Jackson State Is Reimagining Community College
Jackson State is rethinking what a student's academic experience should look like.
Sponsored by: Jackson State Community College
Whether you’re a recent high school graduate, a student looking to go back to school, or a parent contemplating a career change, Jackson State Community College in Jackson, TN, has a career track with your name on it.
Jackson State Community College offers top-rated, nationally recognized programs that put students of all ages on the fast track to success. With the help of grants and scholarships such as Tennessee Promise, most students earn a degree in two years or less with little to no cost to them.
“Many of our students take advantage of this incredible opportunity through Tennessee Promise to get a tuition-free education, and after two short years, earn a degree in their field of choice with little to no debt,” says Henry Kilpatrick, PR & Marketing Coordinator for Jackson State Community College.
Jackson State’s nursing program was recently ranked one of the top programs in the state, and it doesn’t stop there. The college’s health science programs equally continue to be programs of excellence in preparing students to pass their national exams — many boasting 100% pass rates.
“Our nursing program has been and will continue to be one of the best programs in Tennessee thanks to the outstanding work of our faculty, staff and industry partners who ensure our graduates excel in their careers,” says Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences, Program Director and Professor of Nursing, Dr. Leslie West Sands.
Whether a student attends a 2-year or 4-year school, both routes require students to take the national board exam to become a certified Registered Nurse. Jackson State’s program prepares students to take this exam in just two years, saving students money and providing them the skills and knowledge needed to be standout nurses in the workforce.
For students pursuing engineering, JSCC offers a popular Advanced Maintenance Technician (AMT) co-op that is part of the Engineering Systems Technology degree. The AMT co-op allows students to earn up to $29,000 while attending college and gaining valuable work experience from the program’s 30+ local industry partners.
“Our industry partners put our students to work, providing them with hands-on learning experience while they attend the program,” says Cathi Roberts, Completion Coordinator for the AMT co-op. “Students alternate days during their school week working and learning in the classroom. It’s truly an unparalleled experience for our students, typically resulting in competitive job offers upwards of $60,000.”
The Transfer Machine
On top of offering dual enrollment, JSCC also attracts students who want to attend four-year universities through the TN Transfer Pathway Program (TTP). TTPs allow students to save money by attending JSCC and later transferring to a four-year institution. Jackson State boasts partnerships with local and regional public universities that allow students to begin taking major-specific courses at those institutions before graduating from Jackson State — allowing for a more traditional four-year experience.
“They come to us first and then go off to the four-year university of their choosing,” says Kilpatrick. “We jokingly say that we’re the ‘transfer machine.’ Our students are academically well prepared here, and then able to have the experience of a four-year college while saving a lot of money. We’re the stepping stone to get you to the four-year school of your dreams.”
This is a great opportunity for students who may not be able to afford to go to a four-year college immediately after graduating high school.
Project Green Light
Launching in fall 2023, Project Green Light is Jackson State’s newest initiative to reimagine the community college experience. With the help of a grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents, Jackson State is rethinking what a student’s academic experience should look like.
“JSCC’s mission to ‘Greenlight Your Career’ was the springboard for this plan,” explains Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jennifer Lopes. “Reimagining the community college experience means connecting students to career exploration and career readiness early on in their educational pathway. Exposing students to major-specific classes sooner rather than later can help students decide if their initial career choice is truly a good fit for them. It also fosters practical connection and application of career-ready skills in other courses within their degree plan.”
The launch of Project Green Light will allow students to enroll in program-specific courses right away, as well as general education courses that emphasize industry related topics, giving students real-world applications for the skills they learn.
“This plan gives students the ability to excel during and after their college career,” Lopes adds. “We want them to enjoy the program they’re going into sooner, rather than later, and ultimately, reinforce their classes with certificates so they can work right away.”
JSCC has also made it a priority for students to earn a career-ready certificate within their first semester — in as little as seven weeks.
“Earning stackable credentials as students work toward their degree provides industry-recognized skills that students can use to enter the workplace sooner,” notes Lopes. “If a student experiences a life-altering event and needs to put their education on hold, they will still be able to get a job immediately and can return to school to finish their degree later on. These certificates also reinforce a student’s knowledge so they can go ahead and pursue jobs in their field while continuing to go to school if they so choose.”
A portion of the grant funding will be used to develop affordable online degree programs, reinforcing the college’s reputation for providing top-notch graduates ready for the workforce. Online students can choose from a catalog of four degrees in 12 programs of study and seven certificates.
Revamping Criminal Justice
Also new in 2023, JSCC redeveloped its criminal justice program to make it a more accurate representation of what it’s like to work in the field. The state-of-the-art program being led by Karen Perrin, a former military service member, now has a simulated jail cell to give students a look at what they will see when they are working in the field.
“We have partnered with law enforcement agencies across West Tennessee to tailor this program to what they are looking for in a jailer,” Perrin says. “How do you get into a jail cell when two inmates are in there all while staying safe? It’s hard to teach that in a classroom, so we teach it in an actual jail cell, so students know how to handle various situations effectively.”
JSCC’s criminal justice program truly prepares students for the workforce and makes them highly desirable to police and sheriff’s departments because of the training they receive at Jackson State.
“We also have a state-of-the-art, virtual reality-based system that allows students to be put into active shooter, hostage or imminent threat situations,” Perrin says. “Putting students in realistic scenarios forces them to rely on their training as opposed to their natural fight or flight instincts. We are preparing students better than ever before to be assets in their career fields, and that starts with giving them the right tools to excel.”
Find more information on JSCC programs by visiting jscc.edu.
