University of Memphis Move a Positive for Jackson State
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Students at Jackson State Community College said they are surprised the University of Memphis deal is happening so soon and said they relish the opportunity to attend a pubic four-year institution right here in Jackson. “I didn’t know it was going to happen so fast or I would have probably signed up for classes down here in Jackson,” said recent JSCC graduate, Brandon McArthur. A pre-law student, McArthur will be a political science major at the U of M. “It’s a nice atmosphere. If they’re (University of Memphis) going to have it (University of Memphis) here in Jackson, they may as well use it (Lambuth Campus),” said McArthur. JSCC President Dr. Bruce Blanding said the U of M deal is huge, not only for JSCC, but for West Tennessee. “The opportunity to have a baccalaureate institution in Jackson is something that can only be described as a wonderful opportunity,” said Dr. Blanding. Dr. Blanding said, for the most part, all JSCC credits will transfer to the U of M. “To have a public institution here means they (students) can go for much more of an affordable price than any of the private schools,” said Dr. Blanding. He admits the U of M will initially serve as competition as some students may choose to start their education at the U of M, but says in the long run it will mean more people will get a good education. He said the U of M concentrations will initially focus on the areas of nursing, education and business.
