Latest news with #GreenfieldCommunityCollege
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greenfield professor receives 2025 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Greenfield Community College is celebrating a major academic honor as Associate Professor of History Alyssa Arnell has been awarded a 2025 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship. The national award, granted by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), recognizes 45 doctoral students across the country who are breaking new ground in humanities and social sciences research. All Our Kids launches Foster Care Awareness Campaign during Foster Care Awareness Month Arnell's selection from a pool of nearly 900 applicants highlights the significance of her work, which examines the 1962 removal of Fazendeville–a historically Black community near New Orleans–to expand the Chalmette National Battlefield. Her dissertation focuses on how historical preservationists and political leaders invoked patriotic narratives to justify the displacement of a self-sustaining and politically active community, ultimately challenging conventional interpretations of democracy and historical memory in the U.S. 'We are incredibly proud of Alyssa's recognition and her contribution to both our academic community and historical scholarship,' said Dr. Michelle Schutt, President of Greenfield Community College. 'Her work embodies the college's commitment to equity and excellence in education.' The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship was launched in 2023 with a mission to support scholars who are taking risks and introducing novel approaches in their dissertation research. In addition to a stipend, the fellowship provides funding for research expenses and professional development, enabling recipients to push boundaries in their academic fields. Alison Chang, ACLS Program Officer in US Programs, praised this year's cohort of fellows. 'ACLS is proud to support these fellows, who are poised to conduct groundbreaking dissertation research and broaden the audience for humanistic scholarship,' Chang said. Arnell, who serves as both Associate Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at GCC, is widely respected for her emphasis on inclusive historical inquiry. Under her leadership, the college has expanded its curriculum to include courses in civil rights history, Indigenous studies, and queer history. She is also a participant in the Mellon-funded Five Colleges Building Academic Leadership in the Humanities initiative. Her scholarly work and campus leadership have earned Arnell multiple accolades, including the African American Female Professor Award and GCC's Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award. For more information on the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship, visit Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These are 4 of the most impactful cuts to higher ed in Trump's proposed budget
A partial budget proposal released on Friday from the Trump administration lays out a long list of impacts to higher education across the country, aiming to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion and taper its involvement in education. The 46-page 'skinny' budget isn't finalized for the 2025-2026 fiscal year but will be in the coming weeks. It is up to Congress to determine how the federal money is used. It calls for $163 billion in cuts across the government. At the same time as Trump cuts back on education, the administration is increasing in some areas like defense spending, adding a proposed $1 trillion to its budget. 'President Trump's proposed budget puts students and parents above the bureaucracy,' said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a statement. 'The President's Skinny Budget reflects funding levels for an agency that is responsibly winding down, shifting some responsibilities to the states, and thoughtfully preparing a plan to delegate other critical functions to more appropriate entities. It supports the President's vision of expanding school choice and ensuring every American has access to an excellent education,' she said. Charter schools are one of the only educational initiatives the federal government plans to funnel more funding into, increasing by $60 million. Here are a few of the ways higher education could be hit in the proposed budget: Eliminating federal work study programs The skinny budget calls federal work study programs a 'handout to woke universities and a subsidy from Federal taxpayers, who can pay for their own employees.' The budget aims to have the remaining funding from federal work study redistributed to institutions that serve low-income students and provide a 'wage subsidy to gain career-oriented opportunities to improve long-term employment outcomes of students.' Michael Hannigan, a Greenfield Community College student, mentioned during a hearing at the Joint Committee on Higher Education on Monday the importance of his federal work study to stay in school. He returned to college at the age of 42 after years of working low-paying manual jobs, he said. 'Each week we read about new threats to students, especially those who have been historically shut out from higher education — students of color, first generation students, students with disabilities," said Hannigan, who is the student senate president at the community college. 'I myself am a first-generation student and I rely on SNAP benefits and the federal work-study program to stay enrolled. When I hear about possible cuts to these programs, it makes my path to feel a lot less secure,' he said. Cuts to science and research The budget plan proposes cutting $18 billion from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than one-third of its budget. The cut comes in part due to NIH promoting 'radical gender ideology' by funding studies on transgender youth on hormones, according to the administration. The administration aims to eliminate funding for the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities, the Fogarty International Center, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research. It would also cease research on 'climate change, radical gender ideology and divisive racialism.' 'NIH has broken the trust of the American people with wasteful spending, misleading information, risky research, and the promotion of dangerous ideologies that undermine public health,' the administration said in the proposed budget. On top of that, Trump proposed cutting around half of the funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This week, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that it was among 13 research universities and three organizations suing NSF, after the agency's efforts to slash indirect costs at grant-receiving institutions. The lawsuit follows a Friday announcement from NSF stating that it would cut the rate of reimbursement to higher education institutions for 'indirect costs' or overhead costs for institutions that receive grants to 15%. The 15% maximum rate applies only to new awards on or after May 5, 2025, according to the announcement. On top of the cuts to reimbursement rates, NSF told staff members at the end of April to stop awarding funding until further notice. NSF has terminated approximately 1,425 grants, according to Nature. 'Besides its destructive impact on research and training, this latest effort violates longstanding federal laws and regulations that govern grantmaking. We are seeking to prevent implementation of this poorly conceived and short-sighted policy, which will only hurt the American people and weaken the country. We look forward to making our case,' the organizations suing said in a statement. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Energy have similarly announced that they would cut 'indirect costs' or overhead costs for institutions that receive grants. However, those were halted by federal judges following lawsuits against it. Continuing the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education The budget makes steps to begin eliminating the U.S. Department of Education by walking back much of its funding by $12 billion. The federal administration wants to reduce the department by $127 million or 30% for program administration. The budget comes after Trump signed an executive order that begins the efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Finalizing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education is likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. However, despite needing Congressional intervention, Will Ragland at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, told MassLive that the Trump administration can effectively shut the department down by stripping it back until it barely has anyone working there and can't operate. The Trump administration has already been gutting the agency. Its workforce has been slashed in half and there have been deep cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation's academic progress. All those at the regional Boston office of the U.S. Education Department were fired. As part of the new budget, Trump is proposing to reduce the Office for Civil Rights, which protects students from discrimination, by 35% or $49 million. This is a broader effort to 'refocus away from DEI and Title IX transgender cases' and clear its backlog, according to the federal administration. Trump also proposed to defund Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which offer students between $100 to $4,000 per year for undergraduate students with 'exceptional financial need,' according to the website. The administration claims that the grants are given more frequently to families with higher incomes than lower incomes and are awarded more to private institutions than public colleges. TRIO and Gear Up are also programs that are proposed to be cut, described as 'a relic of the past,' by the administration. The two programs help students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities prepare for higher education, according to the U.S. Department of Education website. 'Today, the pendulum has swung and access to college is not the obstacle it was for students of limited means,' the administration said. The federal government also proposes cutting funding to English language learning programs, adult education programs, migrant education, subsidizing child care for parents in college and teacher training on topics such as DEI. Eliminating agencies that fund arts, humanities Trump proposes in the skinny budget to eliminate funding to arts and humanities agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Each of these fund programs to help people participate in the humanities and the arts. The administration said that the cuts are 'consistent with the President's efforts to decrease the size of the Federal Government to enhance accountability, reduce waste and reduce unnecessary governmental entities,' according to the document. More Higher Ed Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Healey awards $1.5M in grants to 500 Mass. community college students
Gov. Maura Healey awarded about $1.5 million in Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grants to several community colleges to help over 500 students. Money from these TRAIN grants will go to over 500 unemployed and underemployed students and will be administered through the state's 15 public community colleges, Healey's office said in a statement. 'These grants... are designed to equip adult workers with the skills necessary to thrive in key industry sectors, ensuring that the workforce is prepared with the skills for the opportunities of tomorrow‚" Healey's office said. This program is intended to support new workers who are long-term unemployed or underemployed, giving them help with targeted industry skills and workforce readiness training. 'These TRAIN grants will connect hundreds of community college students to the skills, support, and opportunities they need to succeed in growing industries and help ensure our economy works for everyone," Healey said in the statement. 'Community colleges are at the heart of workforce development in Massachusetts,' Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler said in the statement. 'Through this investment, we are creating pathways for adult learners to thrive — both in the classroom and in high-demand careers.' Greenfield Community College, Certified Production Manager Training – $50,593 Northern Essex Community College, Customer Service Training – $29,619 Berkshire Community College, Phlebotomy Technician Training – $34,541 Bunker Hill Community College, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting, Google IT and Red Hat Operations Technician Training – $132,005 Bristol Community College, Cyber Security Certificate Training– $94,241 Cape Cod Community College, Addiction Recovery and Wellness Coach Pre-Certification Training – $79,843 Greenfield Community College, Certified Nursing Assistant Training – $61,509 Holyoke Community College, Paraeducator and Nurses Aid Training – $103,851 Massasoit Community College, Commercial Driver's License and EKG Technician Training – $120,485 Mass Bay Community College, Certified Nursing Assistant, Behavioral Health Technician and Information Technology Help Desk Training – $124,600 Middlesex Community College, Advanced Manufacturing Training – $44,029 Mount Wachusett Community College, Certified Nursing Assistant and Information Technology Tech Training – $93,971 Northern Essex Community College, Certified Nursing Assistant & Pharmacy Technician Training – $110,453 North Shore Community College, Dental Assisting Training – $122,558 Quinsigamond Community College, Personal Care Aide Training – $85,033 Roxbury Community College, Cyber Security Certification Training – $72,162 Springfield Technical Community College, Certified Nursing Assistant Training – $137,966 Eye-popping gift from closed Central Mass. college will help school mission continue An ultimatum for Harvard: Provide info on foreign students or lose them An alum bought a closing Eastern Mass. college. Here's what he plans to do with it At Harvard, American and international students vow they won't let Trump divide them Harvard task force reports reveal discrimination, hate on campus, president apologizes
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Greenfield Community College to host 2nd annual Nursing Health Expo
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Greenfield Community College (GCC) is inviting the public to its second annual Nursing Health Expo, a free, family-friendly event offering engaging health education, interactive activities, and community wellness resources. DCR offers free family events during April school vacation week The expo, scheduled for April 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is part of a student-led service-learning initiative designed to promote public health and wellness, while giving nursing students the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and connect with the broader community. 'This is a great opportunity for the community to learn the latest information about safety and healthcare practices and for our students to share what they've learned with the broader community,' said Melanie Ames, Dean of Nursing at GCC. This year's event will highlight various timely health topics, including CPR techniques, stroke awareness, nutrition tips, sun safety, menstrual equity, and family support services. Attendees will also have a chance to interact with health professionals to learn about career pathways in the healthcare field. In addition to the educational components, the event will feature hands-on attractions for all ages: A LifeFlight Air Ambulance helicopter tour A 'Touch a Truck' exhibit with police and fire vehicles A mobile library booth courtesy of local libraries The expo reflects GCC's ongoing commitment to experiential learning and community engagement, providing a valuable platform where education meets public service. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
GCC Foundation to host annual 'Building Bridges and Belonging' fundraising dinner
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Greenfield Community College (GCC) Foundation is inviting alumni, community members, and supporters to its annual fundraising dinner, 'Building Bridges and Belonging: GCC's Celebration of Community.' The event will occur on February 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Cohn Family Dining Commons at GCC. Springfield City Council extends residency requirement deadline for city employees The evening will feature a catered dinner, a cash bar, and the presentation of several prestigious awards recognizing outstanding alumni and community partners. The event highlights GCC's ongoing contributions to the region while providing an opportunity for attendees to connect and celebrate the college's impact. 'It is an honor to bring together and celebrate the people that make up our vibrant GCC community,' said Alexis Page, Executive Director of the GCC Foundation. 'We are inspired by our alumni, grateful to our champions, and proud to be part of this community that has such a huge impact on the lives of individuals and families in our area.' This year's Community Catalyst Award will be presented to Clare Higgins, a long-time GCC Board of Trustees member and the recently retired Executive Director of Community Action Pioneer Valley. The Community Champion Award will be given to Stone Soup Café, a nonprofit known for its dedication to providing meals and fostering connection through outreach initiatives. GCC will also recognize two distinguished alumni. Jillian Morgan, class of 2008, will receive the Young Alumni in Action Award for her work as Director of Development at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Ken Chartrand, class of 2015, will be honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award for his efforts as a Reentry Case Manager at the Franklin County House of Corrections, where he assists individuals reintegrating into society after incarceration. Thanks to donors and sponsors, including lead sponsor Greenfield Cooperative Bank, GCC students interested in attending the event can do so free of charge. Tickets are $50, with proceeds supporting GCC's students and programs. Registration is required. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
