Wallace Community College Ranked No. 9 Community College in Nation, No. 1 in Alabama, by Niche | | |
Wallace Community College has been named one of the top community colleges in the nation in Niche’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, earning the No. 9 spot nationally and
No. 1 spot in Alabama!
Wallace climbed 36 spots from its 2026 national ranking and earned an overall A- grade, marking its strongest national ranking in Niche’s available history. President Dr. Kathy L. Murphy said the recognition reflects the dedication of Wallace faculty and staff, the success of its students, and the quality, value and opportunities a Wallace education provides.
| | WCCD Recognized as a Regional Work-Based Learning Best Practice | | |
Wallace Community College Dothan has been selected as a 2026–27 Regional Work-Based Learning (WBL) Best Practice and a contender for the Alabama Seal of Excellence in Work-Based Learning for its Wallace to Work: Your Career Starts Here! initiative.
The program gives ninth-grade students hands-on opportunities to explore career pathways through interactive activities, demonstrations, facility tours, and connections with Wallace faculty, students, and industry professionals. The inaugural event at the Sparks Campus reached more than 200 students, and the program is expanding to the Dothan Campus with the capacity to reach more than 1,000 ninth-grade students annually.
By connecting K–12 education, higher education, and local industry, Wallace to Work helps students explore careers and understand the education and skills needed for success in the Wiregrass workforce.
Wallace's team will present the program at the Southeast Alabama WBL Convening on October 29 at LBW Community College's Greenville Campus. Following regional presentations in November, four recipients will be selected for the Alabama WBL Seal of Excellence.
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The Fall 2026 semester is off to a great start at Wallace! Students returned to campus with plenty of energy and excitement, enjoying coffee trucks, welcome-back activities, and opportunities to connect with classmates and campus organizations.
The College also celebrated continued growth, with Fall 2026 enrollment up 5.85% over Fall 2025 (and there's still time to enroll in the 2nd Mini Term beginning October 15)!
From welcoming new students to reconnecting with returning Govs, the first days of the semester are a favorite reminder that it’s always a great day to be a Gov!
| | WCCD Awarded $4+ Million in ACCS Grants | | |
Wallace Community College has been awarded more than $2.4 million in recent grants from the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), along with $1.6 million in Dual Enrollment funding for the 2026–27 academic year. The Dual Enrollment award will provide comprehensive scholarships for approximately 1,850 students, as well as science course toolkits and welding personal protective equipment.
The additional ACCS grants will support initiatives across the College, including new STEM and workforce training equipment, expansion of FAME and Automotive Technology, modernization of Welding Technology equipment on both campuses, development of a Biomedical Equipment Technology program, enhanced LPN simulation and training, and expanded student success and career services.
These investments will help Wallace strengthen hands-on learning, expand access to high-demand career pathways, and better prepare students for continued education and the workforce.
| | Adult Education Instructor Named Gold Star Teacher | | |
Wallace Community College congratulates Betty Guilford, who has been named the College’s 2025–2026 Gold Star Teacher. Guilford received the honor during the 2026 Alabama Association for Public Continuing Adult and Community Education (ALAPCAE) Conference in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to Adult Education.
Known for her compassionate approach and commitment to student success, Guilford helps adult learners overcome obstacles, build confidence, and achieve their educational and career goals. The College proudly celebrates Guilford and her continued impact on adult learners across the Wiregrass.
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Wallace Community College students are proving they are well prepared to succeed after transferring to four-year institutions. A recent University of Alabama transfer feedback report shows that Wallace transfer students taking upper-level 300- and 400-level courses at UA earned an average GPA of 3.27, outperforming both the average for all transfer students (3.11) and for all Alabama two-year college transfer students (3.24), while closely matching UA’s first-time undergraduate students (3.33).
The report also highlights the value of completing more coursework at Wallace before transferring. Current students who transferred to UA with more than 60 credit hours—approximately the credits required for an associate degree—earned an impressive 3.49 average UA GPA. The results demonstrate that students can begin at Wallace with confidence, knowing they are building a strong academic foundation for continued success at a four-year university.
| WCCD Mobile Welding Lab Gets a Refresh, New Home | |
Wallace Community College’s Mobile Welding Training Lab is on the move with a fresh new look and a new home!
The trailer’s refreshed wrap debuted this summer at a Dothan United soccer game before heading to Rehobeth High School, where it is now providing dual enrollment students with convenient access to hands-on welding training and opportunities to build skills for high-demand careers. The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting for the mobile welding lab's arrival at Rehobeth High on September 24.
| Now Bringing CDL Training to You! | Wallace Community College’s new CDL Simulation Trailer will bring hands-on, technology-based commercial driver training throughout the Wiregrass. The mobile simulator will support CDL instruction, provide interactive career exploration at schools and community events, and deliver driver safety and refresher training directly to area employers. | |
WCCD Workforce Development Honored as
Dothan Housing's 2026 Community Partner of the Year
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Wallace Community College Workforce Development was honored as the Dothan Housing 2026 Community Partner of the Year for its commitment to bringing training directly into the community.
Through short-term Carpentry, Electrical and Plumbing training, Wallace is helping individuals gain practical skills, build confidence and create pathways to employment while strengthening the local workforce.
| Spring 2027 Health Science Applications Due Soon! | New Evening & Weekend ADN Tracks Available in 2027 | |
Wallace Community College is expanding flexible Associate Degree Nursing program options for working students.
Beginning Spring 2027, the LPN-to-RN Mobility program will offer an evening and weekend track for the first time.
In Summer 2027, the traditional ADN program will also offer an evening and weekend track. Students interested in the traditional ADN evening and weekend option should apply now for Summer 2027 admission.
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Fall is finally here, but we’re already looking forward to Christmas!
Wallace Community College Fine Arts will bring the magic of the season to the stage on December 3 with Christmas at the Movies, featuring classic Christmas songs and holiday favorites from some of your favorite films. From nostalgic melodies to festive showstoppers, it’s a celebration sure to get you in the Christmas spirit!
| | Govs Athletics Welcomes New AD, Coaching Staff | (l to r) WCCD Interim Athletic Director & Head Baseball Coach Ryan Ihle; Head Softball Coach Nicole Dutton; Head Men's & Women's Cross Country Coach Cliff Carter | |
Wallace Community College is welcoming new leadership to its growing athletics program. Ryan Ihle has been named Interim Athletic Director, bringing his experience and commitment to student-athlete success to the College’s overall athletics program. In addition to his AD position, Ihle will continue to lead the Govs baseball program as head coach.
Wallace also welcomed Nicole Dutton as Head Softball Coach and Cliff Carter as Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach. Dutton brings extensive coaching and athletics leadership experience, including nearly a decade as head softball coach at Dale County High School, where she led multiple teams to state and regional tournament appearances. Carter brings 13 years of coaching experience and an impressive record of championship success, including eight cross country state championships and two track state championships at Providence Christian School. Carter will continue to coach and serve as Athletic Director for Providence while heading the Govs XC program.
Together, Ihle, Dutton and Carter bring strong leadership, proven experience and a shared commitment to developing student-athletes both in competition and in the classroom as Wallace Athletics continues to grow.
| Meet the 2026-27 Diplomats and Multimedia Ambassadors | | |
Wallace Community College is proud to introduce its 2026–2027 Diplomats and Multimedia Ambassadors, student leaders who receive full tuition scholarships while representing the College in important roles throughout the year.
Diplomats serve as the face of Wallace at campus and community events, welcome visitors, and lead campus tours, while Multimedia Ambassadors help tell the Wallace story by creating engaging content and documenting campus events, activities, and student life.
We appreciate the hard work these students put in during the year as they represent Wallace!
| | Help Support Student Scholarships in October! | | |
This October, there are two exciting opportunities to support student scholarships at Wallace Community College! Join the Sparks Foundation for Governors in the Garden at the historic Shorter Mansion in Eufaula, or support the Wallace Foundation at the Wallace Community College Foundation Gala at Windmill Station in Dothan.
Both events bring our communities together for a great cause—helping Wallace students pursue their educational goals through scholarship support.
For more information about event sponsorships, visit give.wallace.edu.
| | Golden Govs Retirees Meeting Oct. 8 | | |
Mark your calendars and get ready to reconnect! Retired Wallace Community College faculty and staff are invited to the next Golden Govs meeting on October 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Come catch up with old friends, share a few memories, and stay connected with your Wallace family. Once a Gov, always a Gov!
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