Hinds students living in the Jackson area who wish to complete their transfer program in elementary education at a state university don't have to leave home for two years to complete their bachelor's degree.

Through a "2 plus 2" agreement with Delta State University in Cleveland, students can transfer their enrollment, yet still attend elementary education classes at Hinds.

Hinds will be the host site with the Delta State University faculty teaching its junior and senior level classes at a Hinds location as well as online where appropriate. The agreement is effective for spring classes that begin on Jan. 12. A formal signing of the agreement will be held sometime in January.

"We're here for our students - and our providing the classrooms in this way is a convenience for our students. Another advantage for Hinds in providing this option to its students is that it helps in producing qualified people in these vital fields of teaching and construction - which helps the economy," said Dr. Theresa Hamilton, vice president for the Raymond Campus, Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center and director of college parallel programs.

With the option to continue in their program at Hinds facilities, the students' access to the completion of their elementary education degree is enhanced in terms of convenience and affordability. To matriculate as juniors in their chosen program, the students must have earned the first 62 program credit hours at an articulating institution.

"They don't even necessarily have to take those first two years at Hinds, but the articulation is guaranteed to be smooth when they do," Hamilton said.

Students entering Hinds as education majors will have the option of enrolling as students who will earn the bachelor's degree through Delta State University in elementary education for K-6 certification.

Districtwide, Hinds has 204 declared majors in education, said Paula Wimbish, Raymond Campus reading and education department chairwoman. "We also have a Future Educators Association that is very active with education in the community," she said.

More than 50 of those majors attended a November meeting on the Raymond Campus held to discuss the 2 plus 2 elementary education option with DSU education leaders.

Among the students was Michelle Bridgers of Terry, who has a one-year-old son. The Raymond Campus student was planning to transfer to a private university after graduation but finishing her education at Delta State University on the Hinds campus would "be a lot better for me. Delta State tuition is a lot less than private college tuition," she said.

Meeting with the students to answer questions were Dr. Leslie Griffin, dean of DSU's College of Education, and Jeanette Waddell, chairwoman in DSU's Division of Teacher Education.

"I was overwhelmed by the seriousness of the response of these students," Griffin said. "Their commitment and zeal for doing this is evident."

Most of the students at the meeting were full-time students, and while the initial plan was to offer courses in late afternoon and early evening, many expressed a strong preference for classes during the day due to child care issues.

“This program will open additional doors for many of our students,” Wimbish said, “including some who may already be teacher assistants or have other jobs in area schools. Students will be able to do their student teaching in the area and possibly return to those schools in the future as certified teachers.  The 2 Plus 2 program is particularly beneficial to students with families and jobs.”

With student convenience in mind, two classes will be offered in the spring via video conferencing, with some face-to-face contact with the DSU instructor who will also commute to Raymond some weeks to teach. DSU is also making a commitment to have advisers available by e-mail as well as in person.

"We have a critical teacher shortage, and we want to do everything that we can to encourage degree completion for education majors," Griffin said. "When we say '2 plus 2' we are trying to stay very close to our word. The commitment we are making is to have the same program at Hinds that we are running at Delta State."