JCC prepared to serve diverse community
Jefferson Community College prides itself on the level of personal attention given to all of our students and we are particularly happy to address Jamie Weber's March 3 letter to the editor regarding the needs of adult learners.
Approximately one-third of Jefferson's student population is considered to be "adult learners" and over 30 percent of our students are armed services veterans, retirees or directly related to the military population currently stationed at Fort Drum. Our middle name is "community" and our mission focuses on meeting the needs of the community as a whole, including adult learners.
People entering JCC each year come from all different walks of life and have one thing in mind: a successful career path. The focus of each and every person working at Jefferson Community College is to do everything we can to help them meet that goal. We have built our student support network to meet the needs of a very diverse population.
One of the newest additions at the college is The Welcome Center — the first stop for prospective students and a central repository for student questions and concerns. Understanding that most students are new to the higher education experience, student ambassadors personally assist with applications for admissions and financial aid, registration, as well as provide campus tours.
The Learning and Success Center and Continuing Education Division offer college readiness courses in non-traditional formats such as seminars, tutor-led instruction and self-paced learning. The Advising, Career and Counseling Center provides individual career, academic and personal counseling to help students define and meet their educational and career goals.
JCC advisers located on Fort Drum provide support and assistance to active-duty soldiers and their family members. Financial Services staff and a veterans counselor provide a wide range of funding opportunities and personal assistance. Our child care center is nationally certified and provides high- quality, affordable child care through use of grant subsidies available to our students.
Additionally, through partnerships with four-year institutions, the college has expanded the community's ability to complete bachelor's and master's degrees locally, which is particularly important for adult students who are often geographically bound. Nursing, criminal justice, social work, medical technology, respiratory therapy, early childhood educator, nurse practitioner, business administration and hotel/resort/tourism management are some of the curricula currently offered or under way.
Jefferson is geared up and always ready to provide all of our students a first-class higher-education experience both inside and outside the classroom.
Rosanne Weir LaPlante
Watertown
The writer is JCC admissions director.
