HCC recognizes that academic learning can be strengthened through real-life experiences. The College also believes that students want to be involved in the community in positive ways.
HCC’s Community Service Learning and Cooperative Education programs offer hands-on learning opportunities. Students get to build their skills and contribute in personally meaningful ways to the community.

Community Service Learning
Cooperative Education

Community Service Learning is a way for students to apply what they have learned in class while making a difference in their communities. For example:
• Nursing students created an interactive health fair and taught health education classes at North Star Academy, a charter high school in Springfield.
• Psychology students worked with students involved with the El Arco Iris Community Arts Center on a project documenting the history of the Puerto Rican experience in Holyoke.
• Early Childhood Education students volunteered as readers to children at Holyoke Pediatrics’ Reach Out and Read Program.
Each month, the Community Service Learning program compiles a list of service learning opportunities. Learn more about service-learning opportunities… [Link to http://www.hcc.mass.edu/html/HCC_in_Community/Service_Learning/Service_Learning.htm]

Cooperative Education is an opportunity to supplement and enrich a traditional academic program with work experience related to various fields of study. This provides students with knowledge and experience useful in making informed career decisions, setting career goals, and planning further education. It also allows students the opportunity to put theory into practice and to develop the work skills needed for success. Learn more about Cooperative Education… [link to http://www.hcc.mass.edu/html/L]earning_at_HCC/Cooperative_Education/Cooperative_Education.htm]