Over the years NECC has built upon the vision of the political and business leaders who fought to have the school sited in Haverhill in 1961. President Harold Bentley shared the vision and immersed himself in the community demonstrating the importance of the word community in community college.

The Early Years

NECC quickly responded to the needs of the community. Programs in liberal arts, business, engineering, registered nursing, and human services were developed. These programs were based upon the model of preparing graduates for employment and transfer to bachelors programs.

Young, idealistic faculty and staff were attracted to the college. Their energy created a continuous discovery of opportunities to address the needs of underserved students. In the early ’70s, NECC was a pioneer in offering one of the first ESL programs in higher education in Massachusetts designed to address the needs of the diverse and changing immigrant population. At the same time, the Discovery Program was initiated focusing on those individuals who, at the time, were considered to be nontraditional and high-risk students.

NECC Turns to Lawrence

Lawrence experienced an influx of immigrants who lacked education and employment opportunities. By the mid ‘80s, the City of Lawrence suffered economic and social tensions, which resulted in riots. The city’s political and business leaders called upon NECC to get involved and help address these underlying problems. Thus the drive to develop a Lawrence campus was initiated.

Just as President Bentley immersed himself in the community and built support for a rapidly growing college, President Dimitry provided a similar level of energy and leadership in Lawrence. Key academic programs were moved to that campus in the ’90s as a way of making them more accessible to Lawrence residents.

Focus on Student Success Continues

President Hartleb’s tenure, beginning in the mid ’90s, was characterized by a focus on the measurement of student success and learning outcomes. He directed the effort to fully involve the college community in planning and problem solving. Available resources were directed toward engaging and meeting the needs of the growing Latino population.

NECC Making a Difference

There are thousands who have attended NECC whose lives have been changed forever. NECC has provided students with an encouraging and supportive environment to develop confidence, direction, and hope for productive futures.

NECC will remain the most important institution in the region for providing opportunity and for improving the quality of life of individuals as well as for the entire community. To remain true to its history, it is critical for the college to be actively engaged in an increasingly diverse community.

– Dr. Paul M. Bevilacqua, vice president and
dean of academic affairs emeritus

Thanks to a grant from the Webster Family Fund through the Essex County Community Foundation, students in NECC’s allied health programs will soon be able to practice their blood drawing skills with a virtual phlebotomy system before progressing to practice on lab partners and real patients.

With the virtual phlebotomy system, students practice drawing blood by inserting needles into a device that accurately simulates the same feeling the students would have when collecting blood specimens from a person, and then they see the results on the computer screen. The virtual patients respond with different reactions based on the student’s interaction with the device – such as bruising, bleeding, or vein collapse – providing students with a virtual reality. The system features 3-D graphics, various case scenarios and different patient types (adult, child, etc.).

It provides instant feedback, tracks the learner’s progress, and focuses on learning objectives. “From our previous work with experiential learning using simulators in our other labs, we know how much our students benefit from being able to use this type of technology while in a safe learning environment. Their self-confidence just soars, and this carries over into their ability to function as competent , entry level phlebotomists when they go to clinical. Patient care is enhanced, and this is a goal not only for the college, but also our clinical agency educational partner as well,” says Jackie Long-Goding, dean of health professions at NECC.

The new system is expected to be in place before the end of the spring semester.

Students Earn College Credits for American Sign Language Course

No one talks in Larry Stephen’s Classroom, not even him.

Born deaf, Stephen is an NECC adjunct faculty member who teaches American Sign Language (ASL) at North Andover High School (NAHS). These students can receive both high school and college credits. The program is part of NECC’s larger dual enrollment effort, providing opportunities for high school students to take college-level courses.

“We wanted to offer our students a nontraditional foreign language option,” Carla A. Scuzzarella, Ed.D, NAHS principal. ASL fulfills the two-year foreign language requirement which is part of the Massachusetts Recommended Core Curriculum, adopted by NAHS two years ago. “We also felt sign language would be a great skill for students to learn.”

Taught almost entirely in sign language, Elementary ASL covers basic grammatical rules, including vocabulary, finger spelling, numbers, and facial grammar.

Talking is not permitted. Stephen and students communicate by signing.

“The Deaf community is everywhere,” Stephen offers through an interpreter. “Whatever they learn in here, I just want them to be able to communicate and be involved in the Deaf Community.”

Northern Essex’s laboratory science associate degree, which prepares students for biotechnology jobs, has just received the highest endorsement from representatives from the biotechnology industry.

The college’s program was one of eight community college programs to be endorsed by the Massachusetts Life Science Education Consortium (MLSEC) and one of four colleges to receive a gold level endorsement, the highest given.

“We’ve closely reviewed these programs and we’re confident they graduate students with the skills companies are looking for,” said Sara MacDonald, a spokesperson for the Mass Biotechnology Council (MassBio). “If a student graduates from Northern Essex, we have the confidence they have the skills necessary to perform in the biotech environment.”

Launched in the fall of 2009, NECC’s associate of applied science in laboratory science was designed in response to a need voiced by area employers for skilled lab technicians. Students can choose from three focus areas: biotechnology, environmental sciences, or chemical analysis.