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More than 40 representatives of Gateway to College programs across the Commonwealth attended the first statewide convening of Gateway professionals, hosted on January 14 at Mount Wachusett Community College.
According to Prentice Davis, Senior Manager of Training and Partner Support for the Gateway to College National, Massachusetts is the first state in the U.S. to launch a statewide Gateway effort. “People across the country are calling us asking how they can do what Massachusetts is doing. The program at MWCC is often recognized for its early leadership in launching and growing Gateway in Massachusetts,” Davis said.
The daylong meeting brought together the six Gateway programs based at Massachusetts community colleges, including Mount Wachusett, Quinsigamond, Bristol, Massasoit, Holyoke and Springfield Technical. The event was a joint venture between the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Gateway to College National Network, and provided Gateway professionals with the opportunity to share common challenges and best practices.
“The chance to bring our teams together under one roof generated a healthy dialogue on how we can best serve our students,” said Deb Bibeau, Assistant Dean of Transitions Programming in MWCC’s Division of Access and Transition.
Gateway to College serves students at risk of not completing high school or who have already left high school without a diploma. Through a holistic campus experience, students are able to rewrite their personal educational journeys into success stories by earning their high school diplomas on a college campus, while simultaneously earning college credits. The program is open to Massachusetts residents age 16 to 21. Individual district residency restrictions may apply depending on program location. For more information, visit gatewaytocollege.org.