Northern Essex Community College is one of 11 colleges and universities chosen to participate in a strategic partnership with OpenStax, a nonprofit that offers free open resources to students, to encourage the use of free, peer-reviewed textbooks on campus.

NECC was chosen to participate in the strategic partnership program after a rigorous application process that included demonstrating a willingness to drive adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) on their campuses. Strategic partners will receive individualized consulting and support from OpenStax to implement widespread use of OER at their school.

“Our work with OpenStax is part of a broader OER initiative aimed at improving affordability, quality, and accessibility of course materials for our students. It fits within NECC’s strategic goal of creating an Integrated Student Experience that provides curricular structure, consistent and carefully coordinated support, and a sense of belonging among all our students so they can pursue their life goals through a college education,” said Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Bill Heineman.

According to the College Board, students should budget between $1,200 and $1,400 per year for textbooks and supplies. This additional cost not only impacts students’ ability to attend college, but also their ability to continue and complete coursework. For example, a report by the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) found that 48 percent of students surveyed said textbook costs impacted how many or which classes they took each semester.

Open educational resources, including the free, peer-reviewed textbooks offered by OpenStax, eliminate cost barriers for students and allow every student immediate access to learning materials. OpenStax texts also meet standard scope and sequence requirements and are peer-reviewed by educators to ensure accuracy and ease of use.

Northern Essex is committed to student success by reducing barriers such as high textbook costs for students while still protecting academic freedom and ensuring quality instruction. One of the many reasons why Northern Essex partnered with OpenStax was the ease of use and implementation. OpenStax textbooks are comparable to textbooks that cost $200 or more and are available for free online and in PDF, and are available at very low cost in print.

For more information on Northern Essex’s OER initiative, please contact Sue Tashjian and Jody Carson, the co-chairs of the college’s Textbook Task Force at oer@necc.mass.edu

OpenStax is committed to improving access to quality learning materials. An initiative of Rice University and supported by philanthropic foundations, OpenStax provides free textbooks that are developed and peer-reviewed by educators to ensure readability, accuracy and adherence to scope and sequence requirements of most introductory college courses. For more information visit OpenStax or contact Jody Carson at jcarson@necc.mass.edu or Sue Tashjian at stashjian@necc.mass.edu or oer@necc.mass.edu 

Architect’s rendering of the renovated lobby of the Spurk Building on NECC’s Haverhill Campus

The Spurk Building, usually a hub of activity on Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill Campus, is now eerily quiet and it’s not just because it’s summer.

The 89,000 square foot building, which is almost 50 years old, is about to go through a much-needed $15.2 million renovation.  Its 33 classrooms and 54 faculty offices have been emptied to prepare for the year-long construction project which started on July 5.  When completed, the results will include improved safety features, upgraded air quality, renovated restrooms, and major improvements to Lecture Hall A and the Hawrylciw Theater, which is where the college’s Top Notch Players perform.

Classrooms and Offices have Been Relocated

Since the Spurk Building is so well used, taking it off-line for a year is no easy task.

“The college had to be resourceful in finding space to relocate the displaced faculty and staff and in creating classrooms to accommodate students for the coming fall and spring semesters,” said Michael Pierce, the college’s interim director of administration.

Close to 17,000 square feet of new “swing” space has been created to accommodate relocated offices and classrooms, including eight classrooms in the lower floor of Opportunity Works, which is adjacent to the campus; seven new classrooms in the B and E buildings; and two additional classrooms in the Library and Student Center.

Some academic courses offered in Haverhill, including ESL, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Deaf Studies, will be moved to Lawrence temporarily.

Website will Provide Up-to-date Information

Faculty and staff are now adjusting to new offices, and, in the fall, students will be introduced to campus life without the Spurk building.

The administration is taking several steps to make this as easy as possible for students.  A new shuttle bus has been purchased and, in the fall, the shuttle service will be expanded to include more frequent trips between the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses and an additional stop at Opportunity Works.

The college has also been actively promoting the renovation, directing those interested to a Spurk Renovation website which provides the most update to date information on the renovation including office and department relocations.

End Results will be Worth It

Bill Heineman, vice president of academic and student affairs, recognizes that this project will cause disruption for faculty, staff, and students in the short term, and he’s confident the end results will be well worth the inconvenience.

“When these renovations are completed, we will have new space that will dramatically improve the teaching and learning experience for our faculty and staff.”

State is Providing Funding and Overseeing the Project

The renovation is anticipated to cost $15.2 million and funding was received from a 2008 capital bond ($7.1 million) and deferred maintenance funding ($8.1 million) from the state’s Division of Capital Asset and Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).

DCAMM is overseeing the project and they have hired GVW Inc. of East Boston as contractor.

Spurk Building is Almost 50 Years Old

The Spurk Building was constructed in 1971 as part of the college’s first permanent campus which also included the library, the E and B Buildings, the Student Center, and The Sport and Fitness Center.  In the early 1990’s, it was named in memory of Dr. John Spurk, formerly of Haverhill, a professor of history & government at Northern Essex for 24 years until his retirement in 1991.  Dr. Spurk died in December of 1991.  He was a respected and well-loved member of the college community who played a key role in the development of the college. Each year the Dr. John Spurk Memorial Scholarship is presented to a Liberal Arts major who resides in the Merrimack Valley region and is involved in Community Leadership/Service.

For more information, visit the Spurk Renovation website.

David Mansfield, CEO of Provident Bank

Northern Essex Community College is pleased to announce David Mansfield, CEO of Provident Bank, as the newest appointed member of the NECC Foundation Board.

Mansfield, a resident of West Newbury, currently serves on the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Bankers Association (NHBA). Mansfield previously served on the financial committee of Anna Jaques Hospital as well as the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee. Mansfield is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts.

Established in 1828, The Provident Bank, the 10th oldest bank in the country, is an independent mutually-controlled, full-service community bank with a focus in commercial lending and business services with offices in Amesbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts and Bedford, Exeter, Hampton, Portsmouth and Seabrook, New Hampshire. The Bank is dedicated to the goal of being the highest-performing bank, providing excellence in service to its customers, communities and employees. All deposits are insured in full through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF).

The NECC Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support for the college and its students. Incorporated in 1972, the Foundation assists NECC by making connections with the business community, foundations, and other potential revenue sources. It additionally hosts fundraisers and special events.

Funds raised are used for student scholarships, equipment purchases, program revitalization efforts, faculty and staff development, and other needs as they arise and as approved by the Foundation Board of Directors. Board members are appointed to multi-year terms.

For more information about the NECC Foundation or giving to NECC, contact Jean Poth, vice president of institutional advancement, at 978 556-3624 or jpoth@necc.mass.edu.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  More than 6,600 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 3,400 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

NECC’s Tina Favara, dean of enrollment services, and son Lucca examine the animal pelts on display at Quarrybrook.

Nearly 100 members of the Northern Essex Community College community  and their families attended an open house at Quarrybrook Outdoor Learning Center in Windham, New Hampshire, familiarizing themselves with the property.

Their visit was part of the facility’s June 23, open house to introduce NECC employees to the private, nonprofit, outdoor, education center, which NECC has been managing since last fall. The 245-acre campus is funded by the El Hefni Technical Training Foundation.

Quarrybrook, which opened in 2014, offers hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences to a K-16 audience. The land features numerous trails and outdoor learning spaces. In addition, there is a 20,000 square-foot facility with a large, stone-front fireplace and a gathering room called Woodland Hall along with multiple, flexible classrooms and meeting spaces which carry whimsical names like Lilly Pad, Moose Marsh, and Bear’s Den.

NECC’s partnership with Quarrybrook provides numerous benefits to the college including strengthening relationships with K-16 students and educators and giving NECC faculty and staff access to the facility.  Quarrybrook is expected to generate revenue for the college as enrollment and programming grows.

Marcy Yeager, is the executive director of Quarrybrook, and Kirsten Kortz, is the education development director.

While snacking on sandwiches, fresh fruit, and cookies while sipping cool drinks, attendees toured the property. Outside, Kristina Ellis, education staff member at Quarrybrook, who has been involved with Quarrybrook development since its inception, tended a log-cabin fire where she was baking rolls using two heat transfer ovens.

Onlookers watched the rolls rise while they sipped white pine needle tea brewed with needles dropped from the properties pine trees.

Ellis, explained how the outdoor facility is an ideal location for “urbanized youth” to learn about the outdoors.

“They bring with them this odd mythology about the woods and they leave feeling brave and connected,” she says. “The goal is to create an experience for them that they can appreciate at their own pace.”

It’s not just the woodlands that are green. The design of the main building includes many “green” elements such as the solar photovoltaic roof and the geothermal energy system. Viewing areas around these systems allow visiting classrooms and other groups to explore and study these green technologies up close, incorporating the building into the overall education program for the site.

As a private facility, Quarrybrook is open to scheduled groups, for school programs, workshops, and community events.

For additional information contact Yeager at myeager@quarrybrook.org or visit the Quarrybrook website.