Bishop State Community College facts for kids
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Former names
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Alabama State College - Mobile Center Mobile State Junior College S.D. Bishop State Junior College |
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| Type | Public historically black community college |
| Established | 1927 |
| Affiliation | Alabama Community College System |
| President | Olivier Charles |
| Dean | Dr. Kathryn Pavey |
| Location |
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United States
30°41′39″N 88°3′27″W / 30.69417°N 88.05750°W |
| Campus | Main Campus Southwest Campus Carver Campus Baker-Gaines Central Campus City of Semmes Training Center Theodore Oaks Shopping Center - Suite B Truck Driving Site |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
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Sporting affiliations
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NJCAA ACCC |
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Bishop State Community College (BSCC) is a public college in Alabama. It was started in Mobile, Alabama, in 1927. This college is known as a "historically black" college. It has campuses and buildings in Mobile and Washington Counties.
BSCC is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It offers over 50 different programs. These programs lead to either an associate degree or a certificate.
The college's sports teams are called the Wildcats. They play in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). This conference is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Contents
Discover Bishop State's History
Bishop State Community College began in 1927. It started as an extension of Alabama State College in Mobile. At first, it offered classes for African-American teachers.
In 1936, it became a two-year college. It was then called Alabama State College - Mobile Center. O.H. Johnson was its first dean. In 1965, Alabama made it an official state junior college. It became separate from Alabama State College. Its new name was Mobile State Junior College.
The college was renamed again in 1971. It became S.D. Bishop State Junior College. This honored its first president, Dr. Sanford D. Bishop. In 1989, the name changed to Bishop State Community College. This was because it offered many more types of programs. These included career training, vocational skills, and community services.
For a long time, BSCC has helped people in Mobile and Prichard. It prepares them for jobs and helps them advance in their careers.
Explore Bishop State's Campuses
BSCC has seven campuses in Mobile County. It also has five other locations inside high schools. These are in Mobile and Washington Counties.
Main Mobile Campuses
Main Campus: The Original Site
The Main Campus is at 351 North Broad Street. It has 14 buildings and covers about 15 acres. This campus was bought in 1942. It was the first main building for the college.
In 2021, money was approved for new buildings here. These include an Advanced Manufacturing Center. It also includes a Health Sciences Facility. The Advanced Manufacturing Center is very large. It trains students for jobs in technology and robotics. The Health Sciences Facility will have a special nursing training area. Both buildings were planned to open in fall 2021.
Southwest Campus: A Vocational Start
The Southwest Campus is at 925 Dauphin Island Parkway. It started in 1947 as a vocational school. It was called Southwest State Technical College. In 1991, it joined BSCC. This campus is about 42 acres. It has seven buildings.
Carver Campus: Another Technical School
The Carver Campus is at 414 Stanton Road. It began in 1962 as Carver State Technical College. This was also a vocational school. It joined BSCC in 1991. This campus is about 9 acres. It has six buildings.
Baker-Gaines Central Campus: A Former High School
The Baker-Gaines Central Campus is at 1365 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. In 1995, BSCC bought this campus for one dollar. It used to be Central High School. The building has two floors and is on 5 acres.
This campus has health programs. It also has a museum with old items from Central High School. There is a child-care center, a bookstore, and a cafeteria. It also has a large auditorium.
Other Training Locations
BSCC also has other training sites. The City of Semmes Training Center is in Semmes, Alabama. The Theodore Oaks Shopping Center location is in Theodore, Alabama. Both offer general courses like Art, English, and Math. The Truck Driving Site is in Mobile. It trains students to get their commercial driver's license.
How Bishop State Works
BSCC has five main parts. These are Academic Transfer, Health Science Professions, Career Technical Education, Adult Education/GED, and Workforce Development.
A school year usually has two main terms. These are fall (August–December) and spring (January–May). There are also shorter, faster classes within these terms. The summer term is ten weeks long.
What You Can Study at Bishop State
BSCC has an open admissions policy. This means it's easier to get in. The college offers special programs for high school students. These are called dual enrollment programs. Students can take college classes while still in high school.
BSCC offers associate degrees and certificates. It also has courses for personal growth. You can also find classes to improve your job skills.
Students can easily transfer to other colleges. BSCC has agreements with all public four-year colleges in Alabama. If you finish an associate degree at BSCC, you can automatically transfer.
BSCC is part of the Student Support Services TRIO program. This program helps students who might need extra support. It helps students from lower-income families. It also helps students who are the first in their family to go to college.
Student Life at Bishop State
Who Are the Students?
In fall 2020, Bishop State had 2,176 students. About 35% of students attended full-time. The other 65% attended part-time.
| Full and Part Time Students | U.S. Census | |
|---|---|---|
| International | 2% | N/A |
| Multiracial American | 4% | 2.8% |
| Black/African American | 57% | 13.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1% | 1.3% |
| Asian | 2% | 5.9% |
| Non-Hispanic White American | 29% | 60.1% |
| Hispanic/Latino American | 2% | 18.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.2% |
| Other/Unknown | 3% | N/A |
Student Groups and Clubs
There are many clubs and groups at BSCC. These include honor societies and student government. There are also groups for special interests and community service. Some campus groups are:
- Barbering and Hair Styling Association
- College Choir
- International Student Organization
- Pep Squad
- STEM Club
Wildcat Athletics
BSCC has six varsity sports teams. They are all called the Wildcats. They play in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). They are also part of Region 22 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Sports for men include:
Sports for women include:
- basketball
- fast-pitch softball
- volleyball
Famous People Who Attended Bishop State
- Thomas Figures - He was the first African American assistant district attorney and assistant United States Attorney.
- Mel Showers - A retired news anchor for WKRG.
- Jessie Tompkins - A former nationally-ranked track and field athlete. He led a lawsuit about scholarships at Alabama State University.
See also
Images for kids
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The clock tower at Bishop State Community College.
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The logo for Bishop State Community College.
