Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Designated in 1997 as "the public liberal arts college of Massachusetts," MCLA is one of only 25 so-designated institutions in the country and is a member of COPLAC, the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. MCLA offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master's of Education degrees, along with extensive professional development opportunities to our region's teachers and K-12 administrators. MCLA delivers a high quality, affordable education that focuses on building critical thinking and communication skills that are of great value to our graduates' development, to their community, and to their future employers. This rich academic experience also is prevalent in our professional degree programs. As a public liberal arts college, our promise is a commitment to prepare students for success at work and in life.

Program of Distinction
Collaborations
Access Indicators
Affordability Indicators
Student Success and Academic Quality Indicators
Fiscal Effectiveness and Efficiency Indicators

Program of Distinction

Collaborations

• MCLA students serve as writing mentors in a partnership between MCLA, Inkberry Inc. and North Adams Conte Middle School. The purpose of "The Write Stuff" is to enhance the writing skills of seventh graders. MCLA student coordinators, Inkberry staff members and a Conte teacher work together to develop lesson plans, identify teaching resources, conduct training sessions and match middle school students with 20 mentor volunteers. The mentors meet weekly in the Conte library for one-on-one or one-on-two writing tutorials. The middle school students also participate in monthly theme-based field trips, which include visits to the MCLA campus. At the end of each semester, the seventh graders read their writings at an "Author's Night." In addition, the North Adams Transcript, a local newspaper, publishes the students' writings twice a year.
• "Take Charge" is a collaborative effort between MCLA, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Williams College, the Center for Ecological Technology, and several area businesses. This campaign is part of a community effort dedicated to conserving energy and promoting renewable energy, and educates the community on ways to save money and meet a variety of energy challenges. More than 120 volunteers from MCLA, Williams College and the community have winterized 46 homes in the area. Area high school students also work with middle and elementary school students to increase their energy awareness. "Take Charge" empowers residents to learn about ways to conserve and manage resources, and how to take no-cost or low-cost measures to make their homes more efficient, more comfortable and more affordable to live in.
• The Berkshire Compact for Higher Education, a county-wide initiative under the leadership of MCLA , was created to ensure that all residents of this region aspire to 16 years of education. MCLA led the effort for the Compact and successfully executed the first milestone of the Berkshire Passport (a component of the Compact that will promote college awareness, starting early in a child's education) - Berkshire County Goes to College Day. This past April, 1,200 sixth graders spent the day at one of the four colleges in the county; MCLA, Berkshire Community College, Bard College of Simon's Rock and Williams College. During this inaugural visit, the sixth graders were able to meet college students and faculty, tour the campuses and engage in a variety of activities including creating a mock television show, feeding sea anemones, and participating in chemistry experiments. The program exposed middle school students to a variety of academic disciplines and experiences, and helped build an early awareness of college.
• MCLA partnered with the City of North Adams, MASS MoCA and the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition for DownStreet Art, an array of art exhibitions to celebrate art in downtown North Adams June 26 through October 31, 2008. The project featured, for the first time, a map of all the visual art destinations in the area, including four new contemporary art spaces. New spaces included work by artist Jarvis Rockwell; an exhibition of art by the Sol LeWitt project's professional apprentices from MASS MoCA; the North Adams Artists' Cooperative Gallery; and Lumens, an interactive, networked installation by local artists presented by MCLA Gallery 51, Greylock Arts and Turbulence. The effort brought nearly 14,000 visitors to the downtown galleries, and area businesses saw a notable increase in foot traffic and sales.

Section I: Access to Public Higher Education in Massachusetts

Access Indicators

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Fall Enrollment

Over the last three years, total fall headcount enrollment has remained relatively stable. Over the same time period, undergraduate fall headcount enrollment has increased 8.0%.

Over the last three years, total fall full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment has increased 2.1%. Over the same time period, undergraduate fall FTE enrollment has increased 8.2%.

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Annual Enrollment

Over the last three years, total annual headcount enrollment has decreased 6.5%. Over the same time period, undergraduate annual headcount enrollment has increased 4.5%.

Over the last three years, total annual FTE enrollment has decreased 4.4%. Over the same time period, undergraduate annual FTE enrollment has increased 4.4%.

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Looking Back: Undergraduate and Graduate Fall Headcount Enrollment

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Minority Enrollment

Greater than the Berkshire Region's minority representation of 4.6%.

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Community College Transfer Students

Over the last three years, the number of community college transfer students has decreased 15.9%.

Section II: Affordability of Massachusetts Community Colleges

Affordability Indicator

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% of Median Family Income

Below the Northeast regional average of 9.1%.

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Looking Back: Tuition and Fees as a Percent of Median Family Income

	FY2004	FY2005	FY2006	FY2007	FY2008
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Tuition and Fees	$5,397	$5,417	$5,616	$5,926	$6,168
State Median Family Income	$67,527	$68,701	$71,655	$74,463	$78,497
"X" as a Percent of State Median Family Income
X = Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Tuition and Fees	8.0%	7.9%	7.8%	8.0%	7.9%
X = Massachusetts State Colleges' Average Tuition and Fees	6.7%	7.3%	7.5%	7.8%	7.7%
X = Northeast Average Tuition and Fees		9.2%	9.3%	9.3%	9.1%

Section III: Student Success and Academic Quality

Success and Quality Indicators

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Fall Cohort First-Year Persistence

Below the segmental rate of 74.4% and the institutional peer retention rate of 78.5%, but comparable to the national rate of 71.9%.

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Looking Back: Fall-to-Fall Retention Rate

	Cohort
	Entering 2002	Entering 2003	Entering 2004	Entering 2005	Entering 2006
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Rate	76.5%	73.6%	72.6%	71.0%	71.5%
Peer Rate		82.1%	77.9%	75.7%	78.5%
Massachusetts State Colleges Segment Rate	74.6%	75.2%	76.2%	73.5%	74.4%
National Average		71.1%	70.3%	70.0%	71.9%

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Six-Year Graduation Rate

Comparable to the segmental rate of 47.3% but below the institutional peer rate of 56.8%.

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Looking Back: Six-Year Graduation Rate

	Cohort
	Entering 1998 Grad. by 2004	Entering 1999 Grad. by 2005	Entering 2000 Grad. by 2006	Entering 2001 Grad. by 2007	Rolling Average Entering 1999– 2001
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Rate	45.0%	47.3%	51.3%	46.3%	48.3%
Peer Rate	53.2%	53.8%	56.6%	60.1%	56.8%
Massachusetts State Colleges Segment Rate	47.6%	47.2%	48.9%	45.9%	47.3%

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Degrees Conferred

Average degrees conferred per year over the last three years: 347

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Looking Back: Degrees Conferred

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Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure Pass Rate

Above the Board of Higher Education's target pass rate of 80%.

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Special Admissions Students

Meets the Board of Higher Education requirement of enrolling less than 10% special admissions students per year. (See Appendix.)

Section IV: Effective and Efficient Use of Resources

Effectiveness and Efficiency Indicators

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Effective Projects and Initiatives

• Continued to work with The Center for Ecological Technology, to implement opportunities to reduce our footprint through energy conservation and recycling efforts, including the installation of the following: energy efficient lighting in the Freel Library, Church Street Center, and Wellness Center, energy efficient hot water system in the Campus Center, three solar powered emergency phones in campus parking lots, and an energy efficient dishwasher for food service use.
• All Admission staff travel in Prius Hybrid cars either college owned or leased. Vehicles are also used for other college travel during the fall.

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Resource Allocation

Expenditures per Student—Actual, National Peers, and Budget Formula

Note: This graphic was revised on May 6, 2009. The previously posted graphic displayed the data inaccurately.

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Primary Reserve Ratio

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Compliance

No materials weaknesses based on annual external independent audit:

• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004