MCC Teams Up with Community Partner for Remote Course

Middlesex Community College’s Corporate Education & Training (CET) has partnered with Community Teamwork of Lowell (CTI) for several years to offer employees professional development opportunities. When COVID-19 struck, the two organizations teamed up to transition the planned Crucial Conversations course to remote learning.

MCC has been a leader of online learning for over two decades. When it came to transitioning the course to a virtual platform, the college collaborated with CTI and instructor Laura Kangas – who has taught at MCC for 20 years as an adjunct professor and loves working with the supportive and dedicated team – to format the class to Zoom.

“This is a perfect example of how MCC supports our employer partnerships – and has done so for over 30 years,” said Judy Burke, MCC’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement. “Even throughout the pandemic, we continue to support our employers with cost-effective, flexible and customized education and training so they can continue to flourish – despite the difficult circumstances.”

In the course – for directors, managers and supervisors – Kangas helps her students learn the necessary skills to engaging in difficult conversations that could be emotional and high stakes. Although the course covers sensitive topics ­­– and CTI employees had expected to take the course in-person – Lisa Wholey, SPHR, HR Director of CTI, said feedback from the class was positive and that Middlesex “didn’t miss a beat.”

“We count on Middlesex and feel fortunate to have them as a partner because they listen to what our needs are and to what’s going on,” Wholey said. “It’s been great. The facilitator was able to make it like they were almost in the classroom.”

The remote format allows Kangas and the 21-person class to be able to connect with each other in the larger group, have breakout rooms for small-group discussions, play videos and use the whiteboard feature. The conversations, Kangas said, have been rewarding.

“Being able to talk to another human being in a very protected, calm and relaxed atmosphere for two hours was very special,” Kangas said. “Students were amazed by how intimate it was. Even though you’re on a computer, the conversations were amazing and people really opened up.”

Both Wholey and Kangas believe this time of working or being at home during the pandemic is an excellent opportunity for employees to work on professional development.

“The curriculum is really tailored to what’s going on at this time,” Wholey said. “The instructor used examples of working from home and what kind of conversations come up. She made an adjustment to the curriculum so that it was relevant and timely.”

For Kangas, being part of a class – and having access to other people via a remote service like Zoom – helps foster a community, despite being away from the office.

“The students are really dedicated to learning everything they can and being the best they can be,” Kangas said. “Even in these worst of times, people are still working hard to do everything they can to learn all the skills they can to be a better contributor.”

While Wholey said, “In this time, it keeps people connected. Many of them felt it was so great to see their colleagues across the agency,” Kangas said, “You get some personal contact and it’s not just writing to each other.”

To learn more about MCC’s professional development courses, contact Lisa Tuzzolo, MCC’s Program Manager of Corporate Education & Training at tuzzolol@middlesex.mass.edu or 978-656-3109.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!