Search form

You are here

QCC Board Votes on Downtown Expansion

Alignment with City’s Revitalization Vision is Key

Contact: Cherie Ronayne
Office of Institutional Communications
508.854.2849
cronayne [at] qcc.mass.edu

Release Date: 
6/7/2012

The Quinsigamond Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a ‘FY 13 budget that supports expansion of its Health Care and Workforce Development programs into downtown Worcester. Ron Josephson, Chair of the Board said, “It is the Board’s responsibility and privilege to support this initiative and we wholeheartedly do. The need for more space and state-of the-art facilities has been uppermost in our minds for some time now and we’re pleased that we’re able to proceed with this important expansion.”

Key in the decision making process was QCC’s desire to assist in the revitalization of downtown Worcester. As the economic engine that supports the economy, QCC graduates remain in the Worcester area; in a January 2012 Economic Impact study prepared for QCC by Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc., data shows that “the accumulated contribution of QCC instruction received by former students annually adds some $223 million in income to the QCC Service Area (Central MA).” 

QCC’s board voted to support a new location in the heart of Worcester’s health care industry with Mass School of Pharmacy, St. Vincent Hospital with its new Oncology Center and others that will allow students access to opportunities for clinical and administrative training, while at the same time supplying highly trained and qualified employees to the local institutions. QCC President, Dr. Gail Carberry said, “We’re committed to our economic partnerships with the city of Worcester and our new location means that we’re aligned with the city’s plan for expansion downtown. The new location supports the vision I had for QCC’s growth when I took office six years ago while ensuring our students are aligned with the workforce needs of our community.”

QCC has been battling overcrowded conditions for years. In 2005, the MA Department of Higher Education pointed out that QCC was at capacity. Today the number of students enrolled has grown exponentially from 5,970 students in 2005 to 9,130 students, an increase of nearly 55% - far more than it can reasonably accommodate. To alleviate pressure on the main campus and provide outlying locations with easier access to higher education, QCC successfully launched a Southbridge location in May 2010 and a Marlborough location in 2011.

Challenged with state funding that has not increased in twelve years, QCC has creatively maintained its status as the most affordable higher education in Worcester County. The new downtown expansion will provide state-of-the-art facilities and space to offer accelerated workforce development training, adult basic education and ESL, non-credit opportunities, and health care degree and certificate programs.  No state resources will be used for the cost of the lease or the build-out for the new location.  QCC expects the downtown expansion to serve upwards of 2,000 students and employees.

QCC’s Training and Education Center (TEC), providers of non-credit and workforce training education will return to downtown Worcester. Dale Allen, Vice President for Community Engagement has reiterated QCC’s support of the local economy and alignment to workforce needs saying, “We work closely with our corporate partners to help train tomorrow’s workforce. This is part of the College’s mission and the new location will greatly benefit our shared community and our students. We are also partnering with local employers and philanthropic partners to support the provision of the state of the art equipment this facility and community demands.”  

QCC’s new downtown location consisting of approximately 70,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classroom and office space will solidify its position as one of the largest non-commercial, educational tenants in Worcester. The final location will be determined at a later date.

For more information regarding this release: Call Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508.854.7513

Quinsigamond Community College is the most affordable higher education in Worcester County. As a regional leader in education and workforce development, QCC serves the diverse educational needs of Central Massachusetts by providing affordable, accessible, and high quality programming leading to transfer, career, and lifelong learning.

randomness