Addressing the Shortage of Teachers and Healthcare Workers
Bay Path Receives $200K in state funding to help education and healthcare students
In communities throughout the region and the state of Massachusetts, job openings in education and healthcare have been commonplace. In some instances, it has been dire with school districts reshuffling current teaching staff to fill gaps, and hospitals and healthcare facilities recruiting students before they even graduate or offering them enticements from hiring bonuses to special benefits.
It’s important for students and those second-career changers who aspire to be teachers, both elementary and special education; occupational therapists; mental health counselors; and physician assistants be given all the assistance they need to reach their goal. These are rigorous academic programs, and by supporting our Bay Path students in these endeavors we fill a critical need in our communities, and stay true to the University’s vision: At Bay Path, every learner’s dreams of a better career, a richer life, and a brighter future will be realized.
With the support of State Representative Brian Ashe and State Senator Eric Lesser, Bay Path University has received $200,000 in funding from the state of Massachusetts for the proposal Closing Regional Workforce Gaps in Education and Healthcare Through Experimental Learning.
“I am thrilled to have secured funding for this innovative program,” stated Representative Ashe. “Bay Path University continues to provide not only a quality education but takes a vested interest in the future of their students by going beyond the classroom and providing them with career focused solutions like the Closing Regional Workforce Gaps in Education Program. This program provides students with the skills and experience they need to transition into the local workforce upon graduation. It is a win for the students, the University and the western Mass economy.”
The funding will impact undergraduate and graduate students in fields such as early childhood education, elementary education, special education and severe special needs, clinical mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, nursing, occupational therapy, developmental psychology, and other healthcare and health sciences-related fields. Specifically, it will focus on:
- Establishing formal career mentorship programs for students from professionals in their fields of interest;
- Paid faculty-supervised internships, practicums, clinical rotations, field experiences, and employer-led project-based learning;
- Training workshops and tutoring support at no charge for students applying for licensure;
- And funds to pay for licensure registration, testing fees, and materials for certifications for students for tests, for example MTELs, National Counselor Examination (NCE), and the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) among others.
"We are so grateful for the continued support from the offices of Representative Ashe and Senator Lesser for Bay Path University and our mission," adds President Sandra Doran. "There is such a critical need for teachers and healthcare providers in our region. Bay Path can play a key role in filling this gap as 80% of our students stay in the region post-graduation. This funding will remove barriers, as well as provide the academic and financial assistance our students need to become part of the essential workforce that educates our children, cares for people at all ages and stages of their lives, and contributes to the overall well-being of our communities."