In a small city like North Adams, partnerships like the one between Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and the Clark Art Institute offer students unique opportunities to explore the rich artistic and cultural offerings of the Northern Berkshires. The Trailblazers at The Clark program, a collaboration between MCLA and the Clark, was designed to break down barriers and invite students into an accessible world of art and community connections.
This semester MCLA introduced a new wellness resource tool at no cost to all students to address mental health support across campus. Offering the Calm Mindfulness App is part of the MCLA Cares Project, a three-year initiative to build campus-wide infrastructure to support student mental health.
Each year The Jackson Laboratory in Connecticut and Maine accepts roughly 40 students for an immersive 10-week program to research genetics and genomics. One MCLA senior was accepted into the competitive program this summer and presented her research at the end during a symposium.
MCLA's annual Day of Dialogue is a campuswide day of workshops and discussions that focus on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Classes are suspended so that the community may come together to engage with each other and learn from one another.
MCLA's goal of fostering global citizenship among its students will take a major step forward in the Spring 2025 semester as the College debuts its Global and Intercultural Studies major. The major closely aligns with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education's Equity Agenda and will enable the College to become an educational leader in implementing curriculum initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, the program will enhance opportunities for social mobility for underrepresented students by offering global experiences and preparing them for career opportunities in a rapidly changing labor market.
By partnering with faculty and staff across the MCLA campus, Kayla Hollins '12, executive director of student persistence, and Jordan DeGaetano '20, academic advising coordinator and success coach, have been able to create a student coaching strategy that has been not simply transactional, but transformational.
Earlier this year, MCLA Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Jeannette Smith completed a project she had been working on since June 2021. Smith co-authored "Student Affairs Professional Preparation: A Scholar-Practitioner Guide to Contemporary Topics."
In just her second year at MCLA, Veronica Nault '26 is one of five women to receive a statewide scholarship to support her college career.
Mark Hopkins is now home to the 100 Level Art Gallery, featuring the works of many student artists in the community. This diverse collection includes various forms of art, ensuring a rich and varied experience for visitors.
A group of MCLA students received a $1,000 honorarium from NASA in the fall 2023 semester to purchase equipment to design and build a model of a device that would be launched into space as part of the StarShade Undergraduate Challenge.
