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NATCHEZ – Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez Campus is expanding its commitment to workforce education and innovation with the opening of a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab during the Fall 2026 semester. The lab is part of a larger initiative made possible through AccelerateMS’s Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP), which is designed to equip students with foundational AI knowledge and practical skills that complement their technical education.
The AI Lab will support instruction across multiple Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, giving students opportunities to explore how artificial intelligence is being used in their respective fields. Students will learn how AI can improve productivity, solve problems, analyze data, enhance decision-making and support innovation in real-world workplace settings.
Rather than replacing traditional technical education, the lab will strengthen it by helping students understand how emerging technologies can be applied across a variety of industries, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, transportation, information technology, business and the skilled trades. Students will have access to industry-relevant technology and software as they develop foundational AI competencies alongside the technical skills required in their chosen professions.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future—it is part of the workforce today,” said Dr. Dewayne Middleton, President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. “Our responsibility is to ensure that our students graduate prepared for the careers they are entering. This new AI Lab will give our students the foundational knowledge and skills they need to adapt and succeed as technology continues to evolve. We are grateful to AccelerateMS for investing in initiatives like MAI-TAP that position Mississippi students and employers for long-term success.”
“Career and Technical Education has always been about preparing students with the skills employers need,” said Tiffany Woods, Co-Lin Natchez Director of Career and Technical Education. “As industries continue to adopt artificial intelligence, it is important that our students understand how to use these tools responsibly and effectively within their professions. This lab will give students an opportunity to see how AI can enhance their work while continuing to build the technical skills that make them successful.”
The AI Lab represents another step in Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s commitment to innovation, workforce development and student success. Through the support of AccelerateMS and the MAI-TAP program, Co-Lin is expanding access to emerging technology and helping prepare students to meet the changing needs of employers throughout Southwest Mississippi and beyond.
The Artificial Intelligence Lab is scheduled to open during the Fall 2026 semester. Registration is currently open for fall classes! Interested students can stop by the Natchez Campus or contact 601.442.9111.
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