Grant Provides Funding for 40 Students to Attend MassBay’s CNA Program for Free
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu
FRAMINGHAM, MASS. (December 28, 2021) — MassBay Community College has been awarded $101,333 from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) for the Training Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) grant program. This grant supports long-term unemployed, under-employed, and new entrant adult workers who are entering and reentering the workforce, and it addresses regional workforce shortages. MassBay is allocating these funds to subsidize all costs for 40 students during its fall 2021, spring 2022, and summer 2022 semesters to attend MassBay’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.
The eight-week MassBay CNA program includes a combination of remote lectures, hands-on practical training at a community partner clinical location, and workforce readiness assessment. This grant covers tuition and fees, textbooks, uniforms, certification fees, and other required class materials, which would typically cost approximately $1,400.
“MassBay’s CNA program provides the training and credential students need to succeed in the growing health care industry,” said MassBay Director of Corporate Partnership and Workforce Development Phara Boyer. “Certified nursing assistants are in great demand, with local employers reaching out to MassBay every week to hire our students after they have completed our program. Employers are well aware MassBay-trained CNAs have the knowledge and compassion to provide excellent care. We are grateful for this DHE grant, which enables eligible students to pursue meaningful, sustainable, and well-paying careers, and gives MassBay the ability to provide critically needed, well-prepared health care workers to our region.”
According to the Massachusetts DHE website in 2021, “By providing eligible individuals with a comprehensive program of training and wrap-around support services, adult learners will be prepared to secure employment, support their families, and contribute to Massachusetts’ economic recovery.”
MassBay’s Certified Nursing Assistant program is part of the College’s Corporate Partnership & Workforce Development (CPWD) and is currently enrolling students for the spring 2022 semester. Prospective students are encouraged to email cpwd@massbay.edu or call 508-270-4100.
MassBay Community Collegeis the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.