Middlesex Community College: STEM Expansion Meets MCC's Mission Of Equity And Accessibility

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

6/30/2021

Middlesex Community College strives to promote its mission of equity and accessibility for all students. Many students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Middlesex have to take Physics to meet their general requirements. In response to this growing demand, MCC worked to increase classes, lab space and opportunities.

When John Smith started teaching Physics at Middlesex 16 years ago, the program did not have much need for expansion. With transfer requirements and STEM industries changing in recent years, the college hired a second full-time faculty member Dr. Madhu Dhar, added a third class for Engineering students, and is developing lab space in Lowell. “The growth has been amazing during my time at Middlesex,” Smith said.

Dhar believes this new focus on Physics is a positive change for MCC’s STEM programs. “Our students are getting a complete foundation for the basic introduction of Physics done at MCC,” she said.

As MCC has smaller class sizes than four-year schools – and the labs and lectures are taught by either Smith or Dhar – students have access to individualized help, do not have to fit outside classes into their schedules, or have to take a course elsewhere over the summer.

“Class size matters for both students and instructors,” Dhar said. “If I had 200 students, I wouldn’t be able to reach out to them as much. Being in smaller classes, I can meet them where they are on an individual level.”

Tucker Antell is an MCC Mechanical Engineering student from Westford. The adult learner decided to go back to school to become an Engineer – like his father and grandfather – after the pandemic caused him to look into a career change.

Intending to attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Antell started taking his required prerequisites at Middlesex. He stayed at MCC to complete his general Engineering requirements before transferring because of the college’s flexibility, small class sizes and opportunities.

“The teachers that I had were very knowledgeable and seemed to have an answer for any question asked,” he said. “I also really appreciate the time my professors took out of their schedule for help outside of lectures and thoughtful responses to emailed questions.”

Both Smith and Dhar believe students should take their STEM requirements at Middlesex before transferring to a four-year college to take more advanced courses. Having smaller class sizes with professors they know on a personal level provides a well-rounded background in STEM in which to build upon and grow comfortable with on their academic path.

“We have a real opportunity to help students better comprehend Physics content at the college-level,” Smith said. “We can give them a solid foundation in how to study in difficult courses, how to be a good problem solver – all the things they’re going to need for the courses that come next.”

In his classes at MCC ¬– including Physics Three which students previously had to take at UMass Lowell – Antell learned more advanced topics that make him excited to pursue the field.

“They have really given me a foundation to succeed in the more heavy-duty Engineering courses that are to come,” he said. “The partnership and cooperation between UMass Lowell and MCC – along with the guidance offered by both institutions – has made this dream a reality for me.”

In addition to the lab in Bedford, Middlesex is in the process of building a Physics lab on the Lowell campus in order to make it easier for all students to attend class and meet their program requirements.

“In terms of equity, the more of our programs that we can fully offer on both campuses, the better it is for all of our students,” Smith said. “It makes sense to be able to give the students that flexibility to be able to do their Physics courses as opposed to having to shuttle back and forth.”

Dhar – who has seen students come late to lab because of travel time – having more options helps students better manage their time and take more classes. She also believes that having Physics on both campuses will increase the number of students who will sign up for classes, including Dual Enrollment students who would not otherwise be able to travel to both campuses.

“It will cut out a lot of physical stress for students and increase productivity,” she said. “They will be able to take more courses in a narrow window without having to come and go. It’s very important.”

MCC’s recent renovation of the Biotechnology lab freed up space for Physics in the college’s Talbot building in Lowell. Kathleen Sweeney, MCC’s Chair of STEM, helped put together the funding from different sources – including normal budget funds and legislative assistance – in order to equip the new lab space with necessary technology and materials.

For the Physics One mechanics course – the study of motion – Smith explains that measurements are performed through computers and motion sensors, such as a cart rolling along a table to collect information. In Physics Two, students study electricity and magnetism, requiring equipment related to circuits. With high-quality equipment in the labs, students gain a better sense of the work they will be doing at a four-year institution and in their careers.

In the upcoming Fall 2021 semester, MCC’s Physics department will have hybrid course options featuring online lectures and a return of in-person labs. During the pandemic, the program used an online lab in order to continue providing these valuable experiences.

“The interactive Pivot labs really helped me to understand and aid my visualization of the topics and concepts,” Antell said. “I still relied on my memory of the interactions I saw in the online labs to help visualize situations and problems when taking exams.”

While the online labs met students’ needs at the time, Smith is looking forward to having students come to the labs, use the equipment, and take the opportunity to trouble shoot and work with classmates.

“Students who take Physics at Middlesex – as well as their other courses in the first couple years of their program – they really have a chance to fill in any gaps in their knowledge and get a strong foundation,” Smith said. “That’s why when our students end up transferring, they’re really ready to succeed.”

MCC’s STEM pathway helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_stem.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a degree in STEM at Middlesex.

Featuring flexible course formats and a variety of student support services and resources, MCC is registering now for the Summer and Fall 2021 semesters. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu or call 1-800-818-3434 to register for classes.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.