Updates from the President
MCC’s mission of access to an affordable education for a diverse community means that we keep the door open for all who want to change their lives through education. At this time of the year, we see the results of our work, and are privileged to witness the success of our students as they complete their semester, and as many prepare to graduate.
Keeping the door wide open has become ever more challenging as state funding is tight and the fiscal needs of our students continues to rise. Who would have anticipated that in this era of significant economic gains that many of our students struggle with food and housing insecurity? In response, the college has established food pantries on both campuses and has stepped up awareness of the $1.1 million Student Success Fund.
At this college I see professionals — faculty and staff — who do everything they can to help our students rise to the level of expectations we hold for them. They do everything they can to promote student connection and learning. Over and over again I hear from students who praise our faculty and staff, not only for their knowledge, but also for their compassion. It’s not hard to get a student talking about someone at MCC who has made a difference by inspiring them, helping them transcend their challenges, and encouraging them to stay on the path to success.
I often say we keep the door open because we do not know who is walking through. “Exhibit A” for this philosophy visited my home just a couple weeks ago. This young man was 26 when he walked onto the campus where I was working. Two years later, he was turning down an offer from my alma mater, Columbia University, in favor of another school with a stronger robotics program. He earned his BS in two years and now five years later he has a Ph.D. from one of the top five programs in the country. He recently stopped by for a visit on his way to start a post-doc at Boston University.
Who knew? Who knew that in nine years he would go from a job in the food services industry, to publishing five papers and fielding multiple job offers. This is why we keep the door of opportunity open, because we don’t know who is going to walk through it. And we believe everyone should have a fair chance to reach their full potential. I believe in the mission of open access, and am proud to serve a diverse group of students who want to change their lives. At Commencement, I feel privileged to witness a joyous part in these students’ journey through our doors and onto a bright future.
Thank you for all you do to support this dream for our students.
All the best,
Jim Mabry
Upcoming Events
- June 8, 2018 – Celebrity Forum with Jamie Lee Curtis, 8 pm, Lowell Memorial Auditorium
- June 12, 2018 – MCC Trustee Meeting, 7:30 am, 33 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA 01852 – Federal Building Courtroom
- August 7, 2018 – MCC Night at the Spinners, LeLacheur Park, Lowell, MA
- August 29 & 30, 2018 – New Student Orientation
- September 4, 2018 – Fall Semester Begins
MCC in the News
- Agency: MCC excels
http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_31890119/agency-mcc-excels (Lowell Sun, 5/20/18) - UTEC celebrates opening of early-childhood center, community kitchen
http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_31885065/utec-celebrates-opening-early-childhood-center-community-kitchen (Lowell Sun, 5/17/18) - Chelmsford student to speak at Middlesex Community College graduation
http://chelmsford.wickedlocal.com/news/20180515/chelmsford-student-to-speak-at-middlesex-community-college-graduation (Wicked Local Chelmsford, 5/15/18) - Why Community College May be the Best Thing You Ever Do
http://themoneymill.com/why-community-college-may-be-the-best-thing-you-ever-do/ (The MoneyMill, 5/14/18) - While college may cause headaches for some, MCC helped her on the road to recovery
http://www.lowellsun.com/latestnews/ci_31842281/while-college-may-cause-headaches-some-middlesex-communit?utm_source=DHE+Newsletters+Subscribers&utm_campaign=e7a7ecf093-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_05_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bf39ced598-e7a7ecf093-41 (Lowell Sun, 5/3/18)
Current Grant Initiatives
AANAPISI Grant Update
Multicultural Achievement Peer Program (MAPP)
On March 11, the Multicultural Achievement Peer Program (MAPP) hosted its end-of-year celebration at the Asian American Connections Center in Lowell. MAPP provides MCC students a unique opportunity for social and educational support, as well as guidance from their mentors, to ensure a smooth and positive transfer experience to UMass Lowell. This year’s pilot program matched 10 MCC student mentees with 10 UML mentors according to their academic program.
During the celebration, participants had the opportunity to network over lunch and received certificates of completion, T-shirts, and other prizes. We hope to continue the MAPP mentorship program next year with a new cohort of mentees and mentors.
MCC 360 Update
The MCC 360 team is moving ahead steadily with our project. Here are a few developments:
After introducing Navigate — the integrated planning and advising system (IPAS) — at the last FSA meeting, we will be following up with super-user training in the summer, where select faculty and staff will be trained on the new IPAS tool. These faculty and staff will serve as resource people for their areas, as training on Navigate is extended to the wider college community.
We have begun work this month on our online orientation initiative and will continue until the May 2019 launch date.
We are moving ahead with the implementation of our data warehouse to support analytics, and will be hiring a full-time data analytics officer to help facilitate this work.
Finally, in the fall, there is an opportunity for select full- and part-time faculty to participate in the ACUE Course on Effective Teaching Practices — an online educational resource that is nationally recognized for promoting best practices in teaching.
Academic Divisions
Arts, Humanities & World Languages
Music Department
MCC faculty member Orlando Cela had a successful season as the music director of the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra. He was recently honored as a finalist for The American Prize in Orchestral Programming/community division. This prize recognizes and rewards the best achievement in the unique field of orchestral programming, where the selection of repertoire by knowledgeable, creative and courageous music directors builds orchestras and audiences, educates young people and adults, and enriches the community.
Music Outreach Program
On May 4, MCC faculty member Raley Beggs gave a guitar recital, featuring both classical and popular selections, for students at Bedford High School. The students loved the performance and want him to return next year.
‘Poetry through Music’ Concert
On April 20, MCC faculty members Orlando Cela, flute; and Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta, piano; were joined by Carley DeFranco, soprano; for a performance of music inspired by poetry. The featured poet was Robert Pinsky, and four MCC faculty composers – Richard Chowenhill, David Janssen, Pamela Marshall and Aaron Rosenberg – wrote pieces based on his poetry. This concert formed part of the La Guagua Poetry Festival and was very well received. Pinsky kindly wrote to the performers and composers: “I’m grateful for the imagination and musicianship you all contributed. For me, a memorable occasion.”
Student News:
Dual-enrollment student Sarah Kiel, who has taken many music courses and has performed in two student recitals, was accepted to Longy School of Music of Bard College as a violin performance major. She will begin her studies there in the fall.
Business, Education & Public Service
Business
MCC Entrepreneurship Students are a Success
For “Intro to Entrepreneurship” (BUS 130) class students, the semester was focused on actively going through the entrepreneurial process, from idea generation and opportunity evaluation, to planning and launch of a business. Students took part in a 2-week competition to get the most sales. During that competition, students voted on a nonprofit organization to donate all their net profit. This semester’s nonprofit donation is going to the Boys & Girls Club of Lowell. Student businesses included T-shirts, face scrub, food, wallets, audio files, shoe cleaning, decorative pillows, and a painting service.
Congratulations to all the students who worked so hard!
Lowell Night Class Net Profit: $774
Bedford Day Class Net Profit: $1,346
TOTAL: $2,120
Students also pitched at the MCC Shark Tank. Each class pitched their business, the work they did, and results to three guest judges. Learn more about the winners and student businesses here: https://ideacentermcc.wordpress.com/
Everyday Entrepreneurs Venture Fund (EEVF)
MCC has received a $250,000 grant from the Everyday Entrepreneurs Venture Fund (EEVF). The EEVF grant will be used to help student entrepreneurs start or grow a small business, including one year of concentrated business mentoring to ensure rapid success. Learn more here: www.launchatmcc.com
DifferenceMaker@MCC
Last fall, we launched a new partnership with UML to provide DifferenceMaker@MCC Idea Challenge programming. This pitch contest is for students from all disciplines. Last fall, the first place winner from our Idea Challenge was eligible to compete in the UML Spring Idea Challenge. Ten student teams pitched their innovative ideas to a panel of judges. Eleven teams in total received a portion of $50,000 in prizes.
The MCC team did an amazing job! Congratulations to ClassRoots for winning the Significant Social Impact award of $4,500!!!
“A peer learning platform that aims to bring classmates together in order to make friends and utilize each other as tools for academic success.”
MCC student Kevin Seery is graduating this semester and will be attending UMass Lowell in the fall. This summer, Kevin will be at the university going through the DifferenceMaker Boot Camp for ClassRoots.
Hospitality and Culinary Arts
On May 17th, our Culinary Arts students participated in the Grand Opening of the UTEC Hub for Social Innovation and its Commercial Kitchen. Under the instruction of Chef Jim Giordano, students prepared crepes for the event’s guests, and also served baked good prepared by the “Bakery and Pastry” class. Gov. Charlie Baker tried some of their treats and gave them an “A”!
Nursing & Allied Health
Under the direction of faculty Tina Cormio, Nursing students gave a presentation to the members of the Office of Elder Affairs and Mystic Valley Elder Services. The presentation included the value of the experience of working with independent elders in the community setting, and the insights students gained from the experience.
Enrollment
Admissions
The Office of Admissions and Recruitment had another busy period of recruitment activities. We have been expanding our high school programming and initiatives, engaging students in various settings and via multiple touch points in an effort to attract more students despite the decline of the overall high school population.
As we encourage current Middlesex students to register before they leave campus for the summer, we are applying the same principle with select high schools. We took the MCC fall registration process directly into Dracut and Lowell high schools this past month. This effort, coordinated by Jeff Tejada, allowed us to register more than 70 students onsite at these high schools. We also registered six students from the Lowell Middlesex Charter School in the Lowell Admissions office.
By building these early connections, it is our intention to increase new-student enrollment and engage students earlier in the process. Both the students and the leadership within the high schools were very pleased with this initiative, with Dracut High School even tweeting about their event.
We also held three On the Spot Admissions events this past month at Methuen, Medford, and Nashua high schools. We attended college fairs at Greater Lowell Technical High School, Lowell High School, Tewksbury High School and UTEC, and Career Day at Woburn High School. We continued with our high school and home-school visits at Lexington, Lawrence, Methuen and the Voyagers home-school organization in Chelmsford.
Kristie Faletra was invited to participate in a panel discussion at Westford Academy for this year’s junior class, to prepare them for the variety of college options they have. Other panel participants were Holy Cross, UMass Amherst, Northeastern University, and Westfield State.
Jason Reynolds visited Nashoba Valley Technical High School twice, once to promote our new Precision Machining program, and another time to hold a Dual Enrollment orientation.
We will be welcoming our Reserved Placement Program (RPP) students for an orientation and welcome on Thursday, June 14. These are students referred to us from UMass Lowell who have the unique opportunity to attend Middlesex while at the same time immersing themselves in all aspects of the UML experience – including the option to live on campus at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center. We admit these student into the Commonwealth Honors Program and develop a personalized honors experience for them. Although students in good standing are automatically accepted into UML for the January semester, many of our previous RPP students have found MCC to be such a good fit for them that they have remained with us longer!
Enrollment Management
Enrollment Management Center (EMC)
The EMC has three employee graduations to celebrate in 2018: Congratulations to Fay Hourihan, Chantelle Maldonado and Justine Marsella!
Fay Hourihan is graduating with her Master’s degree in Management with an Organizational Leadership Concentration from Cambridge College in August of 2018. Fay enjoys working within higher rducation and hopes to use her degree as she furthers her career with a focus on student services.
Chantelle Maldonado will be graduating from Middlesex on May 24. She has worked for MCC since July of 2013, and will be earning her AA degree in Medical Assisting. Chantelle enjoys helping others and wants to make a positive difference in people’s lives. She has a goal of working in a doctor’s office.
Justine Marsella graduated with a Master’s of Science in School Counseling from Fitchburg State College on May 17th, 2018. Justine has worked at MCC for the past five years. Her interests and goals include working as an academic advisor in a college setting or as a high school guidance counselor.
Key Registration Summer Dates
Quick Start
Last Day to Drop May 22
DN Grades Due May 24
Last Day to Withdraw June 5
Final Grades Due June 13
Session 1
Last Day to Drop June 4
DN Grades Due June 4
Last Day to Withdraw June 21
Final Grades Due July 3
Session 2
Last Day to Drop July 13
DN Grades Due July 16
Last Day to Withdraw August 1
Final Grades Due August 13
Session 3
Last Day to Drop June 12
DN Grades Due June 16
Last Day to Withdraw July 19
Final Grades Due August 3
Session 4
Last Day to Drop June 26
DN Grades Due June 30
Last Day to Withdraw August 2
Final Grades Due August 17
Graduation
Diploma Pick-Up June 22
Institutional Advancement
Marketing Communications
Profiles Magazine
The Spring 2018 edition of Profiles magazine has hit the streets! In this issue, we explore how the college facilitates “Learning in the Digital Age” by interviewing Matthew Olson, Dean of Social Science, Interdisciplinary Studies & Online/Weekend Education. We also spotlight four faculty who teach online, and four students who enjoy learning online. We explore OERs (Open Educational Resources), as well as the successful incorporation of iPads into “English Composition” courses.
Also featured are profiles of Dean of Students Pam Flaherty, exceptional student Stephanie Valdes, and Gail Tuzzolo, our 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner (and Commencement Speaker). Read Profiles on campus and online: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/Profiles/default.aspx
#MCCShoutOut Video
MCC’s Marketing Communications team would like to thank the 90+ students who participated in the #MCCShoutOut Video Celebration. Students were filmed at the Commencement Fairs and Spring Fling giving shout-outs to their favorite faculty and staff. You can check out the finished video on MCC’s YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI7hp1MeQfs
Send Us Your Stories!
Don’t forget: Marketing Communications is always looking for good stories about our outstanding Middlesex programs and students. The Lowell Sun recently ran a nice story about Engineering student Masuzyo Mhango, who found success at MCC after moving to the U.S. from Botswana: http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_31823613/
We know there are plenty more great student stories out there. So, please email your student-story ideas to: Marketing@middlesex.mass.edu
Adult Learning Center
The Adult Learning Center (ALC) on the Bedford campus is pleased to announce that the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has renewed ALC funding for a new five-year cycle. Since it opened in 1996, the ALC has served hundreds of adult learners with classes and support for basic skills, GED/HiSET preparation, as well as the transition to college and the workforce. A number of students who attend the ALC continue on to MCC credit programs. The new grant award will allow the ALC to expand its successful services to a satellite location at Waltham High School, as well as continue the programming on the Bedford campus.
Pictured above are several ALC students adding donations to one of the two Textile Recycling boxes located on the Bedford campus. The ALC sends a big THANK YOU to all of the students, faculty and staff who have already begun to reduce waste and protect the environment while simultaneously cleaning out their closets! Proceeds from these donations help support future MCC students who are currently studying at the Adult Learning Center. Almost all textiles can be reused or recycled, including clothing, socks, shoes, pocketbooks, stuffed animals, drapes, rugs or anything else with a fabric base. Please spread the word at the college and in your local communities to utilize these bins and support our students through this green initiative.
College Advancement
MCC Alumni Association Meat Raffle
Thank you to everyone who attended the MCC Alumni Association’s Meat Raffle on May 11 at the Tewksbury Knights of Columbus. It was a fun, fast-paced event attended by several faculty staff members, and MCC alums. The event raised $1,100 for the Middlesex Fund for Student Scholarships. For event photos, go to: www.facebook.com/middlesexccalumni
Thank you to the following faculty and staff members and campus departments who donated wonderful themed raffle baskets to the event:
- Melissa Chandonnet and the MCC Jumpstart Office
- Maria Cunha
- Sheri Denk ’90 and the MCC Civic Engagement Office
- Maria Gonzalez ’91
- Susan Lavallee ’88 and the MCC Nursing Department
- Amy Lee, Dennis Malvers and the Department of College Advancement
- MCC Library Department
- MCC TRIO Department
AmazonSmile
Make your online Amazon purchases through AmazonSmile everytime you shop online! AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets you enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices,and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the eligible charitable organization of your choice. Visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-2973384 , Select Middlesex Community College, Foundation, Inc. At no extra cost to you, you will be supporting The Middlesex Fund!
MCC Celebrity Forum 2018
Discounted Tickets are still Available to Faculty, Staff and Students for the MCC Celebrity Forum 2018/20th Anniversary!
The 20th annual Middlesex Community College Celebrity Forum will feature actress, children’s-book author and philanthropist Jamie Lee Curtis, at 8 p.m. Friday, June 8, in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Jamie Lee Curtis will be interviewed by Emmy-award winning Susan Wornick.
SPECIAL 20th Anniversary Offer to MCC Faculty, Staff and Students: As an MCC faculty, staff member or student, you have the opportunity to purchase tickets (maximum of 4 tickets) at a discounted price of $20 (a $39 value).
Please contact Barbara Maglio at (978) 656-3417 or at magliob@middlesex.mass.edu to make arrangements to purchase your discounted tickets. Payment must be made by check only. Check should be made payable to the MCC Foundation.
Community Education and Training
Community Education is pleased to announce that they received recognition from the Society of HR Management as a 2017 ‘Top 5’ educational provider for the Essentials of HR Management program.
The 15-hour “Essentials of HR” course is a professional-development intro class targeted for anyone new to HR, anyone who has HR as part of their job, or those that want to learn more about the HR function. Curriculum includes Employment Law, Talent Hiring, Performance Management, Learning and Development, Compensation and Benefits. July session enrollment is open!
Community Education began its summer session with the following classes starting the week of May 21/28: Nurse Assistant/HHA; MS Excel; TEAS Exam Prep; MTEL Exam Prep; Business Computer Applications; Equipment Calibration.
Four students successfully completed our 120-hour Technical Writing Certificate program, May 2018.
Corporate Education and Training
Corporate Education and Training delivered or will be delivering:
- Project Management Training at Monogram Gourmet Foods in Wilmington.
- Effective Business Writing training at Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. in North Billerica.
- Presentation Skills course for the Massachusetts Association of Accessing Officers (MAAO) at the NRAAO Annual Conference in Quincy.
- Six Sigma training at Pace Industries in North Billerica.
- Time and Priority Management, Influence, Embracing Change, and Managing Conflict training sessions at Flir Systems, Inc. in North Billerica.
- First Aid/CPR and Medication Administration Recertification trainings for LifeLinks. The courses are conducted at MCC in order to provide employees exposure to taking classes in a college setting.
- Wellforce Recruiting & Interviewing training for Lowell General Hospital at the Main Campus.
- Group Leader Training at Mack Technologies in Westford. Training will include Effective Conflict Management Practices and Supervisor & Manager Challenges and Strategies for Success.
- Conducted a Workforce Training Fund Program Information Session on Wednesday, May 9th from 8:30am—10:30am in the Trustees’ House. Kristen Rayne from the Commonwealth Corporation provided an overview of grant options and presented content on the Workforce Training Fund.
- Collaborating with the Early Childhood Education Department to offer Developmental Disabilities at the Lowell campus through the Region 3 Professional Partnership Grant.
Homeland Security
House of Worship Safety Training at MCC-Bedford
The MCC Program on Homeland Security, in partnership with Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, hosted a House of Worship Safety Training on April 23 on the Bedford campus for approximately 130 faith leaders, volunteers and staff members of religious institutions representing 67 faith communities, on ways they can protect their places of worship.
Recognizing that acts of violence and targeted threats aimed at religious institutions and places of worship are designed to instill fear in congregants, D.A. Ryan stressed the importance of preparedness for staff and volunteers to take precautions to avert tragedy.
“Houses of worship are places where everyone should expect to feel safe from intimidation and violence,” said Ryan. “Unfortunately, we have seen acts intended to threaten and harm religious leaders and congregants of these sacred institutions and with it a tremendous growth of people across all types of workplaces coming to us looking to get educated. These trainings highlight the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and community leaders. I thank our speakers and attendees for engaging in this meaningful dialogue about the unique challenges faith leaders encounter when working to create a balance between security and maintaining a welcoming environment.”
“MCC is delighted to co-host this forum”, said Atty. Terry Downes, Executive Director of the Program on Homeland Security. “We thank the Boston and Merrimack Valley Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy and administrators, private schools, and police officials from around the region, who have gathered to examine this thorny issue confronting religious congregations. How does a faith community provide for the safety of its congregants and activities while preserving the open and welcoming atmosphere that is the hallmark of their operating philosophies? Providing a safe, convenient and comfortable venue for the discussion of important and sometimes delicate issues is central to the mission of the Homeland Security Program.”
The conference provided attendees with information on preparing themselves for an active threat or emergency event. These tips included:
- Build relationships with law enforcement; invite them to your building so they can have knowledge of the floorplan in the event of an emergency.
- Identify a safe space off site in case of an emergency. Contact a neighboring business or organization that has a space that can serve as an emergency shelter.
- Have an emergency trauma kit on site that includes tourniquets and other first aid equipment.
- Establish a communication plan to notify both internal and external stakeholders in case of an emergency.
Speakers also discussed the warning signs of violent behavior, active shooter and improvised explosive device (IED) threats and other emergency operations planning.
Featured speakers included Major Scott Range of the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center, Lieutenant Glen Mills and Sergeant Timothy McDonough of the Burlington Police Department, and Lowell Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Winward.
Middlesex Connector 