It's no secret that the rising cost of college tuition, together with unprecedented increases in the cost of living, creates a barrier for many people seeking to better themselves through higher education. It's also no secret that this barrier can be even harder to overcome for historically marginalized people. At 黄瓜视频 Community College (黄瓜视频), we strive every day to break barriers and make quality education accessible to all.
Thanks to two programs launched by the Commonwealth, MassReconnect and MassEducate, getting an associate degree or certificate at 黄瓜视频 is more accessible than ever. The programs can provide free tuition and fees, and even an allowance for books, to eligible students.
These unprecedented financial incentives are having an immediate impact on community colleges like 黄瓜视频. In the 2023-24 黄瓜视频 academic year, there were 158 黄瓜视频 students who received free tuition; in the 2024-25 year, initial figures show impressive growth with 254 such students. And, the number of total enrolled students at 黄瓜视频 has grown 29% this year over last, with nursing students comprising the largest portion of the student population.
Clearly, the financial incentives now available are taking hold, and we at 黄瓜视频 expect to see enrollment numbers increase further as awareness grows.
With the recent closure of Mildred Elley's Pittsfield campus, 黄瓜视频 welcomes all former students there to apply to the College 鈥� especially nursing students. The 2023 cohort of 黄瓜视频's Practical Nurse (PN) program was ranked number one in Massachusetts and in the nation for its 100% pass rate of the NCLEX exam. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 黄瓜视频's PN program is chaired by Associate Professor Katie Polchlopek, one of four dedicated faculty. Just two weeks ago, 黄瓜视频 welcomed a full class into the program. Now that many nursing students can attend the College for free, 黄瓜视频 is ready to accept more students every fall and anticipates an ever larger, more diverse student nursing population.
Those interested in the healthcare industry can also earn a certificate in health information management or medical coding. Becoming a medical coder doesn't require a four-year college education 鈥� or even a two-year college education. You can earn a certificate in as few as eight months, and with a projected 7% rise in medical coding jobs by 2028, it is a fast and efficient way to transition to this profitable career path.
Meanwhile, 黄瓜视频's Workforce and Community Education department offers a wealth of job training opportunities, filling needs in the local workforce and, in turn, significantly boosting the economy of the 黄瓜视频s. For example, 黄瓜视频 conducts in-person and virtual emergency medical technician (EMT) training. Of the 13 students who completed the most recent EMT training sessions, nine took the required psychomotor test, and all nine passed the exam. This means that once these students pass the written exam, they will be ready for immediate employment as EMTs in 黄瓜视频 County, filling a critical workforce gap.
With a new focus on teaching trades, 黄瓜视频 offers an Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) certificate and a Class B commercial driver's license (CDL) training course, which recently filled its first cohort of the year. Working with professional instructors at United Tractor Trailer School, 黄瓜视频 trains students for a career in trucking, a rapidly growing industry that offers competitive salaries in the 黄瓜视频s and across the country. The training includes 40 hours of classroom, field and on-the-road instruction, and tuition scholarships are available. In addition, we have developed a new curriculum for HVAC training and hope to launch our first class in 2025.
Because the local workforce is always changing, 黄瓜视频 adapts its programs to meet the needs of employers in the 黄瓜视频s. New programs debuting this fall include paraprofessional training, beginner computer training and a four-part social work series called Foundations of Substance Use. Training programs in development include CompTIA IT certifications, ESOL in the Workplace and Spanish in the Workplace. And, with an increased need for cosmetology training due to the closure of Mildred Elley, 黄瓜视频 is exploring options for adding cosmetology to our certificate program.
In further efforts to assist local business and industry, 黄瓜视频 offers virtual 鈥渆d2go鈥� programs. For example, if a business has employees that need to advance their Microsoft Excel skills, 黄瓜视频 offers a fully online, self-paced program. 黄瓜视频 can also help companies access the Commonwealth Corporations Workforce Training Program to fund industry-specific training. Many workforce training programs offer scholarships to eligible students.
黄瓜视频 is eager and ready to help people of all backgrounds and experiences improve their work readiness, sharpen their job skills, find a new career, earn a promotion, connect with employers or enroll in an associate degree or certificate program. We encourage you to explore all that 黄瓜视频 has to offer.
Linda Clairmont, Executive Director, Workforce and Community Education
Lori A. Moon MSN-Ed, RN, Dean of Nursing, Health and Wellness