Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting (OFFICIAL) – March 4, 2026
A meeting of the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees was held room TC103AB in the David Hartleb Technology Center located at 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, Mass. on March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
PRESENT:
Ms. Borislow
Mr. Cousins (Via Zoom)
Ms. Fernandez
Ms. Gomez Ruiz
Mr. Hamm
Ms. Hatem-Roy (arrived at 5:05 p.m.)
Dr. Kelley
Mr. Silverio
Mr. Yepez
Ms. Horne
UNABLE TO ATTEND: Mr. Gomez
ALSO, PRESENT: President Glenn
CALL TO ORDER: With a quorum established, Chair Borislow called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. She also welcomed the English Composition from the College who came to observe board governance and leadership in action.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chair Borislow asked for a motion to approve the February 4, 2026 minutes.
On a Motion presented by Trustee Hamm and seconded by Trustee Silverio, the Board unanimously approved the February 4, 2026 minutes as presented.
CORRESPONDENCE: Chair Borislow the Board recognized the passing of former Trustee and Board Chair Joseph Edwards, honoring his longstanding dedication to NECC and its students with a moment of silence.
Trustee Hatem-Roy arrived at 5:05 p.m.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
a) Introduction of Newly Hired Employees:
President Glenn introduced and welcomed NECC’s newest employees: Samuel White, Executive Director of Enrollment Management and Teresa Lefebvre, Dean of Apprenticeships & Work-based Learning. The Trustees also welcomed the newest employees. President Glenn provided a brief explanation of the Trustees’ role in Northern Essex Community College’s governance.
EDUCATIONAL REPORT:
a) Tutoring by Michael Rideout
President Glenn introduced Interim Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Jody Carson, who introduced Mike Rideout, Coordinator of Tutoring Services.
Tutoring Services Coordinator Mike Rideout presented an overview of Fall 2025 tutoring activity, noting that the department supported 414 students across 1,522 appointments in subjects ranging from math and science to writing and IT. Tutoring is delivered on both campuses and online through Zoom and ThinkingStorm, with Thursday and midday usage emerging as peak times. Data from Navigate and Institutional Effectiveness showed strong demand in October, high utilization of math and writing support, and positive correlations between tutoring participation, GPA, and course completion. Mike also highlighted new technology enhancements made possible by a $5,000 Lowell Five donation, including a high‑performance interactive display and QR‑enabled whiteboard tools that enhance collaboration in the Math & Science Center. He concluded by emphasizing the role of tutoring in fostering student success and a sense of belonging across the college.
Q: Trustee Silverio asked for an expanded explanation of ThinkStorm? A: ThinkStorm is an external, online tutoring service that is accessible through Blackboard and Brightspace for students, they can access tutoring services synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous services can be scheduled any time seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Asynchronous services are turned around within 24 hours. Services are rendered by professional tutors as opposed to an AI chatbot.
Q: Trustee Fernandez asked about the experience of the tutors? A: There are 11 professional tutors with a combined experience of about 150 years. Peer/student tutors are in addition to the professional staff.
Q: Trustee Hamm asked about hypothesizes how AI might augment tutoring services? A: NECC has convened a task force to start looking at AI but nothing has been implemented or purchased. President Glenn noted that, like many colleges, the institution is in the midst of adopting new policies and tools. He added that faculty perspectives on classroom practices vary widely.
Trustee Gomez Ruiz how comfortable and welcomed she felt at the Academic Center when she was an NECC in the ‘90s. She further noted that she did not experience the same level of connection or support that NECC provides after transferring to UMass.
b) FY25 Fundraising Overview by Allison Dolan-Wilson
President Glenn introduces Vice President of Institutional Advancement Allison Dolan-Wilson.
Vice President Dolan-Wilson highlighting the college’s continued growth in fundraising and the strategic approach behind it. She noted that the NECC Foundation has expanded significantly over the past several years, growing its endowment from roughly $3M to nearly $12M, and raising close to $2M in FY25, with more than $700,000 provided directly to the college for scholarships and program support. The presentation emphasized long‑term strategy over short‑term spikes, explaining past fluctuations, such as the intensive fundraising push tied to a state matching program that required raising over $1.2M in a single year. The Advancement team has focused on diversifying revenue sources, building a broader donor pipeline, and strengthening donor retention, which now exceeds 87-96%. Annual giving has also grown substantially, consistently surpassing $100,000 and supported by hundreds of small‑gift donors whose participation strengthens long‑term stability. Vice President Dolan-Wilson highlighted successes such as the internship stipend program, seeded initially with unrestricted funds and now bolstered by nearly $1M in external support, and new partnerships with foundations and corporations. She closed by underscoring that the college’s approach aligns with national best practices emphasizing relationship‑building, donor trust, and sustainable growth, ensuring that future leaders will inherit a strong and resilient fundraising foundation.
Q: Trustee Hatem-Roy asked about the endowment vs a quasi-endowment? A: Most of the funds are traditional endowment funds; however, the Advancement team make due-diligent efforts to have funds designated quasi when feasible.
President Glenn praised Vice President Dolan-Wilson and the Advancement team for building a strong culture of philanthropy across the college, noting that the impact of fundraising is clearly reflected in programs like Tutoring Services and in the growing campus-wide understanding of how philanthropy supports students. He emphasized that this kind of cultural shift takes time and cannot be rushed if it is to be sustainable. He highlighted Vice President Dolan-Wilson’s competitiveness and strategic leadership, crediting her with accelerating NECC’s progress and elevating its fundraising practices despite these challenges.
BOARD CHAIR UPDATE:
Chair Borislow thanked Trustee Cousins and Student Trustee Horne for joining her and President Glenn and other NECC staff at the ACCT 2026 National Legislative Summit in Washington D.C. She expressed her pride in the “ambassadorship” exhibited by Trustee Horne and asked her to share her experience.
Trustee Horne reflected on the honor of being invited to the event, sharing that although they were initially nervous, the experience was deeply meaningful. She was especially moved by the meeting with Senator Markey and hearing his personal story, which resonated with her as a Lawrence native and a mother. She emphasized how powerful it was to connect individual student stories with the data and grant work that often drives decision-making, noting that personal narratives help humanize the numbers. Trustee Horne expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share her story and encourages other students to continue sharing theirs so lawmakers and leaders understand who NECC students are and the realities they face. She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting students and the importance of lifting up their voices.
Chair Borislow recognized President for growing his community accolades. President Glenn will be receiving the 2026 Honorable John E. Fenton Citizenship Award from the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 8 at their 55th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Luncheon on Friday, March 13. She also congratulated him on being elected Chair of Merrimack Health’s Board of Trustees.
REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES:
a) Audit & Finance Committee: No report.
b) Alumni Advancement Committee: Committee Chair Fernandez announced Giving Day will be held on Thursday, April 9, and the goal is full participation from all board members, not in terms of gift amounts, but through engagement, personal outreach, and sharing their own stories to encourage alumni and community members to give. She noted that the Advancement Office will provide templates, messaging, and links to make participation easy, and encouraged Trustees to personalize their communications and reach out directly to alumni they know. Trustee Fernandez also highlighted the Impact Awards as an additional opportunity to support fundraising through sponsorships and introductions to potential corporate partners, noting that the event is both a celebration of the college community and an important contributor to growing NECC’s corporate and foundation support.
c) Nominating Committee: Committee Chair Cousins took a moment to echo Chair Borislow’s pride and commended Trustee Horne’s participation at the at the ACCT 2026 National Legislative Summit. He also noted that one Trustee has been recommended for a second term and the recommendation packet has been submitted to the state.
d) Presidential Evaluation Committee: No report.
REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION:
a) Recap of ACCT National Legislative Summit: The AACC/ACCT 2026 Community College Federal Legislative Priorities (i.e., Green Sheet) was distributed as part of the Board Packet.
b) Budget and Legislative Updates: President Glenn provided an update on budget and legislative activity, noting that the major development is the BRIGHT Act moving through the state legislative process. The House version currently includes $22M for the College, while the Senate version sets aside $30M, though these amounts are not final and must still be reconciled, authorized, and bonded over time. The project tied to these funds, expanding career and technical education, has strong support across the delegation and from the Governor. At the federal level, the College is also pursuing congressional directed spending to support a new facility for robotics and advanced manufacturing. The speaker reported that the College’s overall budget remains in solid condition due to responsible expense management, enrollment improvements, and the intentional buildup of reserves. However, they cautioned that statewide budget pressures, particularly large areas like Medicaid, may create broader financial challenges in the coming year, which is why active advocacy at both the federal and state levels continues to be essential.
c) Office of the State Auditor NECC Performance Audit Campus Updates: President Glenn reported that the college has been selected for a statewide audit conducted by the State Auditor’s Office, focusing on institutional processes for supporting students with disabilities and for administering free‑college programs (e.g., MassReconnect and MassEducate). This audit is part of the routine three‑year review cycle required of all state agencies. The audit is expected to take about a year and will involve multiple departments across the college, with significant participation from the Administration & Finance department. Staff.
d) NECHE CBE Visit (April 1-2): President Glenn reported that the College will undergo New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) visit in early April, which will review NECC’s competency‑based education (CBE) programs. NECC was the first public college in Massachusetts, and the first nationally, to offer an approved CBE degree in Early Childhood Education. The accrediting team will specifically review the new Business Management and Healthcare Technician credentials, as well as the College’s request for blanket approval to offer additional CBE programs without requiring separate approval each time. After seven to eight years of developing and refining these offerings, the College hopes this visit will streamline the approval process and allow greater flexibility in leveraging competency‑based education to speed time to completion and reduce costs for students. A decision is expected after the April visit.
f) Campus Updates: President Glenn highlighted the recent success of NECC’s basketball teams.
e) Save-the-Date:
- Athletics Hall of Fame, Thursday, March 5, 6:00~7:00 p.m., Haverhill Campus
- Legislative Breakfast, Friday, March 13, 8:00~10:0 a.m., Haverhill Campus
- Police Academy Graduation, Friday, April 3, 10:00-12:00 p.m., Haverhill Campus
- Guest Performance: Fabulous Fibs, Fables, and Folklore- Al Bostick, Mon 4/6 Haverhill Campus
- White Fund Lecture: Fabulous Fibs, Fables, and Folklore- Al Bostick, Tues 4/7 Lawrence Campus
- NECC Annual Giving Day, Thursday, April 9
- Sheriff Graduation, Friday, April 10, 10:00-12:00 p.m., Haverhill Campus
- NECC 64th Commencement Exercises, Saturday, May 16, 11:00 a.m.~2:00 p.m., Quad, Haverhill Campus
NEW BUSINESS:
a) Grants
Chair Borislow noted one grant for approval totaling $41,985.00 and asked for a motion to approve the grant. It was:
1) Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care: Higher Education Pathways for Multilingual Early Childhood Educators | $41, 985
On a Motion presented by Trustee Fernandez and seconded by Trustee Gomez Ruiz, the Board unanimously approved the grant (ADM-3999-030426) totaling $41,985.00 as presented.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: With no other business, Chair Borislow adjourned the meeting at 5:58 p.m. The Trustees remined to watch the live stream of the NJCAA men’s basketball tournament seeding announcement. Northern Essex Community College Knight’s seeded #1.
