MWCC's weekly e-newsletter

Friday, Aug. 19, 2005

MWCC AWARDED $4.4 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT
FOR A 2nd GEAR UP PROGRAM

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Mount Wachusett Community College announced the award of a six-year, $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for a new GEAR UP program on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The grant is one of only three given in Massachusetts, one of two partnership grants offered in the state, and the only one awarded to a community college.

	Some of the GEAR UP 2005 graduates who are attending MWCC starting in September and GEAR UP staff gather for a luncheon held Wednesday, Aug. 17 as part of their orientation day.

MWCC, the Fitchburg School Department and seven other partners will match the federal funds with $4.8 million in funding and in-kind services. The partners are the University of Massachusetts-Amherst School of Engineering Women in Engineering/Multicultural Engineering programs, Boys & Girls Club of North Central Massachusetts, Cleghorn Neighborhood Center, Twin Cities Latino Coalition, Spanish American Center in Leominster, Fitchburg Juvenile Court and Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority.

MWCC’s second GEAR UP grant, the new award will focus on the classes of 2010 and 2011, a total of 978 students, in Fitchburg schools.

“GEAR UP opens up a whole new world of opportunity for these students,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “We will begin with students in the seventh grade and stick with them right through graduation.”

“This program targets a fragile population in any school system, middle school students. They need academic and social support. GEAR UP addresses both of these needs to ensure these students transition successfully to high school and college,” said Fitchburg Superintendent of Schools André Ravenelle.

	MWCC President Asquino announces the new GEAR UP grant at the luncheon. Representatives from UMass-Amherst, CAPP and Fitchburg School Department wait for their turn to speak.

MWCC’s College Access and Preparation Programs (CAPP) will administer the grant and provide the staff, college preparatory curriculum and an academic advisor and tutors at Fitchburg’s three middle schools and high school. The curriculum includes financial aid instruction, a six-week Kids to College curriculum, advising and tutoring. The tutoring will focus on homework, bilingual services, reading and math skill-building through school-time and after-school programs.

In addition to providing space for the program, Fitchburg School Department will help finance a math curriculum coordinator position. This position aims not only to increase math test scores, but also to revamp the math curriculum to meet national standards.

Advising services from UMass-Amherst will target GEAR UP participants who stay in the program through high school, attend MWCC and transfer into UMass’ engineering program. The university will also offer math and science summer camps for GEAR UP participants.

The Twin Cities Latino Coalition will establish a parent advisory board to encourage the academic success of GEAR UP participants, while staff from the Fitchburg Juvenile Court will do role-modeling and mentoring at the schools. Other community partners will provide after-school and school vacation programs for the participants as well as hold workshops in the schools.

“Partnerships with others in the community are very important to Fitchburg Schools,” Ravenelle said. “Working with MWCC, UMass and various community organizations on GEAR UP shows how much can be accomplished by joining together.”

The GEAR UP 2005 program saw the "stop out" rate of Fitchburg's class of 2005 decrease by 10 percent compared to the class of 2004, and 56 percent more of the students said they planned to pursue a college education than when they were surveyed about their post-secondary aspirations in 2000. Ninety-two GEAR UP 2005 graduates are enrolled to attend MWCC this fall.

GEAR UP is a federal grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Eliminated in President Bush’s proposed budget, Congress allocated $306.5 million for GEAR UP programs. In the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill, GEAR UP was extended to be a six-year program, encourage coordination among partnerships and states, and allow funds to be used to assist students during the transition from high school to postsecondary education.

For more information, contact Pati Gregson, associate dean of MWCC's College Access and Preparation Program, at (978) 630-9339 or pgregson@mwcc.mass.edu.

	Broadcasting and Telecommunications Assistant Professor Joel Anderson leads a training session on Avid software for some Adelphia employees on Thursday, Aug. 18.		Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Ann McDonald addresses nontraditional students at the Bridge to Success orientation, sponsored by the Visions Program, between Monday, Aug. 15 and Thursday, Aug. 18.

Upcoming Campus Events:

• The Theatre at the Mount production of the Rodgers and Hart musical “Babes in Arms” continues this weekend. Directed by Jeff Williams, this musical boasts one of Rodgers and Hart’s greatest scores with tunes that have become standards like “Where or When,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “The Lady is a Tramp.” Performances of “Babes in Arms” are tonight and Saturday night at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or visit theatre.mwcc.edu.

• Children can learn basic self-defense during a r.a.d.KIDS course sponsored by the MWCC Campus Police. Classes for 8- to 12-year-olds will be held Monday, Aug. 22 through Friday, Aug. 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. The r.a.d.KIDS program educates children with the tools, knowledge and power to recognize and avoid danger as well as to resist and protect themselves from physical abuse. It was founded by a dedicated alliance of educators, law enforcement professionals, personal safety experts and concerned parents. r.a.d.KIDS focuses on seven core areas: home safety, school safety, out-and-about safety, vehicle safety, stranger tricks, personal safety and self-realization of personal power. For a registration form, contact Melissa Garneau at (978) 630-9150.

• There is still time for area entrepreneurs, business owners and nonprofit directors to submit business plans for the first annual MWCC Entrepreneurial Resource Center Business Plan

Competition. Applications and final business plans are due Monday, Aug. 29. Competition guidelines and applications are available online at erc.mwcc.edu. The competition gives the North Central Massachusetts region’s innovators—in the business and community involvement sectors—the opportunity to submit business plans that will vie for up to $13,000 in cash as well as in-kind prizes. Three semi-finalists and a single finalist will be chosen in four categories: startup and growing businesses, nonprofits, community involvement and Fitchburg “Main Streets” businesses. The semi-finalists will compete for the finalist awards. A grand-prize winner will be selected from the four finalists. For more information, contact ERC Director Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 630-9548 or loden@mwcc.mass.edu.

• Registrations are being accepted for fall semester classes. They begin Tuesday, Sept. 6 at MWCC’s Devens, Gardner, Leominster and Orange campuses, and online. Choose from more than 40 degree and certificate programs. New courses beginning in the fall semester include introduction to natural resources, gender issues, current issues in biology, introduction to energy management principles and renewable energy sources. MWCC's newest program, dental hygiene, starts this semester at the HealthAlliance Hospital campus in Fitchburg. The college’s practical nursing program has expanded to the Devens campus. For more information and to register, contact the admissions office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.

• The MWCC Student Life office has planned several orientation programs for new and transfer students. The first one, on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Gardner campus, is for anyone new students think of as their “support network”—family, significant others, spouses, etc. They will hear about MWCC’s financial aid options, disability services, student services, academic advising and more. New daytime students will hear about these things and much more at an orientation on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gardner campus. Orientation for new evening students will be held the same day from 6 to 7 p.m., also at the Gardner campus. For more information, contact Director of Student Life Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252 or gclement@mwcc.mass.edu.

Lea Ann Erickson
Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322 Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
lerickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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