AIC Earns Early College Designation in Partnership with Duggan Academy and SEZP

SPRINGFIELD, MA – American International College (AIC), in partnership with the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP), has been designated as a Massachusetts Early College Program by the state’s joint Early College Committee. The designation is one of eighteen newly announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and makes AIC the only private college west of Worcester to be included.

Set to launch in Fall 2025 at Duggan Academy in Springfield, the program will follow a wall-to-wall model in which every student participates. Through this model, students will be able to earn up to 60 college credits—at no cost—before graduating from high school. Courses will include MassTransfer-eligible credits and focus on high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, and criminal justice.

“Early college is an important and effective tool for making higher education more accessible and affordable for every Massachusetts student,” said Governor Maura Healey in a press release. “These new partnerships give more young people the opportunity to earn college credit at no cost while still in high school, setting them on a path to success and helping to close opportunity gaps.”

Part of the state’s Reimagining High School initiative, Early College programs are designed to prepare students for postsecondary education or careers, with a focus on those historically underrepresented in higher education.

This new program builds on AIC’s existing partnership with Duggan Academy. In previous collaborations, Duggan students have earned AIC college credits with strong pass rates, and more are continuing on to college. The new Early College designation will expand these opportunities and help remove common barriers to higher education.

Program highlights include:

• Personalized support through small cohorts, academic coaching, and dedicated advisors for multilingual and exceptional learners
• Advising that supports executive functioning and college readiness
• Culturally responsive teaching and staffing
• Universal access, with all Duggan students participating regardless of prior academic performance

The initiative also supports regional workforce development goals outlined in the Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint and reinforces AIC’s commitment to educational equity and community engagement.

“We’re proud to partner with Duggan Academy and the Springfield Empowerment Zone on this Early College initiative,” said Michael Dodge, executive vice president for academic affairs and student life at AIC. “This designation reflects our shared belief that all students deserve opportunities to succeed. Early College is about more than earning credits—it’s about building the skills, confidence, and support networks students need for college and life. It’s a direct investment in their future and the future of Springfield and aligns fully with AIC’s mission to expand access and advance opportunity.”

This new chapter in AIC’s work with Springfield schools underscores the College’s long-standing role in advancing opportunity through education—one student, one partnership, and one future at a time.