Keira Burns, of Billerica, jumpstarted her new career path at Middlesex Community College. Starting in the college’s Adult Learning Center (ALC), Burns took classes to prepare her to take her GED® exam. After passing the test, she continued at MCC to complete the Pridestar Trinity EMS course to begin a career helping others.
“I’m thankful for [the Adult Learning Center] program because it opens up a lot of
opportunities,” Burns said. “It gave me the chance to get my high school diploma.
The teachers and staff were all supportive and helped me a lot. I also liked the stuff
we were learning about, like taxes and real-world problems. It definitely helps prepare
you for after you graduate.”
Through the ALC, Middlesex offers free noncredit, basic education courses for Massachusetts adult learners who are 16+. This includes preparation courses to sit for the GED® and HiSET® exams, which Mass. residents can take at no cost to them.
MCC’s ALC is designed to help adult learners improve their literacy, mathematics and computing skills to earn a high school equivalency. Through MCC’s program and successful completion of the exams, students are placed in a better position to continue their education and advance in their careers.
“The welcoming ALC staff is dedicated to supporting students through every step of the GED® and HiSET® testing process and advising on how to attend college or pursue a career,” said Katherine Innis, MCC’s Program Director of the ALC. “In addition to passing their exams, the ALC teaches valuable and relevant skills students can build upon in a variety of settings. Whether they choose to continue their education or advance in their careers, our ALC students are setting themselves up for a successful academic, professional and personal future.”
Starting in September, MCC will offer day and evening classes for both high school equivalency exams. Daytime classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in-person on Tuesdays and online on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Evening classes are online only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Online sessions are live and interactive taught over Zoom.
To qualify to take the free classes, students must be a resident of Massachusetts. To complete classes, students must also have a computer with a keyboard, speaker, microphone and camera, reliable internet access, be able to attend and participate in live class sessions in-person and online, as well as complete homework outside of class.
Although the ALC prioritizes students who are trying to pass the GED® and HiSET®, classes to improve English skills are also available for adults at the high intermediate to advanced levels.
Registration is now open for the Fall session. Learn more about MCC's Adult Learning Center!