2017 - NECC News

NECC Offers New Year’s Resolution Enrollment

December 21, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

An information night for prospective students will be held Tuesday, January 9, in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St.

Stop the procrastination with a New Year’s resolution to enroll at Northern Essex Community College. Whether it’s for just one class or a series of classes, prospective students can attend an information session on Tuesday, January 9, at 6 p.m. in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St.

This information session is open to anyone interested in finishing a degree program they started or starting fresh in a new degree program. NECC staff will be available to answer questions. Applications can be completed on site. In most cases admission decisions will be made on the spot and a decision letter will be printed. A formal, personalized letter will be mailed shortly after the event, once the application is processed.

For additional information on this New Year’s Resolution information night, contact Daniel Richer at dricher@necc.mass.edu

Here is a complete list of programs offered at Northern Essex.

Future Teachers Donate Toys to Shelter

December 21, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Christine Denault, president of the NECC Early Childhood Education Club. with a box of new toy donations for the children residing at Emmaus House.

New baby dolls waiting for names, coloring books waiting for crayons and dominoes waiting to be toppled will soon be in the hands of the more than 100 children residing at Emmaus House in Haverhill thanks to a donation by Northern Essex Community College’s Early Childhood Education Club.

For the past several weeks the club established drop locations on the NECC campus. Faculty, staff, and students of NECC as well as staff and parents of the neighboring Little Sprouts Early Education and Child Center have been collecting new and used toys and games. The new items are being delivered to Emmaus House where staff will distribute them. The used items will be donated to Neighbors in Need in Lawrence.

“We have had an overwhelming response,” said Christine Denault, 53, of Amesbury, who is the president of the Northern Essex ECE Club. “There are more than 100 children living at Emmaus House and we collected about 150 items in the toy drive.”

There are 30 ECE club members who participated in the drive, Denault said. In addition to the general toy drive, the ECE Club also sponsored four custom wishlist items for four of the young residents. Each semester

Toys bound for Emmaus House.

the ECE Club takes on one or two service projects. Earlier in the fall semester club members raised funds to purchase art supplies for the Methuen YMCA.

“We are happy with the great selection of toys,” said Gail Feigenbaum, ECE professor and advisor to the ECE Club. “We had a terrific response from the entire NECC community,” she said.

For additional information contact Feigenbaum at gfeigenbaum@necc.mass.edu

Northern Essex offers an associate degree in early childhood education which prepares students, for professional careers in Early Childhood Education or for transfer to a four-year college. The college also offers associate degrees in elementary education and middle/high school teaching. To learn more, contact enrollment services at 978 556-3700 or admissions@necc.mass.edu.

NECC Students Present Honors Projects

December 19, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Luis Robles of Lawrence explored the caffeine in both store bought and coffee shop coffee.

How do you identify and treat college students with depression? What coffee brand has the most caffeine? Is a vacation retreat viable in Zambia? Are all learning techniques equal? These are just a few of the subjects Northern Essex Community College Commonwealth Honors students researched, hypothesized, and presented for their final presentations.

Luis Robles, 25, of Lawrence, a laboratory science major, used a high performance liquid chromatography machine to determine which popular coffee brands had the most caffeine per eight ounce cup. The verdict? Market Basket brand had 120 mg. of caffeine compared to Maxwell House which had 69.6 and Folgers which had 68.6. For coffee shop coffee, Starbucks perked to the top with 158 mg of caffeine while NECC’s Jitters had 118 mgs.

Rovimbi Donovan with her presentation on “The River Horse” Resort she created.

As the owner of a large swath of land in Zambia, Africa, Rovimbi Donovan, 37, was curious as to whether she could create a destination vacation locale. A business major with a hospitality minor, the North Andover resident, researched a business plan and designed marketing materials for “The River Horse,” a resort nestled in the heart of the Kafue River, for vacations, events, and conferences.

Blood pH was on Meghan Jacobs mind. The 20-year-old Amesbury resident who majors in biology wondered about the effects of blood pH on bone health. What she discovered she said, “is that the endocrine system has more to do with bone health than the blood actually does.”

Nearly a dozen students presented their final projects to the college community in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus.

Northern Essex’s Commonwealth Honors Program is open to any students who have earned a B+

Meghan Jacobs researched blood pH on bones.

average in high school or are a current NECC student or transfer student with a 3.3 GPA. Successful completion of the program guarantees admittance to the Commonwealth Honors Program at any of Massachusetts’ state colleges or universities where they are accepted.

Participants need to complete three honors components; two projects or honors courses plus the honors seminar or honors humanities.Students must participate in research or creative projects with guidance from a faculty mentor and engage in service learning activities.

English Professor Ginger Hurajt is the program coordinator.

For additional information on the Commonwealth Honors program, contact Hurajt at ghurajt@necc.mas.edu

Program information can also be found here.

#facesofnecc

December 19, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Maria Alejandro Chandler/ Journalism

“I’m from Colombia. I came here for vacations to spend here a couple of months…then I met somebody… I want to be a writer. I want to take pictures and travel the world … Let’s see how many of those I can accomplish… Already I have two blogs. I have a website for my pictures. I want to do work that matters. I like this place. I love this community. Everyone is really nice. The faculty are helpful. It’s very calm…”

Northern Essex Welcomes New Veterans Director

December 18, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Sean Goldman of Derry, NH, is the new director of NECC’s Veterans Services Office.

When student veterans walk into the Northern Essex Community College Veterans Services office they will find someone who talks their talk and has shared experiences.

Sean Goldman, 32, of Derry, NH, is a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq, Belgium, Tanzania, and China. He splits his time between serving as director of the Veterans Services office and as a mental health clinician to the general student population in Student Life.

The son of a career U.S. Marine, Goldman grew up attending schools in five states along the Eastern Seaboard. After graduating from high school in Florida, he briefly attended college before deciding to enlist in the Marines where he worked as an electronic maintenance technician. He served for eight years, working his way up to the rank of sergeant. During that time he earned his under graduate degree through “distance learning” from St. Leo University in Florida.

After leaving the Marines, Goldman earned his master’s in clinical social work from Boston University deciding to specialize in veterans’ issues. His decision was based on a ‘culmination of factors” he said. As a mentor to junior marines, he said, he saw enough undiagnosed mental health issues that he became interested in working with that population.

Internships at the Chelsea’s Soldiers Home and the Bedford VA Hospital, he said, “bolstered his resolve to work with veterans”.

Goldman said there are approximately 124 veterans actively enrolled at Northern Essex. He assists them with paperwork to keep them on track to receive their veterans’ benefits and serves as a general liaison. He also works with prospective student veterans to connect to VA resources. He will begin leading a spinoff veterans’ orientation during the traditional orientation sessions.

“We have to develop additional outreach ideas and develop ways to better integrate and involve student vets,” he said.

Goldman says he enjoys balancing his two roles to NECC. One allows him to pursue his interest in mental health while the other gives him direct interaction with the veterans.

Northern Essex now has a webpage dedicated to Veteran and Military.

For additional information, contact Goldman at sgoldman@necc.mass.edu

Andover High Grad is one of First NECC Students to Take Advantage of State’s New Affordable Transfer Option

December 18, 2017/in Archive/by Ernie Greenslade

Shannon Williams of Andover is one of the first NECC students to sign up for the Commonwealth Commitment, which provides new financial incentives for students who start at a community college and transfer to a state college or university.

Shannon Williams, a 2016 graduate of Andover High School, is very pleased about her plan to earn an associate degree from Northern Essex Community College and then transfer to UMass Lowell. As a participant in the state’s Commonwealth Commitment Program, she’ll earn her bachelor’s degree for under $35,000, maybe less, if she applies for and receives scholarships.

Affordability was important to Williams when she was choosing a college. Her father died very unexpectedly a month before her high school graduation and her mother had limited funding to help support her daughter’s college education.

“I was going to go to UMass Lowell, but it was too expensive,” says Shannon. My older sister came to Northern Essex and then transferred to Merrimack College and my cousin graduated from here; so I decided to start here, too.”

Williams arrived at Northern Essex in the fall of 2016 with clear academic and career goals. She plans to earn an associate degree in psychology from Northern Essex in 2018, a bachelor’s in psychology from UMass Lowell in 2020, and eventually a master’s in counseling, possibly from Merrimack College. Her goal is to be a therapist, helping people to overcome mental illnesses like depression. “I love helping people,” she says.

When meeting with her academic advisor, Grace Young, Williams learned that her psychology major qualified for the Commonwealth Commitment, a statewide program designed to help students who transfer from a community college to a state college or university save money on their degree.

The Commonwealth Commitment is open to full-time students who complete an associate’s degree within two-and-a-half years and a bachelor’s degree within two years and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program.

These students receive cost savings including a freeze on tuition and mandatory fees for all four years and a 10% rebate at the successful completion of each semester. In addition, they receive a MassTransfer tuition credit once they enroll in the bachelor’s degree program.

“I loved the idea of being locked into one price,” she says. “I won’t have to pay more, more, more.”

Williams, who will be inducted into the national honors and leadership society on Friday evening, likes it at Northern Essex. “I love it here. I like how small the classes are. Teachers know my name and I can ask them questions.”

The Commonwealth Commitment covers sixteen programs from biology to business to computer science and community college graduates can transfer to any of Massachusetts’ state universities or UMass campuses including Mass Maritime Academy and Mass College of Art.

To learn more, contact Grace Young, dean of academic support services, articulation, and transfer, gyoung@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3449.

NECC is Still Best for Vets

December 18, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Northern Essex Community College takes good care of its military veterans and its showing. For the third consecutive year NECC was selected for the Military Times Best: Colleges 2018 rankings (formerly Best for Vets).

This is an annual ranking of the best colleges for veteran, active-duty, and military dependent students. More than 600 schools submitted an exhaustive 150-question survey to be considered for the honor.

NECC was one of 34, two-year colleges nationwide to receive the honor and one of 218 two and four-year college and universities to receive the prestigious designation. Only three Massachusetts community colleges received a ranking.

Of its nearly 6,000 students, NECC identifies 124 students as military. Northern Essex has a dedicated space for Veterans Services under the auspices of Sean Goldman, a former U.S. Marine who is now director of veterans services as well as a mental health clinician in NECC’s counseling and psychological services.

The rankings were more competitive than ever according to the “Military Times”. A record number of school participated in the survey and less than half received the designation.

“… Only the best made the cut,” said George Altman, the “Military Times” editor in charge of the rankings. “For the past eight years, we’ve seen colleges and universities consistently increasing their resources, revising their policies and improving their academic outcomes for military and veteran students. The Military Times Best: Colleges rankings showcase the very best of these efforts.”

The “Military Times” 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.

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 Military Times: Best Colleges 2018, it 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 at MilitaryTimes.com, 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.

For additional information contact Alexis Fishbone at afishbone.necc.mass.edu

December 2017 Trustees Update

December 12, 2017/in Archive/by Ernie Greenslade

Faculty Report on Recent Sabbaticals

Professors Ginger Hurajt and Marilyn McCarthy shared what they had accomplished during recent sabbaticals, including how it has impacted students at the college.

Hurajt, English professor and coordinator of the college’s Honors Experience, spent her sabbatical creating an Honors English Composition I class that she taught for the first time this semester.

After doing research, Hurajt added service learning and personal, academic, and career success strategies from the college’s First-Year seminar class to the course curriculum.

Assignments were designed to engage students in the campus community. Students were required to attend campus events and interview a participant in NECC’s College of Older Learners (CoOL) for papers that were shared at the college’s CoOL showcase.

McCarthy, professor of college reading, focused on students who are on the autism spectrum. She researched how to best help them succeed at Northern Essex.

Her goal was to help faculty, especially those teaching developmental reading and writing, to better address the needs of students on the spectrum by providing practical strategies and skills.

After doing extensive research, McCarthy created a series of three PowerPoints—thinking, reading, and writing—for faculty with tips on how to better understand and teach students with autism.

Using Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who is a professor and top scientist, as an example, McCarthy said “Many of our most brilliant people are on the spectrum.”

Fundraising Report

The Institutional Advancement Office raised over three-and-a-half million dollars last year in private and public grants and in-kind donations from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, according to Jean Poth, vice president of Institutional Advancement, who provided trustees with a year-end report.

Here are some highlights:

Private sector funds: $514,926

Private sector funds came from a number of sources including endowed funds, annual scholarships, the Women of NECC, the NECC Fund, and events.

In-kind donations: $201,493

The top in-kind donations were for kitchen equipment for 420 Common Street from Lupoli Companies ($113,225), a dental machine for the Dental Assisting Program from Dr. Maritza Morell ($37,000), and a bronchoscope for the Respiratory Care Program from Mount Auburn Hospital ($15,000).

Public sector grants: $2,843,465

The largest public sector grant—$495,000 from the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program—covered culinary and megatronics equipment.

Northern Essex has the largest foundation board of any of the Massachusetts community colleges, said Poth, and the college’s alumni board recently expanded from nine to almost 20 members.

Report from the Administration

Capital Campaign Update

President Lane Glenn reported that the college is exploring the feasibility of a capital campaign.

“We have some needs that are greater than what the state can support,” he said.

If the college decides to move forward with a capital campaign, funding may be requested for athletic facilities; support for the culinary arts and hospitality programs; technology; the college’s Lawrence library; and student scholarships.

Upgrades for B and E Buildings?

Northern Essex has submitted a preliminary proposal requesting over $11 million to renovate the B (General Services) and E (Science) buildings on the Haverhill Campus in response to a request from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for capital project priorities.

The state is expected to award a total of up to $140,000,000 for capital projects that align with Commonwealth priorities.

If accepted, the funding will address compliance issues, upgrade smart classrooms, improve building signage, replace outdated elevators, make bathroom renovations, install security systems, and more.

Both buildings were part of the college’s original campus which was built in 1971.

Trustees Approve Two New Programs

Trustees voted unanimously to approve two new degree programs, which replace current programs, providing better transferability to bachelor’s programs.

The new Associate of Science Degree in Chemistry/Physics/Environmental Science replaces the Associate Degree in Liberal Arts: Physical Sciences. It is designed to provide a seamless transfer for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, or environment science.

The new Associate in Science Degree in Exercise Science will replace the college’s Associate Degree in General Studies: Movement Science Option. This degree will transfer into programs in exercise physiology, nutrition, athletic training and pre-physical therapy. The health fitness instructor concentration will prepare students to take the National Strength & Conditioning Certified Personal Trainer exam and seek employment in the health & fitness fields.

NECC Launches Finale Film Festival

December 8, 2017/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Hanson Gobron of Salem, NH, adjusts a camera during filming.(Photo credit Jose Garcia)

France has Cannes, Park City has Sundance and now Northern Essex Community College has one…a film festival that is.

The first ever NECC Finale Film Festival, showcasing the final projects of the 16 students enrolled in Jeffrey Palmer’s Video & Digital Filmmaking class, will be held Monday, Dec.18, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the recently renovated Lecture Hall A in the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus 100 Elliott St.

This event is free and open to the public.

This is Palmer’s first semester teaching at NECC. Although, the independent filmmaker and writer has a resume that includes teaching at the middle and high school level.

“Some students didn’t know what to expect out of this video class,” he admits. “I really wanted them to push the boundaries. I wanted them to tell the stories they wanted to tell. As we near the end of our semester together, I think they surprised themselves and managed to find inspiration where they weren’t looking for it.”

Some 25 student-created films will be screened during NECC’s first Finale Film Festival.

The Somerville resident said approximately 25 films, varying in running times from two to eight minutes, will be screened at the Finale Film Festival. Some students completed more than one film or were involved in a group film project. There will be a wide range of genres covered including drama, psychological thriller, horror, comedy, mockumentary, romance, non-fiction, music videos, visual poems, and personal essays. Some films contain mature subject matter, but all content would fall well under a PG-13 rating, according to Palmer.

“Subject matter includes teen pregnancy, the loss of a parent, a horror/comedy about killer, ghost, mosquitoes from hell…it’s a really good mix,” Palmer said. “I’m really impressed with the students.”

The students are excited and enthusiastic about their filmmaking experiences.

“With film you can hear it, see it, and experience the story,” said Kieran Smith of Topsfield.

And they learned quickly and collectively that making a film is a group project.

NECC theater student Carlyle Bien-Aime of Lawrence stands in front of a green screen waiting for direction.

“My favorite moment was when we were all working together as a single unit to record just a simple diner scene,” said Wilfred Acosta of Methuen. “We started off pretty rough, but as we keep going we got used to each other and we made it work.”

Joshua Jacobo of Lawrence agreed saying “It takes a lot of peoples’ time and effort to make a film no matter how long. Filmmaking is definitely a process.”

Palmer added, “They learned that filmmaking is a very social activity and that you need to collaborate with others. It was a challenge at times in terms of scheduling friends, locations, and weather. It wasn’t easy, but they all managed to rally and create really cool films.”

By January 2018, the films will be available, in some capacity, online, Palmer said. The channel and platform have yet to be decided.

Jancarlos Infante (left) of Lawrence and Hanson Gobron (right) of Salem, NH, collaborate on a shot during a recent film shoot.

The students have put a tremendous amount of time into their films and those results should be shared Palmer said, “I’ve encouraged the students to submit their films to other festivals and events outside of the school…these are first-time filmmakers and it’s important to acknowledge that all of the films were produced on zero or shoestring budgets outside of our class time together. Each student had access to a high-definition video camera, tripod, audio gear and editing software. What they produced with this equipment was up to them, with my guidance and input along the way.”

By the end of the course and the semester, it changes the way the students think.

“When I watch movies now I pay attention to all the little things like when it cuts, where it cuts, how long each scene is, and what sounds you can hear,” says Declan Burke of North Andover.

“This is a nice way for the students to get their work out there. Art can be a solitary endeavor,” Palmer said. “This is great way for people to see what the students have been working on and get a dialogue going.”

For additional information on the Finale Film Festival contact Palmer at jpalmer@necc.mass.edu

NECC Workplace ESL Program Receives Statewide Recognition

December 6, 2017/in Archive/by Ernie Greenslade

(Left to right) Claudia Green, executive director, English for New Bostonians; Rosalin Acosta, Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development; Terri Pollman, human resource manager, United Electric; Paul Mucciarone, director of production, United Electric; John Pacheco, ESOL participant, United Electric; Louis Catatao, production supervisor, United Electric; Irene Chalek, director of NECC’s Center for Adult Education Programs and Practitioners; Nancy Tariot NECC’s Academic & Career Planning Advisor; and Patrick Liu, Northern Essex ESOL Instructor.

A workplace English as a Second Language Program that Northern Essex Community College’s Center for Corporate and Community Education developed for United Electric Controls (UEC) in Watertown has been recognized by New Bostonians (ENB), a nonprofit that helps immigrants learn English and pursue their dreams.

The Certificate of Recognition Award was presented by Massachusetts Secretary of Labor Rosalin Acosta at the “Raising Our Voices” breakfast in October.

The program was funded by a $202,000 Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Grant. Northern Essex helped UEC, a manufacturer of safety alarm shutdown devices, apply for the grant.

Thirty production workers—one third of UEC’s production workforce— took part in the program which included a 240-hour ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages); a 40-hour Project Management Certification Preparation program; and mechanical design, ISO 9001, and welding training.

George Moriarty, executive director of NECC’s Center for Corporate and Community Education, nominated UEC for the award, writing “United Electric has exemplified leadership and commitment to their employees. (As a result), there has been an increase in production employee confidence and an increase in morale and engagement.”

NECC’s Corporate and Community Education helps employers find solutions for affordable training, access federal and state training funds, or create customized training programs to assist in gaining workforce training grants.

For additional information Moriarty at gmoriarty@necc.mass.edu 978-556-3061.