Former Alabama governor George Wallace's legacy includes the fulfillment of his vision to greatly expand Alabama's junior college system.
Part of that vision included Northwest Alabama Junior College, founded in 1963 in Phil Campbell. When the school merged with Shoals Community College 30 years later to become Northwest-Shoals Community College, many in Phil Campbell felt that move was the beginning of the end for the Phil Campbell campus and recent cuts to faculty and staff did nothing to change that sentiment among former and current NWSCC students.
“Governor Wallace started the junior college movement in Alabama and it started right here in Phil Campbell,” said former Northwest student and Phil Campbell city councilman Mike McQuary. “And it will simply destroy his dream if we start phasing out our junior college and that's what's happening.”
McQuary is concerned about the school's recent announcement that 16 employees were to be let go either immediately or at the end of the current semester. Among the cuts were Tony Shackelford, Mark Lee and Kim Miller, the Phil Campbell campus faculty for the health and physical education department, which means that department will be eliminated from the Phil Campbell campus. Other cuts came in the department of broadcasting and the elimination of campus security, which is now contracted out.
“These cuts are just another step in the process. Their whole intention is to just phase out Phil Campbell. We've been hearing that for a while and we saw it when they phased out sports here and now it's just a matter of cutting out Phil Campbell completely,” McQuary said.
According to information received from NWSCC, the three cuts in the health and physical education department were the only employees among the 16 based at the Phil Campbell campus. When asked if he would specifically pledge to keep the Phil Campbell campus of NWSCC open as long as he remains president of the college, Lee did not give a direct answer. He told the Franklin Free Press:
“The Phil Campbell and Shoals campus play vital roles in the success of Franklin and Colbert County and the rest of Northwest Alabama. I am committed to using the college's resources to provide the students on each campus with the best educational environment and instructional opportunities possible,” Lee said.
“The Phil Campbell campus of Northwest-Shoals Community College continues to play a vital role in our mission of educating and training the citizens of our five county service area in Northwest Alabama. Regardless of the decrease in enrollment we have experienced, we remain committed to providing academic, career technical and lifelong educational opportunities to our area residents,” Lee added.
McQuary remains unconvinced. A former student at Northwest, he has a daughter who attends NWSCC and another daughter who plans to attend next fall. He says without a college in Phil Campbell, many families would not be able to send their children to college at all.
“You don't have to ship them off to college somewhere else and pay room and board and travel expenses,” McQuary said. “The campus is within a mile of my house. It's not just for us in Phil Campbell, but also for the surrounding communities of Bear Creek, Hamilton, Hackleburg and Haleyville. To see this college just phased out is devastating. Not everybody can afford to go to a big four-year college.”
For Russellville businessman Jamie Kiel, the Phil Campbell isn't just an important asset for the community, it's something more personal. Kiel was the NWSCC Student Government Association President in 1994, the year after the merger. Even then, there were concerns about the long-term survival of the Phil Campbell campus.
“I was concerned both then and now about the future of the Phil Campbell campus,” Kiel said. “It is vital that the community college system continues to serve those it was established to serve—rural Alabamians.
“Students from Red Bay and Vina to Russellville and Haleyville and beyond have benefited by having the college nearby so they could both work and go to college. It is imperative that we protect this asset to our community,” Kiel added.
Kaitlyn Vandiver, a Tharptown High School graduate and a NWSCC student, said she loves her college experience at Northwest but as a representative of the Student Government Association, she regularly hears concerns of other students that the Phil Campbell campus isn't part of the college's long-term future.
“I've had some students approach me and say they think we're the afterthought here compared to the Shoals campus,” Vandiver said. “Personally, I don't know. (NWSCC President) Dr. (Humphrey) Lee spoke to the SGA officers this summer and we had some ideas to submit to him for improvements on the campus. We're working on that,” Vandiver added.
Vandiver is concerned about the elimination of the physical education department and she wonders about the future of intramural sports at the Phil Campbell campus.
“I definitely think sports is a big part of the college experience, especially for us at Phil Campbell. With no athletics anymore, intramural sports allow us to watch and participate in athletic activities. I was looking forward to intramural basketball,” Vandiver said.
Vandiver said there are a number of minor repairs that could be made on campus that would enhance the daily experience of students at the Phil Campbell campus.
“I've had students come to me about the area where we all hang out in the Sub. There's old, uneven furniture. The pool tables need to be recovered. There are some small things that would make a big difference,” Vandiver said.
“I love my education at Northwest-Shoals and I think it's great. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I just want to see this campus continue to be a part of the college,” she added.
Lee said there are capital project priority lists for both campuses of NWSCC.
“Projects recently concluded or ongoing on the Phil Campbell campus will total approximately $600,000,” Lee said. “These include repairing roofs to the OC (building 302), repairing the gym roof, replacing the gym floor, repairing the roof to the administration building (301) and the creation of the Student Success Center in the Learning Resources Center,” he added.
Trent Randolph, NWSCC public information officer, sent the following statement from Lee at the time the cuts were announced:
“Shortfall in the 2017 fall enrollment (approximate 8% decrease expected) have led to a reduction in force for specific departments. College departments affected include: Broadcasting, Campus Security and Health/Physical Education (including fitness centers),” Lee said. “I tried to make cuts that would be least impactful on the instructional programs offered to our students.”
According to information from the college, there has been a steady drop in credit hour production the last five years. From the fall 2013 semester to the fall 2017 semester, that drop was 23.3 percent for the Phil Campbell campus of NWSCC. Enrollment in fall 2013 was 734, compared to 612 this semester, a drop of 16.6 percent. Credit hour production in fall 2013 was 7,231 credit hours, compared to 5,540 this fall.
The Franklin Free Press also requested the names of the 16 employees who were let go and that request was refused by the college. A second request was made pursuant to the Alabama Public Records Law and that request remains unanswered.
McQuary, in his first term as a Phil Campbell city councilman, wants to turn to the area's state legislators to safeguard against what he believes to be the 'continued erosion' of the Phil Campbell campus.
“The first thing we have to do is get our state legislators involved. Our senator and representative could help us, as well as Congressman Robert Aderholt,” McQuary said.
“Maybe we need to set up a meeting with Dr. Lee and voice our concerns with him. We have to get some people involved who are willing to step up to the plate and save this college. If something's not done, Phil Campbell is on its way out,” he added.
When asked whether he would be amenable to meeting with community leaders and the public to address their concerns about the future of NWSCC, Lee did not directly commit.
“I speak with community leaders in Franklin County every opportunity I have. I am open to the concerns of our residents and community leaders,” Lee said.
In an 2013 interview with the Franklin Free Press, Lee said there was a goal of returning baseball and softball to the college by 2016. His latest comments don't create optimism for their return.
“The return of athletics has been a very popular conversation since they were suspended in 2011 due to budget cuts,” Lee said. “We have researched the financial possibility of bringing athletics back each year. However, the return of athletics does not seem financially feasible in the near future,” Lee added.
