The new classes will be available by next September, and perhaps as early as January.
WESTFIELD - Westfield State College will expand its criminal justice program to Southbridge with a $600,000 grant announced Wednesday by the college and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.
The expansion is designed to boost the Southbridge economy and offer students in central Mass. access to Westfield State’s four-year, bachelor’s degree program, according to college President Evan S. Dobelle.
“It’s a great opportunity for Western and central Massachusetts,” said Dobelle, adding that up to 45 teaching and support jobs will be created.
The new site, located at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center, will open by September and perhaps as early as January, according to Dobelle, who said the program will serve 780 students.
As part of the project, the college will establish a partnership and Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester to assure that credits earned at the junior college level will count for a four-year degree.
Westfield State has the oldest criminal justice program in Massachusetts, and one of the most highly-regarded in the Northeast, Dobelle said. Of the 5,400 students enrolled at Westfield State, 800 are enrolled in criminal justice programs, making it one of the most popular majors.
“Young people are practical, and they know that (law enforcement) is where the jobs are,” Dobelle said. “They’re good solid jobs, with benefits and pensions.”
The Southbridge program will offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees for full and part-time students, and also provide training for officers already working in the field.
Dobelle said the expansion represents a vote of confidence in the program, and expressed gratitude to Neal for the funding.
The $600,000 windfall was the third in five years arranged by Neal for the college; previous grants included $100,000 in 2006 and $305,000 in 2008, Dobelle said.
The congressman said the new program - located at the site of the former American Optical Co. plant - will provide a state-of-the-art training center while using the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center to its fullest potential.
Also attending the announcement were Thomas J. Foley, a member of the college’s board of trustees and the state Governor’s Council, and Gail E. Carberry, Quinsigamond’s president.
The junior college has 8,400 students, with 575 enrolled in criminal justice classes.
The new Southbridge program will be located about an hour from Westfield campus and about 15 minutes from Quinsigamond.