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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Armed North Adams Man Arrested Following Domestic Standoff

Staff Reports 06:38PM / Thursday, June 11, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Matthew Parker, a 44-year-old North Adams man is set to face multiple counts of attempted murder and weapons charges in Northern Berkshire District Court Friday morning following an hours-long, armed standoff at a Houghton Street home.

The Defendant is being arraigned for:

Domestic Assault and Battery
Assault with the Intent to Murder (3 counts)
Carrying a Firearm While Under the Influence of Alcohol (3 counts)
Possession of a hi-capacity firearm (4 counts)
Improper Storage of a hi-capacity firearm (2 counts)
Improper Storage of a firearm (6 counts)

According to a report, on June 10, 2026, at approximately 8:42 p.m., officers from the North Adams Police Department responded to 365 Houghton Street following a report of a domestic assault and battery. The caller said that she and her husband had been involved in a physical altercation.

She said her husband was intoxicated, making suicidal statements about shooting himself, and had access to both a shotgun and a pistol.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with both the caller and Parker. During the encounter, Parker threatened to shoot officers before retreating into the home and refusing to exit.

Officers believed the Parker was armed.

To ensure public safety, police established a perimeter around the home and requested assistance from the Berkshire County Special Response Team (SRT) and North Adams Police Department Crisis Negotiators. The Brien Center was also contacted and promptly provided an emergency mental health clinician to assist with the incident.

Special Response Team personnel deployed drones to monitor the residence and provide aerial illumination. During the operation, officers saw Parker exit the house carrying a rifle. He pointed it at the drones, stated a report. Parker subsequently pointed the rifle toward several officers positioned behind their cruisers. After officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, Parker returned inside the residence.

Trained crisis negotiators maintained communication with Parker for several hours in an effort to peacefully resolve the situation. At approximately 2:00 a.m., Parker ceased communication with negotiators.

Drone operators later observed Parker unconscious in a recliner on the first floor of the residence, with a rifle and shotgun on the floor nearby.

Members of the Berkshire County SRT then executed a coordinated operation. Diversionary devices were deployed through a window while an entry team simultaneously entered the home, secured the firearms, and took the Defendant into custody.

A search warrant was executed after Parker was in custody. North Adams Police seized 4 shotguns, 6 rifles, 2 handguns, and thousands or rounds of ammunition from the home.

During the operation, one SRT member sustained a minor injury related to a less-lethal bean bag deployment. Parker also sustained non-life threatening injuries during the arrest and was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for medical evaluation.

"We thank the community for its patience and cooperation throughout this incident, particularly residents in the affected area who complied with temporary shelter-in-place requests," North Adams Chief of Police Mark Bailey said The North Adams Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the agencies that provided mutual aid and assisted by handling calls for service during this incident. We are especially grateful to the Berkshire County Special Response Team for its professional and decisive response, the Brien Center for the rapid deployment of a mental health clinician, and our crisis negotiators whose efforts helped maintain dialogue and contributed significantly to the safe resolution of this incident."

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