Charles A Jones Skills & Business Education Center

After attending a few different online Court Reporting programs & since I’m on a break from one, I’ve been curious about whether a live class program would be any different or speed the process up a little bit– so I came here today for an orientation to find out. They make you attend an orientation before really answering any specific questions about how their program works. So fine, I got up early and drove across town to find out. Whatever.
In the heart of the ghetto in Sacramento and has a prison-​like feel with the 8′ metal security fencing around the perimeter of the campus. Not really used to that, but I’m trying to keep an open mind. Orientation was in their «multi-​purpose room,» which I haven’t heard that term since, I believe the 6^th grade.
They offer a multitude of programs here in addition to their CR program, which I think is great– plenty of low-​cost, shorter-​term vocational programs for long-​term careers. You do have to listen to a presentation for all of them before you can meet the director of each program and «tour the campus.» They make you go through financial aid first before you can see the program facilities, which I felt that was rather presumptuous, because I don’t want to even think about «talking money» unless I’m considering spending money, which I’m not when I haven’t seen what I’m buying yet. I digress.
I finally get to the rooms designated for Court Reporting and it was ok. Not what I was expecting– not sure what I was expecting, but still not what I would have imagined. Several long tables with designated speed levels and students practicing at those speeds. None of them seemed happy to be there, or happy to see visitors in their room. I got a cold vibe from them, which is ironic since there was no ac.
No actual class instruction was going on, which is what I really was interested in seeing. I can practice anywhere, let me see how the instruction is set up in school. Turns out that they use the same technology as Bryan College/​University & CCR (RTC & ev360), only now I’d get to hump my equipment across town & across campus to use it.
It’s also set up almost exactly as those online programs are. The same amount of live-​dictation and academic instruction, the rest of the time spent on campus is for practice and testing, just like the online schools.
Where they really lost me was when they started addressing their issues with «drama» with the students in the program. Yeah, let me check out now. I get that a big room full of students spending endless hours together isn’t always pleasant, but actual drama? Enough drama to warrant a speech about it to prospective students? No thanks. We’re all adults here and if we can’t all behave like it for a few hours a day for the sake of a DEGREE & a CAREER, then I’m not interested.
I’ll be sitting in my air-​conditioned home, doing the same work with the same technology they’re using, only I get to do it in my pajamas and the interaction I get with other students will continue to be drama-​free, just like it’s supposed to be. I will give them 3 stars anyway, for the affordability and the variety of programs for people to choose from.

I dislike this school. I’m in the pharmacy tech program and I hate it !! The teacher seems like she doesn’t want to help you and respect you to know everything that was thrown at you. If I should have known how poorly this school is when it comes from learning because I feel like I’m not learning much. I wouldn’t recommended this school to none of my friends and family.

I went to this school about 4 and a half years ago. I had a good time and it really helped that I did not have to pay for any of my classes thanks to Asian Resource center located less than a mile away. Everyone was vary nice to me the teachers but the office staff could have been a little more helpful but other than that its a quick and easy school to get in and out of.

I am a student here and have several complaints. First of all, the temperature in the classrooms and common areas is either freezing or too warm. I have to wear a coat in the summer just to survive class. Also, there are some students that are more interested in hooting and hollering at the female students than actually getting an education. However, the culinary program is a bonus during lunch time. They serve up some tasty dishes at a very reasonable price. The instructors are fantastic and work very hard for the students at CAJ.

In school currently for culinary arts here. & I kinda love it, the people are mostly cool, mature and fun. This shyt is even better than high school ;)

Our company held an event here recently. The staff were friendly. The cafeteria space is somewhat like a prison. There was a shortage of wall outlets for our gear. Also, the thermostat was set at a poor temp for our evening. It served its purpose.

Low tuition is the only reason to recommend this place. I was in the Massage Therapy program for about a year and it was one of the most stessful times of my life. I didn’t qualify for financial aid because it was a night class and when I tried to pay with a check from my grandmother, they wouldn’t take it unless she was there to sign it. And although it was cheaper than other schools the fee was almost $ 300 higher than was listed in the course catalog.
During the school year there was almost no communication between departments, they gave our classroom to the pharmacology class and moved us to a GARAGE with the EMT classes. Our teacher was a pretty knowlegable TCM doctor but was immature at times and frequently walked in late. I think I might have liked him better if we were both at another school, since he delt with more bs than we did and it definitely showed that he would rather have been somewhere else.
Like I said before, low tuitition is the only strong suit of this place. So if you come here and decide you don’t want to do massage, at least you’re not out $ 20,000

Attending school now for Pharmacy Technician. It’s like going back to high school. Low cost education with high accreditations. Got to love the costs too. Most programs are structured to be completed in a year’s time.