NATCHEZ — After serving as Dean of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez Campus from 1997-2004, Ronnie Nettles is two weeks into his newest job — president.

Nettles was chosen as Co-Lin’s next president in December, when Howell Garner announced his retirement from the position.

While Nettles has only been on the job since the beginning of July, he has great plans for the college’s future.

“We going to do great things,” he said.

In an effort to better the school, Nettles has focused in on five areas for improvement.

Nettles’ plan calls for improving student success, community relations, growth and development, financial stability and employee relations.

While Nettles said all aspects of the plan are aimed at strengthening the school, he said he believes student success is one component of the plan that should be given great attention.

“We want our students to have every opportunity for success,” he said.

To ensure that success, Nettles said the college is committed to finding the best teaching staff and improving technology within the classroom.

“Students are changing and we need to change with them,” he said on the need to utilize technology within the classroom.

Vice President of the Natchez Campus Teresa Harrison said she also sees a need for addressing student success.

However Nettles was quick to note that Co-Lin’s students are not in imminent need of assistance, but said instead student success is a way provide the best possible futures for the school’s students.

Harrison said another critical component of Nettles’ plan is an increased focus on community relations.

“That’s a major part of what we do here,” she said of her work at the Natchez campus.

Harrison said community relations are critical to the Natchez campus since much of career training done at the Natchez campus is geared to industry coming to the area.

“I depend on the community leaders to tell us what we need to train for,” she said.

Nettles also said he plans to move forward on previously made plans to build a new health sciences building at the Natchez campus.