Wentworth Institute of Technology Division of Professional and Continuing Studies teams up with local organizations

Tom is a facility professional in a job which he enjoys. Having grown up in Salem Mass., he decided to make his home and raise his family in the Woburn area, just a few miles down the road. He knows from experience that living and working in the north shore area makes for a hard commute into Boston where his classes would normally take place. With few educational options outside of Boston, people like Tom are left with a difficult question to answer: Is this worth the sacrifice to continue my education? Wentworth Institute of Technology's DPCS hopes to make this question less difficult by simply bringing the classroom to the students through satellite classes outside the city. "It's a tough thing to do. I've taken a course here and there in the past. Depends on how far I had to drive but usually it left me with no time through the week. I've got a great wife and a 12 year old girl I need to be there for. I want to be the one who drives her to her games." This sentiment is nothing new to those who live and commute outside greater Boston. Anyone who's had to navigate this area on a regular basis knows just how difficult getting in and out of the city can be. By branching out into these communities, Wentworth hopes to provide more opportunities to a wider range of people. In doing this, they are also acknowledging the size of the region, the population of potential students, and the fact that mass transit doesn't exactly lend itself to furthering educational opportunities. The dean of lifelong learning Joan Dolamore at Wentworth Institute of Technology has launched an outreach campaign to make alliances with area organizations and businesses to help reach this pool of students. Recently, Wentworth has been working with area organizations like the Carpenters Union, the Association for Facilities Engineering and the Department of Workforce Development to branch out and fulfill their common goals of promoting education. Wentworth has a rich tradition of higher education spanning over 100 years in the Boston area. Having established the name as a regional leader in technological education, they are highly recognized within the industry. Ultimately, it's going to be students like Tom who benefit the most from this initiative by Wentworth. At age 57, he has a genuine and realistic outlook on his future. "At my age, the physical aspects of my job aren't as easy as they were 30 years ago and they won't get any easier. By continuing your education, it proves that you're serious about your job and about improving yourself. It'll give you a leg up so you can move ahead. I really like this field of work and I'd like to stay in it but, no one wants to break down their body because of work. Having a 12 year old girl will keep me young at heart, but it would be nice to feel that way physically too." If, like Tom, you want to continue your education at a location convenient to your home or workplace, give Wentworth's Division of Professional and Continuing Studies a call at 617-989-4300. Or visit our website at www.wit.edu/dpcs.