Middlesex CC Awarded Two New State ‘Vision Project’ Grants

State education officials joined leaders of the state’s public colleges and universities today to announce the third annual Vision Project Performance Incentive Fund grants. The grants, totaling $7.5 million, were announced Monday at Roxbury Community College.

Middlesex Community College has been awarded two new Vision Project grants, including a $348,543 Lowell Consortium grant with UMass Lowell to expand collaborative faculty-driven work in aligning curricula to better facilitate student transfer between the two institutions. MCC was also awarded a $150,000 grant to redesign the current advising and course enrollment model aimed at increasing student completion and graduation rates.

Middlesex President Carole Cowan joined Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland at the award announcements. “We are very pleased to build on the collaborative assessment projects already undertaken with UMass Lowell,” said Cowan. “This new Lowell Consortium project will involve the significant participation of more than 40 faculty from each institution.

“The collaboration of MCC and UMass faculty will contribute to ensuring that Middlesex students who transfer to UMass – as well as UMass freshmen and sophomores – are better prepared with the skills and perspectives they need to be successful in upper-level courses.”

Regarding the $150,000 Vision Project grant awarded directly to Middlesex, Cowan said: “Through implementing the Pathways to Achievement, Completion, Career & Transfer (PACCT) project, based on the Complete College America model, MCC will expand its capacity to close student achievement gaps in college completion. 

“For each Middlesex program of study, the college will develop advising processes and materials that clearly identify for students the sequence of courses – including milestone courses – that must be completed in order to graduate on time,” explained Cowan. “In addition, new curriculum options will be identified for students who enter college unsure of a specific major. Overall, PACCT will assist in increasing student retention, persistence and graduation rates.” 

Created by the legislature in fiscal year 2012, the Vision Project Performance Incentive

Fund is a cornerstone of the state’s master plan to establish the Commonwealth’s system of public higher education as a national leader in the following areas of campus work: college participation, college completion, student learning, workforce alignment, preparing citizens, and closing achievement gaps. Part of the funds are also being used to improve operational efficiencies.

For a complete list of campus awards and capsule program descriptions, and for more information on the Vision Project, please visit: http://www.mass.edu/currentinit/visionproject.asp

 MCC is one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in the state. We offer more than 75 degree and certificate programs, plus hundreds of noncredit courses, during the day, evening and weekend, on our Bedford and Lowell campuses, and online. Middlesex – a great place to begin your future!