2016 - Page 3 of 23

NECC Opens Registration for Winter Intersession

November 9, 2016/in Archive/by review

Make the winter count. Use your downtime to update your classes.

Looking to catch up on college credits over winter break or get ahead? Northern Essex Community College is now registering students for its third annual winter intersession, a series of accelerated credit courses offered online or on campus throughout the month of January.

The intersession is open to NECC students and students from other colleges or universities. It offers a range of credit, general-education courses.

Both online and on-campus options are available.

Most courses are suitable for a wide range of majors and fulfill core liberal arts requirements at two-year and four-year institutions. This year’s online intersession courses will include accounting classes, cultural anthropology, human nutrition and health, micro and micro economics, technical writing, intro to music, as well as other courses.

Online courses will run January 3 through January 30. On-campus courses will meet for 10 days, January 3 through 16, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to mid-afternoon on NECC’s Lawrence Riverwalk campus. Please see the intersession schedule for more information.

Northern Essex offers over 70 associate degrees and certificates in fields such as liberal arts, health care, criminal justice, computer science, technology and engineering, arts & design, and much more. Classes and programs are offered days, evenings, weekends, and online. Campuses are in Haverhill and Lawrence.

To learn more, please visit the website or contact enrollment services at 978-556-3700 or at admissions@necc.mass.edu.

El Taller Opens New Eatery on Lawrence Campus

November 8, 2016/in Archive/by review

El Taller@NECC offers something for everyone.

Where can you enjoy contemporary Mexican and Dominican influenced food prepared by a Cordon Bleu trained chef? At the new “El Taller @ NECC” food bar in the atrium of the Dimitry Building on the Lawrence campus.

The food bar, which had a “soft opening” this week, is operated by Eric Guerrero who is second generation restaurant royalty in Lawrence. More than 20 years ago his parents Antonio and Mary Guerrero opened Café Azteca on Common Street in Lawrence, which serves traditional, homemade Mexican food. The 27-year-old Guerrero, is a “restaurant kid” who under the tutelage of his parents, four years ago opened the now wildly popular “El Taller”, which combines good food, community, and books. The café bookstore also regularly hosts poetry and book readings and monthly art exhibits.

“El Taller @ NECC” is an extension of the community-minded Essex Street café. The modified menu is ideal for a student budget. Smaller, affordable portions of favorite menu items like pan con queso and mollete, both of which are made with bread from Lawrence’s own Tripoli’s bakery, and sopa de fideo.

Eric Guerrero, Nate Baez and Tayisha Diaz are ready to take your food order.

Open from 7:30 a.m. through lunch, El Taller @NECC is open to the public.

Alongside Guerrero is 20 year-old Lawrence native Tayisha Diaz now of Bradford, a student at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston, who is fulfilling her three-month externship with El Taller@NECC and Nate Baez, a self-employed local writer and community innovator.

Guerrero, created a menu with healthy alternatives in mind like the two smoothies they designed called “The Greenery” and “The Berry Blast”.

“The vibe and culture we’ve created at El Taller is what I want to bring to this space,” Guerrero said, as

Lawrence local Nate Baez waits on an NECC student.

Spanish music played in the background. “These students deserve the best. We are talking to them to learn what they want. We want it to be a community space. We want to offer healthy food so they are engaged and focused in class and not sluggish.”

In addition to offering popular food items, he hopes to have a small gallery that will feature works of local artists – possibly NECC students; a full size screen to project TED talks; and community workshops.

“This is a great collaboration between NECC and El Taller and the Guerrero family,” said Martha Leavitt, director of NECC’s campus operations and procurement.

For additional information contact Leavitt at mleavitt@necc.mass.edu or (978) 738-7403. Guerrero can be reached at https://eltallerarts.com/contact/ or eric.e.guerrero@gmail.com.

NECC Named “Best for Vets” College by “Military Times”

November 7, 2016/in Archive/by review

NECC Veterans Services director Jeff Williams is available to nearly 200 service connected students.

NECC Veterans Services director Jeff Williams is available to nearly 130 service connected students.

For the second year in a row, Northern Essex Community College has received the prestigious designation as one of the “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017” by the “Military Times”. It ranked 17 out of hundreds of colleges and universities.

Northern Essex is just one of 25, two-year schools nationwide to receive this honor and one of 175 colleges and universities to receive the designation overall. More than 500 colleges took part in this year’s survey. It was one of four Massachusetts community colleges to rank in the top 25.

If the rankings seem thin, they are for a reason.

“We limit our list to encourage competition, and we genuinely hope this helps raise the bar for veterans on campus,” said Amanda Miller, editor of “Best for Vets”. ““We award the Best for Vets designation to the very best – the colleges that really are setting the example.”

This rigorous data driven ranking is not an easy accomplishment, said Jeff Williams, director of NECC’s Veterans Services, upon receiving the honor last year. This year is no less exciting and still quite an honor, he acknowledged.

“I was nervous,” he admits. “I know how competitive it is, but once again I was pleasantly surprised.”

Williams believes Northern Essex maintained the designation for a number of reasons. He credits NECC’s Institutional Research department with compiling mountains of measurable data required by the survey. In addition, he believes the overall “quality of life” for NECC’s military-connected students continues to expand and improve. He cited the student NECC Veterans and Service Persons Organization, the veterans writing group, the dedicated veterans services office, the creation of “green spaces”, and voluntary faculty and staff training to address veteran-related issues and concerns.

“These trainings allow us to educate the college community as a whole as to the veteran student’s potential experiences, but also the strengths they bring to the classroom…we like to focus on their strengths.”

Williams said it’s important for faculty and staff to be educated on veterans issues because very often, after the initial meeting, he doesn’t see them until graduation.

“It’s the faculty who are working on the front line with these students,” he says.

Northern Essex currently has 130 military connected students enrolled for the fall semester.

“Military Times’” annual “Best for Vets: Colleges” survey asks colleges and universities to meticulously document a tremendous array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties; and to describe many aspects of veteran culture on a campus. These institutions were evaluated in several categories, with university culture and academic outcomes bearing the most weight.

“Prospective NECC student veterans and military-connected students won’t find the “Best for Vets” logo on every school website they visit,” said Williams. “The fact NECC proudly displays acknowledgement of its ranking lets them know that they can find the supportive campus environment necessary for their academic success.”

The “Military Times” is an independent source for news and information for service members and their families. “Military Times” and “MilitaryTimes.com” are independent sources for news and information on the most important issues affecting their careers and personal lives.

As with all Best for Vets rankings, Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans, and their families.

The rankings were published online at MilitaryTimes.com, as well as ArmyTimes.com, NavyTimes.com, AirForceTimes.com and MarineCorpsTimes.com and appeared in full in a special magazine issue of Military Times on newsstands in mid-November. The release of this year’s list also marks Military Times’ inaugural declaration of the month of November as Veterans Month. The independently owned media company is celebrating veterans beyond Veterans Day, with 30 days of veteran-focused coverage.

Military Times’ Best for Vets rankings include Colleges, Career & Technical Colleges, Business Schools, Franchises, Employers, Law Enforcement and Places to Live.

New NECC Research Certificate Addresses Industry Shortage

November 4, 2016/in Archive/by review

NECC Professor Emily Gonzalez, coordinator of the Clinical Research Coordinator Program (left) and Terry Stubbs, founder and CEO of ActiveMed, collaborated on creating the new program.

NECC Professor Emily Gonzalez, coordinator of the Clinical Research Coordinator Certificate Program (left) and Terry Stubbs, founder and CEO of ActiveMed, collaborated on creating the new program.

When Northern Essex Community College alumnae Terry Stubbs, founder of ActivMed Practices & Research, Inc., and Cynthia Owens, a director at Affiliated Monitors, Inc. had trouble finding qualified clinical research coordinators, they turned to the one institution they knew could help – their alma mater.

Stubbs and Owens collaborated with Northern Essex to create a certificate program that would prepare individuals who already work in the sciences or health care fields to add to their skill set for immediate employment in the clinical research field. The new clinical research coordinator certificate is offered through iHealth @NECC and launches in the fall 2017 semester. All coursework is online. Students must participate in a face-to-face clinical research practicum course for a minimum of 180-hours. ActivMed is one of those sites,

Stubbs, A Hampton Falls, NH resident, who launched ActivMed 22 years ago, now oversees four locations – Methuen, Lawrence, Beverly, and Portsmouth. She said for the last three years there has been a national shortage of clinical research coordinators.

Owens, of Amesbury is co-founder of “Asentral Institutional Review Board. She is delighted with the creation of the program. “This program should appeal to a broader audience than any other currently available,” she said. “Whether you are a scientist or not, you can now be trained on the basic tenets of clinical trials and be a part of advancements in providing medical solutions.”

Clinical research coordinators are trained to take blood samples from clients.

“Terry and Cynthia were adamant that the industry really needs skilled workers and Northern Essex should be on the forefront of providing those workers,” said Kim Burns, NECC’s dean of academic innovations and interim dean of professional development.

NECC’s Academic and Student Affairs Division worked with focus groups comprised of administrators from Boston hospitals and medical companies to create a three semester, 10-month certificate program that addresses the needs of the local economy while offering a solid entry-level education to the expanding field of clinical research to individuals already holding degrees in health care or science fields.

The first cohort will begin in January, 2017. Future cohorts will begin in the fall.

“We are really excited about this program,” said Emily González, coordinator of the Clinical Research Coordinator Certificate Program. “This is a very interesting and exciting field to get into. No two research studies are the same. It’s ideal for anyone who loves details and analysis.”

Stubbs agrees, “In the past it has taken two years for us to bring someone in who already has a science degree and train them in clinical research. Our hires have had the medical knowledge, but not the research knowledge. After they earn a certificate we will both be able to hit the ground running.”

Clinical research coordinators help administer clinical research trials by collecting data from study

Clinical research coordinators review information with clients in private consent rooms.

participants, monitoring clinical trial procedures, maintaining research logs, and ensuring proper research guidelines are followed.

According to Indeed.Com, a leading employment site, the average income in the Boston area for a clinical research coordinator is more than $45,000.

The NECC clinical research coordinator certificate program is designed for individuals who already hold an associate, bachelor’s, or even master’s degree in a health care or science field, but would like to enter the world of clinical trials where the information is used to develop new medications, medical devices, or diagnostic tools. González, the program coordinator, may also give permission to individuals who have worked for a number of years in health care with only a diploma.

“We will be credentialing individuals already in the industry” Burns says.

Prior to enrolling in the certificate program individuals must have completed Anatomy and Physiology I and II with a minimum grade of “C” and have earned as associate or bachelor’s degree in a related health or science field with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

“It’s a really exciting field because it’s constantly changing. Once you start working in research you get addicted,” Stubbs said. “I’m ecstatic about this program. There really is a national shortage. Finish this program and you will definitely get hired at a research company.”

“Something that began as a conversation between two colleagues identifying a significant need in our industry, has evolved in a relatively short time and now has a robust solution,” said Owens.

General iHealth information sessions will be held at NECC on Wednesdays at 78 Amesbury St. LA-105, in Lawrence on the following dates: November 16, 4:30 p.m.; November 30, 4:30 p.m.; December 14, 10 a.m.; January 4, at 4:30 p.m.; January 18, 2017, 4:30 p.m.; and Feb 1, 2017, 10 a.m.

For more information on the program please contact iHealth advisors Linda Comeau at 978-738-7610 or lcomeau@necc.mass.edu or Cristina Nuncio at 978-7387709 or cnuncio@necc.mass.edu or visit the website .

Lawrence Memorial Guard Tells Story of Civil War Soldiers

November 4, 2016/in Archive/by review

Members of the Lawrence Memorial Guard dress as Lawrence Union soldiers during reenactments.

Members of the Lawrence Civil War Memorial Guard dress as Lawrence Union soldiers during reenactments.

The story of the Lawrence men who served during the Civil War is kept alive by members of the Lawrence Civil War Memorial Guard. Members of the guard will share the stories of those who answered the call and those who remained behind to support them, during a White Fund lecture titled “Lawrence in the Civil War 1861-1865” offered in partnership with Northern Essex Community College on Thursday, November 17, at 7 p.m. in the Lawrence United Lodge; 43 Jackson St, Lawrence.

The event is free and open to the public.

On April 15, 1861, when President Lincoln requested that the northern states send 75,000 soldiers to the nation’s Capitol to suppress the rebellion, the people of Lawrence were more than ready to offer their assistance. In fact, the first soldier to fall mortally wounded during the Pratt Street Riot in Baltimore, Maryland, which marked the first deaths of the Civil War, was 33-year-old Sumner Needham of Lawrence.

Guard members Larry West and Dan Gagnon will discuss the young men’s involvement from the first bloodshed at Baltimore to the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. A panel discussion will follow with fellow guard members Joe Bella, Elizabeth Charlton, and Sean Sweeney.

Through research into the lives of the Lawrence residents who served, to the beautification of Civil War soldiers’ grave sites, to public programs that educate the public about their service, members of the Lawrence Civil War Memorial Guard have worked to develop, enhance and support the preservation, education, and remembrance of Civil War history in, of, and about Lawrence.

The White Fund’s purpose is to have a free series of interactive presentations for Lawrence area adults, youth, and children. The audience is encouraged to seek wisdom, cultural enrichment, and intellectual enhancement by attending and participating.

Funded by a generous financial gift from the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, the White Fund Lecture Series has provided cultural conversation featuring well-known lecturers in fields such as history, literature, travel, the arts, and politics. The White Fund is collaborating with Northern Essex on this series.

The views expressed in the White Fund Enlightenment Series Presentations are the views of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Northern Essex Community College.

For additional information or to be notified of upcoming events in the White Fund Enlightenment Series, contact Analuz Garcia at agarcia@necc.mas.edu or call 978-738-7423 or visit the website.

Grant Funds Management Training for Local Employers

November 3, 2016/in Archive/by review

When local business leaders spoke with frustration of the lack of qualified, managerial-trained employees, Northern Essex Community College not only listened, but found an answer – a $120,750 Massachusetts Direct Access Training Grant to create a supervisor/management training program.

The program will launch in February 2017 under the direction of NECC’s Center for Corporate & Community Education. The center applied for the Workforce Training Fund after an employer-needs survey was conducted by The Training Consortium of The Lawrence Partnership this past summer. The results revealed a desperate need for a supervisor/management training program for existing staff.

“This grant will address the ‘skills gap’ that exists here and throughout the Commonwealth and the country,” said George Moriarty, NECC’s executive director of workforce development. “Local, small employers want to promote from within their company, and now with this grant, employers will be able to send selected employees to be trained in these important skills.”

The survey was sent to 1000 Merrimack Valley employers with 50 or more employees. A total of 94 employers responded to the survey with many company leaders expressing concerns over lost productivity and competitiveness because of the lack of supervisory and management skills among their current workers.

Leadership was identified as the number one soft skills challenge while middle management was also shown to be an area of need, according to the survey. As one company leader wrote, “We cannot grow our business without great staffing.”

The 10-course, 30-hour noncredit training program will be offered free to the employees of local companies who qualify. The companies will pay their employees to attend class. Classes will begin in February and be held at NECC’s Riverwalk location in Lawrence, 360 Merrimack St. There will be 15 students per cycle. Each cycle will last approximately 10 weeks. The program will be available for six cycles over the next two years.

Each of the courses in the training program will focus on the 10 elements common to the job of a manager including effective supervisory skills, understanding behavior styles, managing personnel issues, training and evaluations, leading a team, creating a climate for motivation, using technology, fostering public relations, developing administrative skills, and budgeting.

“Our administration is working hard to find innovative ways to help workers receive the training they need to advance their skills,” Governor Charlie Baker said. “These grants are a fantastic way to give workers new skills, while meeting the smaller-scale training needs of Massachusetts businesses.”

“Continued training and skill development is vital to our state’s continued economic success,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These grants will help businesses and workers become more prosperous and competitive, improving the Commonwealth’s overall economy.”

Companies interested in learning more about the Direct Access Training Program should contact Moriarty at gmoriarty@necc.mass.edu or Kathryn Ronaldson at kronaldson@necc.mass.edu

NECC Employees Recognized for Years of Service

October 31, 2016/in Archive/by andrea

Gail Stuart recently retired from her position as coordinator of reference services after working at the college for 35 years. She is shown with NECC President Lane Glenn and NECC VP of Academic and Student Affairs Bill Heineman.

Close to 100 Northern Essex Community College faculty and staff were recognized for their service to the college at a luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus.

NECC President Lane Glenn welcomed the group and presented awards to employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years.

There were 11 faculty and staff members retiring this year including Linda Meccouri, Professional Development; Rosalie Catalano, Academic Advising Center; Russell Gouveia, Computer Information Science; Betsy Pardo, Tutoring Services; Christopher Rowse, Respiratory Care/Sleep Technology; Gail Stuart, Library; Abby Thomas, Tutoring Services; Marilyn Ricketts, Adult Education; Richard Haskell, Fiscal Services; Susan Beaumont, Human Resources; and Linda Desjardins, English.

Rosalie Catalino (right in photo), transfer advisor, recently retired from the college. She is shown with Dean Grace Young.

Hosted by Office of Human Resource Development, this luncheon is held annually.

NECC and its Four-Year Partners Celebrate Culture in Lawrence

October 28, 2016/in Archive/by review

NECC President Lane Glenn and Toni Hays, president of Regis College.

Northern Essex Community College, along with its four-year college partners Lyndon State College and Regis College, was proud to sponsor the International Book Fair which was held last weekend in Methuen and Lawrence.

In its eleventh year, the fair celebrates literature, music, and film, and this year’s focus was on Guatemala.

The fair itself was held Saturday and Sunday in Northern Essex Community College’s El-Hefni Health & Technology Center on Common Street. Additional events included a Friday night concert at the Methuen Music Hall featuring renowned Dominican violinist Aisha Syed Castro, a Saturday night dinner gala at the Relief’s In in Lawrence, and a closing concert, also at the Methuen Music Hall, featuring Spanish pop singer Angela Carrasco.

Rear: Noemi Custodia-Lora, Executive Director of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations, NECC President Lane Glenn, students- Jonathan Matos, Jonathan Rodriguez,(not a student) Analiz Henriquez,(not a student) Gaby Then,
Writer Mery Rivas. (Front row) – Students-Carla Hidalgo, Nathanael Sencion, Amanda, Maireny Rodriguez Aquino.

NECC President Lane Glenn, Regis President Toni Hays, and Lyndon State College Nolan Atkins all spoke at the opening concert, sharing their thoughts about the importance of fostering a community in which literacy is celebrated.

“Lawrence is a hub for culture and the arts,” said Glenn. “It’s exciting to see so many people from all over New England coming to Lawrence.”

Northern Essex, which has a campus in the city, launched its communiversity partnerships this past year with Lyndon State and Regis.

Through programs offered by Regis College, a leading Catholic University outside of Boston, and Lyndon State College, a public Vermont college, students who have earned an associate degree at NECC can now complete a bachelor’s degree without leaving Northern Essex’s Lawrence Campus.

For more information, contact Noemi Custodia-Lora, ncustodialora@necc.mass.edu.

Two Join NECC Foundation Board

October 26, 2016/in Archive/by review

Kevin Kilday, CFO at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport has joined the NECC Foundation Board

Two area business leaders Kevin Kilday of Wilmington and William D. Cox, Esq, of Haverhill, were recently appointed to the Northern Essex Community College Foundation Board.

Kilday, the chief financial officer at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, previously served as treasurer of the Wilmington Youth Hockey; on the board of directors for the YMCA Reading; and as a member of the St. Thomas of Villanova Parish finance committee. He is affiliated with the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

He earned both a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University.

Anna Jaques Hospital is an independent, not-for-profit community hospital serving 17 cities and towns in the Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Southern New Hampshire.

Cox, who has his own law practice, also has held the position of city solicitor for Haverhill for more than 12 years. He has worked in the legal arena for well over two decades in both the public and private sectors. A graduate of Bradford College, he also attended the University of London and American University. Cox earned his JD Degree from New England School of Law.

Attorney Bill Cox of Haverhill has joined the NECC Foundation Board.

Prior to opening his private practice, Cox briefly served as assistant district attorney for Essex County.

He currently is serving his second five-year term as a member of the Northern Essex board of trustees. He was first appointed by Governor Deval Patrick and just this year reappointed by Governor Charlie Baker.

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.

PTK Students make Thanksgiving Meals Available to Other Students

October 26, 2016/in Archive/by review

Members of Phi Theta Kappa are organizing free Thanksgiving dinners for their peers.

Update:

As of Friday, November 4, Phi Theta Kappa had accepted the maximum number of names for Thanksgiving meals. Fourteen families with a total of 64 individuals will receive traditional Thanksgiving fare as well as a gift card to purchase a turkey.

PTK is however still accepting donations from faculty, staff, and students. If you would like to donate, please contact John Murray at jmurray@necc.mass.edu

Thanksgiving should be a time to relax, celebrate, and eat turkey and pie. It shouldn’t be a time spent stressing over how to pay for a Thanksgiving meal. The students of Northern Essex Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa recognize that a Thanksgiving meal isn’t available to everyone including their college peers.

With that in mind, the student members of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for community college students, are taking requests from students who would like to receive an entire free Thanksgiving dinner from turkey to pie.

Students who would like a meal may email PTK faculty advisor John Murray at jmurray@necc.mass.edu as soon as possible with the student’s name, contact phone number and number of people the meal will feed. (All information will be kept in confidence. Students will remain anonymous.)

Once the meals have been purchased and delivered to the school, the recipients will be contacted and given a time to come to NECC and pick up the meals. This will be prior to 4 p.m. on Monday, November 21.

There will be a limited amount of meals available and students will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“PTK members want to make sure that NECC students have a Happy Thanksgiving holiday with their families,” said Murray. “Hopefully, this will be one less thing to stress about while trying to focus on school work.”

Students or groups who would like to donate to this effort are also encouraged to contact Murray at jmurray@necc.mass.edu