Established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1963, it features an open admissions policy for the majority of its academic programs.

The college has been praised for its use of renewable energy, winning the National Wildlife Federation's "Chill-Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming" competition in the spring of 2007.

Two Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines were activated in March 2011 which are expected to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand.

[11] The college offers noncredit classes for personal enrichment year-round as part of its Lifelong Learning program.

[21] Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, the TAMYs evaluate high school performances within a 50-mile radius of the college based on a number of criteria, including (among others) Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Featured Ensemble and Best Overall Production.