Free community college a boon for students, workforce and local economy
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It's no secret that the rising cost of college tuition, together with unprecedented increases in the cost of living, creates a barrier for many people seeking to better themselves through higher education. It's also no secret that this barrier can be even harder to overcome for historically marginalized people. At Berkshire Community College (BCC), we strive every day to break barriers and make quality education accessible to all.
Thanks to two programs launched by the Commonwealth, MassReconnect and MassEducate, getting an associate degree or certificate at BCC is more accessible than ever. The programs can provide free tuition and fees, and even an allowance for books, to eligible students.
These unprecedented financial incentives are having an immediate impact on community colleges like BCC. In the 2023-24 BCC academic year, there were 158 BCC students who received free tuition; in the 2024-25 year, initial figures show impressive growth with 254 such students. And, the number of total enrolled students at BCC has grown 29 percent this year over last, with nursing students comprising the largest portion of the student population.
Clearly, the financial incentives now available are taking hold, and we at BCC expect to see enrollment numbers increase further as awareness grows.
With the recent closure of Mildred Elley's Pittsfield campus, BCC welcomes all former students there to apply to the College — especially nursing students. The 2023 cohort of BCC's Practical Nurse (PN) program was ranked number one in Massachusetts and in the nation for its 100 percent pass rate of the NCLEX exam. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), BCC's PN program is chaired by Associate Professor Katie Polchlopek, one of four dedicated faculty. Just two weeks ago, BCC welcomed a full class into the program. Now that many nursing students can attend the College for free, BCC is ready to accept more students every fall and anticipates an ever larger, more diverse student nursing population.
Those interested in the healthcare industry can also earn a certificate in health information management or medical coding. Becoming a medical coder doesn't require a four-year college education — or even a two-year college education. You can earn a certificate in as few as eight months, and with a projected 7 percent rise in medical coding jobs by 2028, it is a fast and efficient way to transition to this profitable career path.Meanwhile, BCC's Workforce Development and Community Education department offers a wealth of job training opportunities, filling needs in the local workforce and, in turn, significantly boosting the economy of the Berkshires. For example, BCC conducts in-person and virtual emergency medical technician (EMT) training. Of the 13 students who completed the most recent EMT training sessions, nine took the required psychomotor test, and all nine passed the exam. This means that once these students pass the written exam, they will be ready for immediate employment as EMTs in Berkshire County, filling a critical workforce gap.
With a new focus on teaching trades, BCC offers an Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) certificate and a Class B commercial driver's license (CDL) training course, which recently filled its first cohort of the year. Working with professional instructors at United Tractor Trailer School, BCC trains students for a career in trucking, a rapidly growing industry that offers competitive salaries in the Berkshires and across the country. The training includes 40 hours of classroom, field and on-the-road instruction, and tuition scholarships are available. In addition, we have developed a new curriculum for HVAC training and hope to launch our first class in 2025.
Because the local workforce is always changing, BCC adapts its programs to meet the needs of employers in the Berkshires. New programs debuting this fall include paraprofessional training, beginner computer training and a four-part social work series called Foundations of Substance Use. Training programs in development include CompTIA IT certifications, ESOL in the Workplace and Spanish in the Workplace. And, with an increased need for cosmetology training due to the closure of Mildred Elley, BCC is exploring options for adding cosmetology to our certificate program.
In further efforts to assist local business and industry, BCC offers virtual "ed2go" programs. For example, if a business has employees that need to advance their Microsoft Excel skills, BCC offers a fully online, self-paced program. BCC can also help companies access the Commonwealth Corporations Workforce Training Program to fund industry-specific training. Many workforce training programs offer scholarships to eligible students.
BCC is eager and ready to help people of all backgrounds and experiences improve their work readiness, sharpen their job skills, find a new career, earn a promotion, connect with employers or enroll in an associate degree or certificate program. We encourage you to explore all that BCC has to offer.
Linda Clairmont
Executive Director
Workforce Development and Community Education
Lori A. Moon MSN-Ed, RN
Dean of Nursing, Health & Wellness
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