MCC’s Credit for Prior Learning Gives You the Credit You Earned

Workers who were laid-off or furloughed due to COVID-19 need a jumpstart to their careers. Middlesex Community College combines the experience students already have with an updated college education. At Middlesex, students are more prepared to re-enter the workforce with relevant and upgraded knowledge and skills. With affordable pricing, flexible schedules and a 20-year history of award-winning online education, MCC helps students reach their goals faster.

MCC’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) ensures students earn credit for what they have learned through work or previous school experience. CPL is for adults who have never started or completed a college degree but have gained experience through academically related employment, training programs, military service or other relevant work experience.

In these challenging times, MCC gives job seekers an advantage.

“With an unprecedented unemployment rate of 17.5 percent in Greater Lowell, it is important to provide resources and avenues to residents seeking to return to the workforce,” said Peter Farkas, Executive Director of MassHire Greater Lowell. “By awarding credits to students for their prior life experiences, Middlesex Community College’s Credit for Prior Learning program better positions jobseekers to enter the job market.”

Robert Kaulfuss, MCC’s CPL Coordinator, has been advising adult and returning students for over 10 years to assist them in sorting out career, academic and CPL possibilities based on their individual situations, experiences and aspirations. As MCC’s Curriculum Chair for over 20 years, Kaulfuss is familiar with most departments and programs at the college. He works with students by email, phone or in-person, and Zoom throughout the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 crisis has created a severe economic and employment disruption,” Kaulfuss said. “Some businesses will never recover and others will need to adjust to new realities – both short-term and long-term. For many people, this can be a good time to reflect upon and reassess their career options and goals. If obtaining a college degree is under consideration, adults may benefit from exploring the possibilities of earning college credit for prior learning and work experience. This can often help to accelerate progress toward an academic certificate or degree.”

Jim Skelly returned to college after 30 years. He was seeking an option that was affordable and fit into his schedule because he works full-time and travels a lot for his job. He decided on MCC’s IT/Cybersecurity Transfer major because he spent his career working in IT and wanted to match his education with his background and experience. After starting in Spring 2019, Skelly will graduate in the Fall 2020 semester.

“I found it easier to break down my degree aspirations in chewable parts,” Skelly said. “I started and failed numerous times on a degree path. Looking at 120-credit goals part-time was always such a distant approach. After evaluating my prior college work and CPL, an associate was within reach. I have taken a mix of classroom/online, and interacting with current students and having the ability to share my experience and answer questions that they have has been rewarding.”

Having worked in his field for over a decade while balancing other responsibilities, Cory Flynn came to MCC to finish his education. He was looking for a program that was cost effective and didn’t take too much time. While he was looking at a commitment of several years at other colleges, MCC offered the best fit and fastest path to his goals.

“CPL allows for people similar to myself to decrease the time needed to matriculate as well as lessen the overall cost burden with having to take classes just to get credit when you already have the experience the class teaches,” he said. “It made my time to my objective shorter which in my life was critical due to uncertainty in the market. It has given me opportunity to achieve credit for hard work in the field that otherwise would have gone unnoticed and unrewarded.”

Middlesex offers over 80 certificate and degree programs that can help get students into industries that are actively hiring. Some of these areas where CPL credit has been awarded at MCC include the Military; Business, Management and Hospitality; Computer Applications, CAD, IT, Computer Science and Programming; Education; World Languages; Biotechnology; Fire Science; and Art and Graphic Design.

To get started with CPL, register at https://myexperiencecounts.mass.edu/home or visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/priorlearning/ for more information.

To help keep students on track with their goals, MCC offers personalized financial aid counseling, payment plans, flexible course formats and a supportive community. MCC understands the financial burden the pandemic has created. The college is offering 50 percent off the cost of one course to students who were laid-off due to COVID-19.

In celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary, Middlesex is also offering 50 percent off to new students. For students who have completed 45 credits at MCC but have not taken classes recently, there is a completion scholarship available. Qualifying students must register by September 10.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/save for participation rules on all financial savings.

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!