Bishop State Community College facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Alabama State College - Mobile Center Mobile State Junior College S.D. Bishop State Junior College |
|---|---|
| Type | Public historically black community college |
| Established | 1927 |
| Affiliation | Alabama Community College System |
| President | Olivier Charles |
| Dean | Dr. Kathryn Pavey |
| Location |
,
,
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 |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NJCAA ACCC |
 |
|
Bishop State Community College is a public college in Alabama. It has campuses in Mobile and Washington Counties. The college was started in Mobile, Alabama, in 1927. It is a historically black college. This means it was first created to serve African American students.
Bishop State offers over 50 different programs. You can earn an associate degree or a certificate here. The college's sports teams are called the Wildcats. They play in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). They are also part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Contents
Discovering Bishop State's History
Bishop State Community College began in 1927. It was first 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, a law made Bishop State a state junior college. It became separate from Alabama State College. Its name changed to Mobile State Junior College. In 1971, the college was renamed S.D. Bishop State Junior College. This was to honor its first president, Dr. Sanford D. Bishop. In 1989, the name changed again to Bishop State Community College. This was because it offered more types of programs. It helped students with careers, job training, and transferring to other colleges.
For a long time, Bishop State has helped people in Mobile and Prichard, Alabama. It prepares them for jobs and helps them advance in their careers.
Exploring Bishop State's Campuses
Bishop State has one main campus and several other teaching locations. These are in Mobile County. It also has five other sites at high schools. These are in Mobile and Washington Counties.
Main Campuses in Mobile
Main Campus Overview
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 college's first main building.
In 2021, money was approved to build new centers here. These include the Advanced Manufacturing Center. It is designed for training in technology and robotics. There is also a Health Sciences Facility. This facility has a nursing simulation site. It helps nursing students practice patient care. Both buildings opened in late 2021.
Southwest Instructional Site
The Southwest Campus is at 925 Dauphin Island Parkway. It started in 1947 as a vocational school. It joined Bishop State Community College in 1991. This campus covers about 42 acres. It has seven buildings.
Carver Instructional Site
The Carver Campus is at 414 Stanton Road. It began in 1962 as a vocational school. It also joined Bishop State Community College in 1991. This campus covers about 9 acres. It has six buildings.
Former Baker-Gaines Central Campus
The Former Baker-Gaines Central Campus is at 1365 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. In 1995, Bishop State bought this campus for one dollar. It used to be Central High School. The building has two stories and sits on 5 acres. It holds health programs and a museum. It also has a child-care center, bookstore, and cafeteria. There is a large auditorium too.
City of Semmes Training Center
The Semmes location is at 9010 Forest Street in Semmes, Alabama. This center offers classes like Art, English, and Math. It also has Psychology and Speech Communication courses.
Theodore Oaks Shopping Center - Suite B
The Theodore location is at 5808 US-90 in Theodore, Alabama. Like the Semmes center, it offers Art, English, and Math. Psychology and Speech Communication classes are also available here.
Truck Driving Site
The Truck Driving Site is at 4551 Halls Mill Road in Mobile. This is where Bishop State teaches its commercial driver's license program. Students learn to drive large trucks here.
How Bishop State is Organized
Bishop State has five main divisions. These include Academic Transfer for general education. There are also Health Science Professions and Career Technical Education. Other divisions are Adult Education/GED and Workforce Development.
A school year usually has two 15-week terms. These are in the fall (August–December) and spring (January–May). There are also shorter four-week sessions. The summer term is ten weeks long (May-August).
What You Can Study at Bishop State
Bishop State has an open admissions policy. This means it's easy to apply and get in. The college offers programs for high school students. These are called dual enrollment programs. Students can earn college credits while still in high school.
Besides degrees and certificates, Bishop State offers other courses. These include classes for personal growth. They also have courses for professional skills and career training.
Bishop State has agreements with all public four-year colleges in Alabama. These agreements make it easy to transfer. Students can automatically transfer after getting an associate degree.
Bishop State is part of the Student Support Services TRIO program. This program helps students who might need extra support. It helps students from low-income families. It also helps those who are the first in their family to go to college. The program helps them graduate and reach their career goals.
Student Life at Bishop State
Student Body Demographics
In fall 2020, Bishop State had 2,176 students. About 35% were full-time students. The other 65% were part-time students.
| Full and Part Time Students | |
|---|---|
| International | 2% |
| Multiracial | 4% |
| Black/African American | 57% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1% |
| Asian | 2% |
| Non-Hispanic White American | 29% |
| Hispanic/Latino American | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0% |
| Other/Unknown | 3% |
Student Clubs and Groups
Bishop State Community College has many student clubs. There are honor societies and student government groups. There are also clubs for special interests and community service. Some campus groups include:
- Barbering and Hair Styling Association
- College Choir
- International Student Organization
- Pep Squad
- STEM Club
Wildcats Athletics
Bishop State 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 the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
- Men's sports: basketball, baseball, and golf.
- Women's sports: basketball, fast-pitch softball, and volleyball.
Notable People from Bishop State
Many successful people have attended Bishop State. Here are a few:
- Thomas Figures – He was the first African American assistant district attorney and assistant United States Attorney.
- Mel Showers – He was a news anchor for WKRG for many years.
- Jessie Tompkins – He was a nationally-ranked track & field athlete. He led a lawsuit against scholarships that were only for white students at Alabama State University.
See also
