| Worcester State College By: Courtney Morello For the past 125 years, Worcester State College has provided an excellent education at an affordable price to many students in our state. In 1871, the State Legislature was determined to create a normal school in Worcester to train teachers for the growing population. The school opened in 1874, a single building on St. Ann’s Hill that only housed 69 students. In 1921, the Worcester Normal School introduced a four-year course of study to lead a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and outgrew its small location. The city of Worcester responded to the college and bought 20-acres of land at Chandler and May Street from George Rockwood. The construction of the new building was finished in 1931, and Mr. Wood donated the 35-scres of the old Willow Farm in 1942. Now the school had grown to 58 acres and Worcester State College still offers beautiful scenery to all the students who attend it almost rural campus in the western edge of the city. No longer limited by law to teacher education, Worcester State College is now devoted to education programs that lead to self-enrichment through the liberal arts and careers in the professions, government, business, and industry. While continuing its tradition of serving the residents of the Commonwealth, the College has earned a reputation for its affordable education through the quality teaching by dedicated faculty and the programs open to its students and society changing needs. The College has developed new programs in the field of health and biomedical science while maintaining its academic distinctions in business and liberal arts and more that a century-old tradition in teacher education. In the year 2000, the College realized a dream with opening of Science and Technology Center. The Colleges mission is to serve the community, while maintaining its basic character as a metropolitan institution serving a primarily commuter population, the College actively looks for opportunities to work with local schools, businesses, cultural, and social organizations, as well as other colleges and universities in Worcester. The College is either helping working professionals to advance their skills, preparing students to think for themselves in a difficult world, or introducing new careers in biotechnology and other up-and-coming disciplines. Worcester State College will continue to make every effort to meet the changing needs to the community it serves. |
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