Mount Wachusett Community College

Mount Wachusett Community College
Motto Start near...Go far
Type Community
Established 1963
President James L. Vander Hooven, Ed.D.
Students 11,122 (2017)
Location Gardner, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates: 42°35′34.64″N 71°59′0.61″W / 42.5929556°N 71.9835028°W / 42.5929556; -71.9835028
Campus Rural
Nickname MWCC, The Mount
Mascot Mountain Lion
Website mwcc.edu

Mount Wachusett Community College is a two-year community college in Gardner, Massachusetts. Established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1963, it features an open admissions policy for the majority of its academic programs. The Nursing, Nursing Advanced Standing, and LPN to RN degrees, Physical Therapist Assistant degree, Dental Hygiene degree, Veterinary Technology degree, and Practical Nursing and Paramedic Technology certificate programs have competitive admissions policies. The college accepts students regardless of race, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, sexual preference, religion, belief, physical ability or age.

MWCC offers associate degrees that prepare students for direct entry into the workforce or to earn credits for transfer into other colleges and universities. According to the college’s office of Institutional Research and Assessment, 68% of 2016 graduates received degrees that prepared them for immediate workforce roles, while 32% of 2016 graduates received degrees that prepared them to transfer to 4-year colleges or universities.

MWCC offers more than 70 academic programs that allow students to earn either an associate of science degree (A.S.), associate of arts degree (A.A.), or a certificate. Many certificate programs prepare students to take national certifying exams or state licensing exams. Examples include the Practical Nursing Certificate, Paramedic Technology Certificate, and Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate. Other certificates act as a credential to demonstrate that the student has completed a credit-bearing program of study. Most courses required to complete a certificate can be applied toward an associate degree.

Classes are offered during the day, in the evenings, on weekends, and online.

Campuses

The 269-acre (1.09 km2) main campus is located in Gardner, Massachusetts. The college also maintains a satellite campus at One Jackson Place, 27 Jackson Road in Devens, Massachusetts and at 100 Erdman Way in Leominster, Massachusetts. The college has two additional educational sites in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Dental hygiene and dental assisting students take classes at 326 Nichols Road in Fitchburg, MA in partnership with Community Health Center of Fitchburg, MA. Automotive Technology students take additional hands-on classes at a 6-bay garage located at 180 Main Street in Fitchburg, MA.

Sustainability

The college has been praised for its use of renewable energy, winning the National Wildlife Federation's "Chill-Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming" competition in the spring of 2007.[1]

Renewable energy technologies at the college include: Solar PhotoVoltaic panels originally producing 5 kilowatts and upgraded to 97.24 kilowatts in September 2009.[2] and a biomass plant which heats the college by burning waste woodchips.

The college also uses a biomass gasification generator, where woodchips are turned into combustible gases, which are used in a gasoline engine, powering a generator that produces 50 kilowatts of electricity. This is a research and development project contracted with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Two Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines were activated in March 2011 which are expected to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand.[3]

College Service Area

Mount Wachusett Community College serves the following 29 cities and towns in North Central Massachusetts:[4]

Early College & Dual Enrollment

Mount Wachusett Community College offers multiple programs that offer high school/home school juniors and seniors the chance to enroll in college classes prior to their high school graduation.

  • Dual Enrollment: Dual Enrollment allows the student to focus on courses that will be transferable to most two-year and four-year public and private institutions, while simultaneously completing their high school graduation requirements. Selected students are enrolled in either a part-time or full-time college-level course load depending on their program and course needs. Dual Enrollment students are considered MWCC students and as such will be awarded the same academic support privileges as other MWCC students. Courses are limited and applicants from local high schools are given priority.[5]
  • Pathways Early College Innovation School: Mount Wachusett Community College partners with the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District to offer an Early College High School opportunity to 20 motivated students with the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and an Associate degree simultaneously. The Pathways program covers the cost of course tuition and fees for enrolled students. These students complete their junior and senior years of high school while taking courses at MWCC. Students must fulfill all state and educational requirements to meet high school diploma and Associate degree requirements, which also includes passing the MCAS. Admissions are competitive. Applicants are required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA from their high school, be at least 16 years old, have a recommendation from their high school, and must be willing to enroll in classes during all available MWCC semesters.[6]
  • Gateway to College: Gateway to College is a dual enrollment opportunity especially for students who either have not experienced success in the traditional high school setting. The program is for students who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out. Gateway students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma with the added benefit of receiving free college credits toward an Associate degree or certificate through a variety of career-focused pathways. The Gateway to College Program provides tuition, fees, and first-semester books for enrolled students and is funded through Chapter 70 School Choice funds from the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District.[7]

Student Services

MWCC students enjoy many support services and resources including free tutoring in the Academic Support Center, subsidized childcare, career planning assistance, disability support, food assistance, counseling, and veteran services.[8]

Adult Education

An Adult Education program prepares adults without high school degrees to complete their high school equivalency exam (GED/HiSET). These students are then eligible to continue their education at the college level at Mount Wachusett Community College or any other institution.[9]

Workforce Development

The college provides corporate instruction and workforce development training for local businesses. Services include assisting companies with accessing Workforce Training Fund grants and delivering customized training.[10]

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL students receive personalized instruction in a computer/media lab at the campus in Leominster, MA. Courses are taught at 4 levels: beginning, advanced beginning, intermediate, and advanced.[11]

Continuing Education

The college offers noncredit classes for personal enrichment year-round as part of its Lifelong Learning program.

Mount Fitness

Mount Fitness is the college’s 65,000-square foot gymnasium. It is open to the public and offers memberships for individuals and families. Membership fees include group fitness/yoga classes, pool use, and tanning.[12] The facility includes:

  • Olympic sized swimming pool with 6 lanes
  • (3)full-size, indoor basketball courts
  • Outdoor tennis and basketball courts
  • 200-meter outdoor track
  • (2) Regulation racquetball courts
  • Weight training and cardiovascular equipment
  • On-site nursery

Theatre at the Mount

The college's theatre hosts a sizable community theatre program. Started in the autumn of 1976 (under the name "Theatre North Central"),[13] notably through the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres (EMACT)[14][15][16][17] and New England Theatre Conference (NETC)[18]

TAMY Awards

In 2006, Theatre at the Mount launched the TAMY Award program for high school musical theatre.[19] Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, the TAMYs evaluate high school performances within a 50 mile radius of the college based on a number of criteria, including (among others)Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Featured Ensemble and Best Overall Production.[20]

TAMY Award Winners by Year[21]

2011-20122012-20132013-20142014-20152015-20162016-20172017-2018
Best Overall ProductionThe Wizard of Oz – Billerica High SchoolEvita – Westford AcademyPippin – Billerica High SchoolOklahoma! – Leominster High SchoolUrinetown – Shrewsbury High SchoolSpring Awakening – Westford Academy(Large School Division) All Shook Up – Shrewsbury High School (Small School Division) The Hunchback of Notre Dame – North Middlesex Regional High School
Best ActorShayan Sobhian (Jekyll/Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde)) – Chelmsford High SchoolOwen McCarthy (Chip in On the Town) – Wachusett Regional High SchoolMarc Macedo (Shrek in Shrek the Musical) – Nashoba Valley Technical High SchoolMichael LaFerriere (Curly in Oklahoma!) – Leominster High SchoolJack Dillon (Frank Abagnale, Jr. in Catch Me If You Can) – Wachusett Regional High SchoolEli Goykhman (Bert in Mary Poppins) – Acton-Boxborough Regional High SchoolJackson Ploof (Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha) – Wachusett Regional High School
Best ActressKelly Letourneau (Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie) – Wachusett Regional High SchoolCaroline Pisinski (Hildy in On the Town) – Wachusett Regional High SchoolBrittany Price (Lola in Damn Yankees)) – Algonquin Regional High SchoolCaroline Flynn (Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins) – Chelmsford High SchoolKelly Dinsmore (Maria in Sound of Music) – Billerica High SchoolSydney Baron (Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods) – Chelmsford High SchoolCaitlin Johnson (Esmerelda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame) – North Middlesex Regional High School
Best Supporting ActorWesley Young (Bud Frump in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'') – Leominster High SchoolEdward Andrews (Reverent Moore in Footloose) – Hudson High SchoolTimothy Chase (Edna Turnblad in Hairspray) – Chelmsford High SchoolMichael Audet (Will Parker in Oklahoma!) – Leominster High SchoolJake Wetmore (Little Harp in The Robber Bridegroom – Chelmsford High SchoolKevin Biciunas (Moritz in Spring Awakening) – Westford AcademyTymon Nieduzak (Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast) – Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
Best Supporting AcctressMegan McGuire (Little Sally in Urinetown) – Oakmont Regional High SchoolEmma Romasco (Irene Malloy in Hello, Dolly!'') – Nashoba Regional High SchoolHannah Riffe (Velma in Hairspray) Chelmsford High School and Jessica McCuish (Catherine in Pippin) – Billerica High SchoolEleanor Tolley (Nikki in Sweet Charity) – Acton-Boxborough Regional High SchoolNadya Lisciotti (Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music) – Chelmsford High SchoolSophie Bellone (Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods) – Chelmsford High SchoolAly Uy (Sylvia in All Shook Up) – Shrewsbury High School
Best Featured ActorMac Muscara (Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown) – Oakmont Regional High SchoolLuke Dombroski (Harry the Horse in 'Guys and Dolls) – St. John’s High SchoolColin Dwyer (Lee Calhoun in Babes in Arms) – St. John’s High SchoolClaudio Ferrari (Adolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone) – Bancroft SchoolAndrew Stewart (Mysterious Man in Into the Woods) – Acton-Boxborough Regional High SchoolDerek Brigham (Monsieur Thenadier in Les Miserables) – Auburn High SchoolJohn Sweeney (Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone) – Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School
Best Feature ActressLeah Gibson (Berthe in Pippin) – Algonquin Regional High SchoolLeah DeTolla (Peron's Mistress in Evita) – Westford Academy--Renee Morin (Sour Kangaroo in Seussical the Musical) – Auburn High SchoolJenna Cormier (Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone) – Billerica High SchoolKamryn Richard (Bless the Lord soloist in Godspell) – North Middlesex Regional High School

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Chill Out 2007 Winners - Chill Out - National Wildlife Federation". 2007. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  2. ↑ "Mount Wachusett Community College Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installation - Executive Office for Administration & Finance - Mass.Gov". Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Wind - Mount Wachusett Community College". 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  4. ↑ "Service Area - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  5. ↑ "Dual Enrollment - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  6. ↑ "Pathways Early College Innovation School - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  7. ↑ "Gateway to College - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  8. ↑ "Student Services - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  9. ↑ "Adult Education & Training - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  10. ↑ "Workforce Training - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  11. ↑ "English as a Second Language - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  12. ↑ "Mount Fitness - Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  13. ↑ "History of Theatre at the Mount". Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  14. ↑ "2012-2013 DASH Nominees and Winners". Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  15. ↑ 2011-2012 DASH Nominees and Winners
  16. ↑ 2010-2011 DASH Nominees and Winners Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ 2009-2010 DASH Nominees and Winners Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ Moss Hart Memorial Award
  19. ↑ "TAMY Awards". Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  20. ↑ "2013-2014 TAMY Brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  21. ↑ "TAMY Awards – Mount Wachusett Community College". Retrieved 2018-07-24.
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