MassBay Professor Receives Statewide Award for Open Educational Resource Creation

MassBay Community College Professor Getchell-Bastien, pictured with her award, poses with (left to right) Richard Riccardi, deputy commissioner for Academic Affairs and Student Success at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Rachel Resnik, librarian at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and member of the Massachusetts OLERAC Advisory Council, and Robert Awkward, assistant commissioner for Academic Effectiveness at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education at Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, MA., May 2026 (Photo/ Heidi Getchell-Bastien)

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

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (July 1, 2026) — MassBay Community College Professor of Legal Studies and Government Heidi Getchell-Bastien, J.D., has been recognized with the 2026 Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Open and Low-Cost Education Resources Advisory Council (OLERAC) Award for OER Creator for her outstanding contributions to making higher education more affordable and accessible for students across the Commonwealth.

Professor Getchell-Bastien, who also serves MassBay’s Civic Engagement Coordinator, received the award during a ceremony and luncheon held May 18 at Quinsigamond Community College. The award honors faculty, staff, and administrators at Massachusetts public colleges and universities who have created, adapted, adopted, or advocated for open educational resources (OER). OER are teaching, learning, and research materials that are free and available for use, adaptation, and sharing. By reducing or eliminating textbook costs, OER help make higher education more affordable while supporting student achievement and academic success.

Getchell-Bastien was recognized for her work developing “Civil Rights and Liberties: An OER Textbook for Undergraduate Students.”
“We received a large number of excellent nominations from across the Commonwealth,” said the Massachusetts OLERAC Advisory Council in announcing the award. “The judges were very impressed with ‘Civil Rights and Liberties: An OER Textbook for Undergraduate Students’ and the work Professor Getchell-Bastien has done to make the field of government and civil rights more open and accessible.”

“Open educational resources help remove financial barriers that can impact student success,” said Professor Getchell-Bastien. “I am honored to receive this recognition and grateful for the opportunity to contribute resources that make learning more accessible for students studying government, civil rights, and related fields.”

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.