Jackson State named Bellwether Award Finalist

Jackson State named Bellwether Award Finalist
Top 10 finalist in the Workforce Development category

JACKSON, TENN. – Jackson State Community College (JSCC) has been named a finalist out of more than 90 colleges across the nation to compete for the prestigious Bellwether Award at the 32^nd Annual Community College Futures Assembly (CCFA).

The Bellwether Award nationally recognizes cutting-edge, trendsetting programs worthy of replication. Each year, 30 community colleges are selected to compete as finalists in the workforce development, instructional programs and services, and planning governance and finance categories. Each category is comprised of 10 finalists, and this year, JSCC was selected as a finalist to compete in the workforce category. This selection comes after a rigorous process and will now involve two rounds of judging by peers and academicians in the field and a day-long event of presentations by contenders taking place at the Community College Futures Assembly in San Antonio, Texas, February 22-24, 2026.

The annual competition and selection process drives a level of excellence and demonstrates the innovative spirit and results-driven mindset among the country’s finest community colleges. Each year, college’s from across the country present ways they are addressing critical issues facing community colleges through applicable research and the promotion and replication of best practices addressing workforce development, instructional programs and services, and planning governance and finance.

“Being named as a finalist for this prestigious award is truly an honor,” said JSCC President Dr. Carol Rothstein. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication by our faculty and staff. They have poured countless hours outside of the classroom to ensure our students’ success, and I look forward to this hard work being showcased at the Assembly next year so that others can gain insight into our excellent work-based learning.”

Jackson State was named a finalist for the workforce development category for the outcomes and impact demonstrated through the college’s AMT Co-Op. Originally developed in 2013 through a partnership with Toyota Bodine, the Co-Op was created to address a skilled-labor shortage across the region from an ageing workforce and lack of interest in jobs within manufacturing. By April 2014, the consortium had expanded to 16 partners that committed to paying a competitive hourly wage to students enrolled in the Co-Op, working a set schedule each week while maintaining a full semester courseload.

Since its inception, the Co-Op has now grown to more than 30 local, regional, and global industry partners, produced 233 graduates with a 98% employment rate within manufacturing-related fields upon graduation. This influx of new graduates into the manufacturing field has resulted in more than $1 Million into the local economy – stimulated by a median wage for graduates of $86,000 just five years after completing the program. JSCC has also seen a 750% increase since the Co-Op’s inception of JSCC Engineering Systems graduates – the degree awarded to students enrolled in the Co-Op.

Finalists for this year’s Bellwether Award consist of colleges from 19 states and 29 community colleges, selected out of a submission pool of a record-breaking 114 submissions from 91 community colleges across 30 states.

Jackson State will compete against the following 9 community colleges in the Workforce Development category: Barton Community College; Cerritos College; Community College of Rhode Island; Illinois Central College; Kansas City Kansas Community College; Merced College; Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Pikes Peak State College; Rio Salado College.

Jackson State was previously awarded the Bellwether Award in 2010.

About the Bellwether Award
The Community College Futures Assembly convenes annually as an independent national forum for innovators to work as a think tank. It identifies successful responses to critical issues facing the future of community colleges and hosts its national award competition annually. Visit the Bellwether College Consortium website for more information, www.bellwethercollegeconsortium.com

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