Quinsigamond Community College hosted a legislative breakfast on February 21, bringing together lawmakers, administrators, faculty and students to showcase how legislative support has transformed lives and to discuss ongoing needs for the institution's continued success.
Student Government Association President Michael Frey guided attendees through the event, which featured powerful testimonials from students like himself whose lives have been changed through their education at QCC.
Partnerships Driving Success
QCC Foundation Board President and Trustee Jorgo Gushi, himself a former QCC student who came to the U.S. from Albania, highlighted the power of public-private partnerships. He noted that the state endowment match has grown to $368,000, contributing to an overall fundraising amount of $1.1 million in fiscal year 2024. These funds provide critical support for scholarships, tutoring and student services.
"Behind every statistic, whether it's the 14% enrollment increase we've seen across community colleges in the state or the dramatic funding boost reflected in our appeal numbers, these are real students with dreams, challenges and immense potential," Gushi said.
Student Voices
Students shared personal stories about how QCC and its support services have changed their educational trajectories.
Chelsea Antwi had a promising high school career but upon graduating and entering college, struggled her first semester at a large four-year university and began questioning whether she should continue with higher education. However, after transferring to QCC, she found a renewed motivation and wants to continue her education to obtain a juris doctorate.
"What makes QCC special isn't just the education– it's the people," Chelsea said. "The professors, staff and students here truly care about each other."
She also highlighted how free community college through MassReconnect and MassEducate has allowed students to pursue their goals without constant worry about lifelong debt.
Coming to college several decades after high school, Matthew Cronin felt intimidated but credited the SUCCESS Scholars Program for giving him a newfound sense of confidence. Additionally, he noted that academic coaches and Student Accessibility Services assisted him in building up study skills and receiving accommodations for his learning needs. These resources helped earn him a spot on the dean's list and an invitation to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Matthew added that all of this support combined with his hard work, "turned my learning disabilities from what was kryptonite into a superpower."
Academic Counselor Mallory Dutton, who has worked with Matthew for several semesters, explained that the SUCCESS Scholars Program allows students to form a strong connection with an advisor from the very beginning of their journey at the college, which helps increase retention.
Critical Financial Aid
Vice President for Student Enrollment & Strategic Engagement Michelle Tufau Afriyie shared impressive statistics about QCC's growth and how 86.5% of recent students filed for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA). Over half of students are Pell Grant eligible, and 95% receive some form of financial assistance made possible by legislative support.
"It goes well beyond numbers. I've seen families come through this institution and build generational wealth. It is the most amazing thing," Tufau said, adding that, "when education is accessible, students enroll, and when students are supported, they persist."
Growing Pains and Future Needs
QCC's leadership emphasized that with growth comes challenges. President Dr. Luis Pedraja commented that despite community colleges training approximately half of Massachusetts' undergraduates, they receive only about a quarter of higher education funding in the state.
"Our students are working, they’re single parents and veterans, they struggle with food insecurity and housing insecurity," Pedraja said.
Faculty Senate President and Professor of Psychology Jen Arner Welsh highlighted the importance of additional support for faculty and staff.
"Our classrooms are filled to the brim with students who would not otherwise have been able to attend, and it is our greatest privilege to serve them," she said, but cautioned that many students face significant challenges which can be hard to address when faculty themselves are struggling with being underpaid and overworked.
"I choose each day to teach at QCC because I know that our work changes lives," said Arner Welsh, calling for fair pay to help recruit and retain quality faculty and staff.
Trustee President Dr. Linda Maykel echoed these sentiments, noting the critical role QCC plays in addressing workforce shortages across nearly every field.
"We are the force that's giving back to the community," Maykel said, while emphasizing the need for increased funding to maintain program quality and provide adequate compensation for faculty and staff.
As the legislative breakfast demonstrated, QCC continues to provide transformative educational opportunities while working to address the evolving needs of its student population.