September 1, 2022
East Central Community College Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology Instructor Donald “Mutt” Hardin (center) cuts the ribbon opening the program’s new classroom and shop inside Neshoba Central High School’s Manufacturing and Innovation Center. Looking on are ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory (left) and Neshoba County School District Superintendent Dr. Lundy Brantley (right).
East Central Community College and Neshoba County School District in Philadelphia are partnering to offer one of East Central’s Career & Technical Education programs at the new Manufacturing and Innovation Center located on the Neshoba Central High School campus.
The announcement was made today (September 1) during a ceremony inside the new M&I Center. ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory and Neshoba County School District Superintendent Dr. Lundy Brantley participated in a partnership agreement signing and ribbon cutting, followed by tours of the classroom and shop and equipment demonstrations by students. David Vowell, president of the Neshoba County-Philadelphia Community Development Partnership, and Dana McLain, workforce development coordinator for Neshoba Central High School, also spoke at the event.
For the first time this fall semester, the ECCC Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program is being taught in a classroom and shop area inside the new M&I Center. The first cohort of students includes both East Central Community College students and Neshoba Central High School students enrolled through dual credit.
Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology prepares students to manufacture precision parts on machines such as lathes, grinders, drill presses, milling machines, and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) equipment. Included is instruction in making computations related to work dimensions, testing, feeds, and speeds of machines; using precision measuring instruments such as layout tools, micrometers, and gauges; machining and heat-treating of various metals; laying out machine parts; and operation and maintenance of computer equipment.
Students in the program can complete a 30-hour option or a 45-hour option and receive a certificate that allows them to go straight into the workforce. Students also have the option to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree from ECCC by completing the 45-hour option plus an additional 15 semester hours of general education core curriculum courses.
Donald “Mutt” Hardin of Union was hired in July as ECCC’s new Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology instructor. He most recently was an industrial technologist with Taylor Sudden Service in Louisville. Hardin is a graduate of both Neshoba Central High School and ECCC’s Precision Manufacturing and Machine Technology program.
“This is an important sharing of resources between the two schools and allows East Central Community College to move a Career and Technical Education program that is pivotal to providing employees to local industries to an area that is centrally located in relation to our five-county district,” said ECCC President Gregory. “This is the first time our college has offered a complete academic program outside of the main Decatur campus, and doing so opens up educational opportunities for both college and K-12 level students.
“East Central Community College’s mission is centered around serving our five-county district of Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, and Winston counties, and we are excited to continue to fulfill that mission by partnering with the Neshoba County School District on this program.”
“This partnership between the NCSD and ECCC is a tremendous asset to our students, the five-county area, and area industry,” said Neshoba County School District Superintendent Brantley. “Everyone wins in this scenario. I am very excited for the future of this program. We have purchased state-of-the-art equipment along with remodeling the shop area to industry standards.”
The Manufacturing and Innovation Center, located in the former ROTC facility on the Neshoba Central High School campus, opened in August 2021. The $610,000 project was funded in large part by federal monies.
In addition to the Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program, the M&I Center serves as a space for Neshoba Central High School students in engineering, physics, agriculture, and digital media classes to collaborate on projects during the school day, as well as for after-school and evening training available to the public in multiple areas of workforce development in partnership with ECCC’s Workforce Development Center.
For more information on East Central Community College’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program, contact Cody Spence, ECCC’s director of Career & Technical Education, at dcspence@eccc.edu or 601-635-6211.
ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory (left) and Neshoba County School District Superintendent Dr. Lundy Brantley (right) sign the partnership agreement signifying the move of the college’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology instructional program to the Neshoba Central High School campus.
ECCC Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology Instructor Donald “Mutt” Hardin (right) and his students demonstrate equipment following the ribbon cutting ceremony.
