Mount Wachusett Community College Received $162,000 Grant to Continue Transition to Community College Program

GARDNER, MA - August 10, 2022 - The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has approved Mount Wachusett Community College's continuation grant in support of the Transition to Community College Program.

The Transition to Community College Program is a statewide program under the Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) division of DESE. The program provides students with the college navigation, foundational skills, and knowledge necessary to succeed in college courses in pursuit of a degree or certificate.

One example of the success of the Transitions to Community College program is Liberal Arts and Sciences major Cody Nathanson. Nathanson participated in the Transition to Community College program in 2020 and has since been selected the student representative on the MWCC Board of Trustees.

"Getting scooped up by the Transitions to Community College Program was the best way to start my degree," notes Nathanson. "The program and its advisors were amazing and a constant faucet of support and guidance every step of the way."

The funding provided by the continuation grant will support 30 students, 24 of those from DESE programs. In addition to five free college courses, Transition to Community College students receive academic and career guidance, individualized academic plans, individual and group support throughout the semester. More information about Transitions to Community College Program can be found on our website at https://mwcc.edu/corporate-career-and-continuing-education/adult-education-training/transitions-to-community-college-program/

Massachusetts Budget Includes $19 Million for Expanding Early College Statewide

GARDNER, MA - August 11, 2022 - The Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed by Governor Charlie Baker on July 28, 2022 includes $19 million in Early College funding, an increase of $8 million over the previous year.

Since its inception in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has worked to expand access to Early College, which has shown promising outcomes for students in the Commonwealth. As noted by the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, the programs are projected to reach 7,500 students in the 2022-2023 school year, earning more than 50,000 college credits.

“We are thankful for the leadership of our legislative partners in the House and Senate who have advocated for the growth of the Early College Initiative,” noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven.

MWCC Early College programs have grown exponentially in recent years and currently include partnerships with Gardner High School, Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology, Leominster High School, Leominster Center for Excellence and Leominster Center for Technical Education Innovation, Fitchburg High School, the Sizer School, and Narragansett Regional High School. Recruiting is now on-going for fall 2022.