Career-Integrated Learning: Enhancing Student Retention and Economic Mobility

Program Abstract: Middlesex Community College (MCC) will provide an overview of its Biotech and IT Learn and Earn programs, an innovative career and workforce model that supports students on their path to economic mobility by empowering them to pursue careers in biotechnology and IT while completing their associate in science degree in biotechnology and IT. Learn and Earn serves a diverse student population—44 percent White, 28 percent Asian, 16 percent Black, 10 percent Hispanic, and 2 percent two or more races—and over the past two years has placed over sixty students in full-time positions in the biotech industry. The success of this model has led MCC to reenvision its career services office by creating the Office of Career-Integrated Learning, which will align career and hands-on learning experiences within and alongside academic programs at the college.