By: Jessica Trufant
Source: The Patriot Ledger

PLYMOUTH – Quincy College’s satellite campus in Plymouth has experience the same growth and expansion as the Quincy campus during the last five years. The Plymouth campus in Cordage Park has expanded by nearly 4,000 square feet – adding new labs, classroom space, a new library and bookstore – and more than doubled its enrollment to more than 1,000 students in the last five years. The Plymouth campus offers the same academic programs and student services as Quincy, serving the South Shore population without the need for commuting. For example, Eastern Nazarene College comes on campus to allow students to complete the last two years for a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Mary Burke, dean of the Plymouth Campus, since it’s been a different campus since Peter Tsaffaras became the college’s president in 2011.

“We’ve been on a trajectory toward where we want to be for students because we’ve being allowed to make these necessary changes,” Burke said. “We’ve exploded in so many ways.”

The Plymouth campus recently launched a physical therapist assistant program after a vigorous accrediting process. It’s one of only six programs of its kind in the state. “It’s monumental,” Burke said. “Only seven programs were approved last year nationally.”

The program is competitive, Burke said, and the first eight students started classes in September.

The ability for Quincy College to grant bachelor’s degrees would be a huge advantage for the Plymouth campus, where many students come from Marshfield, Carver and Plymouth, Burke said.

“They want to stay with us, and they want four-year degrees,” she said.

Professor Glenn Gaudreau, who teaches natural sciences, said the last five years at Quincy College have been more important to the school’s growth than the previous 23 years he worked there.

“Morale has never been higher,” he said. “Peter Tsaffaras is hands on, he shows respect and he cares.”