In the face of a pandemic, MCLA continues to spur student success

08:00AM / Monday, April 11, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has continued to receive national recognition and support for its commitment to social mobility and academic success.

MCLA is No. 21 on U.S. News and World Report's list of the 50 public and private "TopPerformers on Social Mobility," which measures how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. These grants are typically awarded to those whose families make less than $50,000. MCLA was also ranked as a 2021 Top Ten College by U.S. News and World Report for the third consecutive year. It has maintained its position in the top ten list for nine of the past 11 years.

Nearly half of MCLA students are Pell Grant recipients, the highest percentage across the Massachusetts State University System. More than 40 percent are the first in their families to go to college. Nearly 85 percent of students receive some kind of financial aid. But MCLA Pell students continue to graduate at a rate higher than the national average.

"Our students are truly trailblazers," said MCLA President James F. Birge. "So many are taking a new path—many are the first in their families to go to college. Many come from families who lack access to the resources and connections that wealthier families often have. Many are juggling work and family commitments. MCLA continues to be a way for these students to open new doors, have new experiences, and live fulfilling lives, personally and professionally. I'm

incredibly proud of all our students, as well as our incredible faculty and dedicated staff, who are changing individual lives and working toward a more equitable future."

In recent years, MCLA has added new programs that help bolster student support, including the TRiO Program, which works toward increasing the retention, good academic standing, and graduation rates of low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities, with a capacity to serve 160 students a year. MCLA's Office of Admission adopted a test-blind policy in 2020 and waived SAT requirements for students applying for the fall 2021 and 2022 semesters.

Student support doesn't only include academics. In response to economic uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, MCLA established the Resiliency Fund, which has to date distributed nearly $300,000 to 296 students in need. The MCLA Food Pantry combats student food insecurity, supported with student volunteer work and donations. MCLA also boasts over 100 of its own private scholarships, including five new additions since 2020.

The vast majority of MCLA graduates—93 percent—land jobs or get accepted into some of the finest grad schools in the country.

"Helping our students achieve a college education will help them earn more in their lifetimes, find fulfilling careers, and live meaningful lives," said Birge. "Public colleges help contribute to furthering economic equity every day, and we are proud to make this part of our mission as an institution."

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Friends of the North Adams Public Library Book Sale Opens Today

Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Friday, September 25, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Surrounded by stacks of books, volunteers were busy setting up Thursday morning for the Friends of the Library's primary annual fundraiser in St. Elizabeth's Parish Hall.

"We have so many books; we have so many boxes," Friends President Bonnie Rennell said Thursday morning during the book sale setup.

The book sale is a major fundraiser for the Friends that allows them to support a variety of library programming. Rennell said it, along with their membership drive, is one of the Friends' two main fundraising events.

"This is important," she said. "Without this, we would not be able to do half of what we do."

There is no firm consensus on how long a book sale has been supporting the library.

"Way before my time. The Friends are 51 years old, but I don't know," Rennell said, before shouting, "Who knows when the book sale started here?"

There was no immediate answer over the shuffling of books and background mumbles, but a few stalwart Friends determined that at least 25 years sounded right. Members were fairly sure the sale was once held on the library's front lawn.

Over those 25 years, Rennell said, the book sale has become a well-oiled machine—the product of a highly organized system that usually starts in February. During that time, the Friends collect books and sort them in the church basement. Seven months later, it is showtime.

"We have it set up, a lot like this," Rennell said, pointing to the dozens of tables with books fanned out across them. "It is a new innovation. We put the signs on the tables with empty boxes, and we fill them. We collect for seven months, and then it takes us a few weeks to decide what goes to auction and what is special."

Prices are set quickly and casually; Rennell noted the Friends have been at it long enough to assign dollar values easily.

"People have been doing this a long time," she said. "Cookbooks are always $1. We don't even label them. I think fiction is all $2.

The event offers more than just books: visitors can also purchase CDs, DVDs, puzzles, games, and even baked goods.

Setup happens fast. While one might think the sale takes weeks to arrange, the Friends arrive the day before and are done in a matter of hours. Rennell explained that the books are already organized and ready to go before they even come upstairs.

Rennell added that the Friends receive plenty of help from city staff, library staff, and volunteers. Simple tasks, like carrying boxes of books up and down the stairs, are deeply appreciated.

She noted that year after year, donations continue to grow—often including recently published books. It is a surprising trend in a digital age where some new media is no longer even sold in physical format, she said.

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