Corporate and Community Education

In addition to traditional academic offerings, MCC provides a wide variety of workforce and personal development opportunities that serve distinct local needs and interests. A full range of cost-effective on-site, on-campus and online education and training programs are available to strengthen the local workforce, increase managerial effectiveness, enhance productivity, and contribute to the economic development of the region.

These courses and programs are designed to prepare employees for 21st century technologies and career paths, as well as provide personally enriching learning experiences for students of all ages. Middlesex faculty and staff members work with community and business leaders and advisory boards in developing and implementing:

• Courses, workshops, seminars and customized training for individuals and groups;
   
• Workforce and professional development opportunities with dynamic, flexible services adaptable to the needs of students at all levels and ages;
   
• Innovative programs and courses for children and teenagers;
   
• Intellectually stimulating learning opportunities for senior citizens and lifelong learners;
   
• Online courses adaptable to students’ overall education and training plans.

Corporate Education and Training

Middlesex offers customized training and education designed for individual employers, from one- or two-day seminars to credit and noncredit courses. These learning opportunities are held on site at an employer’s facilities or at our Bedford and Lowell campuses on a schedule that accommodates the employer’s needs. Our programs include:

• Adult Basic Education 
• Business Writing 
• Career Development
• Communication Skills
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Computer Literacy, Applications Skills, Programming and Networking
• Customer Service
• Early Childhood Education
• Electro-Mechanical Drafting 
• Electronic Technology
• English as a Second Language  
• Foreign Language Instruction
• Grant Information
• Health Care Industry Specialties
• Individualized/Self-Paced Instruction
• Lean Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Training
• Professional Development Training
• Project Management
• Quality Management
• Safety Training
• Supervisory and Management Training
• Train-the-Trainer Workshops
• Training Needs Assessments

For more information, call 1-978-656-3009.

In October 2000, Middlesex Community College launched the ACT initiative as part of a national network of more than 100 centers. Our center currently focuses on high-stakes testing for a variety of certifications and licenses. The initiative was led by ACT, an independent, not-for-profit organization based in Iowa that provides assessment, research, information, and program-management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development. The ACT Center is located in Woburn at The Career Place, a Massachusetts One Stop Career Center, which is managed through MCC.

The primary emphasis of the ACT Center @ The Career Place is on high-stakes testing in a variety of disciplines, including those for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB), and Registered Dieticians, as well as others. Each year, nearly
1,000 individuals participate in the center’s high-stakes testing services. The Career Place, including the ACT Center, is located at Trade Center 128, 100 Trade Center, Suite G-100, Woburn. To learn more, call 781-932-5500 or visit www.careerplacejobs.com.

Community Education and Training

MCC offers a variety of noncredit courses, certificates and programs designed to reach the broad cross section of interests, ages and needs of our students. Students taking noncredit courses and certificates include professionals, career changers, middle school students and active older adults.  

Noncredit courses cover a range of topics, including career and professional development, test preparation, computer applications and programming,  information design and delivery, world languages and cultures, healthy living, writing skills, and personal finance. Classes are scheduled days, evenings and weekends. Online courses are also available.

Noncredit certificates and programs provide intensive professional training in specific career areas.  They include:

• Computer Applications Certificate — designed to provide the most up-to-date basic computer hardware and software skills. This 40-hour noncredit certificate uses state-of-the-art computers to hone students’ skills in MS Word, Excel and other MS Office applications needed in today’s workplace.
   
• Digital Photography Certificate — digital imaging is the medium most photographers work with today. This noncredit program is designed to meet the needs of anyone interested in photography, portraiture, digital-image editing, or selling photos or services on the Web. 
   
• Interior Design Certificate — through guest speakers, field trips, lectures and projects, students will acquire a foundation for future employment in this growing industry. Topics in this noncredit certificate program include interior design elements, lighting, texture, color, pattern, furniture selection, window coverings, scale and space planning, as well as a history of design, textiles and marketing.
   
• Meeting and Event Management Certificate — organizing meetings, trade shows, conferences or special events for a large corporation requires many special skills and abilities. This noncredit certificate will give students the practical skills and knowledge to successfully plan, organize, manage, promote and evaluate meetings and events.
   
• Project Management Certificate – an exciting, fast-paced noncredit program that provides the skills to get projects completed on time and within budget. Project management principles and concepts are covered, as well as the tools and techniques required for the successful management of complex projects. This course will prepare you for the PMP exam.
   
• Web Design Certificate – an introductory program that delves into the basic design, planning and development of a website. Topics include: Dreamweaver basics and essential Photoshop Skills, HTML basics, Advanced Dreamweaver and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets); Flash Animation, and maintaining a website

• Dental Hygiene/Local Anesthesia Training and NERB Exam Prep - recommended for dental hygienists who would like to become certified in local anesthesia. At completion, the RDH will be able to administer safe, effective and painless local anesthesia with confidence and competence. The course consists of a 40-hour online pre-study prior to clinical training, interactive presentations, and a three-day clinical training in which students will have 30 injection experiences administering nerve blocks. Upon successful completion, students are awarded a certificate, 56 CEUs, and will be prepared to take the NERB exam.

• RN Refresher Program - designed to prepare Massachusetts Registered Nurses who have been away from nursing practice for an extended period of time with an update of nursing concepts and skills needed to re-enter the nursing workforce in acute care, and/or long term care. The goal is to provide students a supportive learning environment necessary to refine skills and develop a sound knowledgebase needed to practice in today’s complex health care environment. This program consists of 25 hours of theory and 20 hours of hands-on practice in MCC’s Nursing Skills Lab. 

• Society of Human Resources Management/Certification Prep - SHRM Learning System®preparation course is designed to provide individuals with an overview of six (6) key areas in human resource management. Materials include modules that correspond to the six functional areas, responsibilities and associated knowledge as defined by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). The program is offered in cooperation with the Society for Human Resource Management (SRHM) as study material for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification examinations administered by HRCI.

MCC’s noncredit courses, certificates and programs are continually developing to meet the needs of students. For more information, call 781-280-3663 or e-mail: career_training@middlesex.mass.edu.

The Writing Technical Information Certificate is a career enhancement opportunity for individuals who have well-developed writing skills and want to improve their effectiveness in communicating technical information. In this 125-hour, post-graduate noncredit program students learn the skills and tools to clearly and accurately inform users about technical products. Students learn how to conduct audience- and task-analysis, work with subject-matter experts, understand product documents and the product-development cycle, write clear procedures, review and revise technical information, manage writing projects, and make content usable. Also covered are mark-up languages (such as HTML and XML), tools for authoring printed information, PDFs and for authoring information for electronic distribution. Adobe FrameMaker and RoboHelp is learned. For application and schedule information, visit the Writing Technical Information Certificate website.

The Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Education for Seniors, or MILES, is a program providing active retired and semi-retired individuals with intellectual stimulation and interaction. MILES offers lifelong learning opportunities for people over the age of 50, who participate in courses that vary and cover a wide range of topics – from tea and tall ships to Civil War history. Previous courses on mystery writers, classic films, storytelling and opera have delighted our MILES members.  

MILES members are welcome to facilitate new courses to share their professional, educational and personal experiences. For more information on the MILES Program, call 781-280-3570 or e-mail: career_training@middlesex.mass.edu.

College for Kids (formerly MCC Summer Camps) provides children, ages 8 to 15, with an exciting range of unique opportunities to explore careers, gain new knowledge, develop new skills and boost self-confidence. Our summer programs provide young students with a safe and fun place to learn and are held on both MCC campuses – making use of the extensive open space in Bedford, as well as the rich cultural and ethnic resources to be found in Lowell. For more information about College for Kids, call 781-280-3663 or email: career_training@middlesex.mass.edu.

MCC’s Work Readiness/Retention Programs are funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Community Colleges, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance. These programs assist welfare recipients in transitioning to employment. They combine on-the-job training at local companies and agencies with skills training at the college. Intensive counseling and skill-building workshops are provided throughout pre- and post-employment programs. Staff members are also available to assist post-employment recipients transition to additional training or education. For more information, call 978-656-3153.