BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — At its Wednesday meeting in Montgomery, the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees approved millions in campus improvements, new equipment and property purchases aimed at growing workforce training and reaching more students.
Leaders also celebrated a 7% systemwide enrollment jump last year, welcomed a new president at Wallace Community College Selma and announced a statewide partnership with meteorologist James Spann that will put both weather updates and education opportunities in front of viewers across Alabama.
Chancellor Jimmy Baker introduced a video marking the launch of the Alabama Weather Network, a 24/7 free weather service created by Spann and his team. The network will also spotlight ACCS programs, with Spann visiting all 24 colleges to share stories of student success and career opportunities.
“The Alabama Community College System will be a major supporter of the program. As James and his staff provide the weather information, the Alabama Community College System will provide information about the educational and workforce opportunities across the state,” Baker said in the video.
Leadership change in Selma
The board honored Wallace Community College Selma President James Mitchell, who is retiring at the end of August after 25 years in the role. Trustees approved a resolution naming the campus student center after him.
Donitha Griffin, who has worked alongside Mitchell for the past 25 years, was named the college’s next president.
“It is my goal to improve the quality of life for all that I can, by all means that I can, everywhere I can, for as long as I can,” she said.
Major investments and campus improvements
The board approved a long list of projects across the state, all at different stages along the way. Highlights include:
- $11.9 million for Bevill State Community College to add an HVAC training center at its Jasper campus for new energy services programs.
- $11.2 million to renovate Shelton State Community College’s Fredd Campus buildings, with work expected to wrap in early 2026.
- $6.1 million for an Aviation Training Hangar at Coastal Alabama Community College’s Brookley Field Campus, plus $570,000 to restore the historic Bell Museum at its Fairhope campus.
- $1.2 million to purchase six mobile heavy-equipment training simulators, trailers, and related gear through the Innovation Center’s Dunn University Training Initiative. The simulators will rotate among colleges and be taken to K-12 schools for career exploration.
- $1.2 million for Calhoun Community College to buy property for its Decatur campus, creating space for workforce training in culinary sciences, cosmetology and other programs.
- $1.2 million for Jefferson State Community College to expand its commercial truck driving program with new property.
- $1 million for classroom technology upgrades at Northeast Alabama Community College.
- $750,000 for industrial and electrical systems training equipment at Wallace Community College Selma.
- $200,000 to renovate tennis courts at Lawson State Community College’s Birmingham campus.
- $12,000 for Bishop State Community College to purchase property west of its main campus for future expansion.
The board also approved transferring part of Bevill State’s Jasper Industrial Parkway Campus to Walker County Schools, which will manage the site for expanded workforce training in partnership with Jasper City Schools and Bevill State.
‘Huge’ enrollment celebrated
There was good news about enrollment: ACCS served 131,600 students during the 2024-25 school year, a 7% increase over the previous year and the highest headcount since 2011-12.
“2024-2025 was our largest head count that we have seen since the 2011-2012 school year,” Vice Chancellor of Student Success Neil Scott said. “Just an absolutely huge enrollment year for ACCS and something that our presidents and their faculty and their staff should be extremely proud of.”
An ACCS official told Alabama Daily News that the 2024-25 count includes 39,000 high school level dual-enrollment students, 3,400 students enrolled at more than one college and counted at each and 90,000 students taking classes on campuses.
The trend is continuing into the fall, he added. As of Aug. 12, 85,800 students were enrolled in for-credit courses – up 12% from last fall, with about 9,000 more students than the same time last year.