CENTRAL CAMPUS / JACKSON
MAY 2020 / VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 2
Serving our students & community. We are Jackson College strong! Jackson College has been educating our communities for more than 90 years. Our commitment to our students and communities remains the same even in these uncertain times of unemployment, social distancing and quarantine. When the COVID-19 situation became serious in March, Leadership Council consulted other higher education leaders and professionals in the science and medical fields, who felt this pandemic would likely last longer than expected. The College immediately
initiated work to transition all of its instructional programming to an online format. This allowed us to continue to educate our students and help them to further their educational goals while staying safe in this health crisis. I thank our College faculty who, over the course of one week, during an extended spring break, took their classes online. Similarly, staff and administrators migrated all College operations to an online delivery as well. The College began online learning exclusively on March 23 in order to finish out the winter semester safely. Jackson College is a fully virtual college, with the same services offered as before, only online. Student services and support staff continued to connect with students online to help students. Going forward, we have made the commitment to continue to offer the full complement of our courses and programs online for the spring and fall semesters. Students may choose from more options,
with the addition of five-week and sevenweek classes. This will allow for greater flexibility, convenience and increase variety for students. As this crisis continues, we realize that our future will look quite different. We stand ready to address changing circumstances as they arise, and are also working to define what higher education looks like post-COVID-19 in this country. We recognize that these are troubling times. The College continues to offer help to our communities where we can. For our students, our Health Clinic, library, and Oasis Center services are also available online as needed. Our staff and faculty continue to reach out to students regularly. We urge everyone, our students and our community alike, to practice safe physicaldistancing and self-care through this crisis. WE ARE JACKSON COLLEGE STRONG! Dr. Daniel J. Phelan President & CEO
Jackson College is open and ready to serve you, from your computer. Our staff members are ready to help. Apply for admission, contact a navigator, contact a faculty member or ask a question, online from the safety of your home. WE ARE ALL SYSTEMS GO.
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WE ARE JACKSON COLLEGE
Take that step! Your future awaits With the move to online classes, all College services have moved online, also. Students can apply for admission, file for financial aid, meet with a navigator and register for classes, all from their keyboard.
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APPLY ONLINE. Complete the online
application available at www.jccmi. edu/admissions. Applications are processed throughout the week. An admissions team member will call within 48 hours of processing to share next steps.
Guest Students: Students who attend other colleges or universities are welcome to enroll as guest students! Pick up credits anytime. To become a guest student, complete the Michigan Undergraduate Guest Application and an Add/Drop Form online at www. jccmi.edu/guest. Forms can be uploaded to the College’s secure site listed on the guest student admissions page. Registration will be processed within one to two business days.
FINANCIAL AID. Complete the Free 2 Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, at www.fafsa.gov. We encourage all
students to complete this form; it is the first step in qualifying for financial aid and also is
necessary for many scholarships. Please see JC’s financial aid website for further filing instructions for the semester in which you wish to begin your classes.
TRANSCRIPTS/TEST SCORES. 3 Send in high school transcripts and test scores, electronically, if you’ve graduated
from high school in the last three years. For those who have attended college previously, please submit previous college transcripts. Many high schools and college/universities utilize Parchment.com as an electronic portal for sending transcripts. If you are unable to obtain your transcripts or test scores due to the pandemic, let our admissions team know and they will assist you with next steps.
4ORIENTATION.
Student completes new student orientation online and is encouraged to complete JetReady to prepare for online learning. Once online orientation is complete, an admissions team member will schedule an advising appointment.
Navigators are available for online, virtual advising appointments and by phone to help students select their courses for the semester. Students will then register for their approved courses as registration for the semester opens. Students will find their course schedule in JetStream, with a link on the website home page. Course content is available through the JetNet link.
6BOOKS.
The Jackson College Bookstore, available online at jackson. bkstr.com, offers new, used and rental textbooks, as well as school supplies.
IN. Shortly before classes start, Meet 7LOG log in to JetNet and let the learning begin! 5ADVISING/REGISTRATION. with a student success navigator.
Paying for college: Together we inspire and transform lives.
Financing options available
We Are Jackson College • May 2020 • Volume 2 | Issue 2 We Are Jackson College is produced four times annually by the Marketing and Communications Department at Jackson College. If you have comments or questions about the publication call 517.796.8416. Publisher: Cynthia S. Allen • Editor: Dotty Karkheck Writer: Marilynn Fryer • Designer: Abbie Stein Photography: Marketing and Communications Staff JACKSON COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Sam 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 & CEO All rights reserved. No part of the material may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without the permission of the publisher. It is the policy of Jackson College that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, marital status, or handicap, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to, discrimination in any program or activity for which it is responsible for or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. Jackson College • 2111 Emmons Road • Jackson, MI 49201 517.787.0800 • visit www.jccmi.edu. Jackson College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604 (800) 621-7440 • hlcommission.org Jackson College became a board member in the League for Innovation in the Community College in October 2019.
Financial Aid – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online as soon as possible to see if you qualify for aid. Check e-mail and respond promptly to any requests. Education Emergency Scholarship – This scholarship was created to assist in lowering the overall cost of education, since virtual learning comes at a higher cost to students. The College will award this scholarship to students who register for spring and fall semesters. It may not cover all online course fees as some courses may have additional fees, but it is applied directly to students’ accounts. Payment Plan – Monthly and bi-monthly payment plan options can help students break down costs. Payment plans are zero down, with optional down payment for those who choose; there is a $30 enrollment fee. For information, visit www.jccmi.edu/paytuition. Dual Enrollment – High school students may qualify for dual enrollment where their high school pays a majority of the fees. Please check with your counselor for further information. Third-Party Sponsorships – Some employers or organizations may pay tuition and fees for their employees. Check with the Business Office for more information. Scholarships: The Jackson College Foundation awards numerous scholarships to students each year. Visit www.jccmi.edu/foundation/foundation-scholarships/ to learn more.
MAY 2020
Online learning: Now what? What you need to know about online classes Online learning takes the class to your computer and offers convenience and flexibility. Check out these tips: What is online learning? Online learning takes place over the Internet. Students “go to class” by logging into instructional software, JetNet, through the Jackson College website and completing their work. Online learning may include reading, writing, video conferences, watching videos, discussions, tests and assignments. How is online learning different than face-to-face classes? “I sometimes compare this to the differences between a live concert and a CD or digital download of a song. The songs are the same, but the experience is different,” said Dr. Brian Newberry, instructional designer. You will not see the instructor’s movement or body language, and you won’t have other students around you sharing the experience. “But just like a CD or download, you can take an online class when you can’t take a
face-to-face class. You have more choices about when you engage.” Online learning will require more writing than a face-to-face class. In an online discussion, you will have to respond to the questions with a written answer. How do I prepare for an online class? Most importantly, students need selfdiscipline. Set a schedule and follow it each day. Keep a calendar. Find a place to study away from distractions. How much time should I expect to spend on a threecredit class? How much time you spend each week depends on the grade you want, what the class is, the length of the term, how fast you read and write, and how well you can avoid distractions. The guideline in a 15or 16-week semester is to plan three hours per week of study time for every credit hour; some more, some less. Read more tips for success at www.jccmi.edu.
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WE ARE JACKSON COLLEGE
MAY 2020
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How can online
learning benefit you? Jackson College’s learning has gone online, continuing to serve students via a virtual campus. Online learning has grown in popularity, for many reasons:
Support for your success! TUTORING Individualized assistance in academic subjects is available free of charge from qualified peer and professional tutors. Tutoring assistance enables students to develop academic mastery and independence. Students may also access Smarthinking online tutoring through the JetNet portal. CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS CSS also assists students with disabilities who may need accommodations for learning. Students will need to identify themselves and present documentation to arrange accommodations. Contact the CSS for more information. TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES TRIO is a federal grant-funded program that offers academic advising, personal counseling, career guidance, workshops and more, to qualifying students. SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION Supplemental Instruction helps students in their math or science courses. SIs are students who have successfully completed a class previously and now help other students. WRITING FELLOWS Writing Fellows provide free writing support to JC students in all disciplines. Writing Fellows can help at any point in the writing process – from collecting material at the beginning to properly citing sources at the end of the process. CAREER SERVICES Students gain assistance preparing for their next steps, creating resumès, job interviews and best career fit. Several online workshops are available this spring. CARING FOR THE WHOLE STUDENT The College offers a Health Clinic staffed by a nurse practitioner, who can connect online. The Oasis Center can help when students feel stressed, overwhelmed, or need to talk to someone. Students are welcome to connect with their student success navigator or a faculty member if they have a need. At Jackson College, we have a total commitment to student success, and all employees are eager to help students succeed. Find contact information for any services online at www.jccmi.edu/student-resources/
FLEXIBILITY: With the opportunity to log on whenever it fits your schedule, it can definitely make life easier. Students may choose to do their classwork when and where they want it, whether that’s spare time during the day, late at night or on weekends. CONVENIENCE: Can’t make it to campus twice a week? Don’t worry, online learning fits your schedule. While courses do have timelines and due dates, working toward them is up to you, the student. While this can make life easier, be careful to stay on track so you don’t get behind! QUALITY: Online classes meet the same learning goals of in-person classes and are led by dedicated, experienced faculty. With faculty and support services available online, students can rest assured that there will be no student left behind.
Student housing available for fall The College will welcome a limited number of resident students to campus this fall, and will be complying with the guidelines of social distancing. Space is limited so act now. Apply online at www.jccmi.edu/Housing. If you have questions, please call 517.990.1337.
Get a jump start on college Jackson College’s Ready, Set, Jet offers an academic mentoring program for newly enrolling students. The program may run from July 7 – Aug. 14, 2020. This program has been established to offer greater support as students transition from high school to college. Limited space is available. Ready Set Jet offers the opportunity to... • • • •
Earn 12 college credits Benefit from peer to peer mentoring Tutors provided Fun, co-curricular activities
Interested students should complete all steps to admission and enroll by June 1, 2020. Visit the Jackson College website (www.jccmi.edu/readysetjet) for more information.
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