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Educational Resources

Microsoft Elevate America

Educational Resources

Microsoft has made a corporate commitment to strengthen the U.S. economy and increase global competitiveness by improving access to education and workforce-readiness skills required for twenty-first-century jobs. To support this commitment, Microsoft launched Elevate America, an initiative designed to provide 1 million vouchers for Microsoft E-Learning courses and select Microsoft Certification exams at no cost to recipients. Elevate America will be implemented in cooperation with states across the country as part of the company's overall effort to help train 2 million people over the next three years.


Elevate America is being implemented in South Central Michigan through South Central Michigan Works! The program provides a no-cost opportunity for individuals residing in the 3 counties of Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee to increase their technology skills. Vouchers are available and may be utilized to complete Microsoft online courses and Microsoft business certification exams.

Three types of vouchers are available:

Microsoft Office- These vouchers are used to complete online courses for Microsoft Office 2003 or Office 2007 products. These courses are for individuals who use, or will use, these Microsoft products with their work. All of the courses are self paced, so individuals do not have to complete a course in one sitting. Each voucher is good for a set of e-learning courses in one Microsoft product, i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.

Microsoft IT Professional- These vouchers are used to complete online courses for individuals who use, or will use, Microsoft professional information technology applications including server administration, web and application programming, and other professional technical areas. This series of online courses is specifically designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to pass Microsoft Technical Certification exams. Each collection of courses is focused on a single Microsoft product, such as Windows Server, SQL Server, Share-Point, and Visual Studio. Each voucher gives you access to one course. Use the link below for a comprehensive list of IT Professional courses.

Vouchers for Microsoft Business Certification Exams are also available upon request. Exams must be taken at a Certiport Testing Center. Vouchers must be used for an exam before April 11, 2010.

Area Colleges and Universities:

Check out the following schools for more information:

  • Adrian College
    Adrian College-Private, co-educational college of liberal arts and sciences related to The United Methodist Church. Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

  • Albion College
    The Albion College Vision of Liberal Arts at Works sets the tone for the rich educational, cultural, and personal growth experienced by our students. Albion offers the finest of liberal arts educations, enabling students to understand the interconnected nature of knowledge and of life, while preparing them for rewarding and fulfilling careers and lives of meaning and purpose.

  • Baker College
    We have a single focus...helping you get your dream job in the shortest time possible. We call it Career Credentials. It means you'll be 100% ready for your new job with no additional training required. Baker offers training and education in growing career fields like business, health, computers, technology, human services, and education.

  • Hillsdale College
    Hillsdale is a selective, coeducational college of liberal arts for approximately 1,200 students. Fully accredited, Hillsdale graduates students with the degree of bachelor of arts or bachelor of science and prepares them for graduate study, for professional schools, for teaching and for many vocational and cultural pursuits.

  • Jackson Community College
    Jackson Community College offers affordable, career-oriented and transferable higher education at each of its student-friendly locations in Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties.

  • Kellogg Community College
    The College, situated on sites in Battle Creek, Albion (Eastern Academic Center), Coldwater (Grahl Center), Hastings (Fehsenfeld Center), and Ft. Custer Industrial Park (Regional Manufacturing Technology Center), offers nearly 100 pre-professional college/university transfer curricula; approximately 40 occupational associate degree programs in health, business, secretarial, technical and public science fields; and over 30 certificate programs aimed toward job preparation; and related training for apprenticeships.

  • Lansing Community College
    A variety of certificate and associate degree programs are available to you in areas from kinesiology, office administration and computer-aided drafting to foreign languages, automotive technology and architecture. Transfer programs are also available if you choose to begin your undergraduate work at LCC and complete bachelor degree studies at another college.

  • Olivet College
    The Olivet Plan gives students the skills essential for success in a highly competitive marketplace and teaches lessons in character and responsibility. It provides solid goal orientation, interpersonal and small group skills, critical thinking skills, global awareness, diversity sensitivity, and an ethic of responsibility for oneself and for others.

  • Siena Heights University
    Siena Height University is a Catholic university founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Siena Heights is a coeducational institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Siena Heights University was founded in the liberal arts tradition, offering associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.

  • Spring Arbor University
    For nearly 130 years, Spring Arbor University has distinguished itself as the place where faith and learning meet. Since 1873, Spring Arbor University has combined a commitment to the liberal arts and a passion to see all truth from God's perspective with purposeful training in the arts and the professions.

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