Worcester State To Launch Paid Student Work Programs

WORCESTER, MA — A public university in Worcester will soon have new opportunities for students to earn money while gaining experience in their fields of study.

Worcester State University and UMass Dartmouth will share $60,000 in state grants to develop paid cooperative education programs expected to launch during the 2027-28 academic year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced on Friday. Worcester State plans to create opportunities in municipal and cultural affairs, chemistry and biotechnology and early childhood education.

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Co-ops are full-time, paid positions lasting four to eight months. The programs allow students to gain professional experience related to their studies while completing their degrees.

Worcester State will spend the coming year designing the pilot programs, recruiting students and building partnerships with employers. The university will also develop plans to sustain the programs after their launch.

The grants are part of the Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative, a partnership between the state Department of Higher Education's Innovation Hub and UMass Lowell. The initiative provides participating schools with technical assistance, coaching and opportunities to share program-development practices.

Five public colleges and universities are now participating in the initiative. Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Bridgewater State University and Framingham State University previously received a combined $210,000 to develop co-op programs.

"Experiential learning is one of the most powerful ways we can connect a Worcester State education to the needs of our students, our employers and our community," Worcester State University President Barry Maloney said. "This grant will help us build a model that gives students meaningful, paid work experience while allowing our regional partners to develop the talented workforce they need.

See Also:

• Worcester State Gets $1.7M To Help Students Graduate
• Worcester State Launches $30M Campaign With $1M Gift For Future Teachers