Education
As some Western Massachusetts colleges plan to reopen campus, others hold off
College students sometimes list their majors as “undeclared.” That applies to colleges and universities that are eyeing the fall semester with mixtures of hope and caution – and weighing the practicality and risk of reopening campus. Virtually every institution has expressed hope of reopening campus in the fall, but some speak with more confidence that…
Read MoreBay Path Launches New Master’s Program in Learning, Design, and Technology
As an onslaught of complex challenges, and the urgency to develop innovative solutions to meet them, promise to reshape higher education, Bay Path University announces the launch of a new master’s program in Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) this fall. The fully online program will tap into Bay Path’s long-standing position as a leader in…
Read MoreFamily Business Center Shutting Down After Quarter-century of Programming
After almost 26 years of providing a learning environment for business leaders of Western Mass., the Family Business Center (FBC) of Pioneer Valley is closing its doors, effective immediately, and no further programming will be provided, according to a statement from its board of directors, Charlie Epstein, Ross Giombetti, Howard Cheney, and Jim Young. Read…
Read MoreUMass President to Propose Tuition Freeze for Upcoming Academic Year
Pointing to the financial hardships that many Massachusetts families are facing and in consultation with campus chancellors, UMass President Marty Meehan said he will recommend a tuition freeze for the university’s nearly 50,000 in-state undergraduate students during the upcoming academic year. “During this time of stress and uncertainty for our students and their families, we…
Read MoreDavis Foundation Names Paul Belsito New Executive Director
The directors of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation announced the appointment of Paul Belsito as executive director of the foundation, succeeding Mary Walachy, who has served in the position for the past 23 years. Belsito will begin his new role on June 1. Belsito most recently worked for the Hanover Insurance Group…
Read MoreGo Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market Pivots to Emergency Food Distribution
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Go Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market project has pivoted to providing free fresh-produce boxes to older adults at housing and senior-center locations in Springfield. Funded by the Trinity Health Transforming Communities Initiative, Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Beveridge Family Foundation, and Health New England, the Go Fresh emergency food-distribution program is a…
Read MorePioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards Presented to 113 Educators
School districts across the region participated in a rigorous process to select the winners of the 2020 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards. The program, which is in its 18th year, celebrates outstanding educators who make a significant impact on their colleagues and school community. This past winter, the announcements were made in surprise visits…
Read MoreGov. Charlie Baker Details First Phase of Economic Reopening
Today, the Baker-Polito administration released “Reopening Massachusetts,” the Reopening Advisory Board’s report, which details a four-phased strategy to responsibly reopen businesses and activities while continuing to fight COVID-19. The Administration also released a new “Safer at Home” advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging with newly opened activities, as a way to…
Read MoreUnited Way of Pioneer Valley’s Project Toybox Donates 1,000 Toys
To help relieve the boredom of Hampden County’s children during a difficult time, the United Way of Pioneer Valley has partnered with numerous community organizations to deliver more than 1,000 educational, age-appropriate to families hit hard by COVID-19. The United Way’s Joe Mina moves a pallet of donated toys. Thanks to its partnership with Good360,…
Read MoreSTCC Names Darcey Kemp Vice President of Student Affairs
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has named a higher-education administrator from New York as vice president of Student Affairs. Darcey Kemp began her new post on April 27. She had served as the assistant vice president for Student Development, Leadership, and Completion Initiatives at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. since 2015. In…
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