b'6RAPPORT | Short Take蜜桃tvand Middlesex Community CollegeA Perfect Fit iddlesex Community Collegesaid Matthew Olson, dean of liberal arts at M is an institution with diversity,Middlesex Community College. The focus equity, inclusion, accessibility,of the William James program on getting and workforce development atpeople out into the working world, providing the center of its missionin other words,scholarships, and offering opportunities a perfect fit for a partnership with Williamfor internships right in the first year is James College. Forming articulation orreally attractive to a community college.transfer agreements with local communityThe transition from a two- to four-year colleges helps eliminate barriers for studentsinstitution can be challenging. According looking to complete a bachelors degree andto data collected by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, only 31 percent of students from community "THERE IS A GREAT DEAL THAT BENEFITScolleges transfer to a four-year institution. BOTH INSTITUTIONS TO MEET OUR MISSIONSLess than half of this group finish their THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, AND IT GOES Abachelors degree within six years. LOT FURTHER THAN A TYPICAL ARTICULATION蜜桃tvs Bachelor of AGREEMENT. THE FOCUS OF THE WILLIAMScience in Psychology and Human Services is not a traditional bachelors programit is JAMES PROGRAM ON GETTING PEOPLE OUTintentionally designed to provide accessible INTO THE WORKING WORLD, PROVIDINGeducation, practical training, and a supportive SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OFFERING OPPORTUNITIESlearning environment where students FOR INTERNSHIPS RIGHT IN THE FIRST YEAR IScan finish the path to a bachelors degree REALLY ATTRACTIVE TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE. successfully.When we took a group of Middlesex Matthew Olson, Dean of Liberal Arts, students to William James, they commented Middlesex Community College on the strong multicultural activities, the supportive family feel, and how it felt like they would be cared about in a similar way to how enter the field of psychology and humanit is at Middlesex, explained Olson. What I services. With Middlesex, this partnershipkept hearing was this isnt what we expected.delves deeper than simply accepting credits.Designed with the busy student in mind, There is a great deal that benefits boththe Bachelors Completion Program is a institutions to meet our missions through60-credit blended program that combines this partnership, and it goes a lot furtheronline courses, in-person residencies, and than a typical articulation agreement,real-world internship experience. In addition'