Bishop State Community College is working to spread the word about its 15 to Finish campaign to help students take more credit hours so they can save more money now through financial aid and earn more money in the future by graduating on time and launching a wage-earning career. 15 to Finish encourages students to take 15 credit hours each semester or 30 credit hours a year to ensure they graduate on time. By taking more than the typical 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester, students will be able to spend less on their education and graduate on time. Bishop State has been partnering with the Mobile Area Education Foundation in this effort since 2015 and now is glad to have the partnership expand to include Coastal Alabama Community College and University of South Alabama. From Fall 2015-Fall 2016 Bishop State saw a six percent increase in the number of students taking 15+ credit hours following the implementation of the 15 to Finish campaign. As of Spring 2017, 18.4% of Bishop State students are taking 15+ credit hours. After seeing the success of Bishop State, Alabama launched Complete College Alabama in partnership with Complete College America. Bishop State's President, Dr. Reginald Sykes, leads the Complete College Alabama team. “Bishop State is proud to lead the way in this partnership with the 15 to Finish campaign,” says Dr. Sykes. “Since first launching in 2016, our institution has already seen a great increase in the number of students taking 15 credit hours each year and we look forward to seeing that number continue to grow through this collaboration.” “The launching of the 15 to Finish campaign across three college campuses is a significant act for our region’s higher education leaders as members of the Talent Hub," states Chandra Scott, the Director of Strategic Outcomes for the Mobile Area Education Foundation. "This student-centered partnership is not only vital to helping us achieve the overall goal of the 75,000 Degrees Initiative but is the catalyst to bridging resources and talents that are essential to the success of our students.” Mobile is one of 24 cities to receive the Talent Hubs designation from the Lumina Foundation. According to MAEF, obtaining a post-secondary degree or credential is a leading contributor to improving the overall well-being of Mobile County citizens. The work of 75,000 Degrees and 15 to Finish is made possible by MAEF’s partnership with Complete College America and Lumina Foundation.
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