COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133
Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District
January 12, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
$80,000 awarded to higher education institutions in the Second Essex District
Grants via Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Program
(BOSTON—1/12/2026) Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem) announces that more than $80,000 has been awarded to higher education institutions in the Second Essex District via the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Program grant program from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
North Shore Community College and Salem State University have each been awarded $40,000 in grant funding to expand dual enrollment opportunities at the two colleges to bolster early college experiences with meaningful and challenging academic coursework. This funding will serve 70 students at North Shore Community College and 130 students at Salem State University.
“Exposure to college coursework early can be transformational for students as they explore new opportunities for learning and career development, and I am pleased that this funding will allow hundreds of students to be able to take advantage of our high-quality college programming here in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Lovely. “Thank you to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for your support of our students.”
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