Massasoit 2020 Year in Review

For Massasoit students, faculty and staff, and our local communities, 2020 proved to be a truly unprecedented year. Even this year, we still pause to reflect on our major announcements and accomplishments, of which there were many. As the year comes to an end, keeping in mind we can’t list everything, here’s Massasoit’s 2020 year in review:

• President Gena Glickman announced her retirement in July 2020; she is the sixth and first female president of Massasoit. Massasoit’s Board of Trustees named Brenda Molife, Ph.D., Vice President of Outreach and Engagement at Bridgewater State University, Interim President. Molife’s appointment was made at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on December 16, 2020.

• Massasoit held its first virtual Commencement for the Class of 2020 on December 4. Students who had completed all of their academic requirements and had their degree or certificate conferred in August 2019, January 2020, May 2020, or August 2020 were recognized as a member of the class of 2020, which totaled 879 students.

• Massasoit was one of ten institutions selected for the American Council on Education’s Learner Success Laboratory. We are using the opportunity to integrate evidence-based practices and focus on student advising.

• We announced a special transfer partnership with Curry College that will allow Massasoit students who have completed their associate degree in business administration to earn their bachelor of science in business administration.

• In response to events unfolding across the country and as part of an ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive community, Massasoit launched a new interdisciplinary course during the summer. Racism & Resistance helped learners unpack race relations in American society and was offered online for free. In the fall, Massasoit’s Year of Social Justice began with a series of events that encapsulated the work happening across the college towards racial and social justice.

• Massasoit Respiratory Therapy students were on the frontlines as the coronavirus significantly increased the need for professionals trained to run ventilators. In solidarity with our students, Joe Harris and Alex Cotter, members of the Massasoit faculty and staff, each ran a marathon to raise funds in support of our Respiratory Care program; the ‘Marathon for Massasoit’ raised nearly $5,000!

• We did our best to stay on campus for as long as possible, but by March 12, 2020 we sent our students home. Since that day, we have been singularly focused on one thing: ensuring continuity of instruction for our students. Those first few months were difficult, but Massasoit has done what it’s needed to do to ensure students have what they need – educationally and otherwise. We’ve distributed laptops and hotspots and mailed out grocery gift cards in lieu of our in-person food pantry. In April 2020 alone, our Foundation gave out more than $10,000 in need-based aid, and we have distributed more than $1 million in CARES Act funding to students. Our United Student Fund continues to help our students overcome financial emergencies, job loss, barriers to internet access for remote learning, and food insecurity.

• We established Massasoit community assistance resources for educational success (C.A.R.E.S.) to help our students be successful inside and outside of the classroom. Resources including the WIC nutrition program, Whitman Counseling, The Pantry at Massasoit, and BAMSI operate at our Brockton campus.

• Last spring, our Women’s Basketball team finished a perfect season at 24-0 and entered the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 3 tournament as the No. 1 seed. They were the first undefeated team to enter the NJCAA tournament since 2010. The Warriors were defeated by the Cedar Valley Suns in the opening round, but they had a tremendous and record-setting season!