Mount Wachusett Community College


Mount Wachusett Community College is a public community college in Gardner, Massachusetts. Established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1963, it features an open admissions policy for the majority of its academic programs. MWCC offers more than 70 academic programs that allow students to earn either an associate of science degree, associate of arts degree, or a certificate.

Campuses

The 269-acre main campus is located on 444 Green Street in Gardner, Massachusetts. The college also maintains a satellite campus at One Jackson Place, 27 Jackson Road in Devens, Massachusetts and at 100 Erdman Way in Leominster, Massachusetts. The college has two additional educational sites in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Dental hygiene and dental assisting students take classes at 326 Nichols Road in Fitchburg, MA in partnership with Community Health Center of Fitchburg, MA. Automotive Technology students take additional hands-on classes at a 6-bay garage located at 180 Main Street in Fitchburg, MA.

Sustainability

The college has been praised for its use of renewable energy, winning the National Wildlife Federation's "Chill-Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming" competition in the spring of 2007.
Renewable energy technologies at the college include: Solar PhotoVoltaic panels originally producing 5 kilowatts and upgraded to 97.24 kilowatts in September 2009. and a biomass plant which heats the college by burning waste woodchips.
The college also uses a biomass gasification generator, where woodchips are turned into combustible gases, which are used in a gasoline engine, powering a generator that produces 50 kilowatts of electricity. This is a research and development project contracted with the U.S. Department of Energy.
Two Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines were activated in March 2011 which are expected to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand.

Service area

Mount Wachusett Community College serves the following 29 cities and towns in North Central Massachusetts:

Early college and dual enrollment

Mount Wachusett Community College offers multiple programs that offer high school/home school juniors and seniors the chance to enroll in college classes prior to their high school graduation.
An Adult Education program prepares adults without high school degrees to complete their high school equivalency exam. These students are then eligible to continue their education at the college level at Mount Wachusett Community College or any other institution.

Workforce development

The college provides corporate instruction and workforce development training for local businesses. Services include assisting companies with accessing Workforce Training Fund grants and delivering customized training.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL students receive personalized instruction in a computer/media lab at the campus in Leominster, MA. Courses are taught at 4 levels: beginning, advanced beginning, intermediate, and advanced.

Continuing education

The college offers noncredit classes for personal enrichment year-round as part of its Lifelong Learning program.

Student services

MWCC students enjoy many support services and resources including free tutoring in the Academic Support Center, subsidized childcare, career planning assistance, disability support, food assistance, counseling, and veteran services.

Mount Fitness

Mount Fitness is the college's 65,000-square foot gymnasium. It is open to the public and offers memberships for individuals and families. Membership fees include group fitness/yoga classes, pool use, and tanning. The facility includes:
The college's theatre hosts a sizable community theatre program. Started in the autumn of 1976, notably through the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres and New England Theatre Conference

TAMY Awards

In 2006, Theatre at the Mount launched the TAMY Award program for high school musical theatre. Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, the TAMYs evaluate high school performances within a 50-mile radius of the college based on a number of criteria, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Featured Ensemble and Best Overall Production.