Grant Funding Allows Middlesex CC to Offer Free Career Training

While education is one of the best ways to transform lives and careers, many cannot afford the costs of attending college. Through grant funding, Middlesex Community College is able to offer free training programs to individuals who are unemployed or underemployed.

“At Middlesex, our goal is to provide access to opportunities that help students reach their full potential,” said Judy Burke, MCC’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement. “We are thrilled to be able to provide financial assistance to go toward noncredit programs for in-demand industries. Upon completing our career training certifications, students are more resilient professionally and financially. They are well-prepared to enter or re-enter the workforce.”

A leader of workforce development, MCC’s Community Education and Training (CET) division works with local employers to match program curriculums to industry needs. Eligible grant funded programs include the Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, Pharmacy Technician Certificate, Google IT Support Professionals Certificate, and the Cloud Associates/AWS.

Upon completing MCC’s noncredit Health programs, students are prepared to sit for certification exams and directly enter the workforce. In addition to providing the necessary theoretical knowledge to complete their certifications, programs include hands-on experiences and relevant practice in a real-world work environment.

In MCC’s Pharmacy Technician program, students complete an 80-hour externship in a pharmacy setting. Students in the Certified Nurse Assistant program have 24 hours of weekend clinical training at local long-term care facilities. Part of MCC’s new Certified Addictions Recovery Coach program includes access to supervision hours and career assistance.

For MCC’s noncredit Information Technology and Computer Applications programs, students get a combination of in-class instruction and self-paced study. Taught by an IT expert, the Google IT Support Professional Certificate includes hands-on labs and testimonials from working professionals. In the Cloud Associates certificate, students dive more deeply into the two most used cloud platforms and are prepared to sit for the certification exam.

“With MCC’s CET certificate programs, students are gaining valuable and meaningful insight into leading industries, and are well-prepared to go on to have fulfilling and long-lasting careers,” said Audrey Nahabedian, MCC’s Dean of Workforce Development and Innovation. “Grant funding allows the college to continue to do what we do best ­– provide accessible and equitable opportunities for those who need it most.”