MC-CCS partnership offers college-level math courses to qualified high school students

On hand to witness MC President Blake Thompson and Christ Covenant School Dean of Advisement Cheri Creel sign the MOU are, from left, Michael Wright, MC dean of enrollment services, Michael J. Highfield, MC provost and executive vice president, and Kristy Hawkins, CCS math teacher.

A dual-enrollment agreement between Mississippi College and Christ Covenant School will allow qualified students at the K-12 Christ-centered educational institution in Ridgeland to attend college-level mathematics classes and receive corresponding collegiate credit as part of their instruction.

MC President Blake Thompson and Christ Covenant School Dean of Advisement Cheri Creel signed a formal memorandum of understanding on May 8 establishing the partnership. It guarantees the academic rigor of the coursework required in CCS classes will match the quality offered at MC.

Christ Covenant School is the sixth educational institution to sign an MOU with MC to provide college-level classes at their respective schools. Mississippi College has similar agreements with Clinton High School, Jackson Preparatory School, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Saint Augustine School in Ridgeland and Tupelo Christian Preparatory School.

Michael Wright, MC dean of enrollment services, said the agreement allows students at CCS to start earning college credits while simultaneously fulfilling requirements for their high school diplomas.

“Our goal is to provide a first-class dual-enrollment experience that begins to show how we prepare the next generation of Christian leaders,” Wright said. “If we do that well, our hope is that students from CCS will choose to continue their education at Mississippi College.”

Creel said her institution was drawn to an association with Mississippi College because of the Christian University’s strong academic reputation and commitment to the cause of Christ.

“When we began planning the expansion of Christ Covenant School to include a high school, one of our main priorities was offering challenging academics taught through a Biblical worldview,” Creel said. “We’re thrilled that our new partnership with Mississippi College helps make that vision a reality.

“This collaboration allows our students to engage in rigorous, faith-based instruction while also getting a head start on college by earning credit during high school. We’re truly grateful for this partnership and excited about how it will help equip our students for what lies ahead.”

The agreement covers college algebra with applications and trigonometry coursework up to 27 total credit hours.

Launched in the fall of 2002 as a ministry of Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church (PCA), Christ Covenant School is a covenant-model institution with a state mission to partner with Christian parents in teaching, training and equipping their children academically and spiritually so that they would be able to love the Lord, think Biblically and glorify God in every area of their lives.

The oldest institution of higher education in the state and the second-oldest Baptist-affiliated college in the country, Mississippi College is committed to excellence and innovation in teaching and learning. Its vision is to be known as a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.