WELLESLEY HILLS, MA (June 10, 2011) - Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) was recently recognized for its commitment to the men and woman that serve in the United States Armed Forces by Military Advanced Education, an annual publication which provides information regarding higher education opportunities for military personnel and their spouses. MassBay currently enrolls more than 100 veterans.
In May, MassBay opened a Veterans Affairs Resource Center to assist veterans who are looking to go back to school or seeking career opportunities.
“Education is one of the most effective ways of integrating our veterans back into civilian life,” says Julie Komack, Director of MassBay’s Career Services. “MassBay strives to offer the best for members of the Armed Forces coming back home by providing comprehensive, on-campus support services.”
The Veterans Resource Center, nicknamed “The Bunker,” will offer all-inclusive services including academic advising, support services for the veteran student transition back to civilian life, career counseling, and support services to assist with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic injury disorders.
MassBay is one of only three schools selected in Massachusetts for this recognition.
One MassBay veteran student has shared his remarkable story with the campus community. Joel Taft, who is graduating in May from MassBay with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, received a McKenzie Award, which is the most prestigious on-campus honor.
After graduating high school Joel enlisted in the Army Reserves. Following September 11th, Joel began active duty and in July 2002, he was deployed to Afghanistan. He was assigned to work with the U.S. Special Forces division helping to drive supplies to and from the border. When he returned home in 2003, Joel bounced from job to job while struggling with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He then decided to attend MassBay,, an aspiration he had before he was sent overseas. “Thanks to the Veterans Affairs support I received, I got the words ‘I can’t’ out of my head,” He says.
MassBay is an open admission, veteran-friendly community college with a growing military population and sensitive faculty and staff members. The College offers academic preparation for transfer to four-year institutions, career preparation for entry into high demand professions, job retraining and lifelong learning opportunities. MassBay is an open access accredited two-year public educational institution. The college grants Associates Degrees and Certificates in a range of disciplines. Offering more than 60 academic programs, MassBayserves Boston and the MetroWest communities with campuses in Wellesley Hills, Framingham and an Automotive Technology Center in Ashland. In 2011, MassBay celebrates its 50th year of service to the community.