Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative (MCEI) Co-op Program Design Grant

The Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative (MCEI) “Fast Follower” Co-op Program Design Grants support Massachusetts public four-year institutions in planning and launching new cooperative education pilots for implementation in the 2027-2028 academic year. The program is intended to expand major-aligned, paid work-based learning opportunities by helping institutions design co-op models, build employer and academic partnerships, develop student recruitment strategies, and create measurement and reporting plans. Selected institutions may receive up to $30,000 each along with technical assistance, direct coaching, and recurring workshops delivered through the initiative’s partnership with the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Grantees are expected to complete planning deliverables during the grant period, engage regularly with required technical supports, share interim and final reports and best practices, and help inform broader state co-op reporting standards and ecosystem development.