2024 - Page 7 of 12

New Grad First Met NECC Faculty When They Visited the Dominican Republic

June 3, 2024/in Alumni, Featured, Students/by mbouse

When Anthony Severino, 22, of Lawrence, was about 14 years old and a student at Liceo Cientifico Dr. Miguel Canela Lázaro, a prestigious public school in the Dominican Republic, members of Northern Essex Community College faculty visited the school on a professional development trip. Severino and his sister, Ashley, met the NECC faculty and gave them a tour.

Anthony and Ashley Severino with NECC Professor Doris Buckley at their high school in the Dominican Republic.

Severino had no way of knowing that just a few years later, he’d graduate from NECC with a business transfer degree, be honored by the NECC Business Honor Society, and be one of the recipients of a highly selective state educators’ scholarship.

“It’s really surreal,” Severino said of the incredible, full-circle moment.

After spending the first 11 years of his life in Brooklyn, Severino and his family relocated to his parents’ native Dominican Republic. When he and his sister had the chance to move back to the United States—without their parents—in 2022, they took the opportunity, even though they knew it would be a tough transition.

“It was a make-or-break decision,” he said. “That was the hardest thing, knowing we would not live with our parents anymore.”

But Severino took the leap, moving to Lawrence, enrolling at NECC, and getting a part-time job.

It wasn’t easy, though.

“I remember feeling the sense of loneliness and feeling isolated,” he said. “When I moved here, I did not know one single person. I had actually never even been to Lawrence before I moved here.”

That wasn’t the only road bump that Severino faced. He tried taking on a full-time job, but balancing work and full-time school hurt his academics, and he ended up failing one of his classes.

Severino poses with his NECC diploma at Commencement

“Me failing that class was a real eye-opener,” he said. He realized that school needed to be his main priority and decided “to give all my undivided attention to Northern Essex.”

That’s exactly what he did. Now, he plans to transfer to a four-year program at UMass Lowell, where he will study business administration.

He also credits the PACE program with helping him every step of the way. PACE stands for Pathways to Academic & Career Excellence Program. The TRiO Student Support Services program assists first-generation, low-income, or disabled students to graduate and transfer to four-year colleges.

“They care about each and every student,” he said. “It gives you the opportunity to embrace that college life.”

As he embarks on yet another new chapter, he can’t help feeling emotional as he looks back on his time at NECC.

“I’ve had the most amazing two years,” he said. “I would not take it back for anything in the world.”

This story was written by Alexandra Pecci

NECC Hosts Faculty Showcase for OER Textbook Project

May 30, 2024/in Events, Faculty and Staff/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (May 29, 2024) – Faculty from across the state gathered at Northern Essex Community College on Wednesday to celebrate the culmination of a year of hard work on the “Remixing Open Textbooks through an Equity Lens” project (ROTEL). The project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, provides participants with the resources to create Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are free, openly licensed educational materials that faculty can adopt in lieu of commercially published textbooks.

Northern Essex is one of six institutions in Massachusetts participating in the ROTEL project. Wednesday’s showcase allowed faculty and leaders from all of the colleges and universities to share their work, network, and learn from each other.

Professors Doris Buckley (center) and Lisette Espinoza (far right) share their experiences creating free digital materials for their classes

“This is some of the most rewarding and exciting work I do here,” said Sue Tashjian, NECC’s coordinator of instructional technology. “It’s incredible to see these high-quality, inclusive resources for our students.”

One of the requirements for all ROTEL participants is that they create culturally relevant and diverse materials. Faculty also take part in weekly professional development training on topics such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “ROTEL’s training assists me in the design and structure of a textbook to empower students to learn – from its overall design and curricular content, which reflect diverse voices of the literary world, to providing options for students to access from different devices and platforms,” said Professor Lisette Espinoza, while she was designing her project for one of her literary classes. The free, digital textbook is called “Literary Studies for a Sustainable Future.”

NECC Professor Lisette Espinoza’s OER textbook published through the ROTEL project

The showcase also included the first OER textbook developed at NECC. Early Childhood Professors Doris Buckley and Deirdre Budzyna developed “The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years.” This book replaces a commercial textbook that would cost students $174. NECC’s version, like all OER, is free for educators and students across the country.

“OER work in Massachusetts is a shining example of how an initial investment of just small amounts of money and time can turn into a grassroots movement that is creating accessible and equitable materials for our students,” said Jody Carson, NECC’s dean of business and professional studies. She and Tashjian were at the forefront of the OER movement in the state. Carson recalled starting this work ten years ago with just a $5,000 grant.

Since then, Tashjian estimates the use of free and low-cost course materials has saved more than 20,000 students $10 million on textbooks. She also serves as co-chair of the Massachusetts OER Advisory Council.

NECC currently offers 90 courses that use OER. Students can search specifically for these classes in the course search tool and select the Free/Low-Cost Books icon at the top-right. For more information about free and low-cost textbooks or OER, please contact Sue Tashjian at 978-556-3686 or stashjian@necc.mass.edu.

Institutions participating in the ROTEL project, along with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education:

Fitchburg State University
Framingham State University
Holyoke Community College
Northern Essex Community College
Salem State University
Springfield Technical Community College

More information can be found on the ROTEL Project webpage. A catalog of OER developed through the ROTEL Project can be found here.

NECC Equity-Focused Projects Receive State Funding

May 28, 2024/in Community, Featured, Headlines, Press Releases, Programs/by mbouse

Boston, MA (May 28, 2024) – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that they are awarding more than $1.3 million in Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) grants to projects that are collaborations between all 15 Massachusetts community colleges, state universities, and private institutions of higher education to advance racial equity.

Projects include developing a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificate program, advancing best practices for student success and retention of underserved student populations, continuing the work of the Racial Equity and Justice Institute, and creating a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) conference.

“In Massachusetts, we’re proud to have significantly expanded access to higher education, including historic increases in financial aid, but work remains to ensure that students of all backgrounds have the resources and support they need to start and succeed in their higher education journey,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This investment reflects our commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and experiences for all students, particularly for our Black and Hispanic students.”

“These projects demonstrate how committed our public campuses are to collaborating on addressing issues of racial equity in higher education,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Massachusetts cannot truly be a leader in higher education until we are serving all students equitably.”

Northern Essex Community College is a partner in four different projects which received funding:

Racial Equity and Justice Institute (REJI)
The project, entitled the “Racial Equity and Justice Institute (REJI),” is intended to ensure racial equity tenets and practices are infused into all 18 Massachusetts partner institutions. The project proposes to 1) identify equity-minded key performance indicators (KPIs) that facilitate equitable student success, 2) develop assessment tools to gauge the developmental level of institutional functional units in the key performance, 3) curate developmentally specific materials and learning activities offered through a learning management system (LMS) aiding campuses in deepening their competencies in equity-minded student success-oriented activities in the focus areas of this project and, 4) provide analytics necessary to measure progress of each campus as they utilize the materials housed in the LMS. The highly regarded reputation of this project for transforming equity practices on campus has attracted interest beyond Massachusetts with 23 out-of-state institutions of higher education as additional members.

Bridgewater State University will oversee the $250,000 grant for this project with partners: Berkshire Community College, Bridgewater State University, Cape Cod Community College, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, MassBay Community College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Massasoit Community College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Middlesex Community College, Mt. Wachusett Community College, North Shore Community College, Northern Essex Community College, Salem State University, Westfield State University, Worcester State University.

Massachusetts Community Colleges Equity Consortium
This project continues and builds upon the Massachusetts Community Colleges Equity Consortium (MCCEC) of all 15 community colleges. The MCCEC was created for the purpose of learning, sharing, and adopting equity and antiracist resources, policies, and practices. Planned activities for this grant funding include building upon the work of the HEIF 2023 Equity Ambassadors and the Faculty Fellows by establishing a sustainable statewide program for staff and faculty professional development. MCCEC’s purpose is to facilitate staff and faculty engagement with students in a way that recognizes and centers the cultural wealth students bring to their institutions.

Holyoke Community College will oversee the $230,340 grant for this project with partners in all 15 community colleges.

Community Leadership Credit Certificate
This project will provide a Community Leadership Credit Certificate (CLCC) to empower students to assume active leadership roles in their communities. An important component of this certificate program is internship placements, where students will learn communication, writing, organizing, leadership, and self-advocacy skills and, as a diverse group, will amplify the voices of community members who are traditionally underrepresented and marginalized in the decision-making processes.

Middlesex Community College will oversee the $168,813 grant for this project with partners Holyoke Community College and Northern Essex Community College.

Massachusetts Community College Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Consortium
This project, the Massachusetts Community College Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Consortium, builds on the Consortium’s progress by continuing to develop PLA options for a diverse student body. PLAs allow college credit to be earned for prior learning and work experience. Activities include aligning course equivalencies for transfer partnerships, enhancing marketing to Latino and Hispanic students, enhancing the PLA website for state practices, developing PLA opportunities for active military and service members and veterans, and supporting the Consortium.

North Shore Community College will oversee the $139,828 grant for this project with partners in all 15 community colleges.

The Higher Education Innovation Fund grant program invests in helping colleges and universities reach their DEI goals. This program rewards cross-system collaboration, innovative thinking, and evidence-based practices at the campus and system levels. To learn more and see a full list of projects, visit the webpage.

Ceremony Honors NECC’s Early College Students

May 23, 2024/in Alumni, Events, Press Releases, Programs, Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (May 16, 2024) – More than 500 graduating seniors from 22 local high schools earned college credits in addition to their high school diplomas this year as participants in Northern Essex Community College’s Early College Program.

Helena Mason of Haverhill received her certificate from her mom, NECC VP of the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations Noemi Custodia-Lora.

The students and their families celebrated at an Early College Recognition Ceremony on May 16, held on Northern Essex’s Haverhill Campus.

The students earned a total of 8,139 credits while in high school, an average of 16 credits each, which translates to a full college semester. The students will transfer their credits to 57 different public and private colleges, from UMass Amherst to Worcester Polytechnic Institute to Northeastern University. At least 90 have elected to attend Northern Essex in the fall.

Nine students are graduating with both associate degrees and their high school diplomas this year, having completed two full years of college while still in high school. That group includes Anna Perrin of Central Catholic High School; Derek Chase of the Clark School; Helena Mason, Abigail Mejia and Charles Sparrow of Haverhill High School; homeschooled students Kenza Maagoul of Haverhill and Lily Martino of Newburyport; Cassandra Doyle of Tec-Connections Academy; and Max Carson from Winnacunnet High School.

NECC CIS: Computer Science major Osaym Omar is an alumnus of the Early College Program. He took classes while a student at Haverhill High School and elected to continue at Northern Essex as a Promise Scholar in the fall of 2023. Omar shared how Early College shaped his outlook on academics and his career: “Early College laid the groundwork for my success. I was prepared for college courses and I have cherished memories from my time on campus.”

Gabriella Ortiz, a graduating senior who attends Whittier Tech, echoed Omar’s sentiments. “Initially, I worried that it would be too hard, that I couldn’t keep up,” she said. “But enrolling was so good for me. We got a real taste of college, what assignments are like and the importance of getting them in on time. Early College gave us the tools to be successful in all areas of our lives.” Ortiz will attend Merrimack College in the fall with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

NECC is one of 22 colleges and universities participating in the statewide Massachusetts Early College Initiative. This initiative partners high schools with colleges and universities for designated programs. NECC has designated programs with Haverhill High School, Lawrence High School, and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Students from these designated programs earn college credits for free while they’re still in high school. Plus, the classes count toward both students’ high school graduation requirements and their future college degrees. Students spend part of their day at the high school and travel to the college campus by bus for morning or afternoon college-level courses.

In addition to its state-designated partnerships with Haverhill, Lawrence, and Whittier, Northern Essex offers its Early College Program to students from 25 other local high schools. These students can earn credits at a 50% discount.

Northern Essex also offers the NECC Promise Scholarship Program to students from Haverhill, Lawrence, Whittier and now Seacoast area high schools. That allows students who earn at least 15 credits and a 3.0 GPA in Early College to continue at Northern Essex for free.

The Early College Program at NECC continues to see tremendous growth. In 2018, about 250 students were enrolled. This past semester, 1,018 high school students took Early College classes.

If you are interested in learning more about Early College opportunities at NECC, visit the webpage or contact pk12@necc.mass.edu.

Professor Honored at YWCA’s Tribute to Women

May 21, 2024/in Faculty and Staff, Headlines, Community, Events/by mbouse

Asst. Professor of Human Services Lisa Fabbri-Lopez (center) received a Tribute to Women Award from the YWCA

May 16, 2024 (Andover, MA) – Northern Essex Community College Assistant Professor of Human Services Lisa Fabbri-Lopez was among the honorees at this year’s YWCA Tribute to Women event. The annual luncheon, now in its 41st year, honors local women who are making a difference in their communities.

Fabbri-Lopez was nominated by NECC Vice President of the Lawrence Campus & Community Relations Noemi Custodia-Lora and Associate Director of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations Relations Giselle Peguero. They wrote:

“Lisa Fabbri-Lopez embodies a steadfast commitment to social justice and equity, actively fostering diversity and inclusion initiatives. Her dedication to lifelong learning and growth is evident in her persistent advocacy for accessible and equitable education. Lisa’s empathetic and compassionate engagement extends beyond her faculty role, as she also serves as a crisis support provider in the community, prioritizing the well-being of her students and the quality of their education in the Human Service field. Despite her full-time teaching responsibilities, she remains deeply involved in community support efforts, demonstrating unwavering integrity and dedication as a human service professional. Working alongside Lisa is not only productive but also enjoyable, thanks to her thoughtful, kind and strategic approach to collaboration.”

Fabbri-Lopez transitioned from an adjunct professor to a full-time faculty member three years ago. Currently, she leads the Center for Business and Professional Studies, which serves students across various divisions, including Human Services. She also recently spearheaded the creation of a soon-to-be-launched Senior Care Certificate program.

Observer Editor Wins Outstanding Student Award

May 20, 2024/in Students, Headlines, Spotlight/by scomiskey

Kimberly Zappala ’24 (right) accepts award from Alumni Board President Jouel Gomez ’15 (left).

Kimberly Zappala, a resident of Haverhill and member of the Northern Essex Community College Class of 2024, has been named as this year’s Outstanding Student Award recipient. The annual honor, granted by the NECC Alumni Board, was announced during NECC’s spring commencement ceremony on May 18.

Zappala, who was lauded for her campus leadership, integrity, and commitment to amplifying the student voice, served as Editor in Chief and Opinion Editor for the NECC Observer. During her tenure, she focused on boosting the paper’s politics and current events content, believing that by providing a factual source of up-to-date information, she could better encourage active, informed participation in the national conversation. She considers this work a point of pride in her academic career.

“When students go to vote in November, I know that I did my best to provide them with honest information so that they can make informed decisions at the ballot box,” she says.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this spring, Zappala received a prestigious honor from the New England Newspaper and Press Association, which awarded her with a second-place win for “best opinion page” in the Better Newspaper Competition for colleges and universities in New England.

In a letter of recommendation, journalism professor and Observer advisor Mary Jo Shafer emphasized Zappala’s impact on NECC.

“She exemplifies resilience in her dedication to her education,” Shafer says. “As a non-traditional older student, Kim is a role model to other students at NECC and highlights the impact NECC can have.

These thoughts were echoed by fellow nominator Kristen Arnold, director of NECC’s PACE Program, who shared that “the leadership [Zappala] has displayed on campus at NECC” made her “an excellent candidate for the Outstanding Graduating Student Award.”

Her journey to her role as a journalist and campus leader, Zappala says, has not been easy. Before attending NECC, Zappala often struggled to find her place academically. She eventually landed upon a career in hair styling, a role she enjoyed for over 18 years until a spinal condition prevented her from being able to stand for the amount of time the job required.

“I knew I needed to find a new profession, so I decided to enroll at NECC,” she says. “The decision to attend was one of the best things I could have done for myself.”

Zappala credits her success to the many faculty and staff members who helped her along the way, including nominators Mary Jo Shafer and Kristen Arnold, among many others.

“These people have given me the confidence I did not have when I started at NECC. Everyone here wants to see you succeed… I am grateful to them all.”

This fall, Zappala will continue her studies at UMass Lowell, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science.

The annual Outstanding Student Award recognizes the accomplishments of a graduating NECC student who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to academic success, community service, and involvement with campus initiatives. Please visit the Outstanding Awards page to learn more about the Outstanding Student Award. Nominations are accepted each spring.

NECC Celebrates the Class of 2024

May 20, 2024/in Programs, Students, Events, Faculty and Staff, Featured, Headlines, Press Releases/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (May 18, 2024) – Mother Nature must be a fan of Northern Essex Community College’s class of 2024. The rain held off just long enough for a dry 62nd Annual Commencement ceremony on the Haverhill Campus.

More than 700 students earned certificates or degrees. Approximately 400 of those students, along with thousands of family members, friends, and supporters, gathered for the May 18th celebration.

NECC President Lane Glenn opened the ceremony with words of encouragement for the class of 2024. “During your time at NECC, you have faced challenges, you have all been through the fire, and you know how it feels. You are stronger and as prepared as any generation that has come before you to take your grit and do great things with it.”

President Lane Glenn presents student speaker Akira Matos with her diploma.

Biology major and student speaker Akira Matos echoed that sentiment in her speech. She recalled a unit from her Early College English class on the Hero’s Journey.

“Maybe it’s me being nostalgic, or maybe it’s the realization that we as a whole are going through our very own impossible quest,” she said. “For some, NECC is only the beginning, act 1 of the call to adventure, or maybe you’re already in act 2 and crossing the threshold into new territory with your degree in hand. No matter the stage, we are still on our way.”

Matos shared how she never thought she’d go to college at all, let alone be chosen to speak at graduation. As a metal fabrication student at Whittier Tech., she sometimes struggled academically. But when she started taking Early College classes at NECC, she discovered the different pace and expectations suited her. Then, she learned that she could continue her education at NECC for free under the NECC Promise Program. Matos is already enrolled at UMass Lowell and studying for her bachelor’s degree in biology. She plans to eventually go to medical school to become an ophthalmologist.

Rep. Lori Trahan gets her own NECC Volleyball jersey

Matos was followed by this year’s featured commencement speaker, US Congresswoman Lori Trahan. She urged the class of 2024 to use the same determination to finish their degrees to create the future they want for themselves and their families.

“Don’t for a second let anyone tell you that our best days are behind us. We are a country that is going to continue improving with each generation,” said Rep. Trahan. “Now more than ever, we need you to vote. We need you to use your voice for the causes you care about. We need you to push for progress. Our nation has always benefited when young people lead the way. There’s no better example of that than here in Massachusetts.”

Read the full text of the Congresswoman’s speech here: Commencement Address.

Following her remarks, President Glenn presented Rep. Trahan with her very own custom NECC volleyball jersey. Trahan was a standout volleyball player at Lowell High School. She earned a scholarship to play at Georgetown University, where she became the first in her family to attend college.

Winnie is quite pleased to earn her puppy school certificate

This year’s ceremony featured a surprise special guest: Winnie, NECC’s comfort dog in training, received a certificate for completion of her first puppy school class.

Social Justice Award

Health and Human Services Professor Brian MacKenna-Rice receives the Social Justice Award

Human Services Professor Brian MacKenna-Rice received this year’s Social Justice Award. The award recognizes individuals, groups, departments, or initiatives at the college that promote values such as a commitment to equity and diversity or the advancement of human rights and social justice.

President Glenn recognized MacKenna-Rice for his commitment to addressing issues of race, class, and privilege as shown in his appreciation and honor of NECC’s Hispanic student population and their cultural diaspora.

The social justice award comes with a cash prize of $1961 (in honor of the year of NECC’s founding) that the recipient can use to advance social justice initiatives at Northern Essex.

Emeritus Recipient

Dr. Stephen Slaner receives Emeritus status

Also, at the 62nd annual commencement, a longtime faculty member received emeritus status. Dr. Stephen Slaner retired this year after 17 years of service to the college. In his time at Northern Essex, Professor Slaner served as chair of the global studies department and as advisor to the Global Politics Club.

Dr. Slaner worked to establish a chapter of the Students for a Democratic Society at NECC and served as a faculty adviser for many years.

President Glenn stated that Dr. Slaner brought a high level of intellectual discourse to his students in the many classes he taught in Political Science and History, including a class on the History of the Vietnam War and one on the History of Film. Since his retirement, Dr. Slaner has continued to teach and enhance the intellectual life of the college.

At Northern Essex, the emeritus rank is an honor that recognizes sustained excellence in performance, character, and meritorious service to the college.

A recording of Saturday’s ceremony can be found on the NECC YouTube page. To learn more about NECC’s 2023 Commencement and see additional photos, visit the webpage.

Students Honored at Awards Convocation

May 16, 2024/in Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (May 16, 2024) – Graduating Northern Essex Community College students were honored for their achievements inside and outside of the classroom at this year’s annual Awards Convocation. The May 14th ceremony was held in the Northern Essex Sport and Fitness Center on the Haverhill Campus. Family and friends were invited to celebrate the honorees and enjoy refreshments following the program.

Co-Curricular Awards included the President’s Cup, which is awarded to the club with the highest cumulative grade point average. This year, that honor went to the American Sign Language Club. Academic Awards included the 2024 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow, awarded to Daniela Valdivia-Terres, and the Dr. Mildred L. Montag award for achievement in nursing, presented to Kelly Armstrong.

Dozens of Northern Essex students were also recognized for achieving high honors in their areas of study. The program then concluded with departmental awards and acknowledgment of honor society inductees. View the full program and all awardees here: 2024 Awards Convocation.

And access the photos from the event here.

Governor Appoints Two New Trustees

May 15, 2024/in Community/by mbouse

The Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome two new members. Governor Maura Healey has appointed Frank Cousins, Jr., and Joan Hatem-Roy to five-year terms.

Frank Cousins, Jr.

Cousins is a statewide leader in police and public safety education and training. He served for more than two decades as the Essex County Sheriff in Middleton before retiring. Cousins is also the former President of the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a former State Representative and a former Newburyport City Councilor.

In his role as Sheriff, Cousins served as a key advisor to Northern Essex Community College as it partnered with the Sheriff’s Department to launch the highly successful Correctional Officers Training Academy, and as it developed its 26-week NECC Police Academy.

As a former NECC student, Cousins has previously served on the NECC Foundation Board. He currently resides in Newburyport. “I began my college career at Northern Essex and value the great learning opportunities I received, which allowed me to be successful in furthering my education and career,” said Cousins.

Joan Hatem-Roy

Hatem-Roy is currently the Chief Executive Officer of AgeSpan of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore in Massachusetts. She has over 35 years of experience as a senior leadership executive in the field of elder services and social work.

Hatem-Roy is a licensed independent clinical social worker with certifications in alcohol/substance abuse and gerontology. Her early work focused on behavioral health, disease prevention and elder abuse. She is on the boards of several local, state and national organizations, including the Lawrence Partnership, My Care Family, North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and USAging. For several years, she also taught evening classes at NECC.

“I enjoyed helping students get back into their love of learning and seeing them grow professionally. Being a Trustee brings this passion full circle. I can now use the expertise developed in my social service career to help students overcome inequities and other barriers to learning, enhance the importance of community college as an affordable means of education, and support the good work that NECC has done to position itself as a leader in the community.”

AgeSpan has been a long-time community partner of Northern Essex. Hatem-Roy and her husband live in Haverhill and have two adult children.

“We’re grateful to have two involved, dedicated local leaders join the Board of Trustees,” said Northern Essex President Lane Glenn. “Both bring a wide breadth of knowledge of and a passion for the communities we serve. Their expertise will be invaluable to us as we continue to address inequities in higher education.”

Cousins fills the seat of late Trustee Anita Worden, while Hatem-Roy replaces Trustee Marianne Paley Nadel, whose second five-year term has concluded. The Governor also recently approved second terms for Trustees Shalimar Quiles and Glennys Sanchez.

The college’s Board of Trustees includes nine members appointed by the governor to a maximum of two five-year terms, an alumni-elected member who also serves a maximum of 10 years and a student trustee who serves for two semesters.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Issues RFP for Northern Essex Community College Redevelopment Project

May 13, 2024/in Press Releases, Community, Headlines/by mbouse

HAVERHILL, Mass. – Today, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and Northern Essex Community College (NECC) released a Request for Proposals(RFP) for a long-term ground lease and redevelopment that will modernize the health and wellness facilities on NECC’s Haverhill Campus and enhance connections with the surrounding community. DCAMM and NECC envision a redevelopment that will address deferred maintenance, contribute to campus decarbonization, foster neighborhood relationships, and boost recruitment and retention by enabling vibrant athletic programming.

Given both recent demand for public community college in Massachusetts—driven in part by the Healey-Driscoll administration’s MassReconnect program for students aged 25 and over—and the significant deferred maintenance needs of these colleges, this project presents an opportunity to equip a vital institution to thrive. This redevelopment will enable NECC’s title-winning athletic programs to grow, adjust, and expand its offerings, and for NECC to extend benefits—such as publicly accessible greenspace, field time for city and local youth leagues, healthy and sustainable food options, and affordable childcare—to the Haverhill and Merrimack Valley communities.

“Bolstering our public higher education institutions not only benefits students—it also supports the strong workforce that Massachusetts employers need to thrive,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “This redevelopment will create exciting opportunities both on the NECC campus and for the broader Massachusetts economy.”

“This redevelopment will provide multifaceted benefits for NECC—from reducing carbon emissions to supporting students’ physical and mental health—while cost-effectively improving the Commonwealth’s capital assets on the campus and strengthening the community,” said DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke. “DCAMM is pleased to collaborate with and support NECC’s innovative vision and entrepreneurial approach to addressing campus needs.”

“I am looking forward to seeing the impact this redevelopment project will have on Northern Essex Community College, enabling students, educators, and the wider community to spend time in newer, greener, and more sustainable learning and recreational environments,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.

“This RFP brings NECC closer to having health and wellness facilities that meet the needs of students while benefitting the surrounding community,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “I’m grateful to my colleagues in the administration and at NECC who are working hard to bring this much-needed redevelopment to fruition.”

“Vibrant health and wellness programming is not only beneficial to our students and essential to retention and recruiting, but also serves as a connection directly to the community,” said Northern Essex President Lane Glenn. “This redevelopment project will position us to modernize our athletic, health and wellness offerings and meet the changing needs of our community head-on.”

“We envision this project will further our mission of removing barriers to higher education. Our local youth will grow up visiting our beautiful campus and see NECC as the natural next step in their educational journey,” said Northern Essex CFO Michael McCarthy. “Our current facility was built in 1971, and we have more than $9 million in deferred maintenance needs. We’re eager to see the results of the RFP process and grateful for this partnership with DCAMM.”

The RFP released today invites proposals for a long-term ground lease and redevelopment of up to ±16 acres, including the approximately 44,800 square-foot Sports and Fitness Center (Building D), parking area, a baseball field, a softball field, and an asphalt track.

Ahead of the August 30, 2024, deadline to submit proposals, DCAMM is holding a site tour on June 26, 2024, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM and a bidders’ conference on July 10, 2024, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. To register for the site tour or the bidders’ conference, interested parties can email necchwf.dcamm@mass.gov. More information will also be available on DCAMM’s website.

The proposal requirements outlined in the RFP include developer information and a plan describing the design concept for the site. In alignment with DCAMM and NECC’s commitment to providing opportunities for historically underrepresented businesses and individuals, proposals are required to include a plan addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives throughout the project. Additionally, as outlined in the RFP, NECC and DCAMM will give preference to redevelopment proposals resulting in reduced carbon emissions and improvements towards other environmental impacts.

This RFP was informed by extensive planning and engagement (including DCAMM and NECC issuing a Request for Information and holding a public hearing in 2023). While complementary and mutually reflective of NECC’s creativity and collaborative approach, this project is not directly related to the recently announced potential partnership between Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and NECC.

Potential proponents are encouraged to review the RFP for more information about this dynamic opportunity to support a robust Gateway City community college’s mission through redevelopment.

About DCAMM
The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance works with state agencies to create and manage forward-thinking, sustainable buildings to meet the needs of the citizens they serve. DCAMM oversees the Commonwealth’s capital assets, totaling over 65 million square feet and including all state buildings except authority, county, municipally owned, or other non-state buildings occupied by state agencies. DCAMM partners with fellow agencies to help them meet their strategic needs with fiscally responsible building and real estate solutions and supports the growth of the Commonwealth’s economy by actively engaging with private sector partners to make it easier to do business with the Commonwealth.

About NECC
Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes, and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing.