BHCC Early College Programs Receive Preliminary Designation Status from Baker-Polito Administration Along with a $10K Planning Grant
Friday, January 26, 2018
On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, the Baker-Polito Administration announced “preliminary” designation status to 21 early college programs across Massachusetts and awarded more than $80,000 in grants to public colleges, universities and high schools in the midst of developing early college programs.
Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with the opportunity to earn college credit, making college more accessible and affordable to low-income students.
The Administration awarded a $10,000 competitive planning grant and preliminary approval to Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC)’s early college program at Charlestown High School. Expanding upon existing career pathway programs in information technology and business, the College plans to add courses in health and liberal arts to the program’s curriculum. The grant award will aid the program in becoming a “designated” early college program by the Board of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education.
In addition to the program in Charlestown, BHCC’s early college program at Chelsea High School (CHS) received preliminary approval to develop pathways in three fields: health and life sciences, law and public policy and education. The goal is for students to graduate from CHS with an associate degree or professional certificate from BHCC.
The Roxbury Massachusetts Advanced Post-Secondary (RoxMAPP) early college program also received preliminary approval to expand opportunities for student learning in the workplace through industry partnerships. Designed to put students on an expedited path to college and career success, the RoxMAPP program is a collaboration between BHCC, Boston Public Schools, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and Roxbury Community College.
BHCC is also partnering with the Collaborative for Educational Services, Quincy College, Holyoke Community College and Urban College to launch a new early college program aimed at increasing high school graduation rates and easing the college transition for students living in residential care through the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services.
This new program also received preliminary approval from the Administration. All four programs are expected to apply for final designation in February, with the goal of launching programs this fall.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in Massachusetts, enrolling approximately 18,000 students annually. BHCC has two campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, and a number of other locations throughout the Greater Boston area. BHCC is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Sixty-five percent of the students are people of color and more than half of BHCC's students are women. The College also enrolls nearly 600 international students who come from 94 countries and speak more than 75 languages.