Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Higher Education Innovation and Co-ops at MassArt

BOSTON — A new co-operative education (co-op) program that will launch at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) this fall was spotlighted on Tuesday when the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education held its May meeting on the college’s campus. The co-op program is one of three supported by The Massachusetts Co-operative Education Initiative, a new partnership between the Department of Higher Education’s (DHE) Innovation Hub and the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, which was highlighted at the meeting along with other updates about DHE’s new Innovation Hub.
 
The Co-operative Education Initiative is designed to grow valuable work-based learning opportunities for public higher education students throughout Massachusetts. Modeled after UMass Lowell’s successful co-op program, DHE’s Innovation Hub is partnering with UMass Lowell to award $40,000 each for co-ops that will launch this fall at MassArt, Bridgewater State University, and Framingham State University, with $20,000 to support co-op program planning, and a further $20,000 to support first-year implementation.
 
“Students at our colleges and universities deserve every opportunity to apply their learning in the workforce and start building their professional networks while completing their degrees,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “I’m grateful to President Grant for hosting the Board on campus and for being a dedicated partner in growing work-based learning.”
 
"Public higher education will enter the next academic year with a dedicated innovation capacity and new co-op programs, demonstrating exceptional momentum in growing opportunities for the students of Massachusetts,” said Board of Higher Education Chair Chris Gabrieli.
 
Co-ops are a type of work-based learning where students participate in full-time, paid work experience for four to eight months and do not attend classes during that time. Research shows that co-op participation leads to better employment, earnings and career satisfaction.
 
MassArt plans to offer co-ops for students in its communication design and glass programs. Glass majors cultivate the knowledge to pursue sustainable and meaningful futures as creative glass practitioners, including developing technical skills in glassblowing, flameworking, casting, mold-making, carving, and cold construction. MassArt’s communication design program prepares students for careers in print, digital, and interactive media by building skills in typography, visual language, branding, and information design. Co-op experiences will range from designing publications and packaging to web and app interfaces, advertising, motion graphics, and interactive experiences.

“We are proud to help shape this co-op pilot initiative that expands meaningful real-world learning opportunities for MassArt students. Starting with our Communication Design and Glass Departments, we will create additional hands-on experiences that support our students’ artistic and professional growth and prepare them for lasting success. Participating partner organizations will also benefit from our students’ design-thinking, creative problem-solving, and technical expertise, while gaining the opportunity to connect with potential future employees," said MassArt President Mary K. Grant.
 
Growing co-ops is a priority of the Department of Higher Education’s Innovation Hub, which was launched following a $2.1 million grant from the non-profit Axim Collaborative. The first of its kind in the nation, the Hub is a dedicated capacity within DHE to identify, pilot, and scale innovative approaches to college access and student success.
 
“We’re excited that the Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative is already realizing its mission of bringing opportunities to campuses throughout the Commonwealth. At UMass Lowell, we’ve witnessed the impact of cooperative education in providing invaluable work experiences while creating connections that turn into good-paying jobs after college. It’s so rewarding to see other campuses, such as MassArt, build upon that success,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen. 

In a “Commissioner’s Spotlight” presentation, the Board was updated on the Innovation Hub and co-op initiative, hearing for the first time from DHE’s inaugural Chief Innovation Officer, Danielle Rowdy, who joined the Department in March from Amazon Web Services. Rowdy introduced two team members who were also recently hired to carry out the work of the grant-funded Hub. Rowdy, who holds a Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature from the University of Oxford, shared her dedication to higher education access as a first-generation college student.

 "The creation of this Innovation Hub reflects a bold commitment to reimagining how we deliver on the promise of higher education,” said Rowdy. “I look forward to working alongside our public colleges and universities and partners across sectors to design, test, and scale solutions that expand opportunity and drive economic mobility for all learners in the Commonwealth.”
 
Innovation is one of four BHE Strategic Priorities adopted in January 2025, along with Financial Aid and Student Success, Economic Mobility, and Public Good. More information about the Board of Higher Education and upcoming BHE meetings is available at Mass.edu.

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