Gail Stuart, coordinator of reference services, and Marcy Yeager, professor of Natural Sciences and International Studies coordinator, recently returned from sabbaticals, feeling refreshed and inspired. They shared how they planned to implement what they had learned at the May 14 meeting of the college\u2019s board of trustees.<\/p>\n
Stuart, who was on leave for the fall semester of 2013, explored ways information literacy instruction could be enhanced at the college.<\/p>\n
Information literacy\u2014which Stuart describes as \u201cselecting the best and most appropriate research for the task at hand and using it ethically\u201d\u2014is now one of the college\u2019s core academic skills.<\/a><\/p>\n Stuart took courses and attended workshops and developed a series of steps, many of which have already been implemented, to improve the way information literacy is taught at Northern Essex.<\/p>\n Some examples include more formal consultation with faculty before their class is brought in for information literacy training; using questions and answers and electronic clickers in the classroom to engage students; and sending a post session feedback request to faculty after each class.<\/p>\n Yeager\u2019s sabbatical focused on creating a framework to support International Studies at Northern Essex. Her sabbatical also related to one of the college\u2019s new core academic skills\u2014global awareness\u2014 which is described as helping students to develop an understanding of diverse cultures which can be used to address global issues.<\/p>\n Through research, Yeager wanted to grow and develop International Studies at NECC; create a formal process for developing the short courses and student semester aboard experiences that are currently offered; and investigate and apply for funding to support a more sustainable program.<\/p>\n In addition to creating six new short-term study abroad courses and signing the college\u2019s first international articulation agreement<\/a> with a British university, Yeager has created a semester abroad cohort model that will be piloted in the fall of 2015.<\/p>\n \u201cOne or two of our students do a full-time semester abroad each year. This can be discouraging for our students, who would prefer to go abroad with a Northern Essex group,\u201d said Yeager. \u201cNext fall, we hope to be able to offer this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0Trustees voted unanimously to repeal the college\u2019s alcohol policy which has been in effect since November of 1997 at the April meeting of the board of trustees, and in May they voted to replace that policy with a new one.<\/p>\n \u00a0The new policy reads as follows:<\/p>\n \u201cno alcoholic beverages may be consumed, served, sold or stored by students, guests, invitees, educators, administrators or executives of the college at any of the college campuses or satellites or in any motor vehicle owned or leased by NECC without the advance (not less than 30 days) written approval of the college president, or vice president of administration & finance, or designee.\u201d<\/p>\n Under the college\u2019s old policy, alcohol was not allowed in any buildings owned or operated by the college. According to President Glenn, it can now be served under very strict guidelines, but it would never be served with students.<\/p>\n The college\u2019s policy will now be aligned with the other 14 Massachusetts community colleges as governed by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. <\/p>\n Dan Rivera, the newly elected mayor of Lawrence, who has served on the Northern Essex Board of Trustees since 2009, has resigned as a trustee of the college, effective immediately.<\/p>\n Rivera decided to resign based on his responsibilities as the mayor of Lawrence. He will continue to remain closely connected with the college, and has been asked to deliver the 2014 commencement address<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last five years, Dan has offered countless hours of his time, talent, and expertise to the college. His energy and tenacity on issues facing Northern Essex (and the City of Lawrence) have had a tremendous impact on this institution and, in particular, the expansion of our Lawrence Campus,\u201d said President Glenn.<\/p>\n\u00a0Trustees Approve New Alcohol Policy<\/h3>\n
Trustee Dan Rivera Resigns<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Two New Full-time Appointments<\/h3>\n