STCC receives state grants for nursing and tech career pathway programs
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College was recently awarded state grants to enhance a nursing partnership with Westfield State University and to start a STEM Tech Career Academy for high school students at West Springfield High School and Veritas Prep Charter School.
The Workforce Skills Cabinet – an alignment of state Executive Offices – awarded STCC a two-year $600,000 Nursing Pathways Grant.
The state funding will help STCC and Westfield State University further develop synergies and clarify student pathways for their respective programs. Nursing students can obtain their associate degree (ADN) in Nursing from STCC and continue virtually, or on the STCC campus, as they pursue their bachelor’s (BSN) from Westfield State.
As a result of the grant, STCC students will see a reduction in time and cost to achieve their BSN from Westfield State.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Workforce Skills Cabinet,” said Lisa Fugiel, director of Nursing at STCC. “With this support, we can strengthen our tutoring and access services and career navigation to improve student retention.”
The Workforce Skills Cabinet also awarded a three-year $1 million grant to start a STEM Tech Career Academy. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The $5 million announced in December for five new STEM Tech Career Academies across the state included one that partners STCC with West Springfield High School as well as Veritas Prep Charter School. The STEM Tech Career Academy focuses on healthcare, environmental and life sciences, and business and finance.
The partnership will leverage existing Innovation Pathways and includes Baystate Eye Care Group, Each Moment We’re Alive, Walgreens and Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Club as industry partners.
The STEM Tech Career Academy grant will help expand early college programs specifically for STEM courses and will help students explore STEM Career Pathways.
STCC offers an Innovation Pathway program for West Springfield High School students in their junior year. STCC’s work with Veritas includes students as early as ninth grade with the possibility of earning 60 college credits.
The STEM Tech Career Academy will provide work-based learning opportunities with paid internships and capstone projects to students, said Pamela Westmoreland, Director of Early College Initiatives at STCC. The goal is to increase the number of students who earn associate degrees or certificates.
“This grant will help high school students start early on their college pathway and save time and money,” said Westmoreland. “They can earn college credits in the STEM Tech Career Academy and after getting their high school diploma continue their education at STCC, which is the most affordable college in Springfield.”
STCC recently announced other institution-supporting awards. They include:
- $3 million (federal funding) to establish a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence within Union Station.
- $1.17 million (state funding) to expand adult education services.
- $180,000 (state funding) for a multi-year Hunger Free Campus Initiative to help students facing food insecurity.
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu