
In 2007, the Board again revised the college's service area to include Chilton County, Alabama
and approved construction for a multipurpose instructional facility in Clanton, Alabama
. The new center was completed and classes began in Fall 2008.
Jeff State has had three presidents: Dr. Leroy Brown (1964-1971), Dr. George L. Layton (1971-1979), and Dr. Judy M. Merritt (1979-present).
Each library is staffed by a librarian during business hours. The libraries at the Jefferson and Shelby-Hoover campuses are open Monday through Thursday, 7:30am-9:00pm and Friday 7:30am-4:00pm. The libraries at St. Clair-Pell City and Chilton-Clanton vary their hours each semester according to student and faculty need. The Jefferson campus library is located on the second floor of the James B. Allen building. The Shelby-Hoover campus library is located on the ground floor of the General Studies Building. The St. Clair-Pell City site library is located in room 117 of the main building. The Chilton-Clanton site library is located in room 114 of the main building.
radio.
Approximately 10,000 students enrolled in 2010, the highest enrollment ever seen at the college.
Beta Lambda Delta, the Shelby Campus chapter of two year institution Honor's Society Phi Theta Kappa
, came in as Fourth Alternate internationally in 2007, taking home 7 awards total. In 2008, the Beta Lambda Delta Chapter was named Most Distinguished Chapter International, the highest award available to a Phi Theta Kappa chapter. The chapter also received the award in 2009, the first time a chapter has taken the top honor two years in a row, in over 30 years.
Jeff State's Students in Free Enterprise, SIFE
, Team received the second runner-up award at the SIFE Regional Competition in Atlanta, GA, on Monday, April 4, 2011.
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
, the Shelby-Hoover Campus in northern Shelby County
Shelby County, Alabama
Shelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. It is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county seat of Shelby County is Columbiana. As of 2010 U.S. Census the population was 195,085. Shelby...
, the St. Clair-Pell City Center in Pell City, and the Chilton-Clanton Center in Clanton
Clanton, Alabama
Clanton is a city in Chilton County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 7,800. The city is the county seat of Chilton County.-History:...
.
Jefferson State offers more than 120 university transfer programs, 20 career programs with multiple options, and numerous certificate programs. These programs are offered during the day, evening, weekends and via the Internet. The school is well known for its competitive Heath and Biological Science programs. It has an ESL program as well as a variety of community and continuing education classes. It hosts a Career Center, workforce training, and call center classes on campus. Each campus is equipped with computer labs and libraries available to all students, faculty, and staff.
In addition to its outstanding academic programs, Jeff State has a variety of campus organizations and activity groups. The activity groups include the College Scholars Team, Intramural Sports, Speech Team (Forensics Team), Jefferson State Singers, Writer's Roundtable, and the Wingspan Literary Magazine. The campus organizations include professional and social/community groups. These are as follows: Alpha Beta Chi, Association of Clinical Laboratory Technician Students, Association of Radiologic Technology Students, Designers and Builders Club, Sigma Phi Sigma, Student Nursing Association, Student Chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Tehnicians, Jeff State Ambassadors, Art and Animation Guild, Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Student Government Association, and Students in Free Enterprise.
Jefferson State offers a comprehensive approach to customized workforce training through an ACT Center, Training for Business and Industry, GED programs, adult education, remedial education, workforce readiness training, and programs to assist dislocated workers, displaced homemakers and other special populations.
Accreditation
Jefferson State is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
to award the Associate Degree. Individual academic programs are nationally accredited by 10 different professional evaluating organizations
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College, founded in 1854, is a coeducational liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Related to the United Methodist Church, the college's central hallmarks are faith, wisdom, and service. The college is known for providing a solid academic experience based on good...
now offers a bachelor’s degree program that has classes at three of Jeff State's campuses. The courses are accelerated so that students can attend class one night a week and complete their bachelor’s degree in a traditional time frame. Classes last 5 weeks and students can receive financial aid through Huntingdon for this program.
History
Jefferson State Junior College was established on May 3, 1963, by an act of the State Legislature. The first students enrolled at Jeff State in September 1965. The Alabama State Board of EducationAlabama State Board of Education
The Alabama State Board of Education is a nine-member body which authorizes the education policy for the state of Alabama. The governor is the ex officio president of the board. The remaining eight members are elected from single-member districts for four-year terms with no limit on the number of...
officially changed the name of the school to Jefferson State Community College on February 23, 1989.
The original campus is located on 274 acres (1.1 km²) in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The thirteen buildings that make up the campus are named for community benefactors (H.Y. and Ruby Carson, John B. Bethune, Harvey DeRamus, and Eugene Fitzgerald), elected officials (James B. Allen, George C. Wallace, Lurleen B. Wallace, and Harold C. Martin), and former Jeff State presidents (Leroy Brown and George L. Layton).
The college opened an extension center in Shelby County, Alabama
Shelby County, Alabama
Shelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. It is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county seat of Shelby County is Columbiana. As of 2010 U.S. Census the population was 195,085. Shelby...
in January 1993. In June 1996, the center was designated a branch campus by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education is the government agency that oversees higher education in the US state of Alabama.Currently, the state is considered a haven for diploma mills, but the state agencies "are planning to seek new legislation during the upcoming legislative session to better...
. The Shelby Campus in Hoover, Alabama
Hoover, Alabama
Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the...
has three multi-purpose buildings on 60 acres (242,811.6 m²).
In 2003, the Alabama State Board of Education revised the college's service area to include the western part of St. Clair County, Alabama
St. Clair County, Alabama
St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St...
. Classes began meeting at the St. Clair Center in Moody, Alabama
Moody, Alabama
Moody is a city in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,053.-Geography:Moody is located at .According to the U.S...
in Fall 2003. On April 22, 2004, the board approved another insturctional site for St. Clair County in Pell City, Alabama
Pell City, Alabama
Pell City is a city in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States. The city is the county seat of St. Clair County along with Ashville. At the 2000 census the population was 9,565. At the 2010 census, the city-limit population jumped to 12,695. -Geography:...
, and classes started meeting there in Fall 2004. With 50 acres (202,343 m²) deeded to the school by the St. Clair Economic Devleopment Council, Jeff State constructed a new center in Pell City. The college offered classes in that three-story facility in Fall 2006.
In 2007, the Board again revised the college's service area to include Chilton County, Alabama
Chilton County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*84.1% White*9.7% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.2% Two or more races*7.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and approved construction for a multipurpose instructional facility in Clanton, Alabama
Clanton, Alabama
Clanton is a city in Chilton County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 7,800. The city is the county seat of Chilton County.-History:...
. The new center was completed and classes began in Fall 2008.
Jeff State has had three presidents: Dr. Leroy Brown (1964-1971), Dr. George L. Layton (1971-1979), and Dr. Judy M. Merritt (1979-present).
Libraries
A fully stocked academic library is located at all four locations of Jeff State. The libraries contain over 135,000 items including books, periodicals, videos, and government documents. Access to over 52,000 electronic books and articles is available through the library's website.Each library is staffed by a librarian during business hours. The libraries at the Jefferson and Shelby-Hoover campuses are open Monday through Thursday, 7:30am-9:00pm and Friday 7:30am-4:00pm. The libraries at St. Clair-Pell City and Chilton-Clanton vary their hours each semester according to student and faculty need. The Jefferson campus library is located on the second floor of the James B. Allen building. The Shelby-Hoover campus library is located on the ground floor of the General Studies Building. The St. Clair-Pell City site library is located in room 117 of the main building. The Chilton-Clanton site library is located in room 114 of the main building.
Facts
Jefferson State is also home to WJSRWJSR
WJSR is a non-commercial educational College radio station licensed to serve Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Jefferson State Community College.It broadcasts a college radio format to the greater Birmingham area...
radio.
Approximately 10,000 students enrolled in 2010, the highest enrollment ever seen at the college.
Beta Lambda Delta, the Shelby Campus chapter of two year institution Honor's Society Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa, also ΦΘΚ or sometimes PTK , is the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, particularly community colleges and junior colleges. It also includes Associate's degree-granting programs offered by four-year colleges...
, came in as Fourth Alternate internationally in 2007, taking home 7 awards total. In 2008, the Beta Lambda Delta Chapter was named Most Distinguished Chapter International, the highest award available to a Phi Theta Kappa chapter. The chapter also received the award in 2009, the first time a chapter has taken the top honor two years in a row, in over 30 years.
Jeff State's Students in Free Enterprise, SIFE
SIFE
SIFE is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders...
, Team received the second runner-up award at the SIFE Regional Competition in Atlanta, GA, on Monday, April 4, 2011.