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NECC and The Institute of Dominicans Living Abroad Expand Historic Agreement

August 14, 2025/in Students/by mbouse

Lawrence, MA (August 13, 2025) — The Institute of Dominicans Living Abroad (INDEX) and Northern Essex Community College are proud to announce the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at bolstering educational opportunities for the Dominican community in Lawrence, Massachusetts. This new pledge expands on the landmark agreement signed in 2024, making Northern Essex the first educational partner of INDEX in the United States.

The partnership between INDEX and NECC facilitates the promotion of information on projects, workshops, certificate programs, and educational opportunities tailored to meet the needs of the Dominican diaspora. Through coordinated efforts, both organizations are leveraging their respective networks, social media platforms, and institutional relations to amplify these initiatives and ensure maximum outreach within the Lawrence community. The new MOU will allow for additional shared resources like classrooms and meeting spaces on the college’s Lawrence Campus.

INDEX Vice Minister Celinés Toribio trades lapel pins with Vice President of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations Naydeen González De-Jésus

“This is more than an agreement, more than a contract, more than a promise,” said INDEX Vice Minister Celinés Toribio. “It is a vision for the future that, together, we can create even bigger and better opportunities.”

“Thank you for ensuring that we continue to open up pathways to our students for the advancement of the Dominican diaspora,” remarked Vice President of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations Naydeen González De-Jésus before signing the agreement with Toribio.

Wednesday’s signing event included a tour of the Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Health and Technology Center at 414 Common Street, Lawrence. Additionally, Reina Rosario, Director of Promotion of National Identity for INDEX, donated four books she authored on Dominican history and heritage to NECC’s libraries.

More than 40% of Northern Essex students are from or have direct ties to the Dominican Republic. Lawrence is home to 49,000 Dominican Americans, making it the second-largest Dominican diaspora in the country.

The Dominican Republic maintains a Consulate in Boston. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates the National Institute of Vocational Technical Training (INFOTEP), which governs professional technical training. INDEX supports INFOTEP’s Lawrence office by fostering collaborations and promoting its educational programs abroad.

Two Additional Programs Offered in Innovative CBE Model

August 12, 2025/in Programs/by mbouse

Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (August 12, 2025) — Northern Essex Community College continues to be a leader in academic innovation with the addition of two more programs offered entirely in the Competency-Based Education model. CBE is an approach that focuses on a student’s ability to demonstrate mastery of specific skills and knowledge. This allows students to progress through coursework as soon as they show mastery of the required competencies.

This fall, students majoring in Business Management and those seeking a Healthcare Technician Certification will be able to complete their requirements using all CBE classes. NECC also offers an Early Childhood Education (ECE) associate degree, an Early Childhood Director Certificate, and an Early Childhood Foundational Certificate program in the CBE model. When it was launched in 2022, NECC became the first public college in the country to offer an ECE CBE associate degree. Many students in other degree and certificate programs can complete their general education requirements for the program in the CBE modality, with a full block of MA general education foundation courses now offered in CBE.

five college students gather around a table with counting manipulatives

Early Childhood Education students at Northern Essex

“It is immensely rewarding to see how far we’ve come with our CBE offerings, and to know these additional programs will allow more students to complete their degrees and college certificates,” says NECC Dean of Business and Professional Studies Jody Carson. “The CBE model can save students time, provide learners with maximum flexibility, and give them a unique sense of ownership in their career and educational journeys.”

“The launch of our Competency-Based Education Healthcare Technology program with a focus on Phlebotomy/EKG, reflects the College’s commitment to innovative, student-centered learning,” says Dean of Health Professions Kathy Hudson. “This flexible model allows students to demonstrate mastery of critical skills at their own pace while ensuring alignment with real-world healthcare standards. We’re proud to offer a pathway that prepares job-ready professionals to meet urgent workforce needs in our local healthcare community.”

More About CBE

Competency-based education addresses the needs of adults and other non-traditional learners, allowing them increased flexibility to start and complete courses online at their own pace. Many might already be working in the fields they are studying. CBE allows those students to demonstrate what they already know and accelerate through their coursework, then take more time when they are less familiar with the content or life gets busy.

All CBE courses are online, however, some may require in-person practicums. A range of supports for CBE courses is available on campus and online to help students succeed.

A History of CBE at NECC

In the fall of 2016, Northern Essex offered eight CBE courses, primarily in technology and engineering. The faculty in the ECE program began developing courses in the CBE model in the spring of 2017, adding a new certificate and later developing the complete ECE Associate Degree program. This work is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and its Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).

Any student may take CBE general education courses regardless of major or area of study. To find CBE classes, use the course search tool. More information about CBE at NECC can be found on the webpage.

Methuen Teens Experience College Life with Campus Visits

August 8, 2025/in Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (August 4, 2025) – Northern Essex Community College gave local teens a glimpse of college life by hosting a summer field trip, organized by Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc. (MAN Inc.) and Debbie’s Treasure Chest. This week, they visited the college’s Haverhill and Lawrence campuses, meeting with leaders and seeing first-hand the opportunities available so close to home.

“I want our young people to know about the educational opportunities available to them,” said Linda Soucy, founder of MAN, Inc. “There are so many resources right in our own backyard, and Northern Essex tops the list.”

president glenn addresses group of students

NECC President Lane Glenn met with visiting students

Soucy explained that the group, which is made up of 14 and 15-year-olds, has been participating in MassHire’s Career Curriculum Summer Youth Program. Part of this program includes visits to community sites, meetings with officials, and learning about local resources.

“Whether it’s through Massachusetts’ free community college program, or our convenient locations in Lawrence and Haverhill, I appreciate the partnership of MAN, Inc. and Debbie’s Treasure Chest in communicating the accessibility of higher education in the Merrimack Valley,” said NECC President Lane Glenn.

Recognizing that many young people in the community have never stepped on a college campus, organizers wanted to give students a real look at a local institution. The group kicked off the day by touring NECC’s Lawrence campus, meeting with Dean of Health Sciences Kathy Hudson, and hearing from Vice President of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations Naydeen Gonzalez De-Jesus.

NECC Vice President of the Lawrence Campus Naydeen González De-Jésus speaks with visiting students.

“It takes a village to increase college attainment, and today’s engagement, in which our deans, faculty, and staff came together with community partners, helps to build a bridge that connects young minds to the possibility of a better future through education,” said González De-Jésus.

Following their visit to Lawrence, the group travelled to the NECC’s Haverhill Campus for a tour. While there, they met with President Glenn, Director of Athletics Dan Blair, and Lawrence City Councilor Vivian Marmol ’07, a NECC alumna.

“No matter where you come from or what challenges you face, Northern Essex isn’t just a place about learning,” said Marmol. “It’s about discovering your power, your purpose, and your place in the world.”

Marmol spoke about how NECC changed her life, including how courses in public speaking helped instill a confidence that allowed her to eventually run for office.

“It was exciting to have these students see the varied possibilities, facilities, and programs all available through Northern Essex,” said Linda Harvey of Debbie’s Treasure Chest. “What’s more, they heard first-hand how education can change lives, and they left inspired. At the end of the day, that’s the most important gift we can give them.”

To learn more about the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc. and its programs, visit www.methuenarlington.org.

Lawrence City Councilor and NECC Alum Vivian Marmol met with visiting students

NECC Director of Athletics Dan Blair spoke with visiting students

Eighteen NECC Professors Transform Courses with AI and Open Educational Resources

August 4, 2025/in Faculty and Staff/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (August 4, 2025) — Over the summer, 18 Northern Essex Community College faculty members have been working to expand student access to free, relevant textbooks and course materials. Those materials are known as Open Educational Resources (OER), and this project focuses on creating materials that integrate artificial intelligence and career readiness into coursework.

The project is supported by a $1.98 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop open-source textbooks for high-enrolling general education courses that are applicable across public college systems in Massachusetts. Framingham State is the lead recipient and has partnered with UMass-Lowell and NECC on the initiative, which is called the Career and AI Readiness while Remixing Open Textbooks through an Equity Lens (CA-ROTEL) project.

The Hartleb Technology Center on NECC’s Haverhill Campus

“This grant is about more than cost savings for students,” says Sue Tashjian, NECC’s Academic Innovations Programs Manager and Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education OER Advisory Council. “The professional development provided through the CA-ROTEL project gives faculty a practical framework for integrating AI with OER, leaving instructors feeling confident and better prepared to embed AI readiness into their courses, which directly translates to students gaining essential digital literacy skills needed for today’s AI-driven workplace.”

NECC’s Criminal Justice Program Coordinator Scott Joubert is redesigning the online version of his class, Incarceration & Alternatives. In 20 years, he’s taught several iterations of this class, and says he saw the CA-ROTEL project as an opportunity not only to update the content, but also the delivery and engagement.

“My goal was to integrate AI into the course in meaningful, pedagogically sound ways I could only dream about a few years ago,” says Joubert. “One of my favorite examples: In the early weeks of the course, students explore the historical evolution of incarceration, including some deeply troubling Supreme Court decisions that shaped our system. To bring these cases to life, we created a PowerPoint lecture, turned it into a script, and used AI to generate a deep fake video of Chief Justice Melville Fuller narrating these historical events as if he were in the room. It’s immersive, thought-provoking, and—honestly—one of the most exciting things I’ve worked on.”

Professors Elizabeth Casanave, Meredith Gunning, and Dermot Luddy are exploring several ways to use AI to enhance their Intro to Philosophy classes.

“I do believe that both in school and in workplaces, AI is transforming what is expected of students. If we do not teach them how to use AI as a tool, we could be doing students a disservice, both in their own studies and once they enter the workforce. But it is a complex issue as to how to do this well, such that it is only a tool rather than a quick route which bypasses human thinking,” remarks Gunning. She says AI has already been helpful in her classes by making materials more engaging and accessible.

Like many faculty members working on the CA-ROTEL project, Computer & Information Sciences professor Michael Penta is deeply familiar with OER and its benefits. He already uses OER in six of his eight classes. This project is allowing him to adapt a new textbook that he’s using for Intro to Python Programming/Programming for IT.

“It’s a solid resource, but the exercises are lacking. My project is to develop an open set of exercises for each chapter that cover core concepts, career readiness, and ethical AI use. The idea is to have students build a continuous project throughout the semester, completing it piece by piece through these exercises.”

The CA-ROTEL project has allowed Public Health Program Coordinator Amanda Prophett to include up-to-date, relevant case studies that reflect current public health issues in her curriculum. She says this greatly helps students in her Intro to Public Health Class to connect concepts to contemporary issues, fostering critical thinking.

“The diverse and talented CA-ROTEL team helped me bring my vision to life every step of the way, and I am thrilled with the simulators and engagement opportunities this resource provides students. I truly believe students will be able to gain better mastery of these concepts and learning outcomes thanks to this project being so efficient and engaging.”

picture of the front of text book featuring children running and the title "The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years

NECC’s first open textbook, The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years

Northern Essex CA-ROTEL projects also include business, English, Writing, Early Childhood Education, Liberal Arts, and language classes. This initiative builds on a previous project– supported by a separate $1.3 million grant from the DOE – which produced nearly 30 OER textbooks being used at the partner colleges and beyond. NECC’s first open textbook, The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years, is in use at more than a dozen colleges and universities, including institutions in Canada and Portugal.

Tashjian estimates the use of free and low-cost course materials has saved Northern Essex students $10 million on textbooks over the last ten years. 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. For more information about free and low-cost textbooks or OER, please contact Sue Tashjian at 978-556-3686 or stashjian@necc.mass.edu.

New Endowed Fund to Benefit Healthcare Students

July 31, 2025/in Students/by scomiskey

Sylvia Hallsworth (right) grants a pin to a graduating nursing student during the 1999 commencement.

Over the course of her 30-year career as a Northern Essex Community College educator and nurse, Sylvia Hallsworth ’71 came to recognize a common trend among students on campus:

“No student ever did the academic journey alone.”

For so many students, she says, the educational journey was and is a team balancing act, and one that often prompts a range of tough questions: How will course schedules interfere with work schedules, caretaking duties, and personal wellness? How will degree costs be covered affordably? Too often in her career, Hallsworth watched as students’ outside financial responsibilities took precedence over education, forcing some to reduce their course load or drop out of school altogether.

Now, she hopes to put an end to that trend.

Earlier this year, Hallsworth, an assistant dean emerita of health professions at NECC, established the Dr. Sylvia G. Hallsworth Fund, an endowed fund which will dually support an annual scholarship award for eligible students and coverage of certain NECC healthcare program costs, including pins for graduating nursing students. The scholarship, available to any healthcare program student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and with demonstrated financial need, will be distributed each fall beginning in 2026.

For Hallsworth, supporting NECC in this manner was simply “the natural thing to do” to help students in need.

“I contributed this donation in honor of all the students who want to become nurses and for some reason – maybe financial, maybe family-related – feel they can’t,” she explains. “I contributed so that students won’t have to make that tough choice going forward.”

Hallsworth, circa 1971

Hallsworth’s knowledge of student challenges comes firsthand. Her affiliation with NECC dates back to 1969, when she first stepped foot on campus as a member of NECC’s second nursing class. At that time, Hallsworth was working as an aid at local hospitals, having earned some credentials through a three-year nursing program, while managing a full-time course-load and responsibilities at home. Despite the difficult balance her schedule required, she went on to graduate in two years with the highest score in her class and soon after obtained a full-time role at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.

From there, she says “nursing, and nursing education, became a passion. I knew this was it.”

Finding she loved higher education as much as she loved being a nurse, Hallsworth decided to return to NECC in 1975 – this time as an evening psychiatric nursing program instructor – while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Lowell State College (now UMass Lowell) and later a master’s degree at Boston University, before eventually pursuing her doctorate. By the time she began teaching courses on campus, Hallsworth had already taught for several different types of nursing programs, including the BSN program at UMass Lowell and the three-year nursing diploma program at Lawrence General, and had come to realize something crucial: that a two-year nursing program could prove just as valuable as the traditional three-year program, and could get more nurses into the high-demand field faster.

Here, in NECC’s nursing department, she quickly made her mark demonstrating just that, providing guidance and leadership for all nurses who wished to excel in the young program.

By 1983, Hallsworth was the director for NECC’s registered nursing program, and by the 1990s played a foundational role in implementing and expanding healthcare program offerings on NECC’s Lawrence Campus. For her leadership contributions, she was granted an NECC Outstanding Alumni Award in 1995, and was appointed as a two-time chair and member of the Merrimack Valley Nursing Task Force, and as a member of the Governor’s Commission on Nursing. She retired from NECC as assistant dean of health professions in 2002, having mentored hundreds of students as they worked to achieve their dreams of working in the field that she has long loved.

Today, thanks to her new endowed fund, she’s continuing that legacy for hundreds more.

“For a lot of students, the dream of becoming a nurse starts early and is lifelong,” she says on her decision to give back. “If I can make it easier for someone to fulfill their dreams, then I want to do just that. It’s simply the best thing I can do for another person.”

NECC offers a variety of scholarships to eligible students each year thanks to the generosity of its donor community. Please view the NECC Scholarship Giving page to learn about endowed scholarship donation opportunities.

A Record 16 Student-Athletes Recognized by the NJCAA

July 30, 2025/in Students/by mbouse

Charlotte, NC (July 24, 2025) – Hard work inside and outside of the classroom is paying off for a record number of Northern Essex Community College student-athletes. The National Junior College Athletic Association has named 16 student-athletes to All-Academic teams, which is a new high-water mark for the program, while both the women’s basketball and baseball teams were recognized for their team GPAs of 3.31 and 3.08, respectively.

Juliet Sellers was named to the NJCAA First Academic Team with a perfect 4.0 GPA

The 16 selections ranked best among all NJCAA Region 21 institutions.

Individuals are honored for achieving a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the academic year while completing a minimum of 24 credits. Teams are recognized for collective GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Individuals with GPAs between 3.6 and 3.799 were selected as Third Team All-Academic, 3.8-3.999 Second Team All-Academic, and those who achieve a perfect 4.0 are recognized on the First Team.

“Complimenting an extremely successful year on the fields, courts, and track, I’m even more proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom and the outstanding efforts of the college’s Academic Coaching staff, commented NECC Director of Athletics Dan Blair.

Juliet Sellers (Andover) of the women’s track and field team was the Knights’ lone selection among the First Team, while six individuals were recognized with second team honors.

Earning second team honors were a pair of the baseball players from the Knights World Series team in Michael Fabiano (Reading) and Jesse Yngber (Miami, FL), Edwin SamMbaka (Paris, FR) of the region championship men’s soccer team and a track and field national qualifier, volleyball’s Cherly BritoRosario (Lawrence), Rebecca Heathman (Billerica) of the women’s basketball team and Alp Gyler (Istanbul, TR) of the championship men’s basketball team.

Earning third team recognition were men’s basketball’s Victor Metiver (Lawrence) and Derick Twum (Lowell), men’s soccer Lucas Cantilli (Lowell), Angel Lopez (Lawrence), and Nikos Kakavitsas (Athens, GR), women’s basketball’s Morales (Dracut) and Rosie Ferrera (Methuen) and baseball’s Jake Yngber (Miami, FL) and Enger Paulino (Dudley).

The 16 selections bring the Knights’ all-time total of NJCAA All-Academic selections to 90.

Northern Essex Ranked Top NJCAA Athletic Program in New England

July 17, 2025/in Students/by mbouse

The National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) announced the final results for the 2024-25 academic year of the Ron Case Cup presented by Daktronics (formerly known as the Daktronics Cup). The Northern Essex Community College athletics program ranked among the nation’s top 30 programs for a third consecutive season and cracked the top 20 for the first time this year with a total of 39.5 points for an 18th-place finish.

Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester won the cup for a second straight year with 160.5 points, while Joliet Junior College (IL) finished second with 147. Points for the cup are awarded based on team finishes in NJCAA national tournament events.

For the second time in three years, the Knights ranked as the top junior college athletic program in New England. NECC picked up points over the year in men’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s track and field, and baseball.

Both men’s soccer and baseball earned 13.5 points for their seventh-place finishes, while men’s basketball earned 11.5 points for its ninth-place finish. Additionally, women’s track and field earned one point by placing 20th at the outdoor championship meet.

Now in its 21st year, the Cup recognizes excellence in two-year college athletics through championship competition across all sports.

To learn more about athletics at Northern Essex, visit the webpage or contact Athletics Director Dan Blair.

NECC Presents Eighth Annual Golf Tournament

July 16, 2025/in Events/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (July 16, 2025) – Northern Essex Community College is warming up for its eighth annual golf tournament. The August 25th event at the Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill supports the NECC Athletic Program. The tournament will feature morning and afternoon flights. Prizes will be awarded to each flight’s top teams and contest winners.

“The tournament is our single largest fundraiser for the NECC Athletic program and provides us with additional resources to enhance the student-athlete experience for all those students in the program,” said NECC Director of Athletics, Dan Blair. “The tournament has grown every year, and as we continue to establish ourselves on the national stage, the funds raised from this event are vitally important to the growth and success of the department.”

NECC athletic teams are coming off another banner year, including strong seasons from men’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s track and field, and baseball. The National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) ranked the Knights as the 18th program in the country in its annual Ron Case Cup Standings. This is the third year the Knights have placed in the top 30, and the first time the program has cracked the top 20. The ranking places NECC as the top junior college athletic program in New England

Team registration and sponsorship opportunities are still available for the upcoming Golf Tournament. Find out more by visiting the webpage.

Lawrence City Council Honors Top 2025 Graduate

July 15, 2025/in Students/by mbouse

Lawrence, MA (July 2, 2025) — The Lawrence City Council kicked off its July meeting by recognizing the city’s top graduates. Those recognized included Pedro Rodriguez, a 2025 graduate of Northern Essex Community College.

“Does Pedro look familiar to anybody?” asked City Councilor Marc LaPlante as Rodriguez approached the body. “If you were here in 2022, he would look familiar because he went to Greater Lawrence Technical School and was the highest achieving graduate of the school that year, who also received recognition from us then. So he is the first time double-award winner. That’s an amazing streak of excellence!”

City Councilor Marc LaPlante, NECC VP Dr. Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus, Professor Pam Donahue, Pedro Rodriquez, Professor Sheila Muller

Rodriguez graduated from NECC with a 3.97 GPA and earned two Associate Degrees, one each in Accounting and Business. As the first member in his family to attend college, Rodriguez will continue his education at UMass Lowell in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

A graduate of Greater Lawrence Technical High School, Rodriguez was enrolled in their plumbing program and graduated as valedictorian in 2022.

“There are plenty of talented students at Northern Essex,” said Rodrigues. “I hope to one day benefit our city as a whole and continue with my community service. I wish to do more for the city that’s always given me so much.”

Rodriguez referred to his employment at Lawrence General Hospital as a way in which he tries to give back.

“Because of the Lawrence City Council, we are able to say congratulations to our student today,” said Dr. Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus, Vice President for the Lawrence campus at NECC. “You’ve taken the time to honor student excellence and achievement. Thank you for allowing Pedro to have the floor.”

Rodriguez’s academic achievement made him eligible for the Community College Advantage Scholarship, a program that guarantees community college students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class admission to the University of Massachusetts and a minimum of $10,000 over two years, or $2,500 each semester. The scholarship is designed to expand access to a bachelor’s degree for historically underrepresented students and encourage timely completion for students at Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges. The UMass Community College Advantage Scholarship is available to students transferring to UMass Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell. For more information on the UMass Community College Advantage Scholarship, visit the dedicated webpage.

NECC Inks Articulation Agreement with Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

July 9, 2025/in Programs/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (July 9, 2025) — Northern Essex Community College has entered into a new articulation agreement with the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI). The institute is well-regarded for offering cutting-edge technology and techniques in lab sciences. The partnership will allow students who have been certified by GMGI to seamlessly roll into a lab science associate degree at NECC. Conversely, students enrolled in NECC credit programs might be eligible to take a master class at GMGI.

“This is one of the most exciting partnerships I’ve worked on since I’ve been a dean,” said Dean of STEM Carolyn Knoepfler. “GMGI does top-notch training, it’s an incredibly rigorous program.”

GMGI students who successfully complete the Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Training Program will be eligible for admission into NECC’s Certificate in Laboratory Science. From there, they may choose to progress into the Associate of Applied Science in Laboratory Science program. NECC may accept up to 19 transfer credits.

Applicants will be eligible to receive transfer credit for the following courses toward the Laboratory Science program at NECC upon completion of GMGI Biotechnology Certificate Program:

SCIENCE 105: Laboratory Methods, 4 credits
SCIENCE 106: Biotechnology, 4 credits
SCIENCE 200: Research Topics in Science, 3 credits
BIOLOGY 220: Microbiology, 4 credits
BIOLOGY 230: Cell Biology, 4 credits

To learn more about the articulation agreement and other transfer opportunities, visit the webpage.