Co-Lin Home

	Departments
Continuing Education Small Business Development Center Workforce Development Center

Vision Statement

The Workforce Development Center at Copiah-Lincoln Community College will be the primary educational resource and training partner for individuals, businesses, industries, and other agencies in the College service area. The Center will be responsive to the educational and training needs of new, existing, downsizing, and expanding companies and their employees through a comprehensive offering of flexible and innovative training programs and services. Through the continuous improvement of the workforce, the Workforce Development Center will be an integral part of economic development in the College service area.

Mission Statement

The Workforce Development Center at Copiah-Lincoln Community College works in partnership with local businesses, industries, agencies, and other organizations to coordinate and offer educational and training programs and services. These programs and services are designed to enhance an employee’s performance and thus achieve organizational objectives. The Center is committed to developing a trained workforce for all employers located in the College service area, thus enhancing the economic growth of the region.

Overview

The Workforce Development Center at Copiah-Lincoln Community College was created by an act of the Mississippi Legislature in 1994 to provide workforce training and support for new, existing, and expanding businesses and industries in the state. The Workforce Development Center offers programs and services designed to assist individuals and companies meet the challenges of a changing workplace. For many businesses and industries these include on-site customized training, industry or firm-related pre-employment training, and basic skills classes.

Furthermore, the Development Center is staffed to provide individuals who need training or retraining with assessment, counseling, and referrals to training or jobs; pre-employment training; basic skills training and high school equivalency education; and short-term job skills training. 

The development of workforce skills through special industrial and adult training classes is viewed as a primary mission of the community college. Thus, Copiah-Lincoln Community College maintains a team of professionals dedicated to delivering high-quality services to its customers. In addition, the enterprising nature of the Workforce Development Center allows Co-Lin to access the resources of the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, the State Department of Education, the Office of Vocational and Technical Education, and the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit. The Workforce Development Center at Co-Lin also has the means to access the resources of Career/Skill Tech Centers at the state’s other 14 public community and junior colleges.

The Workforce Development Center utilizes a team approach to provide resources and service to its customers. The team includes the Workforce Development Coordinators, Personal Development Specialist, Small Business Development Center Director, Basic Skills Specialist, and the Workforce Development Center Training Specialist. Although the Workforce Development Center team works under the guidance of the Dean of Community Services, the team also receives direction from the local District Workforce Development Council.

The District Workforce Development Council is responsible for identifying workforce development needs, establishing short-term and long-term goals for industry-specific training, and coordinating all workforce training programs. Members of the Copiah-Lincoln Community College District Workforce Development Council are selected from persons recommended by chambers of commerce, labor unions, industrial foundations, community organizations, and local governmental agencies located in the district. As required by the legislation, one appointee is involved in basic literacy training.