QCC receives $675K to support adult learners

A photo of a sign for QCC sitting on a slightly sloping lawn

Photo | Grant Welker Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester

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By Timothy Doyle

Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester received a $675,000 grant to support adult learners from adult basic education programs through its Future Focus program.

The Future Focus program provides academic and college readiness support services to enhance student retention and provides college credit coursework at no cost to the student, according to a Monday press release from QCC.

The program lasts for one year and is open to students who, within the last five years, participated in adult secondary education or English-as-a-second-language programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Other applicants will be considered and enrolled depending upon program availability, according to the QCC website.

Students receive free tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation if needed.The funding, provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will support the program for three years.

“Transition programs such as Future Focus help support some of our nontraditional students who are often parents, working full-time, or individuals who haven’t used the English language in a college setting before,” program coordinator Gilmarie Vongphakdy said in the press release.“This funding allows us to increase our offerings from five courses to eight courses and provide laptop loans. Lack of technology is a big barrier for many of our students.”