By: Laura Soukkavong
WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester State University and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will develop new paid cooperative education programs aimed at connecting students with employers in health care, biotechnology, early childhood education and other fields under a $60,000 state grant initiative announced Friday.
Gov. Maura Healey’s administration announced the funding November 6 as part of an effort to expand paid, career-related work opportunities at Massachusetts public universities. Both campuses plan to launch pilot programs during the 2027-2028 academic year.
Worcester State will focus on municipal and cultural affairs, chemistry and biotechnology, and early childhood education. UMass Dartmouth will concentrate on allied health and health care opportunities involving employers across the South Coast.
The initiative is designed to give students experience in their chosen fields before graduation while helping employers recruit workers with relevant training. Unlike many traditional internships, cooperative education placements are full-time paid work experiences lasting four to eight months.
“I want every student in Massachusetts to get a great education, graduate ready for a good job and have every opportunity to build their future right here in our state,” Healey said. “Paid co-ops give students the chance to put what they’re learning into practice, earn money and build connections with Massachusetts employers before they graduate. We’re expanding these opportunities because they help our students succeed and help us keep talented young people here in Massachusetts.”
At UMass Lowell, which operates an established cooperative education program and is helping other public campuses develop their own, students completing six-month co-ops earn an average of $20,714 during their placements, according to the administration. That figure describes UMass Lowell’s program, not projected earnings at the two newly funded universities.
Worcester State President Barry Maloney said the grant will support a model connecting the university’s academic programs with employers and community needs.
“We are excited to receive this state investment in the development of Worcester State’s co-op program,” Maloney said. “Experiential learning is one of the most powerful ways we can connect a Worcester State education to the needs of our students, our employers and our community. This grant will help us build a model that gives students meaningful, paid work experience while allowing our regional partners to develop the talented workforce they need. We are grateful to Governor Healey for recognizing the value of this work and for helping us move this important initiative forward.”
At UMass Dartmouth, Chancellor Mark A. Fuller said the planned program will strengthen relationships with health care organizations and expand professional opportunities for students pursuing allied health careers.
“This grant will help UMass Dartmouth create new pathways for students to gain meaningful, real-world experience in allied health fields while completing their degrees,” Fuller said. “By working closely with health care employers across the SouthCoast, we are strengthening career preparation and helping build the skilled workforce our region and Commonwealth needs.”
The latest awards bring the number of participating public campuses in the Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative to five. Earlier in 2026, the state awarded a combined $210,000 to Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Bridgewater State University and Framingham State University to design and establish co-op programs.
The initiative is a partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Innovation Hub and UMass Lowell. The Lowell campus provides coaching, technical assistance and guidance on building partnerships between academic departments and employers.
Education Secretary Steve Zrike said expanding paid placements is intended to help students apply classroom learning and prepare for careers. Interim Commissioner of Higher Education José Luis Santos said the growth from three participating campuses to five is a step toward a broader public university co-op system.
“Building a strong co-op program requires institutions to develop lasting connections among academic programs, employers, and the students they serve,” Santos said. “The expansion from three to five campuses marks an important step toward building an innovative statewide model of public institutions committed to expanding high-quality cooperative education.”
Over the coming year, Worcester State and UMass Dartmouth will design academic requirements, identify employer partners, develop recruitment strategies and establish plans to sustain the programs beyond the initial grants. Both schools will also participate in statewide discussions to share lessons and develop common practices.
The Innovation Hub launched in 2025 with support from a $2.1 million grant from Axim Collaborative. Its broader mission includes testing approaches to college access, student success and workforce preparation.
The co-op expansion is part of the Healey administration’s broader higher education agenda, which includes free community college, increased state financial aid and tuition and fee assistance for Pell Grant-eligible students at public four-year institutions.
For Worcester State and UMass Dartmouth students, the new programs remain in the planning stage. The announcement does not establish application dates, participating employers or guaranteed placements. Those details will depend on the universities’ work ahead of the anticipated 2027-2028 launch.