BCC Offers Series of 'Free College' Information Sessions
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold a series of "free college" information sessions specially designed for students over the age of 25 and for nursing students of any age. The sessions are as follows:
- Thursday, July 11, 5-7:30 pm: Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington
- Thursday, July 25, 5-7 pm: Berkshire Community College's One Stop Center, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield
- Wednesday, August 7, 6-8 pm: North Adams Public Library, 74 Church Street, North Adams
To register for a session, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/freecollege.
Financial aid, admissions and advising staff will be on hand.
The event encompasses two programs promoting free community college: MassReconnect, a program that pays the full costs of community college for adults 25 and older who do not already have a college degree, and the Commonwealth's Community College Nursing Scholarship program, which is designed for students who intend to enroll in and complete a credential or degree in nursing.
MassReconnect covers tuition and fees for eligible students, who also receive an allowance to pay for books and supplies. Students are eligible for the MassReconnect program if they:
- Are 25 or older on the first day of classes
- Are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at a public community college
- Have not previously earned a college degree
- Are enrolled in at least six credits per semester
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Are a Massachusetts resident
The Community College Nursing Scholarship provides "last dollar" financial assistance to ensure that all eligible students have adequate resources to fully cover the direct costs of tuition and fees towards a certificate or associate degree at a public community college. An allocation for books and supplies is also provided.
Those eligible for the program must:
- Reside in Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the beginning of the school term and be a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations, or have an approved eligibility status designated by the Board of Higher Education;
- Have not earned a prior degree;
- Not be in default on any state or federal student loans for attendance at any institution;
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually;
- Be enrolled full-time or part-time in a nursing program at a community college in Massachusetts;
- Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP); and
- Demonstrate unmet need toward the costs of tuition, fees, books and supplies, after all other grant and scholarship aid has been accounted for.
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