MassBay Joins Statewide Pilot to Help Adult Learners Return to College and Complete Degrees

MassBay Community College Wellesley Hills campus, Wellesley Hills, MA, October 2024 (Photo/MassBay Community College student Julio Aguilar)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (December 10, 2025) — MassBay Community College is participating in a new statewide pilot program launched by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to support adult learners who began, but did not complete earning a college degree. This initiative aims to expand economic opportunities for Massachusetts residents and strengthen the state’s workforce by re-engaging students with personalized outreach and coaching.

The pilot program, in partnership with ReUp Education, will provide direct outreach and success coaching to adult learners over the next year. MassBay is one of six public institutions selected for this effort, alongside Bunker Hill Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Greenfield Community College, Fitchburg State University, and UMass Dartmouth.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, more than 766,000 residents have earned some college credits but do not hold a degree. This program seeks to remove barriers such as cost, time, and uncertainty by offering individualized guidance and connecting learners to programs aligned with their career goals and the state’s workforce needs.

“Higher education brings better opportunities for families and strengthens our economy, which is why we’ve invested significantly in making college more affordable,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Re-engaging students who didn’t complete their degrees is another way to support our residents and strengthen the talent and skills that make up our workforce.”

“Massachusetts continues to prioritize helping residents grow their economic opportunities while meeting workforce needs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re proud to have increased college affordability, and this new effort goes further to reach out directly to students and provide them with coaching to help lift barriers to returning to college and completing their degrees.”

“We appreciate the partnership with ReUp, made possible by the Department of Higher Education,” said MassBay President David Podell. “It will allow us to better achieve our mission to provide high-quality education to our citizens, specifically by connecting with those whose situations didn’t allow them to complete their degree in the past. We look forward to those students completing their degrees and moving forward in their lives and careers.”

ReUp Education is a national leader in re-enrollment and student success coaching, working with 140 institutions across 33 states. Through this pilot, ReUp will engage learners via a centralized platform and live coaching, helping them navigate challenges and return to college with confidence.

This initiative builds on the Commonwealth’s commitment to affordability and access in higher education and advances recommendations from the Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education (ACARE), highlighted in its October 2024 report.

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.