Jackson 13 Connected Community Schools' College & Career Data Corner

The College and Career Access Center (CCAC) is a non-profit organization which opened its doors in 2008 and is located in the Jackson Crossing Mall, open M-Saturday.  All of our services are free and open to the public.  We also partner with each of the 13 districts, which host a College and Career Advisor at each high school a day and a half per week.  Each advisor, alongside their Counselor and Teachers,  provides a continuum of support and coordination to assist students and families in understanding, accessing, and navigating available post-secondary systems- including 2-4 year colleges, skilled trades, military or going into the workforce.  Assisting students in effectively navigating these post-secondary waters ultimately supports the successful entry into the workforce. 

Our College & Career Advisors who are housed at each high school provide 1:1 senior post-secondary consultations for all pathways.   For some, this may mean a 2 - 4 year college or university. Others may view graduation as a time to become career-oriented. In that case, education may mean entry into a trade school, enlistment into the military, attainment of a specific certification, or entry into the workforce by other means.  To that end, Advisors coordinate and participate in post-secondary planning events within each district, including FAFSA, Scholarship, and Decision Day events.  These provide parents and students with career planning tools as well as scholarship and financial aid resources. Additionally, the CCAC provides an 8th grade initiative called, "Kids2College & Pathways to Professional Skilled Trades", which provides a curriculum and visit to a regional college and manufacturers, and also an initiative entitled "Juniors Over the Local Circuit", which provides an admissions presentation, lunch, and college tour to our three local colleges- Jackson College, Baker College, and Spring Arbor University.   

The center encourages match and fit for all students, we believe in post-secondary planning with a dedicated advisor for all students, and we encourage all students to view ongoing training and education as a means of achieving their goals after high school graduation.