Middlesex Community College: For Criminal Justice Student, MCC Is Paving The Way To New Career

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

3/16/2022

For Dan Buckley, from Burlington, Middlesex Community College is the path to helping him reach his goal of becoming a police officer. Earning a degree, he believes, “will give me an edge in the extremely competitive hiring process.”

Buckley originally chose to come to Middlesex because his two sisters had gone on to lead successful careers after attending MCC’s Nursing program. “They always spoke very highly of MCC and encouraged me to attend as well,” he said.

In the spring of 2021, Lynda Pintrich, MCC’s Criminal and Social Justice Chair, led the program through a curriculum review to make it more representative of current times. The goal was to provide students, such as Buckley, with more culturally conscious courses, as well as a more well-rounded educational experience, according to Pintrich.

The program is preparing Buckley to think more critically and problem solve while working in the field, and is helping him to become more aware of issues around social justice and diversity.

“It’s giving me a broader knowledge base regarding the criminal justice system, social justice and community-based policing,” Buckley said. “Which is a necessity in the era of police reform.”

While still new to the program, the courses are already providing Buckley with a strong foundation in a variety of criminal justice topics. He is also honing his writing, communication and computer skills, which he considers “necessary in law enforcement.”

Having professors who are invested in both the subjects they are teaching and helping their students succeed is the best part of the program for Buckley. In almost all of his classes, he has benefitted from supportive instructors who engage students in what they are learning.

While “the staff, programs and community at MCC have all been exceptional,” he said, Professor Ronald Brevard stands out the most to him.

“In addition to being a knowledgeable instructor, he took the time to meet with me one-on-one virtually several times to offer career advice and guidance,” Buckley said. “He also helped me refine my resume and cover letter, and helped me prepare for oral board interviews with the police department.”

At MCC, Buckley takes both on-campus and online classes, but prefers being in-person on the Bedford campus. Calling the transition to online “easy and painless,” he is appreciative of the staff and academic advisors at Middlesex who have answered all of his questions.

While taking classes, Buckley has also started a new job as an Overnight Dispatcher with the Rockport Police Department – who will sponsor him when he enters the full-time police academy. Although he moved to Gloucester to pursue his new role, he chose to continue taking classes at MCC because it has been such a positive experience.

“I feel that I am getting a quality education that would be tough for other community colleges or state schools to match,” he said. “Without MCC, I do not believe that I would be at this point in my career so quickly.”

Part of the Public Service pathway, the Criminal and Social Justice program at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_pubserv.aspx to discover a path to a career in Criminal Justice at Middlesex.

Starting on Monday, March 28, MCC’s Spring Mini-mester II offers eight-week accelerated courses for students looking to get a jumpstart on Summer and Fall plans. For more information and to register for classes, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.