by Phil Sisson

At Middlesex Community College, our mission revolves around equity and inclusion to make our over 80 career-focused programs more accessible to every individual in our service area. I cannot overemphasize the value of Governor Maura Healey’s MassReconnect program and its ability to transform lives and extend the reach of the power of a community college education.

The program is designed to be a multi-year, last dollar financial support program for those who are 25 and older. Community colleges hold the unique position of assisting these individuals with returning to school to earn a degree, certificate or industry credential. I believe MassReconnect is key to making higher education more accessible, equitable, affordable and possible for a population who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

The core of MassReconnect is what Middlesex, with our over 50 years of leadership in educating the Commonwealth’s workforce, does best. A better educated community, both in Greater Lowell and Bedford where our campuses reside, provides more stability for the local economies, higher retention in jobs, and reinforces our position as one of the leading states in the country for education and industries, such as healthcare and biotechnology.

Middlesex is committed to helping Governor Healey’s program, and each and every adult learner it serves, succeed. In addition to more affordable pricing, we offer higher flexibility in course formats and times, targeted student support services and resources for transfer and career entrance, and curriculum designed in partnership with industry leaders throughout the state.

Whether students are seeking a new career pathway or working toward a promotion and pay raise, Middlesex equips them with the knowledge, skills and workforce experience they need to get hired and flourish in in-demand fields.

We enhance our students’ learning with advancement opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Students in our award-winning Learn and Earn programs, such as Biotechnology major Liam Eckhoff, of Chelmsford, are getting offered full-time positions in their field before they graduate. Students such as Education major June Nuchjaree Persons, who is from Thailand and now lives in Lowell, can start working in their fields of study because they are earning credits toward a certificate at Middlesex.

Specialized programs, such as MCC’s SUCCESS Scholars Program, STEM Starter Academy and TRIO programs, are supported by federal and state funding and provide added supports that have been proven to help students. They do so by interweaving vital resources and information into the programming, making students more aware of what support is available to them, and helping them succeed in classes, manage their time, and find internships and jobs.

At Middlesex, 52 percent of our population are students of color. MCC is a place that is continually engaged with our diverse communities both internally and externally to learn together. We know that listening to our students, faculty, staff and community partners is critically important to creating the programs and services that resonate with our students. Resources, such as a multi-year Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) grant, help us to foster a community of support and provide spaces for our students to learn in a culturally relevant and supportive environment.

We also have student-run clubs and community events that highlight the different cultures, identities and experiences of our MCC students, including a Thanksgiving dinner for international students, film festivals, speakers, and celebrations that help us to understand our students and each other on a more personal level. This creates essential relationships that promote belonging at MCC, which studies have shown are critical to academic and personal success for all students.

With Governor Healey’s MassReconnect program, more of our community members will benefit from these life-changing opportunities. While the initiative eliminates the financial burden of pursuing an education, Middlesex helps students fit classes into their busy and demanding schedules, provides academic and career advice, and guides students on their paths to transfer institutions and next career steps.

Every day, myself and our faculty and staff meet with local organizations, companies and institutions to discuss how Middlesex can best collaborate with them to fulfill their needs. From these conversations, we build stronger, more comprehensive and relevant programs that guarantee that we are better able to set our students up for success.

MassReconnect will ensure that these programs, be it a two-year associate degree, certificate program, or highly specialized credential, are open to a population who would benefit most.

Our proven track record of career integrated learning, combined with our mission centered on equity and access, places Middlesex as the best option for adult students. I very much look forward to partnering with Governor Healey, the Massachusetts community college system, and our communities on this exciting initiative.

Phil Sisson is the President of Middlesex Community College, with campuses in Lowell and Bedford.