(JACKSON, Miss.) — Dr. Carlos Wilson, director and associate professor for the School of Lifelong Learning, has been awarded a subgrant from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security for $117,550. It will fund a new project at the Continuing Education Learning Center (CELC) entitled JSU Remedial Adult and Continuing Education Support Service (RACESS).

“We are immensely grateful for this funding that will support the services we provide to the Jackson State community and Hinds, Madison, and Rankin counties,” Wilson said. “We are also excited about the opportunity to provide education and training to participants that will ultimately assist them with obtaining a high school equivalence (HSE) and create a pathway to gainful employment.”

This grant was co-written by Marquita Shelby, former lead basic skills teacher, along with Wilson in a continuing effort to fund the services of the CELC and improve the quality of life for Mississippians.  

The purpose of the JSU RACESS project is to provide participants with educational training to earn an HSE, increase skills in reading/numeracy by 1.5-grade level, and receive multiple industry-recognized credentials through the following:

1. 100 hours or more in adult basic education, pre-HSE, and HSE prep;
2. 20 hours of computer-assisted instruction;
3. Online soft skills and workforce development courses
   1. Administrative Assistant Fundamentals;
   2. Everyday Math;
   3. GED Preparation;
   4. Grammar Refresher Series;
   5. Leadership;
   6. Manufacturing Fundamentals;
   7. Medical Coding;
   8. Microsoft Office 2016 Value Suite;
   9. Prepare for GED Test Series;
   10. Secrets of the Caterer, 
   11. Veterinary Assistant, or
   12. Additional Classes that are available as part of the Ed2Go catalog of courses.
4. Workforce Training will include one or both of the following:
   1. Manufacturing Skills Basic Training Program
   2. Professional Truck Driver Training Program
   3. 20 hours of computer-assisted instruction;
   4. 100 hours or more in adult basic education, pre-HSE, and HSE prep;

The project will fully fund these activities and is designed to serve undereducated, unemployed or underemployed residents of Hinds, Madison, and Rankin counties. These individuals must be out-of-school youth that are at least 16 years of age and are significantly behind in basic skill development in obtaining a high school equivalency (HSE).  

CELC will be recruiting 50 participants for the JSU RACESS program to receive services from January 2022 through March 2023. 

Individuals interested in participating should contact the School of Lifelong Learning at 601.979.2636 or 601.979.8777.