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Worldwide media career starts right here
CBS EXEC KEVIN BERG Returns to MWCC
Shopping Around Pays OffMWCC grad lands digital designer job at Google
One Year, One Night a WeekIntroducing 5 new certificate programs for busy professionals
Your Guide to Higher Education and Career Success
mwcc.edu/HIREed | SUMMER 2015
HIREed
EventsAdult College Experience Program (ACE)
» Providing adult students with the tools & knowledge to complete a degree or certificate
» August 4 5:30–7:45pm Gardner Campus
» August 11 5:30–7:45pm Gardner Campus
» August 22 9:30am–2:30pm Gardner Campus
» August 25 5:30–7:45pm Gardner Campus
» For more information please visit mwcc.edu/build/ace
Smart Start Registration Events » Designed to help you navigate the enrollment process
» For available dates & more information please visit
mwcc.edu/smartstart
Summer Leadership Academy » Get a jump start on your first semester by developing
leadership skills, learning about MWCC’s resources &
meeting other new students
» August 25–26 8am–4:30pm Gardner Campus
» For more information please visit mwcc.edu/studentlife
HIREed MissionTo connect students of all ages with resources and opportunities for career growth in North Central Massachusetts and New England, and to inform its readership of the specific services and programs available at Mount Wachusett Community College.
President, Mount Wachusett Community College:Daniel M. Asquino, Ph.D.
Vice President, External Affairs, Communications & K-12 Partnerships: Lea Ann Scales
Editor: Janice O’Connor
Managing Editor: Sarah McMaster
Design Director: Stephanie England
Graphic Designer: Briana Nobrega
Online Editor: Brett Moulton
Photography: Dana Armstrong, Ed Collier, Dustin Marshall
Contributors: Jay Gearan, Marcus Altman
©HIREed Magazine 2015–2016 All Rights Reserved MC112-02 V01 | Jun15
MWCC seeks to provide equal educational and employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, genetic information, gender, marital status, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
For more information regarding college events, call the Office of Admissions at 978-630-9110.
On the CoverCBS Executive Kevin Berg returned home to his alma mater to receive an honorary doctorate in humanities during our 50th Commencement. He was also recognized as the 2015 Alumnus of the Year. Read more about his success story on page 12.
Mount Wachusett Community College is building for the
future through renovations to our existing Haley Academic
Center and construction of a new, 44,000-square-foot STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and math) wing, as well as
through the success of our students who are achieving their
career aspirations.
In this issue, you’ll read about MWCC alumni who have
gone on to build exciting careers in their fields, including
Akasha Hodge, a talented digital designer now working
at Google, and Kevin Berg, executive vice president of
production for CBS Network Entertainment Group, who
is bringing award-winning television programs to audiences
across the U.S. and around the world. You’ll also learn about
students like Marciel Vargas, who is redirecting her career
path through free workforce training opportunities in
advanced manufacturing.
We’re excited to announce several new academic programs,
including a Liberal Arts associate degree concentration in
Civic Engagement and Community Leadership,
an academic certificate in Nonprofit Management, and a
flexible Interdisciplinary Studies program. In this issue,
you’ll also hear from professors in our Health Information
Management program, and find advice on discovering career
interests, applying for college, and financial aid.
I hope these articles inspire you to imagine building your
future with MWCC, whether it’s through a short-term
certificate, an associate degree, or one of our many noncredit
classes. Our goal is to be part of our students’ successes in
building their futures though high quality education right in
our own community. I invite you to visit our campuses and
learn more about how we can be a partner in your success!
To your future endeavors,
Daniel M. Asquino, Ph.D.
President
PRESIDENTA message from the
For more information regarding college events, call the Office of Admissions at 978-630-9110.
4 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
6 8 18
FEATURED STORIES
1218 WHERE HEALTHCARE AND
TECHNOLOGY MEETOur online program in Health Information Management keeps healthcare moving
16 ONE YEAR, ONE NIGHT A WEEKIntroducing five new certificate programs for busy professionals
15 MWCC PAYS IT FORWARDNew programs in community service and civic engagement
12 CBS EXEC KEVIN BERG RETURNS TO MWCCWorldwide media career starts right here in MA
6 SHOPPING AROUND PAYS OFFMWCC grad lands digital designer job at Google
5 RIGHT FIT EDUCATION RIGHT NOWBuild a degree based on your real life circumstances
20 3 STEPS TO ENROLLGet started at MWCC by following three simple steps
21 FINANCIAL AID FAQsGet the money you need for the education you deserve
22 FIND YOUR FITFind a program and career path based on your personality
23
23
CUSTOMIZE IT YOUR WAYChoose the when and where of your education
CAMPUS TRANSFORMATIONSNew STEM wing and renovations coming in 2016
3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
8 MANUFACTURING MATCH MAKINGNew training program for in-demand manufacturing jobs
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 5
FEATURED ARTICLE
By Jay Gearan
With rapid changes in technology and new career paths, it’s
understandable that a high percentage of new college students are
undecided about their majors. Yet, sometimes just a single course
can steer students toward a particular career.
With this in mind, MWCC has transformed its General Studies
associate degree program into a new approach with a new name:
Interdisciplinary Studies.
The new program is the right fit for students whose career and
educational goals are not yet firmly defined, and for students
who have prior college credits and work experience that can be
applied toward the degree. Interdisciplinary Studies provides a
flexible curriculum, allowing students to explore a variety of
interests among different disciplines. With program completion,
students are prepared to transfer to a four-year college or
university to complete a baccalaureate degree.
The Interdisciplinary Studies program offers students the
opportunity to explore interests while completing a core
curriculum for transfer. Students will gain knowledge in math,
science, the humanities, social sciences, and other disciplines.
“We’re excited about this change,” says Dr. Melissa Fama, MWCC
Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The name Interdisciplinary
Studies better reflects the intent of the program.”
Another important component of the Interdisciplinary Studies
program is the opportunity to apply previous college, work, or life
experiences toward the degree. As in the former General Studies
program, students are still required to attain at least half of their
credits at MWCC to earn an associate degree.
“Many students get frustrated after perhaps dabbling here and
there in different majors, sometimes at more than one college
or university,” Fama says. “We think their earned college course
credits should not be wasted. And we want students to come to
MWCC, make use of their past experiences, apply them toward a
college degree and move forward.”
“What I like about Interdisciplinary Studies’ is its flexibility,”
Fama says. “For instance, if someone wanted to study art and
psychology at the same time, they can explore both and still
be working toward a degree. Often two courses that seem quite
different have other, far-reaching connections.” n
CUSTOMIZE YOUR DEGREEEvolving career interests, credit for life experience, and prior college creditsCAN ADD UP TO A COLLEGE DEGREE
978-630-9110
[email protected] Line: Interdisciplinary Studies
mwcc.edu/priorlearning
WONDERING HOW YOUR EXPERIENCES & PRIOR CREDITS ADD UP?Contact us to find out if you are eligible to acquire credit for what you already know.
To request more information:
6 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
By Janice O’Connor
The son of a traveling software salesman, Akasha S. Hodge
has lived around the country his entire life. Massachusetts,
however, was never really part of the plan.
Yet when he stopped in the Bay State to earn an associate
degree from Mount Wachusett Community College, his
varied talents, interests and life experiences converged
with academic training and put him on a path that led to
where he is today: senior designer for customer marketing at
Google.
“This is a dream job. I work with the brightest of the
brightest,” says the former Fitchburg resident, who
graduated in 2006 with a degree in Computer Graphic
Design, a program that has since evolved into Graphic &
Interactive Design. “Google is the kind of place where every
day I’m working with a lot of different types of people,
with a lot of different backgrounds, and everyone brings
something new to the plate. To be a part of it is really
exciting to me.”
By the time he arrived at MWCC in 2005, Hodge had already
spent a few years in art school in Arizona, in music school in
London, working with computers and technology in music
production, and dabbling in self-taught graphic design in
Maine. His move to North Central Massachusetts came at a
time when he was craving higher education, he says.
“I shopped around at different schools to see what was going
on. My goal was to look at the portfolios on the website, and
if they were inspiring and motivated me, I would talk to the
institutions. I was totally underwhelmed by what I saw -
until I went to the Mount.”
The professors have real life experience and always want their students to succeed. I’m an example of that and I’m forever grateful to the Mount.
OptimizationSEARCH
dream job at GoogleMWCC grad’s career quest leads to
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 7
978-630-9110
[email protected] Line: GID Tour
mwcc.edu/gid
INTERESTED IN STUDYING GRAPHIC & INTERACTIVE DESIGN?Do what Akasha did and take a tour of MWCC’s design lab and speak with professors.
To request more information:
Hodge toured the college’s graphic design studio with
department Chair Leslie Cullen, and was impressed with
the technology as well as the dedicated faculty.
“I remember being really impressed with how state-of-the-
art the department was. I felt I wanted something smaller,
with more attention between students and teachers.”
Hodge says the convenience of attending a nearby school,
the value derived from the low tuition, and the fact that
many of his credits from other colleges transferred into the
program made the decision easy.
“I just dove into it. I spent day-in and day-out in the studio,
working from home, and completely immersed in the
design program. I loved it and I loved all my professors.
I think that’s why the program is so successful. The
professors have real life experience and always want their
students to succeed. I’m an example of that and I’m forever
grateful to the Mount.”
After graduating from MWCC, Hodge moved to New York
City and launched his career. He posted his résumé online
and was selected for a project by a company soon after.
“The next thing you know, I’m in New York in a SoHo loft
talking to a creative director. Within a month, my life had
changed. I had a cool job, I got an apartment.” At Dialogue
Direct, Hodge worked as an advertising, marketing, and
graphics coordinator.
When the national economy tanked a year and a half later,
he was laid off, but the experience opened a new door as
a freelancer. Working with headhunters and recruitment
agencies, Hodge landed jobs with varied companies and
industries.
“These recruitment agencies are great because they shop
you around to different companies and put you in front of
the companies.”
One of those companies turned out to be insurance giant
MetLife, where he worked for six months as a freelancer.
“Every piece of collateral, everything that was asked of me,
I had learned in college. I remember being very confident
with everything, from the concept and pre-press to getting
a project out the door,” he says.
“I could curate my portfolio depending on where I wanted
to land, and show an array of different styles and work. It
was like throwing a wide net into the world, and it seemed
to work because a lot of people were responding.”
When his partner, Benjamin Vital III, who is also a designer,
accepted a job offer in Philadelphia, Hodge’s experience
and skills allowed him to pick up in the new city as a
freelancer working for a financial firm. Most recently,
he worked for Barclaycard, and designed its American
Airlines AAdvantage Aviator Business Master Card.
In May 2014, the couple moved to the San Francisco Bay
Area and began working as freelancers and landing jobs
through a staffing agency.
“The tech boom happening in the Bay Area is massive and
there is a huge call for digital designers here,” says Hodge,
who was born in the region. He took the time to focus on
his own image by revamping his portfolio and his website,
www.circa78.co. Building up his LinkedIn profile was
also a necessity.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of your online
presence, especially on LinkedIn. It really is your online
résumé. I was able to form a lot of relationships and
contacts by having things current, and job opportunities
came from that.”
And that’s how, in January of this year, a recruiter from
Google found Hodge. Initially brought in to the company
as a contractor, he is now a full-time employee at one of the
world’s largest global corporations.
“It’s kind of the hot place to be right now. They’re picking
talent that can move things forward. I was here at the right
time, at the right place, with the right training.” n
8 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
By Janice O’Connor
With an upswing in manufacturing
jobs anticipated in the coming decade
in Massachusetts, isn’t it time you put
yourself on a successful career path with
opportunities for advancement?
Recent graduates of Mount Wachusett
Community College’s Industry Readiness
Training program took that step, and
at the end of their six-week course, met
some special guests – their potential
employers. Recruiters and human resource
professionals from Nypro, Bemis
Associates, Injectronics, RockTenn,
and Boutwell Owens joined college
officials to congratulate the men and
women of varied ages and backgrounds
who are preparing for a new career in the
growing manufacturing industry.
Julie Crowley, regional manager of the
federal grant funding the training, says
the matchmaking between employers
and employees is one feature of the
program that supports both job seekers
and industries looking to hire skilled
employees.
Over the next year, the six-week Industry
Readiness Program and the two-week
Quality Systems Training program will
be offered free to qualifying students
through a Trade Adjustment Assistance
Community College and Career Training
(TAACCCT) grant the college received
from the U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment & Training Administration.
Developed with industry partners
to prepare students for entry-level
to mid-level jobs in the local, diverse
advanced manufacturing industry, the
Industry Readiness Training program
is designed especially for unemployed
or underemployed adults, veterans
and recent high school graduates.
Students gain skills required for entry-
level employment in positions such as
technicians in manufacturing, validation,
quality control, documentation, and
process operations, as well as the
opportunity to further advance in their
training and career.
continued
Free Training Job AvailabilityNew Career
Manufacturing Training Program Includes Employer-Employee Matchmaking
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 9
FEATURED ARTICLE
Marciel Vargas trains on MWCC’s new equipment in the Manufacturing Workforce Certification Center at the college’s Devens campus.
Industry Readiness Training• Six-week, 180-hour course • Begins July 20 & September 28
Quality Systems Training• Two-week, 40-hour course• Begins September 14 &
November 9
READY TO START FREE TRAINING FOR
A NEW CAREER?
978-630-9883
Christian [email protected]
Meghan [email protected]
Subject Line: Training Registration
RELATED CREDIT PROGRAMSCERTIFICATESAnalytical Laboratory & Quality SystemsBiotechnology/BiomanufacturingMechatronics
ASSOCIATE DEGREESBiotechnology/BiomanufacturingBiotechnology - Analytical Laboratory & Quality SystemsManufacturing Technology - Plastics
Register with one of our Career Development Coaches for one of our
training sessions listed below:
To request more information:
The sessions include training in basic
machines and robotics, measurement
techniques, electronics, Lean, Six Sigma,
Work Keys, quality/clean room processes,
blueprint reading, and success skills.
Graduates earn an MWCC Certificate
of Completion, an OSHA 10-hour Safety
Certification and the National Career
Readiness Certificate, while learning
about working in the fast-growing
manufacturing field.
Additionally, MWCC’s Quality Systems
Training program is a two-week, 40-hour,
non-credit training course that prepares
students for jobs in Quality Assurance
and Quality Control for a variety of
manufacturing industries, including
biopharmaceutical processing, and
medical device manufacturing.
The short-term programs are designed to
allow students to further their education
in advanced programs, such as MWCC’s
new academic certificate and associate
degree programs in Analytical Laboratory
& Quality Systems, as well as earn
transferrable credits toward a bachelor’s
degree.
“We know this isn’t about just getting a
job,” Crowley says. “This is about building
a career path.”
Following stints in restaurants and
lumberyards, plumbing and some
manufacturing, Shane Murray of
Fitchburg enrolled in the program to gain
training and certification to build a career.
“I just needed a change and this was the
perfect thing I needed. I’m glad I made this
decision.”
Marciel Vargas, of Fitchburg, worked in
textile manufacturing in the Dominican
Republic and holds a bachelor’s degree
in industrial engineering from her native
country. After moving to the U.S. a decade
ago, she honed her English skills, raised
her family, and began working part-time
as a tax preparer. When her children
entered school, Vargas decided it was time
to re-enter the workforce. In addition to
gaining employment, her goal is to become
licensed in industrial engineering in
Massachusetts within two years. She said
she considers the MWCC training program
an important rung in the ladder to get
there.
“I enjoy the challenge of the work. I like to
make things and there’s a variety of things
you can do in manufacturing,” says Vargas,
who has since been hired by a large,
international manufacturing company.
“Even though you may be working on one
specific product, there are a lot of things
going on in the process.” n
Following layoffs where he worked, Bill Cohan of Westford enrolled in the Industry Readiness program to retrain in a new field.
10 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
ENHANCING SKILLS OF INCUMBENT WORKERSMWCC’s advanced manufacturing training programs
aren’t just for industry newcomers. Many corporations,
such as Injectronics, a medical device manufacturer
with modern facilities in Clinton and Westborough,
have discovered the benefits for incumbent workers.
“We’re growing, but the employee base for
manufacturing has shrunk,” explains Chief Operating
Officer Michael Simmons. “This training program
provides an important component for developing skills
to create an experienced workforce.”
Earlier this year, the company sent employee Stephen
Lombardozzi to two components of MWCC’s Industry
Readiness Training program – blueprint reading and
quality systems training – so they could promote him
to fill a more advanced quality position.
“My time spent at the Devens campus was
enlightening,” says Lombardozzi, who was promoted
to Quality Layout Technician following his training.
“The instructors were knowledgeable and experienced.
They understood the material and have used that
information in the field, conveying the importance of
practical application. Every lesson included real life
examples to reiterate what was being taught.”
In its pristine facility, Injectronics manufactures a
variety of medical device products with applications
in diagnostic screening, patient monitoring,
endoscopic surgery, and defibrillation.
“We’re developing these diagnostic products and
want to make sure they are perfect,” Simmons says.
“We act as if we’re making them for tests that will be
done on our own family members. It puts a different
perspective on quality.” Dedication to quality, delivery,
and continuous improvement to serve the medical
needs of people worldwide are at the heart of the
company’s work.
Stephen Lombardozzi
THANK YOU SERVICEFOR
YOUR
c e n t e r o f e x c e l l e n c e f o rv e t e r a n s t u d e n t s u c c e s s
YOUR
FUTUREA NEW
START
100+
scholarship
Did you know MWCC offers
opportunitiesFIND FUNDS THAT FITmwcc.edu/financial/scholarships
For more information visit mwcc.edu/veteran or contact Robert Mayer, Director of Veteran Services at 978-630-9408 or [email protected]
EASING THE TRANSITION FROM SOLDIER TO STUDENT
• Textbook loans
• Dedicated space & services
• Assistance with veteran benefits
• Peer mentoring and tutoring
At MWCC veterans receive:
annual
12 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
Kevin Berg returns to where his career
began: MWCC
EXECUTIVECBS
By Janice O’Connor
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 13
FEATURED ARTICLE
CBS executive Kevin Berg, a Gardner
native in charge of bringing award-
winning television programs to
audiences across the U.S. and around
the world, recently returned to where
his career began: Mount Wachusett
Community College.
Berg returned to his home town
and alma mater in May to
deliver the keynote address at MWCC’s
50th Commencement, where he was also
presented with an honorary doctorate
in Humanities and received the 2015
Alumnus of the Year Award.
“It’s a great feeling to return to the Mount
after so many years,” says Berg, who
studied communications and broadcasting
from 1982 to 1984. “As I walked through
the campus, so many memories were
rekindled. It was here at the Mount I first
realized television was in my blood.”
As executive vice president of production
for CBS Network Entertainment Group,
Berg is responsible for production on
all CBS properties with the exception of
news and sports. He has been intimately
involved with the launch and continuing
success of the hit CSI and NCIS franchises;
Blue Bloods; Criminal Minds; Elementary;
Extant; The Good Wife; Hawaii Five-O;
Madam Secretary; Scorpion; the Amazing
Race; Survivor; The Odd Couple; Under
the Dome; Beauty and the Beast; America’s
Next Top Model; Under Cover Boss; The
Late Show; The Late, Late Show; several
game shows and countless others.
At CBS, he is fiscally responsible for
all production costs and schedules
and oversees spending in excess of $1.5
billion annually. He is also responsible
for worldwide production, including
productions located in the United States,
Canada, Malta, Israel, South Africa, and
Jordan.
“Our students have gone on to build
successful careers in a wide range of
fields,” says President Daniel M. Asquino.
“But it’s rare to have one whose work has
an impact on our lives every day of the
week.”
A graduate of Gardner High School, Berg
held typical jobs as a teenager, including
housekeeping at Heywood Hospital,
waiting tables at a restaurant during
summers in Maine, and working at a
Gardner furniture factory.
One day, bored while sanding lacquer off
the grips on the bottom of chairs, he began
thinking about his future. He decided to
visit his local community college, but had
no idea which career to pursue. While
touring the college, he ran into a family
friend – Frank Hirons, one of MWCC’s
early administrators - who encouraged
him to take up television production in the
college’s modern production studios.
“The facilities and technology available
at the Mount were phenomenal, so I had
a jump on the technology side,” says Berg,
who enrolled in September 1982.
The skills he gained at MWCC helped
him land an internship at WNEV TV
Channel 7 in Boston (now WHDH), which
ordinarily went to graduates of four-year
schools. When the station’s production
manager abruptly quit, Berg was hired for
the job and worked on a short-lived, live,
daily show called New England Afternoon.
After the show ended, Berg packed up and
moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and started
knocking on doors, résumé in hand, to find
a job in television.
On the fourth day, he walked into
award-winning director Marty Pasetta’s
company, and was subsequently hired as
a production coordinator. Over the next
five years, he was consecutively promoted
while working with Pasetta on the
Academy Awards, the Primetime Emmys,
Disney specials, and an assortment of
variety shows featuring A-list talent.
He shifted gears to series television in 1989
and produced multiple award-winning
series such as In Living Color, Tracy Takes
On… and The News Hole, prior to joining
Nancy Tellem, then-president of CBS, in
the summer of 1998.
continued
President Asquino presents commencement speaker Kevin Berg with the 2015 Alumnus of the Year Award.
The facilities and technology available at the Mount were phenomenal.
“I rose up the ranks pretty quickly,” Berg
recalls. “It is drive, determination and
desire – the three D’s. I’ve worked with so
many phenomenal people.”
Berg, whose family co-owned the former
Columbus & Berg construction company
in Gardner, met his wife, Donna, while
working on In Living Color. The couple has
two sons and two daughters.
He is actively involved with multiple
charities that protect and invest in the
lives of children, and with establishing and
producing neighborhood and community
activities and events. He served a four-
year term on the Board of Directors for
the Entertainment Industries Foundation,
the lead philanthropic nonprofit in the
entertainment industry, helping it grow
from an annual $10 million charitable
fund to $100 million. He currently serves
on the Directors Guild of America’s
Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan
board, which places and trains aspiring
assistant directors on existing feature and
television productions.
“We are very fortunate that Kevin kept in
touch over the years, so we were able to
follow his success in Hollywood,” says his
former broadcasting and communications
professor, Dr. Vincent Ialenti, now Dean of
Academic and Institutional Technology.
“MWCC will always hold a special place in
my heart,” Berg says. n
14 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
During a recent visit to MWCC, Berg toured the media arts studios with his former professor, Dr. Vincent Ialenti, now Dean of Academic and Institutional Technology.
MWCC’s Media Arts & Technology degree offers concentrations in Audio Engineering, Video/Film Production and Photography. Department Chair John Little, who is also proprietor of Up-Side Sound Recording Studio in Ashburnham, has worked as a sound engineer in corporate video and for network-level television and radio. His broadcast credits include: Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, The Disney Channel, The Discovery Channel, Extra, Inside Edition, Paramount Pictures, and National Public Radio.
978-630-9110
[email protected] Line: MRT Inquiry
mwcc.edu/programs
INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN MEDIA ARTS & TECHNOLOGY?
Come see our state-of-the-art studios, which feature a large format mixing console for digitally mixing audio with video, a high definition control room, and HD video cameras and editing systems.
To request more information:
By Marcus Altman
Do you like helping others? Mount
Wachusett Community College is
launching two new programs for students
who want to turn their passion for
community service into a career.
MWCC’s new Liberal Arts & Sciences
concentration in Civic Engagement and
Community Leadership focuses on current
social, political, and economic issues and is
designed for students interested
in social responsibility in the
nonprofit sector. In addition,
the college has added a new
academic certificate in Nonprofit
Management to its program
offerings.
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, employment of social and
community service managers is projected
to grow 21% in Massachusetts from 2012
to 2022, faster than the average for all
occupations.
Through the community leadership
degree concentration, students acquire the
skills, wisdom, and knowledge needed to
make a difference in the vibrancy of their
communities and the world. In addition,
this program meets the requirements
for the MassTransfer block agreement,
which makes it a good fit for students
planning to transfer to a four-year college
or university. The subject matter of this
concentration is relevant to most four-
year degree programs, from economics to
philosophy.
This new program is all about “getting
students prepared for careers that
make a positive impact in their greater
community,” says Fagan Forhan, MWCC
Director of Experiential Learning
Opportunities and Civic Engagement, and
Director of the college’s Center for Civic
Learning and Community Engagement.
“When they graduate from MWCC,
students will have the networks in place to
make a difference and build careers.”
As an alternative to the associate degree,
students may achieve a certificate in
Nonprofit Management in as little as one
academic year. This program consists of
nine courses, including small business
management, introduction to human
services, introduction to grant writing, and
elective courses, such as business ethics,
communication for business and industry,
or introduction to law.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Daniel Soucy, who
holds the Endowed
Faculty Chair position in
MWCC’s Center for Civic
Learning and Community
Engagement, and Assistant
Professor of Business Elmer
Eubanks played
major roles in developing these
new programs. Soucy offered this advice
to all students, “Put theory into practice
and make the world a better place while
pursuing a meaningful and successful
career.”
His adage is a microcosm of the mindset
of not only the new program offerings,
but also of MWCC as a whole. The college
is recognized for its civic leadership at
the local, state, and national levels. This
year, the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching renewed
MWCC’s Community Engagement elective
classification, which is essentially an
accreditation of civic engagement at an
institution.
MWCC has also been named to the
President’s Higher Education Honor
Roll for Community Service, a national
designation the college has held since the
honor roll was established in 2006. n
FORWARDwith a Career in Community Service
PAY IT
John Day, Kat Craigen,& Cathy Teague
Put theory into practice and make the world a better place while pursuing a meaningful and successful career.
978-630-9476
[email protected] Line: Pay it Forward
BUILD YOUR WORLD & YOUR CAREERAttend the discussion group “Pay it Forward with a Career in Community Service”
• July 22 at 2pm • Room 257, Gardner campus
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 15
Unable to Attend? Contact Daniel Soucy:
New one-year certificate programs for busy professionals
Learn more: mwcc.edu/build/oneyear
I N T R O D U C I N G
• Hospitality
• Small Business Managment
• Office Assistant
• Nonprofit Management
• Human Services
Enroll in one of our new programs:
• Dedicated academic success coach
• Priority registration
• Easy-to-schedule: All classes fall on Tuesday nights
As a certificate student, benefit from:
Classes held one night a week at the Leominster campus
YOUR
FUTURECAREERYOUR
Classes held one night a week at the Leominster campus
HEALTHCARE MOVING?Who Keeps
By Sarah McMaster
If you have ever imagined a career that
brings together healthcare and technology,
then Mount Wachusett Community
College’s Health Information Management
(HIM) associate degree may be a perfect fit
for you. HIM program students are self-
directed, self-motivated and comfortable
online with complicated systems. If you
have limited time for on-campus classes
and are comfortable with online learning,
then it’s definitely a career path worth
exploring.
HIM may sound like a strictly healthcare
related field at first, but it is so much more.
It encompasses Information Technology
(IT) and computers, as well as people
skills. In positions at acute care facilities,
for example, graduates learn about
servers and infrastructure. This is a huge
opportunity for career development and
a definite milestone in career growth and
applied learning.
New federal laws will make a full
transition to electronic records mandatory,
and there are still not enough trained
workers to fill this new demand. HIM is
an in-demand field with excellent job
prospects and flexible training available
right here in central Massachusetts.
This need for skilled HIM employees is
projected to continue for the next ten
years, making an investment in your
education now a smart move that will pay
off with a career path.
GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORSMount Wachusett Community College
HIM instructors are seasoned professionals
with real-world experience and the
compassion and heart to make this
experience come alive for students.
Mary Jo Bowie, MS, BS, AAS,
RHIA, RHIT, is the director of
MWCC’s Health Information
Management and Medical
Coding programs. She’s also
author of the text book:
Essentials of Health Information Management: Principles and Practices.
She has served as an instructor
in the Health Information
Technology field for more
than 20 years and has over 30 years of
consulting experience in various types
of health care organizations. But, Bowie
is more than the sum of her impressive
credentials and education. She is an
engaging instructor that students credit
with providing inspiration and career
guidance. She has also facilitated national
trainings on ICD 10 coding, the system
that allows healthcare workers to generate
a claim or bill for a patient.
Professor Bowie holds an Associate
Degree in Medical Records Technology
from Broome Community College in
Binghamton, NY; a Bachelor’s Degree
in Health Information Management
from Ithaca College; a Master’s Degree
in Health Service Administration from
the New School for Social Research in
New York City; RHIA (Registered
Health Information Administrator) and
RHIT (Registered Health Information
Technician) credentialed from
the American Health Information
Management Association, a nationally
recognized credential.
As one of the HIM program’s newest
instructors, Lou Ann Decker is not only
an example of dedicated faculty, but
she is also a student success story. She
holds an Associate Degree in Medical
Records Technology from Broome
Community College in Binghamton,
NY as well as RHIT (Registered Health
Information Technician) credentials
from the American Health Information
Management Association.
Q: What is your basic teaching philosophy?
Mary Jo: I provide a learning experience
that allows students to go right from the
classroom into the HIM field. We cover
more than theory. This is hands-on; a
bridge into a career.
Recruiters are constantly calling for Health Information Management professionals as well as newly credentialed students.
FACULTY/STAFF PROFILE
Lou Ann: My philosophy is to create
the opportunity for students to pull
themselves up from whatever challenges
they face and help them better their lives
and careers.
Q: What are the up and coming jobs in HIM?
Mary Jo: There are so many, and recruiters
are constantly calling for Health
Information Management professionals
as well as newly credentialed students.
Jobs include medical coders in doctor
offices, hospitals, and clinics. Clinical
documentation improvement specialists
are another interesting option. They
interact with health care providers like
nurses and doctors, and often spend time
going out on the floor to where health care
is being provided.
Point of service coders are another
upcoming opportunity. These positions
are typically embedded in an emergency
setting to observe triage and health care to
ensure coding and billing accuracy.
Lastly, medical documentation scribes
are in-demand and our HIM program
prepares students for entry into this
position. Medical documentation
scribes shadow the physician and
scribe the coding in real time for
hospitals, doctors offices, and
primary care facilities. This
allows doctors to focus on
the patient and care, and
allow trained professionals
to worry about the
documentation.
Lou Ann: There is a fit
for everyone within the
HIM field. n
INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT?
978-630-9110
[email protected] Line: HIM Inquiry
mwcc.edu/programs
Visit our campus and take a tour. Learn more about the certificate and degree options that are in high demand in healthcare right now.
To request more information:
20 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
1APPLY
2TEST
3REGISTER
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS ACADEMIC ADVISORS
Admissions: 978-630-9110
Financial Aid: 978-630-9169
Health Services: 978-630-9136
Student Accounts: 978-630-9149
North Central Educational Opportunity Center:978-630-9823
Gardner: 978-630-9109
Leominster:978-630-9812
Devens: 978-630-9569
Online: mwcc.edu/applyPaper: Stop by any campus or download an application at mwcc.edu/applyFax: 978-630-9554
Online: fafsa.govComplete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. Need help? Call the Educational Opportunity Center at 978-630-9823.
Schedule a college placement test appointment by registering online at mwcc.edu/testing or by calling:
Gardner: 978-630-9244Leominster: 978-630-9812Devens: 978-630-9569
College Transcripts: If you attended a prior institution, send transcript(s) to: MWCC, Records Office444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440Email: [email protected]: 978-630-9554
Receive academic advice and register for classes. You will meet with advisors to develop a comprehensive educational plan and review support services.Reserve Your Seat: mwcc.edu/smartstartFINANCIAL AID
SMART START EVENTADMISSION
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 21
FEATURED ARTICLEPaying for college, while juggling family, jobs and other responsibilites, is a critical issue for students, whether they’re just starting out or changing careers. That’s why more than 8 million students across the country choose community colleges, the most affordable post-secondary education available for obtaining a degree or academic certificate.
At MWCC, we believe going to college should be within everyone’s reach. We also realize paying for college is a concern for everyone. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked financial aid questions:
What is financial aid?Financial aid is money provided by federal, state and college sources to help students pay their expenses while attending college. In general, all U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens who are enrolled in an approved degree or certificate program are eligible to receive some type of financial assistance.
If I receive financial aid now, do I need to pay the money back later? There are many grant and scholarship programs available that offer “free money” that does not have to be repaid. Other financial aid programs are in the form of low interest loans that do require repayment, but only after the student has stopped attending school.
How can I get financial assistance if I’m not even sure how to apply?Applying for financial aid can be confusing. At MWCC, many workshops are offered to assist students with the online application process. There is also one-on-one assistance available through the North Central Educational Opportunity Center (NCEOC), located at our Leominster Campus.
I’m not sure I qualify. Should I complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?Yes. The best way to determine what funds you qualify for is by completing this free application. Your financial eligibility will be determined by a
number of factors including family income, the size of your family and number of family members attending college.
Complete the FAFSA online at fafsa.gov and follow the on-screen instructions.
When do I apply?File as soon as you can, even if you are unsure about your college plans. Meeting financial aid deadlines is important, however, even if you have missed a deadline, you should still apply as soon as you decide to attend college.
Missing information letterSome financial aid applications are selected for a verification process. Students who are required to complete this process will receive a “missing information” letter once the MWCC Financial Aid office receives your results. The letter will indicate the forms you will need to submit to complete your file. A financial aid award determination cannot be made until all required documents are submitted.
Award letterAward information is made available to students 24/7 using the online self service system called WebConnect. An email is sent to the MWCC student email account once the file has been reviewed and packaged.
COLLEGE IS AFFORDABLE:DEMYSTIFYING FINANCIAL AIDPractical financial aid tips to help you get the money you need for the education you deserve.
For more information:978-630-9169
Watch FAQ Videos:mwcc.edu/financial
22 mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110
To learn more about all of MWCC’s academic programs and gainful employment information, please visit mwcc.edu/programs.AA/EEO Institution | IP278-07 Associate Degrees Certificates Other (Non-Degree or Certificate)KEY
Art, Audio Engineering, Graphic & Interactive Design, Media Arts & Technology, Photography, Theatre Arts, Video/Film
Graphic & Interactive Design, Photography
Civic Engagement & Community Leadership, Nursing
Nonprofit Management, Patient Care, Practical Nurse
Certified Nursing Assistant Training, Phlebotomy
Civic Engagement & Community Leadership, Communications, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Exercise & Sport Science, History & Political Science, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Theatre Arts
Nonprofit Management
Allied Health, Complementary Heathcare, Dental Hygiene, Exercise & Sport Science, Health Information Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, Medical Assisting, Medical Lab Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant
Allied Health, Complementary Heathcare, Dental Assisting, Medical Coding, Medical Assisting, Medical Office, Personal Training
Radiologic Technologist Articulation Agreement
Criminal Justice, Fire Science Technology, History & Political Science, Human Services, Legal Studies
Law Enforcement, Human Services Technician, Paralegal
Emergency Medical Technician
ü Creativeü Original
ü Motivatedü Visual
ü Enthusiasticü Compassionate
ü Adaptableü Friendly
ü Enthusiasticü Caringü Creative
ü Disciplinedü Inquisitiveü Expressive
ü Self-motivatedü Goal oriented
ü Organizedü Analytical
ü Adaptableü A team player ü Problem solverü Understanding ü Cool under pressure
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:
Accounting, Business Administration
Accounting/Bookkeeper, Hospitality, Business Administration, Office Assistant, Small Business Management
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:
Analytical Lab & Quality Systems, Automotive Technology, Biological Science / Chemical Sciences, Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing, Computer Information Systems, Energy Management, Natural Resources, Manufacturing Technology - Plastics, Physics or Pre-Engineering, Pre-Pharmacy
Analytical Lab & Quality Systems, Automotive Technology, Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing, Energy Management, Cyber Security, IT Support Specialist, Manufacturing Technology - Mechatronics
ü Analyticalü Technology drivenü Inquisitive
ü Adventurousü Self directedü Problem solver
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE:IF YOU ARE...
ü Organizedü Compassionateü Patient
ü Assertiveü Technicalü Dedicated
Enroll for fall classes today: mwcc.edu/build/future
mwcc.edu/HIREed | 978-630-9110 23
10:30 2:30 9:007:15 8:00Dental Science
Fitchburg Campus
English 101Gardner Campus
LabDevensCampus
TopicsOnline ESL
LeominsterCampus
BUILDING COMING IN 2016
mwcc.edu/renovations
ADVANCEMENTS FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY:
NEW LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY:
15
7
TTECHNOLOGY
15
8
EENGINEERING
15
9
MMATH
SSCIENCE
6
15
CHOOSE YOUR WHEN & WHERE100+ Options to Choose From
GARDNER444 Green St.
Gardner, MA 01440 978-630-9110
Classes are offered during the day & evening
at four convenient locations & online
One Jackson Place27 Jackson Rd.
Devens, MA 01434 978-630-9569
DEVENS
(Dental Only)326 Nichols Rd.
Fitchburg, MA 01420978-878-8564
FITCHBURG
100 Erdman WayLeominster, MA 01453
978-630-9810
LEOMINSTER
• Eight new classrooms & laboratories
• Five lab prep rooms
• Two student study spaces
• Enhanced audio/visual equipment
• Wireless capabilities
• Projection microscopes with 60” flat screens
• Atomic absorption & infrared spectrometers
• Nuclear magnetic resonance equipment
• Laser physics analysis lab
Campuses
Gardner444 Green StreetGardner, MA 01440978-630-9110
DevensOne Jackson Place27 Jackson RoadDevens, MA 01434978-630-9569
Leominster100 Erdman WayLeominster, MA 01453978-630-9810
Fitchburg(Dental Only)326 Nichols RoadFitchburg, MA 01420978-878-8564
Non Profit OrgUS Postage
PAIDMWCC444 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440
ASSOCIATE DEGREESAccounting Concentration (BACA) ©« Allied Health Concentration (IDSH) © Art (ART) Art Concentration (LART) Audio Engineering Concentration (MRTA) © Automotive Technology (ATD) Biological Science Track (LAB) Biotechnology-Analytical Laboratory & Quality Systems Concentration (BTDQ) Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing (BTD) Business Administration—Career (BAC) « Business Administration—Transfer (BA) « Chemical Science Track (LACH) Civic Engagement & Community Leadership Track (LACE) Communications Track (LAC) ©« Complementary Health Care (CHD) Computer Information Systems (CIS) Criminal Justice—Corrections (CJCD) © Criminal Justice—Law Enforcement (CJL) © Dental Hygiene (DHY) v Early Childhood Education—Career (ECC) Early Childhood Education—Transfer (ECT) Elementary Education Track (LAEL) ©
Energy Management (EGD) Exercise & Sports Science Track (LAX) © Fire Science Technology (FS) « Graphic & Interactive Design (GID) Health Information Management (HIM) v « History & Political Science Track (LAHP) ©« Human Services (HS) « Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) « Legal Studies (includes Paralegal) (LAW) « Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) « Manufacturing Technology—Plastics (PT) Media Arts & Technology (MRT) Medical Assisting (MAS) Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) v Natural Resources (NRD) Nursing (NU) (NUE) (NUP) v Photography Concentration (MRTP) © Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) v Physics or Pre-engineering Track (LAEP) © Pre-Pharmacy Track (LAPH) Theatre Arts Track (LAT) © Video/Film Concentration (MRTV) ©
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMSAccounting/Bookkeeping (CAA) Allied Health (AHC) Analytical Laboratory & Quality Systems (ALQC) Automotive Technology (ATC) Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing (BTC) Business Administration (BUC) « Complementary Health Care (CHC) Cyber Security (CSC) Dental Assisting (DAC) v Energy Management (EGC) Graphic & Interactive Design (GIDC) Hospitality (HRM) Human Service Technician (HSC) « IT Support Specialist (ITC) «
Law Enforcement (CJLC) Manufacturing Technology - Mechatronics (PMTC) Medical Assisting (MASC) Medical Coding (MCC) « Medical Office (MOC) Nonprofit Management (BNPC) Office Assistant (OAC) « Paralegal (LAWC) « Patient Care (PCC) Personal Training (PTC) Photography–Professional (PHO) Practical Nurse (PN) v Small Business Management (SBC)
OTHER NON-DEGREE OPTIONSCertified Nursing Assistant Training Emergency Medical Technician Training
Phlebotomy Training Radiologic Technologist Articulation Agreement v
Current resident or
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YOUR
FUTUREFUTUREYOUR
Programs are continually evaluated, changed, and added. To learn more about all of MWCC’s academic programs and gainful employment information, please visit mwcc.edu/programs. © Degree concentration v Selective program « Program offered 85–100% onlinePlease note: Concentrations appear on diplomas and transcripts; tracks do not.
