More than 400 undergraduate students took advantage of more than 300 courses through cross-registration among Consortium institutions during 2006-07.
Quick Facts
General Information
Established in 1968, the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc. is a not-for-profit association of 13 public and private accredited colleges and universities located in central Massachusetts. Its mission is to work cooperatively to further the missions of the member institutions individually and to advance higher education regionally.
The Consortium has three major areas of focus: to provide organizational effectiveness and shared services among its college and university members; to provide access to higher education opportunities for disadvantaged students and adults; and to cultivate local and regional economic development and civic engagement opportunities.
The vision of the Consortium is to position Worcester and the region as a premier destination for
undergraduate and graduate students as well as college and university
faculty and staff.
Academics
More than 30,000 full-and part-time students are enrolled at Consortium institutions.
Each year, 6,000 students enrolled at Consortium institutions earn degrees (associate’s through doctoral) or complete certificates in one of nearly 300 majors and concentrations.
More than 400 undergraduate students took advantage of more than 300 courses through cross-registration among Consortium institutions during 2006-07.
The Consortium Gerontology Studies Program is a cooperative academic program in which students from four Consortium colleges engage in the interdisciplinary study of aging and earn a Certificate in Gerontology along with their bachelor’s degree.
The director of the Consortium Gerontology Studies Program serves as managing editor for the official journal of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, which serves as the prime source for practical curriculum information for educators, trainers and administrators in gerontology.
The Consortium facilitates a Certificate in College Teaching program which prepares graduate students as well as adjunct and full-time faculty for a career in academia.
The Consortium offers numerous faculty development opportunities throughout the academic year, including an annual day-long faculty development event each spring which attracts over 150 faculty participants.
The Consortium operates a management certificate program and stand alone trainings which are designed to enhance the skills of managers and supervisors at its 13 member institutions. More than 250 individuals participate annually in approximately 20 stand alone training workshops.
The Consortium coordinates the tuition waiver program for Worcester school teachers, which enabled 60 teachers to take courses at Assumption College, Anna Maria College, WPI, and Worcester State College in 2006-07—an estimated value of $70,000.
The Consortium facilitates a bi-annual research showcase which features faculty and student research projects, and highlights the intellectual capital of the colleges and universities in central Massachusetts.
The Consortium annually conducts intercollegiate academic programming including an art exhibition, holiday concert, and a career fair.
Community Engagement/Economic Impact
As a group, Consortium member institutions represent one of the largest employers in the area, employing more than 11,000 full-and part-time staff, with 3,000 of these individuals residing in Worcester.
Consortium institutions total 208,000 living alumni, 65,000 of whom reside in Worcester County.
The Consortium maintains an online database for local and regional businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to post internship opportunities for area college students.
8,300 undergraduate and graduate students at Consortium institutions annually spend 584,000 hours at 450 local organizations through volunteering, community service learning, work study positions and internships—the equivalent of 280 full-time employees.
More than 600 Consortium students annually spend 90,000 hours working within more than 20 Worcester public schools.
The total value of all community services performed annually by Consortium students is estimated at $11 million.
The total economic impact of Consortium member institutions on the state of Massachusetts is estimated to be more than $2.5 billion.
Consortium member institutions formed the Worcester nonprofit purchasing group, which, in addition to the Consortium institutions, includes 30 other local nonprofit organizations that together spend over $4 million annually on local goods and services.
The six private colleges in Worcester paid $458,000 in real estate taxes during fiscal year 2006.
The Consortium is working with real estate developers, Berkeley Investments(CitySquare) and the Mayo Group to help revitalize downtown Worcester.
75% of the Consortium’s annual revenues (approximately $3.5 million) are derived from funds received through the U.S. Department of Education and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to provide higher education access services for disadvantaged students and adults across the state.
The Consortium maintains nine full-time staff members in the Worcester Public Schools as education advisors.
The Educational Talent Search and GEAR UP programs serve 2,000 students a year in Worcester's public high schools and Worcester East Middle School.
The Educational Opportunity Centerin Worcester annually serves approximately 1,500 disadvantaged adults who are interested in returning to school to further their education and careers.