State education officials visited Bristol Community College last week to hear from students and staff about the importance of making a college education more affordable for local residents.
Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega co-hosted a forum at Bristol seeking testimony on the impact of the state’s current SUCCESS Fund which awards grants to community colleges to offer support and services to students who are members of particularly vulnerable populations, including low-income, first-generation, minority, disabled and LGBTQ+ students and the proposed MassReconnect program that will cover the cost of a community college education for all state residents 25 or older.
Commissioner Ortega said both programs allow for equitable participation in higher education for all Baystate residents.
Current Bristol student Maria Mendoza-Carbonell wants to become a social worker and could only return to college with the help of Bristol’s SUCCESS Fund coaches.
Bristol graduate Magie Hudson currently attends Bryant University and credits the support of Bristol faculty and staff for helping her balance school work with her family obligations.
Esha Boyd graduated from Bristol last year and is currently attending Bridgewater State University with an eye toward one day becoming a lawyer. She said she is grateful for her time and support at Bristol, and if the MassReconnect were to become a reality, the stress of affording a college education would be lessened for many more state residents.
Under Governor Maura Healey’s proposed 2024 state budget, $18 million is set aside for the SUCCESS Fund and $20 million to launch MassReconnect.
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