Rust College, Northwest Mississippi Community College MOU Expands Student Opportunities

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – Rust College and Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to strengthen academic pathways and expand opportunities for students across North Mississippi.

Leaders from both institutions gathered on Friday, Sept. 5, in Holly Springs to formalize the agreement, which re-establishes a partnership between the two historic colleges. The MOU outlines seamless transfer pathways, scholarship opportunities, and future collaboration initiatives that underscore their shared mission of student success.

Founded in 1866 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Rust College is Mississippi’s oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and has developed into a nationally recognized liberal arts institution. Northwest, now in its 99th year, serves an 11-county district with a growing enrollment and commitment to expanding higher education access. Together, the proximity of the two campuses—Rust in Holly Springs and Northwest in Senatobia—makes this partnership especially significant.

Key Elements of the Agreement

• Scholarship Support: Rust will offer the E.A. Smith Presidential Scholarship, a last-dollar award for Phi Theta Kappa honor students transferring from Northwest who complete their associate degree and live on the Rust campus.
• Guaranteed Admission: Northwest graduates in similar academic pathways will be guaranteed admission to Rust College if institutional requirements are met.
• Transfer of Credit: Up to 70 semester hours from Northwest will transfer to Rust, with core courses aligned to academic majors.
• Reverse Transfer: Credits earned at Rust may count toward completion of associate degrees at Northwest.
• Articulation Pathways: Students completing associate degrees at Northwest will be admitted to Rust at junior standing, requiring no more than 60 additional hours for a bachelor’s degree.

The agreement also includes plans for co-enrollment opportunities, shared curricular resources, scholarships for Northwest employees seeking advanced degrees, and mutual professional development initiatives.

“This agreement is about creating options and removing barriers,” said Dr. Michael J. Heindl, president of Northwest Mississippi Community College. “By working together, Northwest and Rust are opening more doors for students to achieve their dreams.”

Rust College President Dr. Johnny M. Moore said the partnership strengthens both institutions’ impact on students and the region. “Rust College is honored to partner with Northwest in supporting student success,” Moore said. “This transfer agreement not only opens doors for continued academic advancement, but it also strengthens our region’s workforce and future leadership.”

Administrators from both colleges commemorated the occasion with an exchange of caps and a signing ceremony, symbolizing a renewed commitment to providing affordable, accessible, and collaborative higher education opportunities for North Mississippi students.