BC’s new school for first-generation college students begins summer session

“No one is really anonymous in a program like this,” Founding Dean Erick Berrelleza said about Messina College.

More than 100 first-generation college students moved into their new dorms this month at Messina College, a new school run by Boston College that aims to help underprivileged students access college degrees.

“This has been long in our history. Working with first-gen and also immigrant students, often with high financial need, was even the very foundation of Boston College,” founding Dean Erick Berrelleza said.

The school, located in Brookline, offers two-year associate’s degrees in four fields: applied data science, health sciences, general business, and applied psychology and human development.

The “majority” of the 110 students will pay up to $200 out of pocket in addition to a yearly $2,000 loan, Berrelleza said.

The school’s inaugural class moved in on July 7 to begin two summer courses. Berrelleza called the summer classes an “on-ramp” for the students, allowing them to take one less class in the fall and spring than a traditional student.

“I always think about not sacrificing the rest of the college experience,” he said. “This helps reduce that load and allow them to be a little more balanced as students.”

The school’s residential model sets it apart from other two-year institutions, which are generally commuter schools, Berrelleza said.

Berrelleza, who was a first-generation college student himself, said when he was in school it was “a sink or swim model.” He emphasized that Messina will offer additional support.

“It doesn’t matter that they don’t have some of this cultural capital, some of the knowledge of, through their family, of attending school,” Berrelleza said. “We’re helping them with some of that curriculum, some of that culture, to make sure that their experience is rich, that they’re successful here.”

Messina’s $50 million endowment comes after BC’s 2020 acquisition of the former Pine Manor College in Brookline. Pine Manor College’s former campus is now the location of Messina College. From there, Berrelleza said, a shuttle runs to connect Messina students with BC’s Chestnut Hill campus.

Working with first-gen and immigrant students ties into BC’s mission

In 1863, BC started as a commuter school, or a “small streetcar college,” predominantly for the Irish, Catholic immigrant community.

“Messina College is just a continuation of other efforts that we’ve done in the past,” Berrelleza said.

Messina students will take two classes on BC’s Chestnut Hill campus during their second year. Berrelleza touted the new school’s small class sizes, its mentorship program, and close relationships between student and faculty members.

“No one is really anonymous in a program like this,” he said.

Messina shared move-in activities on Instagram, where students said they were excited to grow within a close-knit community over the next two years.

“I’m excited on building connections with the students and being a role model for the next year’s upcoming students and just making a name for this school,” one student said.

After the students get their associate’s, they can go into the workforce or enter a bachelor’s program, Berrelleza said. The four majors at Messina are designed to align with four-year programs at BC, but students would need to apply for transfer to the school or another four-year institution.

“Whether at BC or another institution, they’re going to have a much better experience. They already have a great foundation,” he said. “The two year Messina College program is the BC experience. We provide them with the full, enriching experience of being college students.”