Massasoit Awards Degrees to CERC Program Students
Eight graduates among 37 students enrolled in the College’s correctional education program.
BROCKTON, Mass (June 30, 2025) – Massasoit Community College awarded associate degrees to eight students enrolled in its Correctional Education and Returning Citizens (CERC) Program at the Old Colony Correctional Center on Friday, June 20, 2025.
The eight students earned degrees in Liberal Arts Studies – a well-rounded program that helps them develop hard skills in math, science, and writing, along with soft skills like critical thinking from subjects including psychology and history. The graduates performed exceptionally well, earning an average GPA of 3.25 and with seven members being inducted into Phi Theta Kappa – the College’s honor society. They are the first cohort from Old Colony to earn degrees from Massasoit.
“Education has the power to change the lives of justice-involved students for the better,” said Bill Mitchell, president of Massasoit Community College. “We are incredibly proud of these students’ academic achievements that will help prepare them to lead lives, build careers, and support their families post-incarceration.”
“One of the pillars of successful reentry is education,” said Shawn Jenkins, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction. “Through these partnerships, the individuals under our care are given a vital education that strengthens pathways to success. We congratulate Massasoit Community College for investing in the DOC and in the future of our incarcerated individuals.”
Massasoit is one of two formal prison education programs run by community colleges in Massachusetts and the first prison education program in Massachusetts to be approved by the U.S. Department of Education to award Pell grants to incarcerated students. Massasoit’s CERC Program enrolls 37 students across three county and state correctional facilities. It is a component of the Massasoit Community College Future of Work Institute – the College’s academic division focused on workforce development partnerships and innovations.
Founded in 1966, Massasoit Community College offers students from southeastern Massachusetts and beyond access to more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs across arts, sciences, applied sciences, healthcare, and technology at locations in Brockton, Canton, Middleborough, and online. More than 8,000 students enroll for credit at Massasoit each year; another 1,500 students annually enroll in non-credit community education or workforce development courses. Typically, more than 800 students graduate from Massasoit with an associate degree or certificate each year. Massasoit students are given access to wraparound services provided on campus to support their success inside and outside the classroom. For more information, visit massasoit.edu.
Learn more about our CERC Program
Contact:
Alex J. Villanueva
avillanu2@massasoit.mass.edu
508-588-9100 x1846