About Massasoit | Catalog

Massasoit History

Massasoit Community College was founded in 1966, but its origin can be traced to a 1947 study by the Massachusetts State Board of Education that determined the need for a low-cost, state-supported system. The study proposed that twelve community colleges be established, one of which would serve the Greater Brockton/South Shore area. In 1961, a proposal was brought before the Brockton School Committee, and after a feasibility study, announcement of such a college was made in 1965.

In September 1966, the College, consisting of 358 students and 22 faculty, held its first classes in the Charles M. Frolio School in North Abington, and in June 1968, the first graduation was held for 137 students. Additional campuses were later established at the former Howard School in West Bridgewater and the Miramar School in Duxbury.

Groundbreaking for the first five buildings of the permanent Brockton campus occurred in 1969, and by 1972 the campus was officially opened. During this time, the College received its first accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. By 1978, the five remaining buildings of the campus were completed.

The College’s namesake, Chief Massasoit, was born within the present boundaries of Massachusetts in 1580. His tribe, the Wampanoags, were located throughout the regions of Bristol, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Massasoit Community College is one of the largest community colleges in the Massachusetts Public Higher Education system. Massasoit currently offers more than 60 associate degree programs in arts, sciences, and applied sciences; certificates; and Board of Higher Education (BHE) certificates. The College also offers non-credit workforce development certificates; corporate training courses; adult basic education; personal enrichment classes; and Early College programs for high school students.

Mission of the Massachusetts System of Public Higher Education

Massachusetts Public Higher Education is a system with a distinguished past, increasing and measurable accomplishments, and dedicated to being recognized as having one of the nation’s most outstanding array of institutions. It comprises 15 community colleges, nine state colleges, and five campuses of the University of Massachusetts. The system exists to provide accessible, affordable, relevant, and rigorous programs that adapt to meet changing individual and societal needs for education and employment. The public system is committed to continuous improvement and accountability in all aspects of teaching and learning. The Board of Higher Education, together with each respective Board of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to exacting standards in the performance of their roles and responsibilities.

Mission of the Massachusetts Community Colleges

The 15 Community Colleges offer open access to high quality, affordable academic programs, including associate degree and certificate programs. They are committed to excellence in teaching and learning and provide academic preparation for transfer to four-year institutions, career preparation for entry into high demand occupational fields, developmental coursework, and lifelong learning opportunities.

Community colleges have a special responsibility for workforce development and through partnerships with business and industry, provide job training, retraining, certification, and skills improvement. In addition, they assume primary responsibility, in the public system, for offering developmental courses, programs, and other educational services for individuals who seek to develop the skills needed to pursue college-level study or enter the workforce.

Rooted in their communities, the colleges serve as community leaders, identifying opportunities and solutions to community problems and contributing to the region’s intellectual, cultural, and economic development. They collaborate with elementary and secondary education and work to ensure a smooth transition from secondary to post-secondary education. Through partnerships with baccalaureate institutions, they help to promote an efficient system of public higher education.

The community colleges offer an environment where the ideas and contributions of all students are respected. Academic and personal support services are provided to ensure that all students have an opportunity to achieve academic and career success. No eligible student shall be deprived of the opportunity for a community college education in Massachusetts because of an inability to pay tuition and fees.

Academic Accreditations

The following specialized accrediting bodies are recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

The Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.

• The Dental Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
• The Early Childhood Education Program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• The Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• The Radiologic Technology Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
• The Medical Assistant Program is nationally accredited by the National Healthcare Association (NHA) and American Medical Technologists (AMT).
• The Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
• The Veterinary Technology Program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education Activities (CVTEA).
• The Diesel Technology Program is accredited by the AED (Associated Equipment Distributors) Foundation.

Professional Affiliations

• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• American Association of Community Colleges
• College Entrance Examination Board
• Cooperative Education Association
• Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
• National Association of College and University Business Officers
• National Council for Occupational Education
• National Council on Resource Development
• New England Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• New England Transfer Association

Massasoit Administration

Senior Leadership

Division of Academic Affairs

Chief Academic Officer

Rita Jones-Hyde, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs

Continuing Education

Rita Jones-Hyde, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education

Board Members

• Chris Gabrieli, Chairman
• Harneen Chernow, Vice Chair
• Danielle Allen, Ph.D.
• Dr. Lisa B. Battaglino, State University Trustee Representative
• Mary Burns, University of Massachusetts Trustee Representative
• Veronica Conforme
• Alex Cortez
• Francesca Purcell
• Marjorie Ringrose
• Shannon Rudder
• Bill Walczak, Community College Trustee Representative
• Stephen Zrike, Ex Officio, Secretary of Education

Non-Voting Positions

• Noe Ortega, Ph.D., Ex Officio, Commissioner of Higher Education, Secretary to the Board
• Michael Borowski, UMass Student Segmental Advisor
• Nate Woodard, Community College Student Segmental Advisor