ARTICLE
The first 14 graduates of Quincy College’s new Pathmaker program – funded by a $750,000 grant that prepares students for high-demand opportunities in Massachusetts’ life sciences industry – were honored at ceremonies on March 4 for successfully completing the intensive hands-on curriculum. “The Mass. Life Sciences Center created Pathmaker grants to support institutions like ours which are capable of fast-tracking Massachusetts residents into life-sciences employment,” said Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, President of Quincy College. “We’re delighted to recognize this first group of Pathmaker graduates as they prepare to put their newly acquired skills to use in careers that will be professionally rewarding and personally satisfying.” The specialized Pathmaker classes consist of 14 hours of hands-on training twice a week for eight weeks; students also receive transportation reimbursement, an educational stipend, a laptop computer and job-placement assistance. Pathmaker graduates have already begun interviewing for positions in the state’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing workforce. The Pathmaker program is the latest example of how, for the past decade, Quincy College’s Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing program has served as a key component of a talent pipeline that has helped produce career-ready individuals for roles in the state’s life sciences industry. For the past five years, the graduation rate for both the Associate’s degree and certificate programs has been 97 percent with a job placement rate for graduates of 99 percent. The College also has a strong commitment to facilitating more diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the biotechnology and life sciences workforce. The majority of students enrolled in the Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing program are those of color, and there has been significant growth in female and Asian students enrolling in and graduating from the program.
The first 14 graduates of Quincy College’s new Pathmaker program – funded by a $750,000 grant that prepares students for high-demand opportunities in Massachusetts’ life sciences industry – were honored at ceremonies on March 4 for successfully completing the intensive hands-on curriculum.
“The Mass. Life Sciences Center created Pathmaker grants to support institutions like ours which are capable of fast-tracking Massachusetts residents into life-sciences employment,” said Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, President of Quincy College. “We’re delighted to recognize this first group of Pathmaker graduates as they prepare to put their newly acquired skills to use in careers that will be professionally rewarding and personally satisfying.”
The specialized Pathmaker classes consist of 14 hours of hands-on training twice a week for eight weeks; students also receive transportation reimbursement, an educational stipend, a laptop computer and job-placement assistance. Pathmaker graduates have already begun interviewing for positions in the state’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing workforce.
The Pathmaker program is the latest example of how, for the past decade, Quincy College’s Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing program has served as a key component of a talent pipeline that has helped produce career-ready individuals for roles in the state’s life sciences industry. For the past five years, the graduation rate for both the Associate’s degree and certificate programs has been 97 percent with a job placement rate for graduates of 99 percent.
The College also has a strong commitment to facilitating more diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the biotechnology and life sciences workforce. The majority of students enrolled in the Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing program are those of color, and there has been significant growth in female and Asian students enrolling in and graduating from the program.