STCC-Elms computer science transfer program inspires students to stay close to home to get degrees

by Jim Danko

Springfield, MA (02/22/2022) — When she started as a Springfield Technical Community College student, Jessie Mongeon thought she would leave the area and go to a big university after getting her degree from STCC.

But she found out about a new program that was too good to pass up - a partnership between STCC and the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee. In 2019, STCC and Elms College established an accelerated online degree completion program in computer science and computer information technology and security. Students can earn an associate degree from STCC and transfer their credits to The Elms to continue toward a bachelor's degree.

The more she looked into it, the more Mongeon realized it was a perfect fit. The program was affordable and offered an inspiring choice of courses.

"It was funny at the end," said Mongeon, who grew up in East Longmeadow and went to Lower Pioneer Valley Career Technical Education Center in West Springfield. "I was looking at other schools. I was looking to travel, and I ultimately ended up going 15 minutes down the street from STCC."

Mongeon, 23, became the first woman to graduate from the new transfer program when she received her bachelor's degree in computer information technology and security in December 2021. She earned her associate in CITS from STCC in the spring of 2020. Students can earn their degree in about 14 months after getting their associate from STCC.

"Elms took every credit I had from STCC," Mongeon said. "I was able to transfer over everything that I paid for at STCC, which was incredible."

She found out many other colleges and universities were not as generous with transferring credits, which is one of the reasons she chose the local colleges.

In 2021 Mongeon moved to Charlotte, N.C., when she was still completing her degree. She realized she could travel and get the education she wanted from STCC and Elms because the courses were offered online. Her degree also opened up opportunities. She works as a technical content writer at a startup technical company.

Another recent graduate, Rasheed Tyler, took a different pathway to STCC. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1989. "I said the infamous words, 'I'll take a year off and I'll do college in a year.' Life happens fast," Tyler said, noting he ended up raising children and working instead of starting college.

About 30 years after getting out of high school, he decided to apply to STCC. He discovered the computer information technology transfer program was an ideal path toward his career goal. It was offered online but students could take some classes in person.

STCC welcomed him as an older, non-traditional student. Thinking he might have been too old for college, he talked to his professor, Brian Candido, who encouraged him to stay in the program and stay focused on his education.

"He said, 'You know your stuff. Don't worry about it,'" Tyler recalled.

Tyler's original plan was to get a two-year associate degree, but Candido explained that getting a bachelor's degree will open up the possibility of earning more income.

Dr. Beryl Hoffman, an associate professor of computer science at Elms College, spoke to Tyler and other STCC students about the transfer program. He liked the price tag and the ability to seamlessly transfer credits.

While studying in the STCC-Elms program, Hoffman encouraged Tyler to continue on to get his master's degree after earning a bachelor's. He is now enrolled at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, pursuing a master's degree.

Both Tyler and Mongeon said their pathway to an exciting career in IT started at STCC, where they both took advantage of opportunities. Tyler worked on the Information Technology Help Desk at STCC while he was a student. He loved the hands-on projects in his classes and the valuable advice he received from his professors.

Mongeon was enrolled in the STEM Starter Academy, which allowed her to get experience with science, technology, engineering and math classes and projects before officially starting as a full-time STCC student.

"I spent a whole lot of time on campus. I really loved the extra opportunities that they had, especially around the STEM industries and the degrees around the STEM field," Mongeon said.

STCC, the only technical community college in Massachusetts, offers a broad range of STEM programs and classes in addition to degrees in areas such as business and liberal arts that prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

Mongeon said she not only gained a robust STEM education; she also drew inspiration from English classes at STCC.

"I have a strong love for reading and writing," she said. "I was the editor of the Tech Times, the newspaper at STCC. I took every English class that STCC offers."

Today, she no doubt uses lessons from all of her STCC classes in her current position. She merged her experience in IT and her passion for writing and creating content to thrive in her position as technical content writer.

"This is my dream job," she said. "It's what I always wanted to do."

Mongeon said she couldn't thank professors Candido and Hoffman enough for their support.

"I couldn't ask for two better mentors and professors to have guided me through my degree process between the two schools," Mongeon said.

Candido said the pathway from STCC to The Elms has been a great choice for many students.

"In addition to all the STCC credits transferring (to The Elms), students can choose to continue their studies online in a very cost-effective way," Candido said. "Now the graduates of the computer information technology department have choices to transfer as a full-time student or seek employment in information technology AND continue their pursuit of a bachelor's degree. It's a win-win for the students, STCC and The Elms."

Hoffman said, "Our goal is to broaden participation in tech careers by providing affordable, flexible, online accelerated degree completion programs in computer science and computer information technology and security majors.

"The collaboration between STCC and Elms College faculty and the alignment of the IT programs between the institutions makes it easy and rewarding to transfer from STCC to Elms to quickly complete a bachelor's degree and advance tech careers."

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or contact Admissions at (413) 755-3333 or admissions@stcc.edu

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