Massachusetts Community Colleges Want Adults to Come Back to Class

In the new state budget Governor Maura Healey recently signed into law, there is a new program offering up some hope for adults here in Massachusetts who either want to go to college for the first time or finish a degree they may have had to leave behind. WBZ's Laurie Kirby spoke with Ray DePasquale, President of Massasoit Community College in Brockton, about this new program and the benefits of returning to get a degree, no matter your age.

Episode Transcript

(00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston.This is New England Weekend, where each
and every week we come together talkabout all the topics important to you and
the place where you live. Greatto be back with you again this week.
I'm Nicole Davis. I think thesedays, when you speak to adults
about their college experience, younger adultsand at times even older adults, you're

(00:28):
going to find many who couldn't makeit all the way to their degree.
And it's not for a lack oftrying or a lack of wanting to.
Frankly, it's because the cost ofcollege has become pretty prohibitive these days,
and in some cases even local schools. Public schools have just become super expensive,
and if you're working two part timejobs or whatever you have to do

(00:49):
to put money on the table.Sometimes when you try to go for that
degree and you have to choose betweenrent and food and going for a college
degree, the rent and food usuallywent out. In a new state budget
over on Beacon Hill that Governor Healeyrecently signed, there is some new hopes
for students who either have dreams ofgoing to school for the first time or

(01:10):
going back to finish up a degree. That they might have had to leave
behind. W bz's Lorie Kirby spokewith the president of Massasoyet Community College in
Brockton, Ray Deepest Squally. Theyare one of the many schools around the
state taking part in this program.So let's listen in. Governor Moore Healey
finally signed the fifty six billion dollarbudget, although it took a while to
get to her desk, but inthe end it did address free community college

(01:36):
for some First off, first Blush, you are the president of community college,
obviously Massasoyet. How pleased are youthat this is included in the budget
here? This is really exciting forthe economy in Massachusetts. And most importantly,
Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Dressco havereally stepped forward as well as our

(01:59):
legislaf there's in supporting the bill thatcan put a much stronger workforce in place
by helping those that are over twentyfive come back to school for free.
Who does this impact? Who iseligible for this? Sure, students that
are eligible are students that have notearned a prior associate or bachelor degree or

(02:19):
the equivalent, and they need tobe at least twenty five years or older.
And most importantly that's the key,and they have to complete. This
is important so that students know theyhave to do this. They have to
complete what is called the fast Fform, which is a free application for
federal student aid. That's what kicksin the amount of money that they be

(02:40):
eligible for. So just as apiece of advice, make sure that they
prepare to fill out that form.And the eligibility requirements are on our website
as well as others across the Commonwealth. But it's a program literally that's going
to help twenty five year olds andolder come back to school tuition free.
How many people potentially does it impactin your local community. We're thinking between

(03:06):
five and six hundred students would beimpacted by this, at least that many,
and it could be more because asyou think about it, across the
Commonwealth, every community college is thefifteen of us will be attracting students,
but specifically for masses say it,we're thinking five to six hundred students could

(03:27):
be impacted by this in this fallbecause the program obviously is just being introduced,
and believe it or not, thefall semester starts in about four weeks.
Are there situations that you've seen wheresomebody has had to drop out because
they couldn't afford it, even thoughyou guys offer a pretty affordable college education

(03:49):
certainly by comparison. Yeah, we'reone of the lowest costs colleges and entire
Commonwealth. But back to your point, Laurie, is that this is going
to be an opportunity for students whomay have never had the opportunity to come
back to school when they were here, they dropped out for financial reasons in
many cases or personal reasons. Thisgives them the opportunity to come back without

(04:12):
worrying about how am I going topay for my college and most importantly gets
them towards a skill set that that'sgoing to potentially be part of this new
economy and a new job which willbe which will be very very very exciting.
And mass assoy it does have trainingprograms for actual viable jobs. You
want to run down some of yourthings. You're proud of that mass assoy

(04:34):
It offers well, you know,everything from eligible certificate programs in the media,
which which you know because you've beenpart of here at our campus helping
us as an advisory board, tomaking sure we prepare people the right way
to law enforcement programs, dental assistain, medical assistain, engineering programs obviously nursing,

(04:58):
UH, diesel technology. The listgoes on and on and on,
but wonderful opportunities for students to combuythe campus, talk with our admissions people
and see where it fits. Theyhave to take a minimum of six credits.
Again, if someone doesn't want tobe full time, they do not
have to be. And that's animportant piece too. As they begin to

(05:19):
adjust to college and the fall startoff potentially with six credits, look and
explore many of the programs that aregoing to lead towards you a degree that's
going to get them a pretty goodjob and or transfers them to a four
year school because the transferability of allof our programs is very strong. As
well. Have a safe and healthyweekend. Please join me again next week

(05:42):
for another edition of the show.I'm Nicole Davis from w BZ News Radio
on iHeartRadio.