Hope Center’s National Cohort - Massasoit Community College

September 15, 2021 – Brockton – Massasoit President Ray DiPasquale is pleased to announce that Massasoit is the only higher education institution in New England that has been selected for The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice’s first #RealCollege Institutional Capacity-Building Cohort (ICBC), which is composed of 27 higher education institutions that span the nation from Washington to New York.

The program is designed to assist colleges and universities in retaining students who need food and housing supports and who were made more vulnerable because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Massasoit and other cohort members will utilize data from The Hope Center’s evidence-based research studies in assisting real college students, and the cohort will create an ecosystem for developing solutions to complex problems, to empower leaders to impact organizational change, and to build connections with other colleges.

“Through our Center for Basic Needs Security and food pantry, Massasoit has made headway in providing resources for students when they need them most – including sufficient food to eat every day, or housing for anyone who lacks a safe and stable place to live,” said Massasoit President Ray DiPasquale. “This cohort with The Hope Center will enable us to better direct our efforts around equitable community support.”

“The ICBC Cohort will provide new and lasting connections for all member institutions as we explore the best practices for assisting students with food, housing, and the hidden challenges of degree completion during the pandemic,” said Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, president and founder of The Hope Center. “This national cohort will move our research into action, building a diverse exchange of ideas and cohesion in our efforts.”

The Massasoit ICBC team members are committed to attend a series of workshops, coaching sessions with Hope Center staff, and various trainings throughout the ’21 – ‘22 academic year. Massasoit will also be conducting basic needs assessments of the campus community in both the fall and spring. The cohort begins this month and runs through May 2022, with learning modules focused on assessment, support, driving state and federal policy and advocacy, and supporting the basic needs ecosystem.

“Personally, I’m looking forward to this learning experience, as it’ll help us determine where the partnerships are, both within the college as well as the greater Brockton community, that we need to continue to develop in order to facilitate academic and personal success,” said Sean Dadsetan-Foley, director of Basic Needs Security at Massasoit.

Any Massasoit student who has difficulty accessing food or who lacks housing is encouraged to fill out a Basic Needs Security Intake Form or contact Dadsetan-Foley by email sdadsetan@massasoit.mass.edu or phone at 508-588-9100 x1018.

The Hope Center’s #RealCollege project, based out of Temple University, is made possible by its member institutions as well as grants from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and ECMC Foundation.

Participating ICBC institutions are listed below:

Massasoit Chosen for The Hope Center’s National Cohort Focused on Resolving Challenges Faced by #RealCollege Students