MCC Continues to be a Leader in Online Learning with New Policy

As a leader of online education and effective teaching for over 20 years, Middlesex Community College knows how to use technology in its curriculum to help students reach success. Middlesex continues to incorporate technology into all course formats – including in-person, online and hybrid courses – because the college believes it leads to more meaningful learning for students. To increase the use of technology in all course formats, MCC developed the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy to encourage students to bring a digital device to their courses.

“The college’s BYOD policy is a major step forward in student success by requiring students to bring, buy or borrow an approved device to enhance and support their education at Middlesex,” said Phil Sisson, MCC’s Provost and Vice President of Student Affairs. “Especially during this particular time of extensive online learning offerings at the college, every student needs to have access to the technology to accomplish their goals and the college is ready to respond by providing those tools through a formal loaner/borrower program for those who don’t currently own or cannot afford to obtain that technology.”

The policy was developed by a team of employees from IT, Student Affairs, the Libraries and faculty in another effort to promote student success.

“We know from research, the more engaged the student is in class, the more successful the student will be in achieving their academic goals,” said Joseph Patuto, MCC’s Chief Information Officer. “Their device promotes access to educational resources and digital collaboration in the classrooms and more importantly, external to the classroom. With the college shifting the Fall semester to 95 percent online in response to the COVID-pandemic, access to personal devices is even more crucial to the success of our students.”

Pam Flaherty, MCC’s Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, emphasizes that the BYOD policy gives students what they need to be successful in their classes – whether they are learning online at home or in-person in the classroom.

“The purpose of the BYOD initiative is to make sure our students have access to technology,” she said. “We will work with students and will have a loaner program for students who do not have the ability to purchase the technology.”

Middlesex also loaned out Chromebooks in the Spring semester when the pandemic caused MCC to transition all courses and student services to remote, virtual and limited contact systems.

Jill Keller, MCC’s Department Chair of English, believes the BYOD policy transforms how professors and students interact with the curriculum. Using online resources and apps provides more hands-on, practical learning experiences for students to take an active approach to their learning. This includes learning how to more effectively write and revise in Keller’s courses.

“There are a number of professors in my department who like to use technology when face-to-face in the classroom to project something on the board to have the whole group working on a shared document,” she said. “It helps a lot with things like peer review or demonstrating revisions and techniques if we’re all looking at the same thing – and that really requires the students having something they can work on.”

While some students are used to online courses and know what they need to do in order to be successful, others are working hard to adjust, according to Keller. The BYOD policy helps MCC recognize what students need in order to be more comfortable with learning online and use online resources to their advantage.

Students must be able to access the college network and internet on their devices. For classes that are in-person or hybrid, the devices must be portable.

To sign-up to acquire a device, to read the MCC user agreement policy for Computers and Electronic Devices, and for more information, visit: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/technologycenter/byodpolicy.aspx

To help keep students on track with their goals, the college offers personalized financial aid counseling, payment plans and a supportive community.

MCC is also offering incentives to help students continue their education. One incentive offers 50 percent off a first class to students who were laid-off due to COVID-19. The college is also offering 50 percent off one course to new students in celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary. Qualifying students must register by September 10.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/save for participation rule.

To learn more about the classes and opportunities MCC offers – and to register for Fall classes – visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!