A Letter from the President
By Daniel M. Asquino | MWCC President
As we begin this new year, we do so with great enthusiasm and anticipation for the changes that are ahead, beginning this semester. Most obvious, of course, are the two new wind turbines, which will bring the college to an entirely new level as a leader in renewable energy when they go online in March.
Equally – in fact even more impressive – are the changes that will be occurring within the classrooms at our campuses, for this year marks the start of a new season of renewal at Mount Wachusett Community College.
Through a variety of federal grants received last fall, MWCC is rolling out a number of new programs and initiatives to provide additional student services to help all students achieve their academic goals.
Veterans and current members of the military will benefit from a variety of services and programs offered through our new Veterans Success Center, which will enhance the college’s ability to provide academic, co-curricular and personal support. The center, made possible through a U.S. Department of Education grant, will provide resources for academic and personal support for the men and women who courageously served our country, or continue to serve, and will serve as a national model.
MWCC has also started the Rx program to provide additional support to students who are majoring in nursing, practical nursing, dental hygiene, physical therapist assistant, complementary health care, medical assisting and general studies allied health programs. Funded through the U.S. Department of Education, this new program is similar to the successful Visions program on campus in providing tutoring, academic advising, supplemental coursework, financial aid advising, and financial and economic literacy education.
MWCC also was one of just 48 institutions nationally selected to receive a competitive Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which will provide funding to launch the ASPIRE program. This initiative will include curriculum redesign and restructuring to more fully incorporate 21st century success skills into first-year courses, and will enhance advising and student services to help all students succeed.
College often can be a challenging, yet rewarding experience for students. If you encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable, I urge you to tap into the many resources that are available to you on campus, including free tutoring, counseling and advising, as well as open communication with your professors and advisors.
As the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”
That is an appropriate motto for all of us at MWCC, as we enter this new era of renewal.
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