About HCC

Welcome to HCC

Lifting up our community by providing a quality education and workforce training to the people of the Pioneer Valley

The first two-year college in the Commonwealth, HCC is widely recognized as a leader in high-quality, affordable pathways to transfer or immediate entry into the workforce. A designated Hispanic Serving Institution, HCC serves a diverse community with more than 80 degree and certificate programs, and online, blended, evening, and Saturday classes that accommodate the busy lives of our students. HCC's Center for Health Education, Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Education, and HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, provide students with state-of-the-art resources as well as the knowledge and skills they need to be successful.  

Throughout the year, HCC is home to numerous recreational and cultural activities and events that are open to the community. View an art exhibit at the Taber Art Gallery, catch a live performance at the Leslie Phillips Theater, or enjoy the college's Jazz Festival and concerts by HCC faculty and the Holyoke Civic Symphony. Interested in pickleball? HCC's David M. Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation has 7 courts, open to all on a first come, first served basis. HCC also boasts the largest disc golf course in Western Massachusetts, and it's free and open to the public. The best place to discover what's happening at HCC is on our online events calendar. We invite you to visit and get to know us!

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

Educate. Inspire. Connect.

Vision

Holyoke Community College aspires to be a college of academic excellence known for helping students overcome barriers to success.

Values

Kindness, inclusion and trust are the foundation of the work that we do together. Innovation and collaboration enable us to explore and implement the ideas that will shape our future.  

  • Kindness
    We approach all interactions with empathy and in consideration of one another's needs. We act with the highest levels of professionalism, respect, and civility as we seek common ground and strive for mutual understanding.
  • Inclusion
    We provide a fair and welcoming environment where all voices are heard and meaningfully included to contribute to the growth and success of HCC. We take intentional action, challenge our assumptions, foster belonging, and respect the uniqueness of the individual.
  • Trust
    We are inspired to do our best work when we assume positive intention, prioritize transparency, and communicate with honesty, clarity, and consistency. We do this thoughtfully by including all stakeholders in the decision-making process and following through with our commitments.
  • Innovation
    We empower all members of our community to explore, share, and actualize their ideas to continuously improve service to our students and community. We do this with creativity and agility by keeping an open mind, taking risks, evaluating outcomes, and learning from mistakes. 
  • Collaboration
    We work as a team to develop and achieve common goals through an open exchange of ideas in a community that encourages wide-ranging participation, intentional communication, and the pursuit of diverse perspectives and expertise.
accessibility

HCC is committed to accessibility and inclusion, and to ensuring that all are able to participate in college programs, activities, and events. Learn about accessibility for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, including:

  • Parking
  • Getting around campus
  • Accessible restrooms
  • Aids and services
smoke-free campus

HCC is a smoke-free campus everywhere, all the time. This policy applies to students, faculty, staff, and visitors.