Framingham State, MassBay To Launch MetroWest College Planning Center

Written by Dan Magazu

The Department of Higher Education has awarded Framingham State University and MassBay Community College $375,000 from the Vision Project Incentive Fund to help launch the MetroWest College Planning Center.

The center will serve as a college planning resource primarily for low-income, first generation and minority students, as well as their families, to improve college attainment rates for those underrepresented groups in the region.

Programs will be offered to enhance college readiness, participation and completion. Students and families will be provided with comprehensive financial counseling support, in addition to educational resources.

Similar college planning centers are located in the Boston and Worcester areas of the state, but no comparable college access program exists in the MetroWest region. 

The $375,000 grant from the Department of Higher Education will support development of a Center on the Framingham State campus.

Framingham State and MassBay are hoping to house the center in the historic 1812 House at 1000 Worcester Rd, which Framingham State purchased earlier this year.

The University has been seeking financial support to renovate the building ever since. If sufficient additional funding necessary to renovate the 1812 House is secured, the University will locate the Center at this facility.

“This funding for the College Planning Center project allows us to provide a critical service to the region, and may also enable us to renovate and preserve a historic building in Framingham,” said Framingham State Interim President Robert Martin. “We are grateful to the Department of Higher Education, our partners at MassBayCommunity College, as well as our local delegation at the State House, including Representatives Chris Walsh and Tom Sannicandro and Senator Karen Spilka.”

“We are grateful for these important funds that will enable us to build on our progress as we improve and sustain access to high quality education, student success, and eliminating achievement gaps,” said MassBay President John O’Donnell. “Maintaining our affordability is a core part of our mission, and initiatives such as this one will help us serve Massachusetts residents at a time when obtaining a College education is crucial to finding and sustaining good jobs.”

The goal is to have the College Planning Center up and running at some point next academic year. The Center builds upon the University’s College Tomorrow summer readiness program, which serves area youth.
Similar to College Tomorrow, it will not function as a recruiting venture for any specific institution. The center will offer financial literacy and debt management programs provided by American Student Assistance.

“More than two thirds of all students today borrow to cover college costs and it is imperative they receive the proper financial counseling support for sound education debt management before, during and after college,” said American Student Assistance President and CEO Paul Combe, who is also a member of the FSU Board of Trustees. 

The Department of Higher Education announced $7.5 million in Vision Project performance incentive grants on Monday. 

“These grants give campuses the tools to make real change in the lives of students,” said Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland. “I was impressed with the high caliber of the proposals we received this year, as was the panel of national experts who helped us decide on the awards.”

Local legislators applauded the Center project on Monday.

"Framingham State University working together with MassBay Community College is a powerhouse combination of innovation and opportunity for both Framingham and the Commonwealth," said Framingham State Rep. Chris Walsh. "Helping students help themselves by teaching them the basics of financial literacy and life/career planning, the College Planning Center is a prime example of this thoughtful but pragmatic approach that we should all celebrate. Hosting this program in a building that has a rich historical and community context and is so wonderfully visible at the entrance of the campus is, in my opinion, a stroke of genius."

“Turning the 1812 House into a College Planning Center is a great way to honor its legacy,” said Framingham State Rep. Tom Sannicandro. "Expanding college attainment for underrepresented groups will grow the MetroWest economy, close the achievement gap, and provide opportunity to countless young people.”

"Framingham State and Mass Bay consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to the community, and this new college planning center - and the potential renovation of such a beautiful historic building - will certainly be an asset to students and families in the region,” said State Senator Karen Spilka said.

Framingham State is working with the Town of Framingham to come up with additional funding to facilitate the renovation of the 1812 House.

"The Town of Framingham is proud of its partnership with both FSU and MBCC in projects like the MetroWest College Plan Center,” said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. “This funding will not only provide valuable support to members of our community seeking to get the most of their higher education investment, but will also support preservation of a prominent, historic structure from Framingham’s past."