BCC Hosts Info Sessions for Early College Program

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) invites high school juniors and seniors to participate in virtual information sessions on its Early College Program, which offers free courses to eligible students who are Berkshire County residents.
 
Juniors and seniors can place into college-level classes with a minimum high school GPA of 2.7 or take the Accuplacer placement exam. Qualifying students can take up to 15 credits during the spring semester, which begins Monday, Jan. 24, 2022.
 
Two free virtual information sessions are now being held to help guide prospective and current Early College students through the process:
 
"What is Early College?" A 20-minute presentation explains what early college is, who it is intended for and how to apply. Offered Tuesdays at 1 pm and Wednesdays at 6 pm.
 
One-on-One Early College Support: Students can request a 45-minute session with an advisor to determine if the program is a good fit for them, as well as to get help with registration, selecting classes and logging into student accounts. Offered Mondays and Tuesdays at 9 am, 10 am, 2 pm and 3 pm; Wednesdays at 11 am, 3 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm; Thursdays at 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm; and Fridays by request. 
 
To register for information sessions, apply to the Early College Program, or learn more, visit berkshirecc.edu/earlycollege.

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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