{"id":190,"date":"2015-06-27T01:24:52","date_gmt":"2015-06-27T05:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nehsjc.org\/zephyr\/?p=190"},"modified":"2015-06-27T09:35:17","modified_gmt":"2015-06-27T13:35:17","slug":"quincy-endeavor-community-college-seeks-permission-to-award-bachelors-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nehsjc.org\/zephyr\/quincy-endeavor-community-college-seeks-permission-to-award-bachelors-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"Quincy Endeavor: Community College Seeks Permission to Award Bachelor\u2019s Degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Biotechnology <\/a>
Biotechnology Lab, Quincy College. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div>
\"Director <\/a>
Director of Admissions, Eileen G. Knight and Director of Biotechnology Department, Bruce Van Dyke. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The partner wall at Quincy College’s Biotechnology and Compliance Program. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Quincy <\/a>
Quincy College Campus. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div>
\"Taggart <\/a>
Taggart Boyle. Spokesperson and Eileen G. Knight, Director of Admission, discussing the proposal of 4-year bachelor degree. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div>
\"Technologies <\/a>
Technologies currently in development at the new section of Quincy Biotechnology Lab. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Quincy <\/a>
Quincy College main building. (Photo by Jumayar Ahmed) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

By Marzia Maliha<\/strong><\/p>\n

The definition that comes to mind when people think of community colleges is a two-year pathway for students who cannot afford or make the grade to go into a traditional four-year university. However, since the founding of the first community college in 1901, this definition has been modified \u00a0to cater to a diverse range of students\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n

Today, the curricula at community colleges range from six-month vocational diplomas to two-year associate degrees in the fields of general and liberal education. Instead of serving only as a stepping stone to a four-year college, they can prepare students for a job or even a career after graduation.<\/p>\n

As a part of this growing trend of adaptation, Quincy College<\/a> is perhaps the first of its kind to push for four-year Bachelor\u2019s degrees. The only community college to be funded by a city of Massachusetts has campuses in both Plymouth and Quincy, and also offers courses online.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a light switch goes off, and a student comes here who believed that they didn\u2019t want to or couldn\u2019t have gone to college, and they\u2019re so grateful for just an opportunity, that moment – that exact moment – is amazing,\u201d said Eileen G. Knight, the director of admissions at Quincy College.<\/p>\n

Quincy College\u2019s various services include round-the-clock tutoring, a student coaching office, disability services, a career center, and military and veterans\u2019 services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing about community colleges is that they are so student-focused. They\u2019re practical and they give you guidance based on a background and interests unique only to you,\u201d said Taggart Boyle, associate vice president for communications and marketing. \u201cQuincy is unique in that it doesn\u2019t only offer these aspects of public colleges, but it takes things one step farther by having intensive programs based specifically on students\u2019 weak and strong spots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Community colleges, in general, have a lot of advantages over traditional universities regarding local hiring. The current hiring rate for the Quincy Biotechnology and Compliance Program is 98 percent, while the college officials predict that the Medical Laboratory Technician Program will reach a hiring rate of 60 percent over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe easiest part is that the local businessmen are already very willing to hire employees from the pool of community college students. They are familiar with the education of the institution, and the hiring process is quicker and easier as well,\u201d said Boyle.<\/p>\n

Perhaps these opportunities are the reasons why the students of Quincy love the college, and want to continue going there. Lucelina D., a Quincy College Biotechnology and Compliance major, said she likes the warm atmosphere of the college.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first semester and I have already met other students whom I enjoy spending time with,\u201d she said. \u201cThe atmosphere at Quincy College is like a family\u201d.<\/p>\n

While Quincy College already stands unique because of its affiliation with the city, it is not yet known if it will set a new trend by being the first community college in the state to offer four-year degrees. That decision to approve the home rule petition rests with the state legislature.
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