Education. It’s secretly a loaded word because it means something different to nearly everyone. To some, it translates to employment, security, or simply a future. For others, it is shorthand for empowerment, change, and personal growth. In the last year, we have continued the college’s efforts to meet our students’ needs based on their definition of education. The college has expanded pathways to well-paying jobs within the region with a new Vet Tech program and a nursing agreement with Fitchburg State University. We also remain committed to student growth with life-changing trips abroad, community service and engagement opportunities, and a student center that has given a renewed vibrancy to our Gardner campus.
We do this because it is not the job of any of us to define education at Mount Wachusett Community College. It’s a shifting interpretation that is different for every student. Our job is to support all the definitions of education so that our students and the community are prepared for the future. We have a talented collection of faculty and staff who are empowered to meet the needs of our students. They do an amazing job of figuring out our student’s goals and how best to meet them.
But for them to do their work we need support. I encourage you to take the time to read our stories of student success from the last year. Understand that each one of those stories would not have happened without community and donor support. Everyone in the community plays a part in our students’ success, and when they succeed, our communities benefit. It is a wonderful cycle that you may already be a part of, but I hope that you will be able to get even more involved this year either financially or in partnership with the college. We have some amazing new programming and other student-centered changes in the year ahead. I look forward to not only seeing them come to fruition, but also working on discovering the emerging ways we can serve our students, and thus the community, through their definitions of education.
James L. Vander Hooven, Ed.D.
“Everyone in the community plays a part in our students’ success, and
|
|
 |
MWCC Celebrates Graduation of 16 Adult Education StudentsSixteen students graduated from the MWCC adult education program in June this year. The graduating students received their high school equivalency, allowing them to earn more in the workforce or continue on to get a college-level degree. “Getting their high school equivalency is life changing,” said MWCC Adult Education Site Manager Kijah Gordon. “All of my students want to complete a college degree. This was that one thing standing in their way.” |
 |
MWCC Ranked 1st in New England for VeteransThe college was named by Military Times as 7th in the country among two-year schools, and first in New England among two-year schools, in the organization’s Military Times Best: Colleges 2018 rankings. |
 |
MWCC to Save Students Money with New Open Resources Pilot ProgramEleven faculty redesigned their courses in the fall of 2018 as part of a pilot program to incorporate open resources and eliminate costly textbooks. This allowed their students to save over $50,000. The effort is continuing into the spring semester with 10 more faculty. |
 |
MWCC Launches New Vet Technician ProgramThe Veterinary Technician program will fill a growing need in the job market at a reduced cost when compared to other area programs. |
 |
Bemis Student Center Unveiled at Mount Wachusett Community CollegeThe Student Center has created a new epicenter of student life and activity in the heart of the Gardner campus. The area features a lounge and meeting space, group study zone, game room, and televisions. |
 |
Travel and Transformation: A Memoir of PeruStudent Adrienne Bourque wrote about her service learning trip to Peru with a group of peers and instructors shortly after graduation. The experience opened her eyes to new cultures and is something she will always treasure. |
 |
Students Paint Wall with Hope at Mount Wachusett Community CollegeFour Mount Wachusett Community College students went on to continue their studies at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute after graduating this year. These transfers are part of a budding relationship between the two schools that has been ushered in by WPI Alumnus and MWCC Assistant Professor Peter Olszak. |
|
|
Scholarships Help Fill the GapWorking with our population of students has taught me that “talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not,” as the saying goes. I meet skillful, hopeful, ambitious students all the time. And every semester, I read their personal stories. Their applications for scholarship frequently tell me they are hungry, have an unstable housing situation, and are balancing some heavy responsibilities at home and work while trying to earn a degree. They are applying for MWCC Foundation scholarships to fill the gap between their income, financial aid and the cost of college. Nearly half of all our financial aid applicants have unmet needs even after they receive all available state and federal aid. That adds up to a total of $19,727,189 our students need to stay in school. If you feel moved to help, I encourage you to make a donation to our students. |
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
 |
REVENUE | ||
| Revenue Percentage | FY18 | ||
| State Appropriations – 37% | $19,826,719 | ||
| Capital Funding – 6% | $3,247,343 | ||
| Tuition & Fees – 20% | $10,796,677 | ||
| Grants – 30% | $15,680,626 | ||
| Other Income – 7% | $3,461,201 | ||
 |
EXPENSES | ||
| Expense Percentage | FY18 | ||
| Instruction – 27% | $14,382,177 | ||
| Scholarships – 6% | $3,002,306 | ||
| Student Services – 22% | $11,635,992 | ||
| Academic Support – 11% | $5,521,417 | ||
| Maintenance of Plant – 12% | $6,256,313 | ||
| Institutional Support – 12% | $6,408,881 | ||
| Public Service – 2% | $1,148,809 | ||
| Auxiliary Enterprise – 3% | $1,379,895 | ||
| Depreciation – 4% | $2,247,583 | ||
| Other Expenditures – 1% | $437,345 | ||
FY18–19 BOARDS & LEADERSHIP TEAM
Board of Trustees |
|
|
|
MWCC Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors |
|
|
|
Leadership Team |
|
|
|
GIVE TO THE MWCC FOUNDATION
Your gift helps us to provide students with an affordable education. Contributions of all sizes are important and are gratefully accepted.