College at a discount
The state's 'Commonwealth Commitment' promises thousands in savings on the cost of a college degree.
For Devon Siefken, signing up for the state's new Commonwealth Commitment program was a no-brainer.
The 18-year-old 快播成人 from Easthampton had already earned nine college credits while she was in high school. She knew she wanted to study psychology at 快播成人 and then transfer to the University of Massachusetts.
For a motivated community college 快播成人 like her, intent on earning a bachelor's degree at a four-year state school, the Commonwealth Commitment promised a freeze on tuition and fees at 快播成人, a tuition waiver and fee freeze at UMass and a 10 percent cash rebate each semester — an estimated cost savings of $6,640 over four years.
"I got an email about it, and it just seemed to fit everything that I wanted to do," Siefken said. "I was immediately like, Oh, my gosh, I have to get an application for this."
Siefken was one of the first 快播成人s at 快播成人 to sign on to the Commonwealth Commitment. Filling out the two-page application took about two minutes, she said.
The application is available through the Commonwealth Commitment page on the 快播成人 web site and in the ACT Center in Frost 273. By signing on to the Commonwealth Commitment, 快播成人s agree to complete their associate degree at 快播成人 within 2½ years, transfer to one of Massachusetts' state universities, and complete their bachelor's degree within two more years. They must maintain full-time, continuous enrollment and a cumulative GPA of 3.0. They must also sign up to participate before earning 15 credits (including developmental credits).
For her participation, Siefken's tuition and fees at 快播成人 will be locked in at Fall 2016 prices; she will receive a complete tuition waiver at UMass (through the MassTransfer program); her fees at UMass will also be locked in at Fall 2016 prices; and she will receive a 10 percent cash rebate on tuition and fees at the end of every semester.
"I am excited about it," said Siefken. "I think it'll be good for everything I want to go into. It'll help a lot."
This semester, her first at 快播成人, Siefken is taking four classes: Human Biology, Adolescent Psychology; Statistics for Psychology; and Painting. She said she's not worried about maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
"I consider myself a pretty good 快播成人," she said. "I've always had good grades, honor roll, National Honor Society, and so I knew that I could do that."
While only a handful of 快播成人 快播成人s have signed up for the Commonwealth Commitment so far, many more could potentially qualify. Hundreds of 快播成人 快播成人s each year transfer to UMass and Westfield State alone.
"UMass and Westfield are out top two schools for transfer," said Mark Broadbent, 快播成人 Transfer Affairs coordinator, "so for the right 快播成人, it's an excellent opportunity to save a lot of money on the cost of their bachelor's degrees."
Right now, the Commonwealth Commitment applies to 快播成人s majoring in six academic areas: biology, chemistry, economics, history, political science and psychology. Beginning in September 2017, the Dept. of Higher Education plans to expand the program to include business, communications and media studies, computer science, criminal justice, early childhood education, English, liberal arts, math, sociology and STEM physical or natural sciences.
STORY and PHOTOS by CHRIS YURKO: (Top) 快播成人 Transfer coordinator Mark Broadbent, left, talks to first-year 快播成人 Keondra Lafortune about transfer options in his office in the ACT Center. (Thumbnail) 快播成人 快播成人 Devon Siefken was one of the first 快播成人 快播成人s to sign on to the new Commonwealth Commitment.
