E-Magnolia Offer M3 Credentials

Mississippi’s innovative E-Magnolia online learning system now offers the M3 Credentials developed bythe West Alabama – East Mississippi WIRED Initiative.

“State officials wanted to demonstrate an effective online worker credentialing program,” said Dr.Raj Shaunak, Vice President for 15 years at East Mississippi Community College. “We thought the M3 Credentials fit the bill.” EMCC offers M3 Production Level I and Production Level II Credentials on E-Magnolia as well as more advanced and specialized M3 Credentials.

EMCC uses M3 Credentials in its training programs for PACCAR, Severstal, American Eurocopter, Aurora Flight Sciences, Star Aerospace, and other modern manufacturing industries.

“M3” stands for Modern Multi-skill Manufacturing. Working with regional industries, eight community and junior colleges in West Alabama and East Mississippi developed two basic M3 Credentials, M3 Production Level I and M3 Production Level II, as underpinning training programs for more specialized training.

“M3 levels I and II give workers a basic foundation before they specialize,” Shaunak explained.

EMCC offers the training online but requires an on-site skills assessment. “The student is able to learn the material at home or on the job site and come to EMCC only when needing additional guidance or to prove and authenticate their skills,” said Shaunak. “Topics covered include basic and precision measurement, statistical process control, blueprint reading, drill press operations, pneumatic system construction, and others.”

Upon completion of the basic M3 Credentials, students may move to one of several M3 Advanced Credentials.

E-Magnolia is part of a multi-state demonstration of online learning sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Southern Regional Education Board. Mississippi joined with Colorado, Maine and Pennsylvania to demonstrate the power of e-learning in resolving workforce training and certification needs.

For more information go to www.e-magnolia.org or call Stan Rice at 662-243-2683.