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Above, UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and RCC President Jonathan K. Jefferson shook hands after signing the Beacon Bound agreement on Thurs., Nov. 12, 2026. Cassidy McNeeley photo
A new admission agreement signed today will make it easier for Roxbury Community College (RCC) students to transfer to UMass Boston.
Called “Beacon Bound,” the agreement establishes RCC students with a comprehensive support network, enhanced advising and guidance, and a “seamless” transfer experience to the Dorchester campus of UMass. It goes into effect for the upcoming spring 2027 semester.
UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and RCC President Jonathan K. Jefferson sat side-by-side in UMass Boston’s Campus Center this morning to sign the documents making the program official.
“We all know any undertow, any headwinds, make it very, very difficult for our amazing transfer students to make smooth sailing from Roxbury Community College to UMass Boston,” said Suárez-Orozco, himself a graduate of the community college system in California. “Today, we find another way to make that journey more meaningful and smoother. This agreement supports our shared commitment to expanding access to higher education from diverse, historically underrepresented populations.”
He added: “For many community college students, the pathway from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree can be difficult to navigate. Questions about admissions, requirements, transfer credits, financial aid, and academic expectations can create uncertainty. Even when students are academically prepared and motivated to continue their education, these areas can interrupt their momentum. Beacon Bound directly addresses those challenges.”
Sydney Morgan, director of Undergraduate Admissions at UMass, said that Beacon Bound “codifies a lot of the collaboration that has existed between our institutions for many, many years, and just builds on that.”
“We waive the application fee and enrollment deposit,” Morgan said. “We request the student’s transcript on their behalf, and there’s substantial financial investment in students from this program. Beacon Bound says to students, ‘You belong, and you’re part of our community, and we’re ready for you whenever you are ready.’”
Lahi Macajoux, 20, (above) who graduated with an Associates of Arts in Business Administration from RCC last May, is a prime candidate. This fall, the Weymouth resident started working toward his BS in Management and Leadership at UMass Boston.
“From the beginning, my goal was to earn my associate degree and then transfer to a four-year university to complete my bachelor’s degree,” said Macajoux. “UMass Boston was always a part of my plan to continue my education.”
Evan Desatnick, the coordinator of Transfer Affairs at RCC, joked that Macajoux was ahead of his time.
“You knew where you wanted to go; you knew what you wanted to do. You were really Beacon Bound prior to Beacon Bound,” he said.
Macajoux is excited to see other students like him take advantage of Beacon Bound.
“It provides students with a clear transfer pathway, dedicated advising, financial assistance, and an early connection to UMass Boston. Most importantly, it reminds the students that they do not have to navigate the transfer process alone,” he said. “Your RCC degree doesn’t have to be the end of your educational journey.”
Copyright © 2026 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. This content may not be re-published or re-used without written permission.
