College Life: Mississippi

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The University of Southern Mississippi — Hattiesburg/Long Beach: Southern Miss received a Coursera Engagement Excellence Award, announced Sept. 29. On the student-life side, October starts with a Concert Band performance Oct. 1, a media-industry presentation and Wind Ensemble concert Oct. 2, guest pianist Darío Martín Oct. 3, and Southern Miss Cruisin' Oct. 5 from 3–5 p.m. on South Lawn. A Fall Education Career Fair follows Oct. 16, while the Clyde Kennard Lecture is Oct. 19–20.

Mississippi State University — Starkville: Ring Days continue through Oct. 1. Today's Risk Management & Insurance Career Fair runs from 10 a.m.–noon, followed by the Fall Co-op & Internship Interview Day Oct. 1. Theatre MSU also recently announced its 2026–27 season, which opens in October.

University of Mississippi — Oxford: Ole Miss students have several October recreation opportunities approaching, including registration for 3-pitch wiffleball, bowling, cornhole and flag football beginning Oct. 11. The university has also expanded its campuswide anti-hazing work through a three-year consortium focused on education, reporting and campus safety—particularly relevant to fraternity/sorority and student-organization life.

Alcorn State University — Lorman/Natchez: Alcorn just completed its Fall High School Day and recently celebrated its 155th Founders' Day. Its School of Business has also launched The Dean's Table, a new podcast featuring Dean LaShonda M. Tenner.

Blue Mountain Christian University — Blue Mountain: A major leadership development was announced this week: President Barbara McMillin plans to retire June 30, 2027, concluding 15 years leading the institution. The university's new Center for Grace and Healing, a health-sciences facility, is also expected to open in October.

Mississippi Christian University — Clinton: MC just completed Family Weekend 2026. Recent student news includes four MC students selected for the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, nursing students entering clinical education through their White Coat Ceremony, and Baptist Student Union participants serving through summer missions.

Belhaven University — Jackson: Belhaven announced this week that its Fall Arts Discover Day will be Nov. 6. Its regular Fall Discover Day is Oct. 23, and students attending can receive an additional $1,000 toward their first-year scholarship package. Homecoming & Family Weekend runs Oct. 23–25. Applications are also open for the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship.

Millsaps College — Jackson: Millsaps has campus tours and recruitment events throughout October, including an Oct. 24 Homecoming Open House. The college will also participate in several high-school and community-college fairs around Mississippi, including Holmes Community College's transfer fair Oct. 22.

William Carey University — Hattiesburg: WCU reports a strong start to the 2026–27 academic year and recently held its annual Scholarship Celebration, featuring scholarship recipients and the Carey Worship Choir. The university has also announced new partnerships with Mississippi community colleges.

Jones College — Ellisville

Homecoming Week is underway right now. Tonight, Sept. 30, students have the Homecoming Pep Rally & DJ at 7 p.m. at Centennial Plaza. Thursday brings Late Night Breakfast & Movie at 8 p.m. Homecoming Day is Saturday, Oct. 3, featuring alumni activities, the Homecoming Court, Mr. and Miss JC, Typhoon band activities, tailgating and Jones vs. MGCCC.

Itawamba Community College — Fulton/Tupelo

ICC announced its 2026 Homecoming Court Sept. 29. Olivia Snellings is Homecoming Queen and Christopher Hampton Jr. is Homecoming King. Homecoming is Oct. 8, beginning with an awards ceremony at 5 p.m.

Before that, ICC hosts Fall Preview Day tomorrow, Oct. 1. Prospective students can explore academic and career programs, financial aid, scholarships, housing and student involvement. An involvement fair and campus/residence-hall tours are included, and two attendees will have an opportunity to compete for a $1,000 scholarship.

Pearl River Community College — Poplarville/Hattiesburg/Waveland

PRCC recently selected its 2026–27 Phi Theta Kappa Beta Tau Gamma officers. The college is also reporting 7,142 students, which it says represents Mississippi's largest enrollment growth over the past decade. Recent student programming included naturalist Jeff Corwin speaking with Honors students and the community about conservation.

East Central Community College — Decatur

ECCC announced yesterday that students spent the day learning from award-winning graphic novelist, artist and educator John Jennings. The college has also announced its 2026 Homecoming Court. Another notable academic achievement: ECCC says its students transferring to Mississippi public universities earned a 3.38 cumulative GPA—the highest among the state's community-college transfers in the cited IHL data.

Holmes Community College — Goodman/Ridgeland/Grenada

Holmes announced today its Goodman and Ridgeland campus representatives for the 2026 Homecoming Court. The full Homecoming celebration is Oct. 22 at the Goodman Campus and includes a Visual Arts Show, open athletic practices, Career and Transfer Fair at 9:30 a.m., Holmes Chorale performance, tailgating, live entertainment, pep rally, band, Homecoming Court and alumni recognition.

Hinds Community College — Raymond/Jackson/Pearl/Vicksburg

Hinds has a Phi Theta Kappa induction Oct. 5, followed by a Vicksburg Campus College & Career Fair Oct. 13. Student Charles Phillips, a mechatronics major at the Rankin Campus, was also selected as one of 200 Chime Scholars nationwide.

Meridian Community College — Meridian

Hundreds of MCC students, employees and faculty are preparing for My College Cares on Oct. 6, when participants will spread across Meridian and Lauderdale County for community-service projects. MCC also recently hosted a district-wide College and Career Fair for area high-school seniors.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College — Gulf Coast

MGCCC recently celebrated its 2026 Homecoming, recognizing Homecoming royalty, alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame honorees. Its Harrison County Campus Fine Arts Gallery is also hosting the Gulf Coast Art Association's 100th-anniversary exhibition through Oct. 9.

Two MGCCC students were also recently recognized as 2026 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars, an academic and leadership honor.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College — Wesson/Natchez/Simpson County

Co-Lin has announced its 2026 Homecoming Court, including Homecoming Queen Kaden Belcher of Brookhaven.

Northwest Mississippi Community College — Senatobia/DeSoto/Oxford

Northwest has been celebrating its centennial, marking 100 years of the institution.

Coahoma Community College — Clarksdale

Coahoma remains in the statewide report for student organizations, Phi Theta Kappa, SGA, campus events, Homecoming, academic programs and workforce opportunities. Today's search did not surface a sufficiently current official event announcement that I would publish as new.

East Mississippi Community College — Scooba/Golden Triangle

EMCC is included for student organizations, workforce programs, campus activities, scholarships and student achievements. I did not find a sufficiently fresh non-athletic official development today to elevate into a headline.

Mississippi Delta Community College — Moorhead

MDCC remains under the statewide watch for SGA, clubs, Homecoming, student activities, workforce education, scholarships and transfer opportunities. Today's search did not produce a sufficiently fresh official announcement to report as a new headline.

Northeast Mississippi Community College — Booneville

Northeast remains included for student organizations, Phi Theta Kappa, performing arts, campus activities, career programs and Homecoming. I did not find a strong enough new non-athletic announcement today to elevate.

Southwest Mississippi Community College — Summit

Southwest remains part of the statewide student-life report for Homecoming, organizations, SGA, campus activities, workforce programs and transfer opportunities. I did not find a sufficiently fresh official announcement in today's search to add another verified headline.

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