Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Kim Driscoll visited Bristol Community College's Fall River Campus on Thursday, July 9, touring the college and learning about Bristol's role in expanding access to higher education, and preparing students to meet the workforce demands of an evolving economy.
Joined by Bristol Community College President Sedgwick L. Harris, Ed.D., members of the college's administration and faculty, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll toured the college’s Zero Net Energy; LEED® Platinum-certified John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building; the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Laboratory (AI Lab); and the Commonwealth College Center.
During the visit, college leaders discussed how passage of the BRIGHT Act would help advance the college's mission by supporting continued enrollment growth driven by Massachusetts' Free Community College initiatives, MassReconnect and MassEducate. They highlighted how these programs are expanding access to affordable higher education while increasing demand for student support services and campus facilities. College leaders emphasized that, although the SUCCESS initiative has strengthened advising and other student support resources, campus spaces have not kept pace with enrollment growth. They noted that investing in modern learning, collaboration, and student gathering spaces is the next critical step in ensuring students have the environment they need to persist, complete their programs, transfer, and fully experience campus life.
“Bristol Community College is a great example of how our community colleges give students across the state an opportunity to learn new skills, transition career paths, and prepare to enter the workforce," said Governor Maura Healey. "It's why we've made attendance free and proposed the BRIGHT Act to make essential upgrades at all of our public colleges."
"Our state's community colleges are helping students across Massachusetts succeed and Bristol Community College is no exception," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "Across campus, students are learning the skills they need to meet high-demand fields in tech, maritime industries, and artificial intelligence. That's why our administration filed the BRIGHT Act. It'll modernize our campuses and ensure students across the state can continue preparing the next generation for opportunity."
"We were honored to welcome Lieutenant Governor Driscoll to Bristol Community College and showcase how investments in public higher education are transforming lives across our region," said Dr. Sedgwick L. Harris, President, Bristol Community College. "The BRIGHT Act is an investment in what happens after students enroll. Student success depends on more than access to affordable education; it also requires spaces that foster learning, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. By modernizing our campus facilities, we can better support students throughout their academic journey and provide the high-quality college experience they deserve."
At the AI Lab, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll learned about Bristol's growing artificial intelligence academic offerings and the college's efforts to advance tech career pathways. The new learning space will be equipped with 24 AI workstations and a virtual reality suite to facilitate instruction, community training, and public demonstrations.
The tour concluded at the Commonwealth College Center, where college representatives showcased Bristol’s comprehensive student services available to help students enroll and complete their goals.