NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Department of Higher Education Deputy Commissioner for Policy Michael Dannenberg held a roundtable Monday with MCLA students and local high school students in the early college program.

 

The gathering at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was part of an education focus in 413 Day, a celebration of Western Mass. Zrike and other state educators had also been in Pittsfield to learn about the needs for early childhood education. 

 

"To hear your stories is very helpful as we try to make sure that we craft policy, and we leverage resources in order to make those dreams more possible for people," Zrike said. "... We want to make sure that we're supporting as many people to get through college in a way that doesn't leave them behind."

 

The conversation was held in the college's Murdock Hall. Zrike, who was only 11 days on the job, said he felt the best way to prepare himself for the position was to talk to real students on different sides of the timeline: those exiting high school and those in the middle of college.

 

Dannenberg spoke to the Fair Share Amendment that Gov. Maura Healey deployed to make higher education more affordable. He said one key to making college accessible is giving students the opportunity to get a head start before they even set foot on a campus.

 

"The importance of time," he said. "Today, the typical student graduates from community college in just over 3 1/2 years; the average student graduates from a four-year college in 5.5 years. We can make college exceptionally more affordable still if we get students to accelerate. It becomes more affordable, and it opens up possibilities so they can graduate debt-free."

 

Drury High School seniors shared their own experiences in the early college program.