Richland adult education centers bring class, diploma access to into Crawford County

Madison Adult Career Center and Mansfield Adult Education begin an adult diploma program in customer and office support technology in Crawford County on Tuesday.

The free class will allow the residents to get a high school equivalency diploma with certifications in customer service and sales and Microsoft Office without having to drive elsewhere, said Angie Botsko, instructor and career navigator at Mansfield Adult Education.

The program will equip graduates with skills such as effective communication and financial transactions, which are necessary to obtain entry level retail and administrative positions, such as office managers and customer service representatives.

Students also will learn to manage Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The classes will take place at Crawford County Job and Family Services 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from May 7-June 28. The class workload is 112 hours.

Five students, she said, have passed the WorkKeys workplace skill assessments tests that are required to sign up for the course.

“That’s a fairly normal number for these adult diploma programs,” Botsko said.

Ways to get a high school diploma beyond high school

Botsko said there are two avenues to get alternative high school diplomas – GED or adult diploma programs. The adult diploma programs offer certifications and skills such as welding, customer service and others, along with the diploma equivalent.

Before the program was introduced in Crawford County, residents could only receive a GED locally, as Crawford County does not have a career center.

“That was the point of the program – bringing the class out here to Bucyrus because transportation for students is a huge issue,” Botsko said.

The Crawford County program will be led by the Madison Adult Career Center and Mansfield Adult Education, and the instructors from both will teach the classes, Botsko said.

Geared for easy access

She said the idea to offer the program in Crawford County came about partly because instructors noticed transportation was a problem for students.

“I’m seeing it firsthand that my students come here, they want a diploma, but they can’t get a ride to Shelby or to Mansfiled to participate in the program,” Botsko said.

For now, the program is a one-time only Crawford County, but depending on the results, organizers will consider extending it. The program is grant funded through the State of Ohio, Botsko said.

“We are hoping that this is successful, and that these things can keep happening,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Richland adult education centers bring class, diploma access to into Crawford County