By Josh Bull
With posters hanging in nearly every hallway, the college’s JCCC 2 the Max program strives to get students involved.
JCCC 2 the Max, which began in 2009, is a series of panels and workshops that range anywhere from learning about Math and English to how to eat cheaply. The program started with ten workshops, but now features over 100 each semester.
“It was in response to a kind of an initiative with the college to engage our students and learning early on,” said Mary Jean Billingsley, Program Director of Learner Engagement.
At the same time, the program was meant to use the underused space in the commons building, which lead to the creation of the Student Lounge and Campus Center, where the JCCC 2 the Max workshops are held.
A big part of why JCCC 2 the Max was started was for students to make connections with other students and faculty. This was so they could become more involved during their time at the college.
“If they would meet at least one other person, whether it was a faculty member or another student or someone, we knew it would make a difference for them,” Billingsley said.
Using JCCC 2 the Max to meet social needs has worked out very well for some students.
“In fact, they’ve told me before, ‘I met my best friend at one of the programs,’” said Ann Fielders, Coordinator of Leaner Engagement and Student Services.
“All the way from meeting the social needs to investigating different majors, exploring talents a student might have. Hobbies, because that’s an important part of life. Life skills,” said Fielders, “A student told me last spring that he didn’t know how to take care of himself in terms of feeding himself cheaply. It was too expensive to go to the drive-thru, he didn’t have enough money, didn’t know how to sew on a button, didn’t have the money to pay someone to do that for him.”
Student Clinton Mulligan feels that the information gathered from the workshops is valuable and would recommend that students attend.
“If you ever feel like you want to find out information,” Mulligan said, “and they have an event like that on something you need or peaks your interest, go to one.”
At the same time, however, he is disappointed by the program’s schedule centering most workshops around noon and feels that many student’s class schedules interfere with their ability to attend.
“I saw an event today,” Mulligan said, “Not many were there, but I also know not many could show up because they’re usually in class around noon to oneish.”
There is also a financial incentive for students to attend. For every four sessions attended, students can earn a $10 Dining Services card, up to four times per semester. At the end of the semester, there is a drawing for the prize of a $50 gasoline card.
“We thought,” Billingsley said, “‘Ok, what do the students really want? What would help our students besides this information.’ Well, they need to eat and they need gas for their cars.”
The size of the workshops can vary between them. Some have had over 70 students attending, others have had as few as six.
“I feel like it’s providing a community sort of atmosphere, which is really important,” Fielders said, “After all, we’re a community college.”
Contact Josh Bull, reporting correspondent, at jbull3@jccc.edu.