Massasoit and Bridgewater State University Announce MCC2BSU to Streamline Transfer Process

May 2, 2017 – A new initiative starting this fall – MCC2BSU – guarantees dual admission into targeted undergraduate programs at Bridgewater State University to Massasoit Community College students.

MCC2BSU expands upon the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Commonwealth Commitment program, but goes further by admitting students to both institutions simultaneously and providing an affordable, near-automatic pathway between them.

“This initiative provides streamlined transfer coordination, which is a critical component in making transitions between institutions easier to students,” said Dr. Charles Wall, president of Massasoit Community College. “Enhanced partnerships between institutions – matched with strong partnerships between counselors and students – will have a great impact on student success.”

Bridgewater President Frederick Clark Jr. Esq., sees MCC2BSU as “a new model, which encourages and supports students to clearly see their path from community college to university and bachelor’s degree completion in a number of majors. In education, the new initiative will serve as a “grow your own teacher” program, according to President Clark, helping to address teacher shortages and lack of diversity in Gateway cities.

“This model further enhances the excellent relationship we have between students and faculty at both institutions,” said Dr. Karim Ismaili, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bridgewater.

Every year, approximately 350 Massasoit students go to Bridgewater to attain their bachelor’s degrees. “Students will have access to resources on both campuses, which will create a smooth pathway in their transition,” said Dr. Wall.

In addition to guaranteed admission to Bridgewater, Massasoit students will benefit from a number of Bridgewater benefits including:

• collaborative and intensive academic advising with a BSU advisor on the Massasoit campus;
• participation in a summer residential program for qualifying students;
• no need to reapply to Bridgewater after completing the associate degree;
• deep engagement of peer mentors, faculty members and administrators to ensure their success; and
• Bridgewater’s Connect card, an ID that offers a number of discounts at local businesses as well as campus access to events and select specialized programs such as financial literacy.

Also, Massasoit students who meet guidelines of the Commonwealth Commitment program will attend Bridgewater at frozen tuition and fees throughout their remaining two years of study. Students would realize an approximately 40 percent savings if they attended BSU through the Commonwealth Commitment. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Commonwealth Commitment is an agreement between the state’s 15 community colleges and four-year institutions that freezes tuition and fees upon program entry while offering other rebates.

“The initiative also provides a framework through which both institutions will identify and focus resources on meeting the workforce needs of the region and the commonwealth,” said President Clark. “By tying all pieces of the admission and transfer process together and offering high levels of support, we are offering the first program of its kind between two-year and four-year public institutions in the Commonwealth.”

Presidents Wall and Clark signed an agreement establishing the program on Tuesday, May 2 on the Brockton Campus of Massasoit Community College. They were joined by administration and deans from both institutions.