PRCC planning expansion of Hattiesburg campus

HATTIESBURG — Pearl River Community College is planning an expansion at its center in Forrest County to eventually serve 5,000 students.

PRCC president William Lewis told county officials that the two-year school has a master plan for the Hattiesburg campus.

The Hattiesburg American reports Lewis asked the county board of supervisors for an additional 15-year commitment of $200,000 annually to get the new buildings in place.

PRCC currently gets about $1.2 million yearly from Forrest County. In addition, the $4-million Career Education Center, to be bid in September, is being funded through a 50-50 split in county and state bond money.

Lewis says PRCC had a record enrollment of 2,035 students at the center in 2010. That number is up from just 631 students in 2000.

Source: Hattiesburg American