Regis College was awarded a two-year, $260,150 Workforce Competitiveness Grant from the Commonwealth Corporation to train and upskill employees from three of its healthcare partners, Emerson Health, Lawrence General Hospital, and South Shore Health. The training, in the form of professional certificates, is delivered from the university’s Wood Lavine Division of Professional Studies.
The grant will cover full tuition costs for partner employees to earn certificates from Regis’s Wood Lavine Division of Professional Studies. Certificates are offered in high-demand healthcare positions, such as allied health professional, EKG technician, medical assistant, pharmacy technician specialist, phlebotomy technician, sterile processing technician, and more. This initiative is part of the university’s enduring commitment to enhancing workforce development in the region while supporting the career advancement of healthcare professionals.
“Through this generous grant from the Commonwealth Corporation, employees at Emerson Health, Lawrence General Hospital, and South Shore Health will have access to high-quality education and training without a financial burden,” said Regis College President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN. “This effort to empower healthcare workers with the skills and certifications they need to advance their careers will also address critical workforce shortages in our healthcare system. Whether through professional certificates or undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, Regis instills students with character and confidence and prepares them for careers of meaning.”
In addition to covering tuition, the grant includes comprehensive support services designed to help participants succeed. This includes support for English Language Learners (ELLs) and social-emotional supports, provided through a collaboration with the Drop-Out Academy. These services are crucial in ensuring that all participants, regardless of their background, have the tools and resources needed to successfully complete their certification programs and thrive in their careers.
“The transformative work funded by this Workforce Competitiveness grant manifests Regis’s mission to foster lifelong learning and professional development in its students,” added President Hays. “By upskilling healthcare employees, the university is contributing to the personal growth and upward mobility of our healthcare partner employees, but also enhancing the quality of care provided to the community.”
