Updates from College Leadership
As the fall semester heads into its final phase, I hope you are able to take a little time this week to connect with family and friends and have an opportunity to reflect on the many positive things in your busy lives. In particular, the important role you play at this amazing institution in supporting our students and our community. For nearly 50 years, MCC has changed the lives of over 26,000 students and alumni, and hundreds of employees.
At a time when the nation gathers together to give thanks, I want to share my gratitude with the entire MCC community for their dedication and commitment to student success. I am appreciative of the generous support of the college’s many donors and community partners who make it possible for us to offer outstanding programming and state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities. I am grateful for the countless hours of important committee work faculty and staff have engaged in, including: the NECHE Interim Report, ACUE and SOTL, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Enrollment Working Group, the Classroom Refresh Team, and Leading for Change, to name a few. And, I am humbled by the commitment of our caring faculty and staff who support students on their paths to personal and professional growth.
Without you, MCC would not be able to transform lives through education. I believe that as an institution — and a nation — our strength lies in our ability to celebrate our differences and want to thank all of you for putting our students and their unique lived experiences at the center of what you do.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jim Mabry
Table Of Contents
- Featured Video
- Middlesex Community College Turns 50!
- Featured News Story
- MCC grad, now at UMass, an example of successful transfer
- Upcoming Events
- Awards, Presentations & Publications
- Adult Learning Center
- Career Development Diplomat in Residence
- Career Development Employer Panels
- Career Development Internship Fair
- MCC and Aved Electronics Recognized by English Works Campaign
- MCC Greek Festival
- Employee News
- Enrollment Management
- Financial Aid
- Community Submissions
- Corporate Education and Training
- Fall 2019 Final Exam Schedule
- Financial Aid Community Outreach
- Financial Aid Extends Hours for our Fall 2019 FAFSA Wednesdays Workshops Continues into December
- Full-Time, Adjunct and World Language Student Evaluations
- Spring 2020 Registration
Featured Video
Middlesex Community College Turns 50!
Featured News Story
MCC grad, now at UMass, an example of successful transfer
LOWELL — Edye Benedict wanted to pay for her own college tuition. Growing up in Concord, the proximity and affordability of Middlesex Community College made it an easy choice.
Now a 2018 MCC graduate, Benedict attends UMass Amherst with the assistance of the MassTransfer program. [Read More]
Upcoming Events
- November 30, 2019 – City of Lights Parade, 4:30 p.m., Lowell
- December 3, 2019 – Trustee Meeting w/Student Government, 5:30 p.m., Nesmith House, Lowell
- December 4, 11 & 18, 2019 – Financial Aid FAFSA Workshop
- December 5 – 8, 2019 – MCC Noises Off by Michael Frayn Theatre Production, 7:00 p.m., Academic Arts Center
- December 9, 2019 – Winter Open House, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Trustee House Bedford
- December 12, 2019 – FSA, 2:30 p.m,, Cowan Center Lower Café
- December 12, 2019 – MCC End of Year Celebration, 4:30 p.m., Nesmith House, 229 Andover St., Lowell
- December 12, 2019 – Alumni Association Reception, 6 p.m., Nesmith House, 229 Andover St., Lowell
- December 16, 2019 – Winter Open House, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Cowan Center 5th Floor
- January 2, 2020 – Wintersession Begins
- January 22, 2020 – Spring Semester Begins
- March 23, 2020 – Mini-mester II Begins
- September 2020 – June 2021 – MCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Awards, Presentations & Publications
Adult Learning Center
On both October 23 and 29, Maggie Yi, an Honors student at MCC pursuing a degree in the nursing program, graciously shared her time with students from the Adult Learning Center (ALC) on the Bedford campus. Ms. Yi emigrated from China several years ago and has been navigating both the challenges and opportunities of being a parent, a spouse, an employee, and a student in a foreign country.
Currently many of the students enrolled in the ALC are educated immigrants from a variety of countries and were eager to hear about Maggie’s experience as both an immigrant and as a student at MCC. ALC students came to both discussion sessions with questions about the challenges they were facing as they are pursuing their own goals in a new country.
Thank you Maggie for taking the time to visit the ALC and inspire our students as they make their way down their own personal and professional paths at MCC.
Career Development Diplomat in Residence
In collaboration with the Veteran’s Resource Center and STEM Starter Academy, Career Development has hosted speaker, Phil Beekham, Diplomat in Residence with the Department of State, for 2 of 3 programs so far this semester. All are welcome to the final one on 11/19 from 11-12 in Cafe East.
Career Development Employer Panels
In collaboration with the English Department, Career Development hosted two employer panels to address the importance of writing in the world of work. Panelists spanned all of our pathways and shared how they use writing for their careers.
Career Development Internship Fair
On Thursday, November 14, the MCC Career Development Office hosted an internship fair on the Lowell campus. The 56 students who attended this event had the opportunity to practice their “elevator pitch” with representatives from 20 employers and to learn more about internship and career opportunities. Employers represented a wide range of fields including human services, education, cyber security, engineering, criminal justice and business. Also in attendance was Hellenic American University to share information about summer internships in Greece.
MCC and Aved Electronics Recognized by English Works Campaign
Aved Electronics (North Billerica), in partnership with MCC, was presented a Certificate of Recognition by the English Works Campaign for their civic leadership and support of English language training programs for immigrant workers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Additionally, Corporate Education and Training hosted a Workforce Training Fund Program Information Session on Thursday, November 14th from 10:00am—12:00pm in the Federal Building. Kristen Rayne from the Commonwealth Corporation provided an overview of grant options and content on the Workforce Training Fund.
MCC Greek Festival
Middlesex Community College held its first-ever Greek Festival on Wednesday, November 6, when MCC’s 2019 Greece International Fellows invited the college community to experience Greece through their eyes. Having returned from their study abroad experience in Greece, the 2019 Fellows produced the MCC Greek Festival to share their experience with the MCC and local community. At the Festival, Fellows gave presentations on Greek history and culture and spoke about their experiences abroad. Dr. Ermioni Karachaliou traveled from MCC’s partner institution, Hellenic American University, located in Athens, Greece to share her experience with MCC’s Greece Fellowship program. Eight students from the Hellenic American Academy, a local elementary school in Lowell, made a special appearance to perform traditional Greek dances. Professor David Kalivas and his wife, Ioanna, taught attendees Greek dances. Everyone had the opportunity to sample traditional Greek food from a local restaurant. The MCC International Fellowship Study Abroad courses are academic opportunities for students to study the culture, history, and language of a particular country. The 2020 International Fellowships will offer students the opportunity to study abroad in Greece or Portugal. We can’t wait to see what the 2020 Fellows will create for next year’s festival!
Employee News
Enrollment Management
We are happy to welcome MCC’s new Registrar, Kayla Boyd! Kayla has an extensive background in enrollment, registration, and technology. Most recently she served as the Associate Registrar at Boston University’s School of Public Health where she focused on system applications and implementations while supervising the key processes within the Registrar’s Office. Prior to this position she served as an Enrollment Specialist, Manager of On Campus Registration and Assistant Registrar of Technology. Kayla has a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychobiology and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of New England.
Financial Aid
Two new employees joined the Financial Aid Department recently. We are very happy to have Nefertiti Durham and Arron Grace on board. Both Nefertiti and Aaron work out of the Lowell office and are exceptional assets to Middlesex and the Financial Aid team. Please join us in welcoming them to the MCC community.
Community Submissions
Corporate Education and Training
Corporate Education and Training delivered or will be delivering:
- Noncredit advanced manufacturing training program through a Mass AMTC Tech Hire Grant. The program is designed to prepare unemployed and underemployed for entry-level positions in either electronics or machining. The students take their foundational courses at MCC’s Lowell campus, manufacturing training at Greater Lowell Technical High School, and electronics training at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School. This program began on November 18, 2019, with the students planning to take over 400 hours of training.
- Boot Camp courses in ESOL and Mathematics through the Career Pathways Grant in collaboration with the Education Department.
- Teachers Handling Difficult Situations courses at CTI in Lowell.
- 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.
Fall 2019 Final Exam Schedule
The detailed final exam schedule has been posted with exam dates, times, and room locations. Please make sure to review your final details at:
https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/finalexams/downloads/fallfindet9.pdf
Financial Aid Community Outreach
Financial Aid counselors recently met with seniors at Lowell High School to discuss the financial aid process. This annual event is sponsored by Lowell High Schools College and Career Center.
In October and November Deb Marsella spoke as a volunteer presenter to families at six local high schools regarding applying for financial aid and evaluating financial aid offers. This event is part of the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority’s (MEFA) College Financing Seminar Series.
Financial Aid Extends Hours for our Fall 2019 FAFSA Wednesdays Workshops Continues into December
The financial aid department is extending hours (5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) the first three Wednesdays in December for students and families seeking assistance with the FAFSA application and financial aid processes. For more information, please click here.
Full-Time, Adjunct and World Language Student Evaluations
E-mails went out alerting faculty that they can begin picking up for their student evaluations.
Full-time evaluations must be returned by December 13 and Adjunct and World Language by December 17. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Gibson (gibsonl@middlesex.mass.edu), Daniel Moynihan (moynihand@middlesex.mass.edu) or Fay Hourihan (hourihanf@middlesex.mass.edu).
Spring 2020 Registration
Spring 2020 Registration opened on November 12, 2019 for returning students and is off to a good start. Registration letters were mailed to all currently enrolled students with information on how to register for Spring classes. Early registration is being actively promoted as the best way for students to meet scheduling needs and complete degree requirements.
Postcards will be mailed in November and December to promote MCC’s Wintersession and Minimesters and Walk-In Registration hours. Walk-in registration/advising postcards will additionally be mailed in early December to notify students of our December and January walk-in hours in Bedford and Lowell, as listed below.
- Dates: December 16 (Monday) through December 19 (Thursday)
Walk-In Hours will be from 9am until 5pm Monday – Thursday - Dates: January 6 (Monday) through January 17 (Friday)
Walk-In Hours will be from 9am until 5pm Monday – Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays throughout this period.
Key Dates for Spring 2020
Last Day to Withdraw
Wintersession – January 13
Full-Semester – April 17
Minimester 1 – February 28
Minimester 2 – May 1
Drop for Nonattendance Due
Wintersession – January 7
Full Semester – February 11
Minimester 1 – February 11
Minimester 2 – April 1
Midterm Grades Due
Full Semester – March 13
Minimester 1 – February 21
Minimester 2 – April 22
Final Grades Due
Wintersession – January 23
Full Semester – May 20 at Noon
Minimester 1 – March 13 at 5pm
Minimester 2 – May 20 at Noon
Middlesex Connector 