The following announcement was provided by MassBay Community College:
Students new to MassBay will have the opportunity to take advantage of the Bridge to IT Careers by taking computer and technology courses at MassBay for free.
Thanks to a three-year, $300,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, MassBay will provide unemployed and underemployed workers with education and training in the area of computers and technology. Students can take the following classes for free: Computers & Technology, which is offered in the spring 2023 semester; CompTIA A+ certification, an entry into information technology offered in fall 2023; and Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the entire Microsoft suite, which will be available every semester through the College’s Corporate Partnerships & Workforce Development Division. These courses provide students with a bridge to a career in computers or technology, and a foundation to pursue a certificate or associate degree in computer science, computer information systems, cybersecurity, and several other programs.
“We are extremely grateful for this grant and for the support from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development,” said MassBay President David Podell. “These funds will give students essential skills to help employers and will enable them to build on their education and credentials to advance in the high-demand computer science industry. Collaborating with area workforce partners to fill the needs in MetroWest is a winning combination for the local economy.”
“Local businesses need workers who have computer and IT skills, but all too often, unemployed and underemployed residents have difficulty accessing the training and supports they need to develop those skills,” said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem. “I’m proud that I was able to secure funding that will enable MassBay to bridge that gap and offer students a free pathway toward good careers in the IT and cybersecurity fields.”
Enrolled students will have access to individual career service assistance, one-on-one career counseling, and resume-building and interview skill workshops. In addition, students are entitled to “wrap-around” services such as stipends for childcare and transportation, helping eliminate barriers for them to complete these courses and continue their journey to good, sustainable careers.
Kevin Uyleman of Marlborough, MA who works full-time and completed the CompTIA A+ certification in fall 2022 said, “This was easily my favorite class I have taken in my higher education career. The subject matter of course is providing me with the knowledge to help me meet my career goals of entering the Information Technology field. Professor Michael Lyons knocked it out of the park and made the class interesting, while giving students real world applications to advance our experience in the IT space.”
For more information on these courses, contact Fabiola Mendez-Torres at fmendeztorres@massbay.edu.
To learn more about MassBay, visit massbay.edu
About MassBay Community College
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.