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Date: 9/7/2022
LONGMEADOW – State Rep. Brian Ashe, along with a representative from state Sen. Eric Lesser’s office, presented Bay Path University President Sandra Doran with a grant for $200,000 on Aug. 31. The funding will support a program to eliminate the discrepancy between the skills workers have and those they need.
The Closing Regional Workforce Gaps in Education and Healthcare Through Experimental Learning, Mentoring and Licensure Project focuses on education and healthcare fields, including special education, occupational therapy and clinical mental health counseling, among others. The three-fold approach establishes career mentorship programs between students and professionals in their field; offers paid internships, practicums and other real-world experience opportunities and provides training workshops and pre-licensure tutoring sessions.
The earmark will also cover testing fees, materials for certification and licensure registration fees. This includes fees related to the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
This is the second year an earmark has funded the project. In FY 22, $50,000 was set aside for it. Ashe was the lead sponsor of the earmark to the fiscal year 2023 budget in the state House of Representatives, while Lesser supported it in the state Senate.
“The concept is great,” said Ashe. “It not only benefits the students and the campus, but it looks into the needs of Western Massachusetts and provides for businesses and industries in our area.”
President Doran told the students at the check presentation, “We are here to support you and make sure you have the resources to be successful.”