Food and Society Art Show Opening Celebration on Wednesday, April 24

As a part of the College’s ongoing commitment to providing access to education and removing barriers, AIC is proud to announce a 50% tuition cost reduction* for undergraduate (courses numbered under 5000) summer courses!

Beginning summer 2024, undergraduate students may enroll for summer I and II sessions for only $445 per credit, down from the base rate of $890 per credit.

Need to catch up on coursework? Summer sessions are a great way to graduate on time and AIC’s new reduced tuition rate saves you time and money as you pursue your degree.

Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid, as you may have grant dollars available to put towards summer coursework!

Questions? Email financial.aid@aic.edu or call 413-205-3259.

Want to Register?  Reach out to your advisor or Student Success Advising at advising.center@aic.edu 

*Special credit rate only available for courses with numeric codes under 5000 during Summer Sessions 1 and 2 in the undergraduate catalog.

AIC student and athlete Carissa Michel is being praised for her compassion and quick thinking during the Springfield Thunderbirds annual ‘Pink in the Rink’ hockey game on March 9, to raise money for breast cancer research.

During the game, a guest at the Mass Mutual Center concourse was knocked down and lost consciousness.  Carissa, who was working at a concession stand at the time, sprang into action. She assisted MGM staff and EMTS, comforting the woman, continuously checking her pulse and vitals, and trying to engage her in conversation. Those on the scene recount how Carissa cradled the woman in her arms, providing support and helping to lift and transport her quickly to the EMT station.  

Witnesses say Carissa did not hesitate to take charge of the situation, and her swift and decisive actions are receiving recognition.

“Carissa is one of our athletes as a member of the College’s Women’s Volleyball team. This is what being AIC is about.” - Michael Lavato, Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations

“Please extend a very heartfelt thank you to her [Carissa] for her actions last weekend. This is a true partnership and an unselfish reaction on her part.” -  Chris Hayes, General Manager, OVG Hospitality

“Carissa Michel deserves to be recognized in some capacity for her selfless service to our guest.” - Matthew H. Ferri, Compliance Project Manager (ARPA), Springfield City Hall

Baystate Health Physician and Colleagues Appearing Remotely from Israel and the West Bank will Address Public Health Initiatives in the Embattled Region    

American International College (AIC) is pleased to present the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Lecture in Public Health, featuring Dr. Norbert Goldfield, MD, a physician at Baystate Health and Founder and Executive Director of Healing Across the Divides (HATD). The lecture, scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will be held in AIC’s Schwartz Campus Center Auditorium, with remote presentations from speakers in Israel and the West Bank.

Dr. Goldfield will discuss the work of HATD, an organization based in Northampton, Massachusetts, which he established twenty years ago. HATD works to enhance healthcare for Israelis and Palestinians by providing grant funding and technical support to community groups in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The lecture will focus on HATD’s approach to fostering peacebuilding through initiatives designed to improve health. 

HATD supports organizations employing evidence-based approaches to address health challenges, including diabetes, lifestyles, youth mental health, heart disease, stroke prevention, and reproductive health. However, due to the ongoing conflict in the region, the group's priority is delivering essential emergency services.

Dr. Goldfield is a practicing internist at Baystate Brightwood Health Center, a community healthcare facility in Springfield. With over thirty years of experience, he has led restructuring efforts in healthcare systems at national and community levels. Additionally, he has extensive experience collaborating with those in the Israeli and Palestinian communities.

The lecture will also include virtual appearances from Veronica Vigdorchik in Israel and Nehad Fatah in the West Bank, both program specialists with Healing Across the Divides. They will discuss the health programs funded by HATD in those areas and address the impact of the current conflict on residents.

Vigdorchik, originally from Russia, immigrated to Israel at six with her parents. In addition to her role as an HATD representative, she serves as a facilitator for Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. Fatah, a Palestinian American living in Ramallah, West Bank, has been affiliated with HATD since 2016.

This lecture provides an opportunity for the campus and local communities to hear compelling stories about people on opposite sides of a conflict working together to advance community health, even amidst stressful and challenging conditions.

“The mission of Healing Across the Divides to advance peace through health is powerful,” said Karen Rousseau, PhD, RN, Dean of AIC’s School of Health Sciences. “Their work promoting health among Israeli and Palestinian people with a focus on community-based interventions is critical, especially at this time.”

AIC established the Desmond Tutu Public Health Lecture Series in 2010 to bring awareness to the issue of public health. Its namesake, Archbishop Tutu, served as the event’s inaugural speaker. The lecture, presented with generous sponsorship support from Baystate Health, is free and open to the public.

What if you, your student-athlete, or your sports team could use data-backed physiological testing services to improve health and athletic performance? With the help of the American International College (AIC) Center for Sport Physiology and Exercise Testing (CSPET), that’s now possible.

The state-of-the-art human performance laboratory in the AIC Colaccino Center for Health Sciences is the only one-of-its-kind in the Greater Springfield Area. CSPET features sophisticated testing equipment used to provide advanced exercise assessments and analyses in all aspects of health and performance, including:

BOD POD Body Composition Testing

The BOD POD is a body composition tracking system that utilizes air displacement plethysmography to accurately estimate the amount of fat tissue and lean mass within the body. This data is used to gauge athletic progress, performance, and overall health status. This safe, non-invasive, and accurate test is quick, lasting only about five minutes.

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) Testing

The RMR test is performed to estimate the amount of energy that your body burns in one day. This fasting test is simple, non-invasive, and accurately determines how many calories you burn at rest, which will help you better understand the amount of energy you need from food.

VO2 Max Testing

During a VO2 Max test, your aerobic capacity and the maximal oxygen your body can consume during exercise are measured. Results will help you establish optimal heart rate zones for exercise to scientifically guide your training and indicate your risk for cardiovascular disease. The VO2 Max test is conducted on either a treadmill or a cycle.

Director of the AIC Division of Exercise and Founding Director of CSPET Susie Lachowski, PhD, CSCS, says with repeated testing over time, the center’s team can track an individual’s progress, and highlight areas of improvement that may need to be addressed. “I am excited to provide individuals, athletes, and coaches with exercise testing opportunities to enhance their performance, fitness, programming, and overall health-related goals.”

However, Lachowski adds that the CSPET program is not limited to athletes. It’s also open to AIC faculty and staff as well as members of the public who can access the same exercise testing services and education about their results. “The data from the various tests we offer gives individuals a baseline sense of where they are no matter their health or fitness goals.”

Working in the testing center benefits AIC students in the allied health professions, providing them with learning opportunities to advance their practical knowledge in Exercise Science. After being trained by faculty, the students gain valuable experience administering exercise testing protocols and educating participants on their results, setting them apart from others as they enter their careers. Lachowski says, “Providing applied learning experiences to our students where they can take the content they have learned within our courses and apply it to real-world scenarios is one of the most exciting components to all of this.”

The CSPET is now open to members of the College and greater Springfield communities, by appointment. AIC student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff may sign up for testing at a discounted rate. To request information or to make an appointment, please contact the CSPET online at https://www.aic.edu/lp/sport-physiology/.