We are Jackson College Fall 2015 by Jackson College

Fall 2015

vol. 3 issue 2

focus on

Success

Jackson College is committed to student success. Many initiatives are in place throughout the College to help students meet their goals. Achieving the Dream

ream Achieving the D

CSS

TRiO

Center for Student Success

The Center (CSS) offers free tutoring, study groups, workshops and seminars. CSS also offers accommodation assistance for students with disabilities.

TRiO TRiO Student Support Services is a federal grant program designed to boost retention and degree completion of lower-income, first-generation or disabled students. Currently 140 students are offered enhanced student support services.

Jackson College has participated with Achieving the Dream since 2007, a national effort to help improve student success and close achievement gaps using measurable data to guide initiatives. Several initiatives have emerged from the Achieving the Dream program: • Reading – In an effort to help students improve their reading ability, JC has sponsored professional development efforts for many faculty members involving reading across the curriculum, designed to teach strategies that will embed reading skills in different subject areas, such as math, sciences or health occupations. • Accelerated Learning Program, which allows students who place into a developmental writing course to co-enroll in both the developmental writing course and a college-level writing course with the same instructor. This blended course style has improved success rates for these students both in the developmental courses and in the collegelevel English course. • Supplemental Instruction – a learning enhancement strategy to help students learn better in their courses, primarily math courses. A supplemental instruction leader is a master student who is in the classroom to help with activities, assist fellow students, maintain close communication with the instructor and facilitate two outside study sessions a week.

Foundation Studies

Jackson College has established a Foundation Studies department to support developmental students through the instruction, design and delivery of courses across all disciplines. The need for developmental education continues at JC, and in fall 2012, 80 percent of all

new students needed at least one developmental education course (those courses that students need to be prepared for college-level coursework but do not count toward a certificate or degree program).

Student Success Navigators

The College has hired several Student Success Navigators, who will work closely with students to both advise and guide them through their college experience. Having more personnel with smaller caseloads will provide more opportunity to build supportive relationships, helping students to connect with the College, to troubleshoot those hurdles as they arise, and hopefully, translate to better retention and completion.

American Honors Program

New this fall, the American Honors Program offers participating students the opportunity to take small classes just with other honors students, receiving one-on-one advising from an honors coach, participate in honors seminars and honors council, and successfully transfer to a four-year university.

Men of Merit, Sisters of Strength These student groups are leadership initiatives designed to help students stay in college, advance academically, serve their community and become the best citizens that they can be. Though open to all, they primarily serve students of color, helping to boost their college persistence and completion rates. Currently in the works for fall 2016 are guided pathways, an initiative to create clear routes for student from their beginning in college to degree completion or transfer.

Federal government rolls out college scorecard In the news recently, you may have heard about President Barack Obama’s newly launched online tool, the College Scorecard, (collegescorecard.ed.gov.). It offers a wealth of information about colleges and universities throughout the country, such as college costs, retention and graduation rates, financial aid, potential earnings after graduation and more. Choosing the right college is a very important decision. While I fully support a welldeveloped, complete information system on all colleges and universities, unfortunately, this latest new tool jumps the gun. The national data sets used for this scorecard are incomplete, with some community colleges even completely left out of the system. For many analyses, the data depends on the use of Title IV student financial aid recipient data, which represents only a fraction of all students.

Foundation Studies

Graduation figures count only first-time, full-time degree seeking students; many students who come to the community college do not fit those criteria. For example, a student may come for a couple of semesters to complete a computer certification and that is all they seek – that person doesn’t count in these statistics. A student who goes off to a four-year university for a year, then returns to take classes at Jackson College – that student doesn’t count. Additionally, the scorecard also uses wage data from the IRS, which does not include all students. And in some cases, poor data are worse than none. Recognizing that existing federal accountability measures and data systems do not accurately reflect the mission of community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges established the Voluntary Framework of Accountability (VFA) a few years ago, which Jackson College has fully participated in and tested. It is designed with measurements that encompass the unique community college mission and the diversity of our students’ goals and experiences. Using a tool like the VFA would be a much better choice than the Scorecard, as it more accurately reflects community colleges’ unique, distinctive role. Jackson College has beta tested the VFA, which is free to all community colleges and will be free to all in a couple of years.

Student Succ ess Navigato r

onors American H

Community colleges have a different, dissimilar mission and focus than most college and university classifications. We are community-based, designed to be accessible to area students seeking quality education close to home. Community colleges are designed to be affordable and offer education relevant to the needs of the area. Many of the students choosing to attend community college do so for these reasons; they are not likely to “shop around” or look at ratings between many colleges and universities. With the diverse goals and needs of our students, Jackson College has taken many steps to help all succeed. On these pages, learn more about the many student success initiatives of our college, which are not captured in the Scorecard. We have a total commitment to student success (TCS2), and want to be accountable and transparent in our performance. Please explore fully Jackson College and other institutions you may be considering.

Dr. Daniel J. Phelan President, Jackson College

MOM/SOS

S P L E H M A R G O R E P T A N U O D S A PRI DENTS GR TURE U F STU W E N TO A

Jackson Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prison Education Program helps incarcerated students build new lives through education. With about 330 inmates enrolled, Jackson College now has one of the largest prison education programs in the country. Studies have shown that graduating from college programs can decrease the rate inmates return to prison by as much as 72 percent. Historically Jackson Community College offered prison education programs from 1967 through the mid-1990s, when the state Legislature banned providing college courses to inmates unless they paid themselves.

On the cover: Offering leadership to the Prison Education Initiative (PEI) at Jackson College are: (left-right) Todd Butler, dean of arts and sciences; Professor Gary Cale, PEI faculty chair, Kimberly Seaburg, PEI coordinator; Giovanni Paterra, student worker; and Kevin Rose, PEI director.

We Are Jackson College | Fall 2015

Jackson College began offering courses again in the prison in 2012. Students participate through self-pay, and the program has grown from 15 to 230 students. In 2013, the Vera Institute of Justice made a grant to Michigan as part of the Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education Project, allowing more prisoners to become students; about 100 are currently enrolled through the Vera grant program. Today, Jackson College offers courses at Cooper, Cotton, Gus Harrison (Adrian), Jackson County Jail and most recently the Women’s Huron Valley facilities, where incarcerated students pay for their classes, while grant-funded classes are offered at Parnall and Macomb facilities. Students are encouraged to work toward a certificate or degree, keeping a goal in focus. Student performance so far has been “unbelievable,” said Kevin Rose, director of the Prison Education Initiative. A full 95 percent of students pass their classes – even math, which has a general pass rate of about 50 percent for all students. Of the more than 300 students in the program, the average grade point average is over 3.6 (on a 4.0 scale), and more than 80 percent of students are named to the Dean’s List once they complete at least 12 credits. “The reward of working with our students is incredible,” Rose said. “Probably the biggest surprise for me is how they’ve inspired us. Their motivation to learn and understand as much as possible is immeasurable.” Professor Gary Cale, PEI faculty chair, said that once he gets through the gate and across the yard, teaching in the prison is just like being in any other classroom. “When we first started, I didn’t know what to expect. Teaching in prison is not in most people’s range of experience. I quickly found, however, that www.jccmi.edu

students are students,” said Cale, who has been teaching at Jackson College since 1988. “The students typically are even more engaged and more prepared than other JC students. By and large, they are grateful for the program, and they

“The reward of working with our students is incredible. Probably the biggest surprise for

tend to be very protective of it; they don’t want to get in

me is how they’ve inspired us. Their motivation

trouble and lose this privilege.”

to learn and understand as much as possible is

Student Jeff Dell is thankful for the opportunity. He is serving

immeasurable.”

a 16½ to 40 year sentence, and has served 11 years so far.

Kevin Rose

For the first eight years or so in prison, he admits he didn’t

PEI director

do a whole lot. Then he saw a flyer about college classes, and with the financial help from an aunt and uncle, he started taking college classes. “I know it’s changed a lot of things about me. I’m more mindful of things I do in prison and steer away from all trouble.

a year left on his sentence. “College gives you a release,” he said. “It takes you out

I don’t want to mess this up,” he said. He is the second recipient of a new Looking

of this environment, and gives you a more societal framework. It helps to occupy

Forward Scholarship, given by a private donor to fund one class for one inmate per

your mind with learning and not be idle.”

semester. Dell was one of three students recognized by instructors and invited to apply, and was selected from an application and essay. “This is the first time it feels

Allen already has a job offer from a prisoner re-entry program where he can help

like people care and want to help me change, rather than punish. This is a chance to

others. “Coming out of prison, there is a lot of stigma. The more education you

change,” he said.

have, the smaller the ‘F’ is,” Allen said, referring to the stigma surrounding having a felony criminal record. “My attention is more on the academic achievement, rather

Student Johnell Allen is the first student in the program to complete an associate

than the crime.”

degree with the program. He has been incarcerated for 25½ years, and he has about Many incarcerated students who have seen themselves as failures are now succeeding in college classes, building their

“The students typically are even more engaged and more prepared than other JC students. By

“The men, and now women, that we work with inside of the

and large, they are grateful for the program, and

prisons are not the men that media and television would

they tend to be very protective of it; they don’t

have us to believe,” Rose said. “They are far more capable

want to get in trouble and lose this privilege.” Gary Cale, Professor PEI faculty chair

self-esteem and changing their futures.

We Are Jackson College | Fall 2015

and willing to do many great things when given the right tools to do so.” To learn more about the Prison Education Program, visit www.jccmi.edu/pei.

Alumni & Foundation

UPDATE

JC alumnus now working in

higher education honored by MCCA Jackson College congratulates Dr. Douglas Estry,

focus on priorities and begin to plan, it helped me to

alumnus of Jackson Community College and recipient

see the importance of being both an independent

of the 2015 Michigan Community College Association

and interdependent learner, and it provided a quality

Outstanding Alumnus Award.

academic foundation on which to build my career.”

Estry, who attended the College in 1967-68, has

After Jackson, Estry went on to earn his Bachelor of

enjoyed a career in medical technology, research and

Science in Biology from Western Michigan University,

We are pleased to present this Jackson College Alumni & Foundation Update! In these pages you will find news of Jackson College alumni and events, updates from the Foundation and much more!

and both his Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology from Michigan State University.

higher education. He currently serves as Associate

As an educator, Estry sees the challenges facing higher

Provost for Undergraduate Education & Dean of

education today. Helping students not only gain

Undergraduate Studies at Michigan State University,

content knowledge, but develop the skills and abilities

where he is responsible for overseeing university-level

to work within and across complex systems, is important

undergraduate initiatives that support and enhance the

for students’ futures. “It’s not just about helping them

learning experience. He began his career at Michigan

think outside the box, it’s helping students realize that

State University in 1983 as assistant professor, and

the box is constantly and rapidly changing and they

today is a Professor of Pathobiology and Diagnostic

have to know how to adapt innovatively to the change,”

Investigation in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics

he said.

(BLD) Program. Estry has also been published in numerous books, manuscripts and abstracts, as well as participating in many workshops. He’s active in professional organizations and has received numerous honors throughout his career.

Out of 28 community colleges in Michigan, the MCCA award is presented to a Michigan community college alumnus based upon their achievement in their professional career, service to humanity, honors received, and a strong commitment to the purpose and

“This recognition is particularly meaningful

philosophy of the community college mission.

for me as I have dedicated my career to

Dr. Estry was honored with the award recently at the

higher education, and it started at what

MCCA Summer Conference in Traverse City.

was then Jackson Community College,” Estry said. “Jackson College helped me to begin to

“I am proud to call Dr. Estry an alumnus of Jackson

develop much more than my academic ability.

College, and he provides the perfect example

It started me on a journey to discovering purpose,

of what can be achieved as a community college

it grounded me in the realities of postsecondary

graduate,” said Dr. Daniel J. Phelan, JC president

education and what it takes to succeed, it helped me

who nominated Estry for the award.

Foundation forms new Sterling Society Jackson College Foundation is delighted to recognize the

Scholarships help student

remain debt-free, focus on studies Jackson College student Laurie Sexton was

attending. In addition to her classes, she has

honored to be selected as a finalist for the

played in the Jackson Community Concert

Named in honor of J. Sterling Wickwire, the late Jackson-

J. Sterling Wickwire Scholarship – being named

Band, and this past year was a member of the

area industrialist who donated his home and land to the

as a recipient was incredible!

Executive Council for Student Government.

launch of the new Sterling Society.

“That was pretty fun, to see how things run from

College for the president’s residence, the Sterling Society is reserved for individual donors who annually make

“When I got the call to say I had been selected

the inside and being able to serve your peers in

unrestricted gifts totaling $1,000 or more to Jackson

as a finalist, that in itself was a pretty big

a different way than normal.”

College. Funds raised through the Sterling Society

deal and an honor. Then to go through the

support the Jackson College Annual Fund and increase

interview process and be selected to receive the

She’s been very happy with her experience at

the Foundation’s flexibility when it comes to meeting

scholarship, that was even more of an honor,”

Jackson College.

the needs of students, faculty and programs. Members

Sexton said. “I was surprised – it was a

enjoy benefits such as a special reception and dinner, free

good surprise!”

“I have just been pleased beyond expectations with all my interactions with teachers, staff and

admission to on-campus educational presentations, and a pass for them and a guest to any Jets home athletic

Sexton is in her third year at JC, and is working

advisors,” she said. “I’ve had nothing but

contest among others. Most importantly, members enjoy

toward a dual degree in art and graphic design.

the best experience.”

the satisfaction of knowing they have helped strengthen

She’s hoping to both find a career in the graphic

and enrich a vibrant learning environment for students

design field to gain experience, and transfer on

of Jackson College.

to a university to continue her education. With an interest and talent in art and design, Sexton

Dr. Daniel J. Phelan, Jackson College president,

said she didn’t really think about it as a career

Jason H. Valente, Jackson College Foundation president,

until a teacher in high school saw something

Cynthia A. Allen, vice president of administration and

she had created and made mention of that

human resources, and Julie R. Hand, assistant dean, W.J.

possibility, which got her thinking. She started at

Maher Campus, recently became inaugural members of

JC just going toward art, but then she enrolled

the Sterling Society. Invitations to join will be mailed to

in an Adobe® Photoshop® class, learning to

friends of the College shortly.

work with digital photography, and it hit home that graphic design was what she wanted to do.

To learn more, visit http://www.jccmi.edu/foundation/.

“I enjoy using my fine arts skills in the technical, computer world,” Sexton said. The Wickwire Scholarship is a competitive scholarship for full-time students with at least 26 earned JC credits who maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average. She’s received college scholarships each year she’s enrolled, which have helped her to attend college debt-free. “That’s not something every college student can say. It takes a lot of pressure off, and my focus can be applied to my studies. Scholarships are

The Jackson College Foundation is located at the W.J. Maher Campus, 3000 Blake Road, Jackson, MI 49201. For additional information, please call 517.787.0244

a benefit to students all around. I’ve just been really blessed with scholarships.” Sexton is the sixth member of her family to attend JC, and has a brother who is also

Starry, Starry Night event shines for students!

On August 28 the Jackson College Foundation welcomed nearly 200 guests to the annual fundraising Feast for Knowledge gala, a Starry, Starry Night. Guests enjoyed a strolling dinner with flavors of New Orleansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; famous French Quarter, and had the opportunity to bid on several dinners to be held throughout the year by friends of the College. The evening raised more than $25,000 to benefit student scholarships!

SAVE THE DATE... Next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event is set for FRIDAY, AUG. 26, 2016.

Mark your calendar for a Starry, Starry Night Across America: From Sea to Shining Sea, featuring culinary delights from various American cities.

Jackson College Jets Golf Outing

The Jackson College Jets Golf Outing was held Aug. 29 at Lakeland Hills Golf Course. Thirty foursomes played in this third annual event, a fun outing that raised $9,500 for Jets athletics. Next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sept. 10, 2016

Scholarship Reception Jackson College hosted a reception recently for recipients of the J. Sterling Wickwire Memorial Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship and Recognition of Excellence Scholarship. These three scholarships primarily recognize academic performance. Students gathered at the Wickwire House, home of college President Daniel J. Phelan, to be honored and recognized for their accomplishments.

MARK YOUR

Phi Theta Kappa New Member Induction Ceremony and Alumni Reception

22, 2015 CALENDAR NOV. For more information email RobinsoBrigettA@jccmi.edu

College works to ease transition for

veterans heading back to class

College Welcomes

Brazilian Fulbright Scholar to campus As a teen-ager, Fulbright Scholar Fernanda da Silva Carvalho

The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of veterans leaving the service and returning to civilian life with the draw down in military forces from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. At Jackson College, veterans resource representative Chad Blunt has been helping many returning veterans use their education benefits.

started learning English so she could sing along with

Blunt is part of the Michigan Veteran Education Initiative serving on the Jackson College campus and helping to ensure student veterans succeed as they pursue an education. He brings about five years of veterans resource experience to the position. The College has established a Veterans Resource Center – a one-stop shop – to serve the veteran student population.

Carvalho teaches English to her native Brazilians. For a year

American pop songs on the radio in her home near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Today, after years of language school and university study, she is visiting the U.S. to learn more about the language and share her own culture through the Fulbright Scholar Program. She will be teaching Portuguese to American students, English grammar and composition to international

“Veterans face a lot of red tape. Not knowing how to get their Chad Blunt benefits started, not knowing where to go or what to do,” Blunt said. “This is a place where all the student veterans come, as well as dependents f veterans. Having someone there they can go to who knows that bureaucratic process helps.” The College certified 145 student veterans using benefits last semester, and Blunt hopes to grow that number to about 170-180 this semester. Elizabeth Snell in Student Services acts as the veterans certifying official for benefits claims. JC’s Veterans Resource Center also employs four work-study students, also student veterans, who can help all incoming veterans or their dependents understand their benefits. These students know firsthand the challenges faced when leaving the military.

Elizabeth Snell

“I tried working for a year after I got out, but because of my disabilities, I wasn’t able to work the jobs that I wanted. So, now I’m going to school to become a Ph.D. in audiology,” said Shaun Durfey, student veteran who served eight years in the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I’ve used Chad as a resource, and he knows it all. Now I work here and help others, which is good, getting them set for their career.”

Organization. “I’ve always wanted to come here since I was a child. I used to tell my mother that I would live in the U.S. someday,” Carvalho said. As an English teacher, coming to the U.S. was a natural choice. While in Brazil, Carvalho taught English for six years, spending two years on an oil rig platform teaching English for Brazilians and Portuguese for foreigners. After that, she taught at her university, Fluminense Federal University, with a program called English Without Borders, teaching English to students to pass the TOEFL test, necessary for students hoping to

Derick Yoell is a student veteran, having served in the Marines in Iraq for two years. “Chad has been really beneficial because he’s helped me get hooked in with the VA system, as well as understanding my benefits. Now I work here, and it’s enjoyable helping other vets who are in the same position I was. You don’t know a lot about what you get or what is available to you, so being able to explain to others about the programs available is helpful.” The Veterans Resource Center is located in William Atkinson Hall on Central Campus, or visit online at www.jccmi.edu/studentservices/veterans.

students, and helping with the College’s Global Student

study in the U.S. and English-speaking countries. Carvalho arrived in the U.S. in August and will stay for nine months. She’s enjoyed her visit and the opportunity to get to know so many new people, both in the U.S. and other international students at JC. She has a list of things she hopes to do during her time in the U.S., including getting involved in the community and learning a new language herself – she is now studying Spanish. “I’ve always wanted to go to different places and get to know different cultures and meet new people. This has been

Derick Yoell, Shaw n Durfey

a dream for me for a long time.”

www.jccmi.edu

Jets athletes earn academic honors Jackson College congratulates the many outstanding student athletes who received academic awards for the 2014-15 school year! Three Jackson College student athletes received the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence -- Caterina Giuliani of Italy, volleyball; Katherine Prevost of Jackson, women’s cross country; and Kalee Stringham of Hanover, women’s soccer. This award is given to athletes who have completed at least 45 credits with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Since the return of athletics to JC 10 years ago, only one student previously has received the Pinnacle Award – this year, three are honored. “These awards show what the College as a whole does for student athletes in their experience here, not only as an athlete but as a student in helping them achieve their goals,” said Rick Smith, baseball coach and assistant athletic director. “It’s very exciting as an athletic administrator to see this with our athletes, and it brings it home when you see that they are not only doing well on the field or court, but also doing well in the classroom, meeting their goals.” In addition, 33 student athletes were honored with academic awards from the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and NJCAA.

Assessment survey helps College better serve African-American males Lee Hampton, director of the Office of Multicultural

obtain the depth of information that would help me to

Affairs at Jackson College, has spent 10 years guiding

effectively serve these students,” Hampton said.

multicultural programming, multicultural community relations, minority student recruitment and more.

Colleges and universities have traditionally assessed

He connects with students, employees and

students on two fronts – financially and academically

the community.

(cognitively). Hampton and others at JC began a twoyear process to development an assessment tool – a

After two African American Male Summits, several

“survey” of sorts that students fill out upon enrolling

factors important in serving males of color became

– that helps the College understand how best to serve

apparent, such as upbringing, parental involvement in

each individual. The Student Success Assessment

the educational process, level of exposure to non-

Survey for Males of Color gauges relevant, but

diverse environments, personal commitment to the

missing, information that impacts a student’s success.

educational process and more. After researching

He can then recommend support, tutoring or other

how the College could

services to help them be successful.

obtain this information in hopes of helping these

“It’s been well-received. When we explain to the

students, Hampton

incoming students what the assessment is, they

realized resources were

appreciate that an institution of higher education is

sorely lacking.

concerned about serving them at this level,” Hampton

“I found no tool

said. “We don’t want to be random but strategic in

that would help me

our support of these students.” Student Vernon Crump said he learned more about himself with the assessment. “Taking the African American male assessment was a great experience and helped Jackson College learn more about me, and helped me to learn more about myself. Now I can stay in school, focus on my grades and graduate,” said Crump, who is studying engineering. Hampton has been fortunate to present the assessment at conferences throughout the U.S. Interest has been so great that Jackson College has contracted with Qualitrics to package it so it is available for U.S. institutions. So far there have already been more than 100 inquiries.

Check out the complete list, visit… http://www.jccmi.edu/News/PressReleases/2015/ pr070615a.htm.

We Are Jackson College | Fall 2015

“We hope to increase retention rates, interventions, as well as increase percentage of students engaged in groups like Men of Merit and others. Statistics show that engagement increases retention and completion of males of color, which is our goal,” Hampton said.

Dual Enrollment gives students a jump start High school students thinking about college don’t have to wait to get started. With dual enrollment, motivated, college-bound students can earn free college credits while still in high school! Dual enrollment means students may be enrolled in both high school and college. They may take courses their freshman, sophomore, junior or senior years, accumulating credits for college and perhaps taking subjects unavailable at their high school. “I knew I wanted to go to college, and I saw some flyers at my high school and thought I could get a head start,” said Timothy Weiman, a graduate of Western High School who enrolled in five college classes during his junior and senior years of high school. He is now in his first year at JC and is studying 3D design and animation. “Everything went well. I would suggest only taking one class at a time.” Madison Howe took three college courses during her senior year Timothy Wei man at Northwest High School, which gave her a head start toward college and helped save money. “Depending on the number of courses you take, you have the opportunity to enter college as a sophomore, which saves a lot of money,” Howe said. All of her JC classes were online, important because of how busy she was her senior year. Howe is a now a freshman at Michigan State University. Home school and private/parochial school students may also dual enroll. Mary Scilzo was home schooled from elementary up into her high school years, then Madison Howe completed virtual academy online learning through TA Wilson Academy, earning her high school diploma from Jackson Public Schools. She completed 39 college credits before becoming a full-time student this fall! “I really enjoyed it. I felt like the options were great, the teachers were a big help at Jackson College. Most of the people didn’t realize I was a dual enrolled student. I enjoyed every minute of it,” Scilzo said.

Fulfilling a promise, student finds new future at JC Steven Moore traveled a long road to Jackson College. After having been incarcerated, working several jobs and raising a family, many factors came together to prompt Moore to go to college. His father battled cancer, and seeing his father’s struggle and his wishes for his son led Moore to want to change. While visiting Chicago, he found his aunt lived around the corner from then-Senator Barack Obama, whose success inspired him. He met someone special, Erica, who helped him to love again after the loss of his father, and showed him that he could do anything he set his mind to. And, Moore became a Christian, wanting to better himself. Ultimately, it was a challenge from his son that prompted Moore to act. While he tried to persuade his oldest son to return to college, his son turned the tables on him and said he hadn’t done it. “That changed me. The following semester, I enrolled at Jackson College,” he said. Moore began his studies in 2011 and has been very involved. He is president of the Men of Merit student group, is part of the TRiO Student Support Services program, been named to the Dean’s List, and benefitted from Jackson College Foundation scholarships.

Mary Scilzo

To get started, students should speak to their parents, their high school counselor or principal, and the Jackson College Admissions Office, who can help determine whether the student qualifies. Home school students should meet with the College’s Admissions Office to discuss plans. Find out more at the JC web site, www.jccmi.edu, or speak with your local high school principal or counselor.

He plans to graduate with two associate degrees in 2016, then transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree. He wants to work with youth to keep them from taking the wrong path in life, and also with ex-offenders to help them get a fresh start. He’s received encouragement from many people at JC, including instructor Frank Kruszka in criminal justice. “With hard work and dedication, everybody can reach their goals,” Moore said.

www.jccmi.edu

Grant funding renewed for College’s TRiO Student Support Services Thanks to continued grant funding, Jackson College will offer the TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program for another five years! The TRiO grant will provide $220,000 per year for each of the five years, for $1.1 million total. The program is designed to boost retention and degree completion of low-income, first-generation or disabled students. “We are all so excited to be able to serve TRiO students for another five years!” said Melissa Merkel, TRiO Student Support Services project director at JC. “We will be working harder than ever to bring in some new and creative ways to assist students in being the most successful that they can be.” TRIO grant money assists 140 students through a variety of support services, such as academic advising, group and individual tutoring, career/financial literacy training, crisis intervention, connection with other student services on campus, open communication with professors about how the student is doing, and more. The College was first granted money to participate with TRiO in 2010. Over the program’s first five years, JC saw a positive rise in outcomes for students who participated in the SSS program. Merkel said TRiO helps students at JC who otherwise may not have support outside of the TRiO/college employees. “We are more than just a place where students come for tutoring and academic advising. We are their sport on campus where they feel like they belong! We are very proud of all of our TRiO students, they all work extremely hard.” Isaac Bostick was involved with TRiO throughout his experience at Jackson College. Winner of the 2015 George E. Potter Outstanding Student Award, he credits TRiO with playing a big role in his successes. Within the TRiO program, Bostick facilitated workshops and was involved in a variety of outreach activities. This fall, he transferred to Michigan State University to continue his studies toward a bachelor’s degree. “They don’t hesitate to give anyone to succeed and speak up for themselves. They want students to be the center; it’s all about the students.” Learn more about TRiO at www.jccmi.edu/Success/TRiO/.

Explore options available with

Corporate and Continuing Education

JC’s Corporate and Continuing Education office can help your business be a success or help you explore a new interest! CCE provides corporate education and workforce development opportunities, community and continuing education. CCE staff can meet and consult with you to best meet your training and educational needs. Well-trained workers are more productive and happier workers, so investing in their skills can be a wise choice to grow and sustain a business. CCE offers both non-credit and for-credit options and can tailor a customized training program to meet a specific employer’s need or industry credential. The center can assist employers with training needs for apprenticeships, available for skilled trades and professional fields. Upcoming courses include: • Personal Trainer Certification, offered Saturdays from Oct. 10 – Dec. 12 • Many online courses begin every six weeks. Boost your computer skills, study accounting and finance, learn a language and more! To learn more about any of these programs, contact the Corporate and Continuing Education Office at 517.796.8610, or visit only at www.jccmi.edu/cce. Updates are also available on CCE’s Facebook page.

We Are Jackson College | Fall 2015

Hillsdale LeTarte Center

In winter 2016 semester, students can complete skill sets in the health fields of phlebotomy and/or EKG technician in as little as one semester. • Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, and research or blood donations. Students prepare to sit for national certification. Students may also add the skill set for another allied health or nursing program. Coursework will include HOC 145 Phlebotomy Technician, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., 1/18/16-5/8/16. • EKG technicians, sometimes called cardiographic technicians, specialize in electrocardiography, or EKG testing. EKGs measure and record heart action and rhythm by graphically tracing electrical activity occurring during heartbeats. Coursework will include HOC 135 EKG Technician, Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. 2:24 p.m. and 3 p.m. - 5:54 p.m., 1/18/16-5/8/16. Additional courses will be required for both programs. Contact the center to find out more.

Students are welcome to join the LeTarte Center Leaders student organization. The group plans events, participates in community service activities and mentors students in grades K-12. If you would like to join or have an idea for the group to participate in, call 517.437.3343. Upcoming student success workshops, free for all students, include: • Jet What? 9 a.m. Sept. 29, 5 p.m. Sept. 30 – this workshop will walk you through the basics of how to use JetNet, upload homework and communicate with instructors. • Keep Calm & Work On, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 21, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 – this workshop will explore ways to stay motivated throughout the semester. It will look at ways to avoid procrastination and the mid-semester blahs to help get through classes. • It’s the Holidays – Help! 9 a.m. Nov. 16, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 – this workshop will offer tips for getting through the

next two months without blowing off your classes and homework for family obligations, holiday parties and cold weather. • May is Mental Health Month, But I Need Info Now! 10:30 a.m. Dec. 9, 5 p.m. Dec. 15 – this workshop will explore signs and symptoms of mental health issues. Holidays and winter weather can impact focus and concentration.

For more information call 517.437.3343

JC @ LISD TECH With Jackson College @ LISD TECH, students can go to college without going too far from home! Students may choose from an associate degree or certificate program, or take classes necessary for transfer for those seeking a bachelor’s degree. Many programs are available entirely at the JC @ LISD TECH campus, see a list at www.jccmi.edu/lenawee. • Students can complete prerequisite coursework for the following second admit programs – licensed practical nurse, diagnostic medical sonography, respiratory care, registered nurse and radiography. • JC @ LISD TECH also offers an accelerated business degree with Siena Heights University.

• Students may take all courses required to satisfy the Michigan Transfer Agreement or MACRAO (Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) Agreement, which guarantees community college students have completed basic requirements necessary of the first two years at participating colleges and universities. JC encourages students who are thinking about college or those who have stopped and wish to return to stop in or make an appointment. High school students may also enroll in college courses through dual enrollment. JC @ LISD TECH offers advising and registration services, as well as assistance with the financial aid process, to start students on their college experience.

For more information call 517.265.5515

overlooking a wooded setting and outdoor patio; an advanced audiovisual system; and seating for over 300. Reservations for fall, winter and holiday events are being taken now. Please contact the Maher Campus to arrange for a tour and to plan your event.

to hire hundreds of employees throughout the state to fill job openings. Corrections courses are available individually for the fall semester, and a second Correction Core may be offered in the future if there is sufficient interest.

The Maher Campus was also the site of a unique Corrections Core program this summer. A new class, CRJ 299, consisted of an accelerated five-week program with five classes necessary for future corrections officers, meeting the Michigan Department of Corrections requirement of 15 college credit hours. Fifteen students completed the Corrections Core, with males and females ranging in age from 18 to 42. After completion, they applied to the Michigan Department of Corrections for positions as corrections officers and will begin their careers as soon as January 2016. The MDOC continues

For more information call 517.768.7097

W.J. MAHER CAMPUS Renovations are complete on the Maher Campus, and this fall marks its largest enrollment with over 700 students attending. The latest renovations added several classrooms, a student lounge, study rooms, indoor and outdoor dining space, additional restrooms, and combined offices for the Jackson College Foundation. Julie Hand, assistant dean, says “although the fall semester only recently began, there is a new energy that has come with having our largest student population to date. It’s great to see students and faculty responding so enthusiastically to our expanded course offerings and increased amenities. They really like it here at the Maher Campus.” Additionally, the Maher Campus is putting the finishing touches on nearly 5,000 square feet of conference and event space which features four walls of windows

www.jccmi.edu

College to host seminar studying active shooter response Sadly, public shootings have been commonplace in the daily news, and public safety agencies must prepare. Jackson College will present a daylong seminar, “Joint Public Safety Response to the Active Shooter,” for local agencies and the community on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Police, fire, emergency medical services, public safety, health organizations, school officials and all community members are invited to hear Mike Clumpner, cofounder and president/chief executive officer of Threat Suppression, Inc. of Concord, N.C. Participants will discuss the history of mass shootings and school shootings, and current international terrorist threats to American schools. This presentation will also discuss law enforcement tactics and the implementation of fire and EMS personnel into the plan. Four models of fire/ EMS integration into law enforcement tactics will be discussed. Last, lessons learned from several active shooter events will be examined. Clumpner has lectured globally on numerous public safety issues, and studied integrated active shooter response as part of his dissertation for his doctorate in homeland security leadership from Northcentral University. He is a sworn law enforcement officer, flight paramedic, and fire captain. He has presented active shooter lectures on four continents to a variety of audiences. In the last two years, he has trained more than 40,000 responders on integrative active shooter response.

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Spooktacular Trick or Treat Have a Spooktacular fun time when Jackson College welcomes children 12 and under for a Halloween event from 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 30. The Halloween Spooktacular welcomes children to the Jackson College Campus to trick or treat through campus buildings, and will include a Halloween movie.

November WINTER REGISTRATION

Registration for winter semester classes begins Nov. 11. Go to www.jccmi.edu for more information. Winter semester begins Jan. 18, 2016.

November Jackson Community Concert Band fall concert

Join the Jackson Community Concert Band when they present a fall concert, “Picture Perfect,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 in the Harold Sheffer Music Hall, Potter Center. The band will perform Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Scenes from the Louvre,” by Norman Dello Joio, “Children’s March” by Percy Grainger, and more.

Potter center coming events

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the seminar will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $35 per person, and will include continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and afternoon snack. For law enforcement, the seminar has been approved by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) Information and Tracking Network (MITN) which allows departments to use state 302 training funds to attend (302 Funds Approved). Registration also available online. http://www.jccmi.edu/activeshooter

Smash Mouth | 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 10 • The Lettermen | 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24 Matthew West and Francesca Battistelli | 7 p.m. Sun., Nov. 1 Clifford The Big Red Dog Live! | 2 & 5:30 p.m. Sun., Nov. 8 The Music of Carole King & James Taylor | 7 p.m. Sat., Nov. 21 Sister’s Christmas Catechism | 7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 5 • Swing’n the Holidays | 3 p.m. Sun., Dec. 13 Questions about JC programs and services described in this publication should be directed to Student Services at 517.796.8425. Comments or questions about the publication can be directed to the Marketing Department at 517.796.8416. Publisher: Cynthia S. Allen • Editor: Dotty Karkheck • Writer: Marilynn Fryer • Graphic Design: JC Marketing • Photography: JC Marketing

Board of Trustees Samuel R. Barnes, Chairman • John M. Crist, Vice Chairman • Sheila A. Patterson, Secretary • Donna L. Lake, Treasurer Matthew R. Heins, Trustee • Philip E. Hoffman, Trustee • Dr. Edward A. Mathein, Trustee • Dr. Daniel J. Phelan, President

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October

November WINTER REGISTRATION

Registration for winter semester classes begins Nov. 11. Go to www.jccmi.edu for more information. Winter semester begins Jan. 18, 2016.

November Jackson Community Concert Band fall concert

Potter center coming events