MWCC values community by developing shared and inclusive learning environments that cultivate personal and academic growth and interpersonal relationships. By cultivating and nurturing a welcoming environment of trust and belonging through collaboration and partnerships, we meet the education and workforce training needs of our community and build strong innovative partnerships that support the economic vitality of the region.
About MWCC
Welcome To Our Community!
You may be right out of high school, restarting your education, building your job skills, or seeking a head start on college with dual enrollment through your high school. Whoever you are, you will be accepted here* at Mount Wachusett Community College.
Founded in 1963 and accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), we are a public, two-year college dedicated to serving the people in our region. We offer 70+ credit-bearing degree and certificate programs, non-credit personal enrichment classes for lifelong learners, and workforce development that includes custom, on-site training.
Student-Centered Education That Supports Your Success
At the Mount, we see each student as a whole person. You may excel at some things and struggle with others. We understand that you may work or balance family responsibilities as you take classes. Our faculty and advisors are here to help you grow and achieve success.
We are affordable, convenient, and student-focused. Other colleges and universities may cost more, but that doesn’t mean they’re worth more. At the Mount, you will get a quality education that can take you places.
You will have something even more valuable than a degree or certificate when you finish – you will have an education that no one can take away from you.
*Some of our academic programs have selective admissions.
Vision, Mission, And Values
Our Mission
Mount Wachusett Community College transforms students by providing access to affordable, high-quality, innovative, civic-minded, and relevant education and training opportunities. With a focus on community, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion with a racial equity lens and value the dignity and worth of all individuals and believe opportunity and access to education transform lives.
Our Vision
Mount Wachusett Community College aspires to be a model, community-connected, student-ready institution providing affordable, inclusive, equity-minded transformative learning experiences dedicated to enriching students’ academic, personal, and professional lives through an array of degree and certificate programs, campus engagement, and customized student support.
Our Core And Shared Values
Learning is at the center of our core value system. While the themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion are among our highest priorities as we develop culturally responsive practices, creating knowledge and skills through teaching and learning is the core of what we do. The following core values hold true to our vision and shape how we carry out our mission:
MWCC is committed to inquiry, professional development, and reflection. We adjust our practices and embrace new tools and methods to provide equitable opportunities and outcomes. We are willing to make mistakes and learn from both our mistakes and successes in order to take purposeful action and propose transformative solutions.
MWCC understands that diversity is not an outcome and recognizes that diversity goes beyond race and even beyond demographics. We value the creativity and insight that emerges from multiple perspectives and we recognize the importance of diverse representation and thought in achieving our goals.
MWCC is committed to achieving equity (different from equality) in educational outcomes, disrupting and dismantling oppressive systems and rebuilding imbalanced social systems. We acknowledge that inequity is a consequence of intentional design, and if we want to create equitable outcomes, we must focus on changing underlying systems, not just adding new programs or services.
These five goals define and drive the strategic initiatives of MWCC:
- Equity and Inclusion in Opportunity, Access, and Affordability.
- Equitable and Inclusive Student Success and Achievement.
- Equitable and Inclusive Pedagogy, Facilitation, and Academic Programming.
- Regional and Economic Development Leader.
- Institutional Capacity Building for Equitable Decision-Making and Inclusive Engagement.
MWCC recognizes that inclusion is more than intentionally creating environments and spaces in which individuals and/or groups feel “safe”*, welcomed, valued, respected, and heard. We view inclusivity more than just collaboration, rather as a tenet of mutual respect and shared governance, authentically and intentionally bringing traditionally excluded voices into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power and opinion.
*Note that we put the word “safe” in quotes. This is because people with some identities or personal experiences rarely feel safe in any room/space, and it’s important to acknowledge that and consider what safety means from a position of social, cultural, historical, and institutional power.
MWCC believes a collective willingness to collaborate with empathy, respect, trust and transparency is essential to teaching, learning and creating a sense of belonging for all. We work and communicate collegially, creating working and learning environments conducive to the open exchange of ideas. Beyond collaboration, a collective impact approach is premised on the belief that no single department, person, or program can tackle or solve the increasingly complex social problems we face as a society (i.e., oppression, racial injustice, etc.)
MWCC maintains public trust by being honest, fair, transparent, and equitable. We honor our commitments to students, staff and communities by holding ourselves and others accountable for supporting the vision, mission, and priorities of the college.
MWCC believes student success and achievement is as much about the student experience as it is about the education, and neither exists in a vacuum. We take a holistic approach to defining and supporting student success and achievement determined by the goals of each individual student.
Our History – From 1963 To Today
Since opening its doors in 1963, Mount Wachusett Community College has been rooted in a simple but powerful idea: higher education should be accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of its community. As one of Massachusetts’ first community colleges, MWCC was created to expand opportunity and support the region through education, workforce training, and lifelong learning.
Over the decades, the college has grown alongside the communities it serves—expanding academic programs, modernizing facilities, and strengthening partnerships with local employers and organizations. From health sciences and technology to business, arts, and transfer pathways, MWCC has continually evolved to meet changing workforce demands and student goals.
Innovation and sustainability are central to MWCC’s story, with investments in renewable energy, modern learning environments, and student-centered spaces that support hands-on education and collaboration. Today, MWCC remains committed to preparing students not only for their next step—whether transfer or career—but for long-term success in an ever-changing world.
Ready To Take The Next Step?
Your journey starts with a single step. We have all the information you need to move forward with confidence. Reach out today to learn more about life at The Mount and how to get started.
