8 April ICC realigns C.O.R.E. Program, launches partnerships with Lee County Sheriff's Office and Tupelo Police Department April 8, 2026 By Camp, Tyler W Career Center, General 0 Itawamba Community College has realigned its C.O.R.E. (Candidates on Rapid Entry) Program and announced its first formal partnerships with the Tupelo Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office following an Insight Luncheon held April 2 at the ICC Belden Center. Originally established in 2021 in partnership with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the C.O.R.E. Program has been restructured to strengthen the pipeline of qualified candidates for public safety careers. The event brought together local and state agencies to learn more about the updated program, which is housed within ICC’s criminal justice offerings and provides students with a structured pathway into law enforcement through academic coursework, skills development and direct engagement with agencies. Through the partnership, agencies will provide hands-on instruction and mentorship opportunities, while ICC will equip graduates with comprehensive portfolios documenting skills, credentials and career readiness. “This is workforce development at its best, aligning education with real-world need,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. "Our goal is simple: to build a stronger, more prepared workforce pipeline that directly benefits the communities we serve." ICC plans to expand partnerships with additional agencies across the region in the coming months. To learn more about the program, contact Tim Clouse at teclouse@iccms.edu or 662.862.8154. Related Articles ICC launches partnership with TimelyMD to connect faculty, staff, students with mental and physical health resources Itawamba Community College has launched a partnership with TimelyMD to connect full-time faculty and currently-enrolled students to the support and resources in both mental and physical health they need to succeed. TimelyCare provides on-demand 24/7 service that offers virtual health and well-being to currently-enrolled students and full-time faculty and staff for free, according to Dr. Brad Boggs, vice president of Student Services, including mental and emotional support, health literacy guidance and crisis management by masters-level behavioral health professionals. “It also provides a dedicated phone line for full-time faculty and staff to reach the TimelyCare team for guidance and support in cases of student distress.” Those covered may choose the visit modality that works best for them - video, phone or video chat. The simple, flexible scheduling enables students to choose their provider, day and time as well as cancel a visit and select the next available time that works best for them. Also, students can choose to add a parent, translator or even an adviser to the conversation. According to TimelyMD, “A modern virtual care platform starts with the technology that ... A season of giving with lasting impact: ICC students find support at Tupelo ACE Hardware For students training for careers in the skilled trades, the path forward often begins with grit, long hours and a growing list of tools they must purchase before they ever clock in on the job. This season of giving, one Tupelo business is stepping in to make that journey a little more attainable. Tupelo ACE Hardware is putting practical support directly into the hands of students enrolled in Career and Technical Education and Workforce training programs at Itawamba Community College. Through the generosity of owner George Booth, ICC students pursuing skilled trade careers are now eligible for varying discounts on tools purchased at the Tupelo ACE Hardware store on McCullough Boulevard. The effort began when Booth offered a discount on a tool needed by a student in an ICC Workforce class. Recognizing the ongoing need, he expanded the offer to support students across multiple trade programs, easing the financial burden that often accompanies hands-on training. To receive the discount, students present a tool discount letter provided by ACE Hardware. An ICC instructor verifies the student’s enrollment in an eligible CTE or ... ICC to partner with Get2College to offer onsite assistance with FAFSA completion Itawamba Community College is partnering with Get2College to provide onsite assistance with FAFSA completion, July 17 and 18. Times and locations are from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., July 17, Academic and Student Center room 231, Tupelo Campus; and July 18, Boggs Humanities Building room 103, Fulton Campus. The sessions are designed to assist current and incoming students with FAFSA questions and form completion. Appointments are preferred, according to Terry Bland, director of Financial Aid at ICC, but walk-ins will be accommodated. To schedule an appointment at the Fulton Campus, www.iccms.edu/FAFSAFulton or for the Tupelo Campus, www.iccms.edu/FAFSATupelo. Get2College is a college access program of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, whose mission is to help more Mississippians obtain postsecondary credentials, college certificates and degrees that lead to meaningful employment. For more information, email finaid@iccms.edu. ICC's Forestry program, Student Activities to celebrate Arbor Day with special Feb. 13 ceremony Itawamba Community College’s Forestry Technology program and Student Activities will celebrate Arbor Day at 9 a.m., February 13, with a special ceremony on the Fulton Campus. The public is invited. “Thanks to the Mississippi Forestry Commission and Walton’s Greenhouse, three 15-gallon trees, including an Eastern Redbud, Chinese Fringetree and Sweet Bay Magnolia will be planted to replace those that have been removed because of weather damage or age,” said Emily Loden-Jones, Forestry Technology instructor. The event will be in front of a ceremonial tree of love, a large water oak in the courtyard area between the eLearning Building and Community Relations. Loden-Jones said that students, faculty, staff, alumni and Early Learning participants are invited to complete Valentine Day hearts including why they love ICC or if they met their sweethearts at the college, and they will be collected and hung on the tree. Those who attend from the community will have an opportunity to complete a heart onsite at the ceremony. “ICC is working toward achieving Tree Campus USA recognition with the Arbor Day Foundation,” Loden-Jones said. “A ... ICC signs preferred candidate program agreement with MHP; only community college in the state selected Itawamba Community College signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Preferred Candidate Program with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Jan. 26, at the Tupelo Campus. The initiative is a pilot program that will be implemented at ICC, the only community college in the state selected. “Itawamba Community College is more than excited about this partnership with the Mississippi Highway Patrol,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “According to research, having successfully completed a college degree substantially improves the knowledge and abilities of officers on a vast range of areas from the criminal justice system to conceptual and managerial skills.” The agreement will allow those who are enrolled to pursue either an A.A. or A.A.S. degree in ICC’s Criminal Justice program, meet with an MHP recruiter and apply for the MHP Preferred Candidate Program to skip weeks of the Mississippi Highway Patrol Academy. In order to graduate from the MHP Preferred Candidate Program, students must complete one or more semesters of the MHP Candidates on Rapid Entry curriculum, earn the associate’s degree from ICC, meet the C.O.R.E. Patrol School PT requirements ... ICC alumnus Jason Dickinson returns to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student Itawamba Community College alumnus Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has returned to his alma mater to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. On July 1, Dickinson started his new job after spending 23 years working patrol and investigating. Dickinson said he applied because he wants to make a difference in the young lives of the students. Although he has never worked in the college environment, he wants to help or keep them on the right path and explain to them what a bad decision can bring. Dickinson earned two associate’s degrees from ICC, one in agribusiness and the other, in Law Enforcement Technology. “My first stint as a student was in 1993, and it was an adjustment straight out of a small high school. The best part was I met my wife of 25 years now in music appreciation class.” Dickinson’s second time as a student begin in 2015, when he enrolled to obtain a law enforcement degree. He was working full-time as an investigator with the Itawamba County Sheriff’s ... Comments are closed.