Northwest Shoals Community College
Encyclopedia
Northwest–Shoals Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education
with two campus
es. One campus is located in Phil Campbell, Alabama
and the second campus is located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
. It is intended to serve Colbert County
, Franklin County
, Lauderdale County
, Lawrence County
, and portions of Winston County
. The school currently has an enrollment of more than 5,300 students.
in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Technology degrees as well as certificates in occupationally specific areas. Associate degrees are designated university parallel programs and are easily transferred to a four-year college or university such as the University of Alabama
or UAB
to complete a bachelor's degree
. Certificate programs, in contrast to the Associate's degree, can last from one semester to two years and certify completion of specific technical or occupational training programs. Some of these programs do not require a high school degree
. NW-SCC also offers two-year General Education and Business Administration transfer degrees through Distance Education (http://www.nwscc.edu/distanceeducation/). The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
.
State Trade School. Joe Wheeler State Trade School changed its name to Muscle Shoals State Technical Institute and obtained accreditation from the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions in 1973.
In 1977 Northwest Alabama State Junior College established a branch campus in Tuscumbia, Alabama
. The purpose of the expansion was to provide first and second year college courses for college preparation.
In 1989 Northwest Alabama State Junior College in Phil Campbell merged with Northwest Alabama State Technical College in Hamilton, Alabama
. At the same time the Tuscumbia branch of Northwest Alabama State Junior College was merged into Muscle Shoals State Technical College to form Shoals Community College. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted accreditation to Northwest Alabama Community College in 1990 and to Shoals Community College in 1991.
Finally, in 1993 the Alabama State Board of Education merged Northwest Alabama Community College and Shoals Community College to form Northwest–Shoals Community College. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools approved the merger in 1993 and renewed the school's accreditation in 1999.
Northwest–Shoals Community College is part of the Alabama College System, a statewide system of postsecondary colleges, governed by the Alabama Board of Education. The school derives its original charter from the Alabama Trade School and Junior College Authority Act of 1963.
Dakota Nichols - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Christy Mitchell - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
"2007-2008"
Brad Hornsby - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Bethany Wright - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
"2008-2009"
Ty Thompson - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Carrie Fell - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
"2009-2010"
Joseph Brown - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Jyl Taylor - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
with two campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
es. One campus is located in Phil Campbell, Alabama
Phil Campbell, Alabama
Phil Campbell is a town in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,091. Phil Campbell is the birthplace of Billy Sherrill.-Geography:Phil Campbell is located at .According to the U.S...
and the second campus is located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
. It is intended to serve Colbert County
Colbert County, Alabama
Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
, Franklin County
Franklin County, Alabama
Franklin County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. As of 2010, the population was 31,704...
, Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.4% White*10.0% Black*0.4% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.4% Two or more races*2.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Alabama
Lawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the population was...
, and portions of Winston County
Winston County, Alabama
Winston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, formerly known as Hancock County before 1858.Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 24,484. Its county seat is Double Springs....
. The school currently has an enrollment of more than 5,300 students.
Programs / Certifications
The school awards AssociateAssociate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Technology degrees as well as certificates in occupationally specific areas. Associate degrees are designated university parallel programs and are easily transferred to a four-year college or university such as the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
or UAB
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
to complete a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
. Certificate programs, in contrast to the Associate's degree, can last from one semester to two years and certify completion of specific technical or occupational training programs. Some of these programs do not require a high school degree
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
. NW-SCC also offers two-year General Education and Business Administration transfer degrees through Distance Education (http://www.nwscc.edu/distanceeducation/). The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern 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...
.
Mission statement
Northwest-Shoals Community College provides vocational, technical, academic, and lifelong educational opportunities; promotes economic growth; and enhances the quality of life for the people of northwest Alabama.
History
The school was formed from a 1993 merger of Northwest Alabama Community College in Phil Campbell and Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Northwest Alabama Community College was the state's first junior college, formed in 1963 and first accredited in 1967. Shoals Community College was founded in 1966 as Joe WheelerJoseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
State Trade School. Joe Wheeler State Trade School changed its name to Muscle Shoals State Technical Institute and obtained accreditation from the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions in 1973.
In 1977 Northwest Alabama State Junior College established a branch campus in Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia is a city in and the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,423 and is included in The Shoals MSA....
. The purpose of the expansion was to provide first and second year college courses for college preparation.
In 1989 Northwest Alabama State Junior College in Phil Campbell merged with Northwest Alabama State Technical College in Hamilton, Alabama
Hamilton, Alabama
Hamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
. At the same time the Tuscumbia branch of Northwest Alabama State Junior College was merged into Muscle Shoals State Technical College to form Shoals Community College. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted accreditation to Northwest Alabama Community College in 1990 and to Shoals Community College in 1991.
Finally, in 1993 the Alabama State Board of Education merged Northwest Alabama Community College and Shoals Community College to form Northwest–Shoals Community College. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools approved the merger in 1993 and renewed the school's accreditation in 1999.
Northwest–Shoals Community College is part of the Alabama College System, a statewide system of postsecondary colleges, governed by the Alabama Board of Education. The school derives its original charter from the Alabama Trade School and Junior College Authority Act of 1963.
Mr. and Ms. Northwest-Shoals
"2006-2007"Dakota Nichols - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Christy Mitchell - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
"2007-2008"
Brad Hornsby - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Bethany Wright - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
"2008-2009"
Ty Thompson - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Carrie Fell - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
"2009-2010"
Joseph Brown - Mr. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus
Jyl Taylor - Ms. NW-SCC, Phil Campbell Campus