Hinds Community College Blog

Most people know the basics about Hinds Community College.

For example, we all know Hinds CC is affordable ($1,200 per semester for full-time, in state students) and convenient (6 locations serving Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Rankin and Warren counties). However, Hinds Community College is much more than your average community college.

Here are 5 things you didn't know about Hinds CC:

1. Hinds Community College is the largest community college in Mississippi and the fourth largest higher education institution in the state. 
   

   Hinds Community College offers 170 academic programs guaranteed to transfer to a university, more than 70 career and technical program options and 14 nursing and allied health programs. If you can't find something to study at Hinds, check your pulse. 
   
   

2. Hinds Community College is the only community college in Mississippi with its own airport.
   
   The John Bell Williams airport is located in Bolton and is home our Aviation Department (Aviation Technology, Commercial Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems programs). Our UAS program was even featured on FOXBusiness!
   
   
3. The Hinds Community College Hi-Steppers are one of the oldest precision dance lines in the United States. 
   
   Founded in 1953, the Hi-Steppers are known as Mississippi’s Goodwill Ambassadors. No group in the U.S. has received more invitations to nationally televised bowl games, professional football games, or national parades than the Hi-Steppers.
    
4. Hinds Community College has won the Halbrook Award in the community college division for the 14^th time since 1987. 
   

   The Halbook Award is given each year at the Mississippi Association of Colleges annual conference to the college having the highest number of student-athletes who graduated or completed class work. Hinds posted a 96% graduation/completion rate among its student-athletes in 2013-2014. 
   
   

5. Hinds Community College's Utica Campus (formerly Utica Junior College) was founded in 1903 and still retains its Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU ) status and traditions. 
   
   Some of Utica's most treasured traditions include Founder's Day, Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Coronation Ball. 
   
    

Diesel Equipment Technology - Career training, credentials and a paycheck in your pocket!

What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s been said that people spend more time planning their vacations than their careers. Since a big part of your life is what you do for a living, career planning is something everyone should do. Vacations are “special” but shouldn’t your career be special too? Let's start planning your career! Are you customer service oriented? Do you possess mechanical and trouble shooting skills? Do you like knowing how things operate? All of these are characteristics of a diesel equipment technician. Let's take a look at the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Hinds Community College's Raymond Campus.

The Diesel Equipment Technology program provides students with competencies required to maintain and repair a variety of industrial diesel equipment including agricultural tractors, commercial trucks, and construction equipment. The program includes instruction in inspection, repair, and maintenance of engines, power trains, hydraulic systems, and other components.  The curriculum is based upon the ASE Certification for Medium/Heavy Truck Technician Training Programs, which serves as a national standard for certification of technicians.

What Diesel Mechanics/Technicians Do?

Diesel service technicians inspect and repair equipment such as trucks, dozers, cranes and commercial boats as well as medium duty vehicles powered by diesel engines. They may work on everything from a vehicle’s electrical system to the power train.

As engines and other components use more electronic systems which rely on microprocessors technicians often use hand-held or laptop computers to diagnose problems and adjust engine functions. In addition, diesel mechanics use a variety of power and machine tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, grinding machines, and welding equipment. Hand tools, including pliers, socket and ratchets, and screwdrivers, are commonly used.

Diesel service technicians and mechanics typically do the following:

• Follow a checklist of inspection procedures

• Diagnose malfunctions

• Read and interpret diagnostic test results

• Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, transmissions, engines, and other parts of vehicles

• Do routine maintenance, such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and parts

• Adjust and align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and attach system components

• Repair or replace malfunctioning components, parts, and other mechanical or electrical equipment

• Test-drive vehicles to ensure that they run smoothly

What About Job Opportunities?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for diesel service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow 9% through 2022. Demand for new workers in the freight trucking and automotive repair and maintenance industries is expected to drive overall diesel mechanic job growth.

Students will find the Diesel Equipment Technology program has an excellent reputation with local industries looking for skilled workers and placement of students who complete the program is a top priority. Graduates of the Diesel Equipment Technology program are typically employed at a variety of repair facilities that service the trucking and heavy equipment industry with an entry-level salary range of $12 to $16 hourly. 

This Diesel Equipment Technology program is located on the Raymond campus of Hinds Community College. For more information, Brent Johnson at (ABJohnson@hindscc.edu) or 601.857.3478 and Christopher Woodard at (Christopher.Woodard@hindscc.edu ) or 601.857.3424. 

The Business and Marketing Management Technology students on the Raymond Campus of Hinds Community College recently were invited to tour the headquarters of Puckett Machinery. The Caterpillar heavy-machinery dealer recently opened a 150,000-square-foot, $30 million facility, with approximately 200 employees in Flowood, Mississippi. Puckett Machinery has 5 additional dealerships located in Mississippi.                                            

Kennon Ferguson, Puckett Machinery sales manager and husband of Barbie Ferguson (Raymond campus Business and Marketing adjunct faculty), personally guided students on a tour that included the Marketing, Information Technology, Sales and Parts divisions of the company.

Mr. Ferguson emphasized the importance of the vision, mission and values of the company to the students by relaying to them that their purpose was to remind them of why they were there, where they wanted the company to go and how they wanted to get there. The core values at Puckett are integrity, excellence, teamwork and commitment.