Dr. Paul Beaudin, NECC’s new VP of academic affairs, reported on his first couple of months at the college.

Dr. Paul Beaudin joined the college as vice president of academic affairs in early September and at the November meeting he provided a report on his first days at the college.

He told trustees that what impresses him most about Northern Essex is the commitment to student success. “I am honored to work at an institution where students are valued and where everyone truly cares about student success. I do not believe that I have ever worked at an institution at which this is such a priority.”

Dr. Beaudin explained his commitment to the community college mission, saying “We are valuable because at open-access institutions such as ours, a desire for a better life is the only admission requirement for entry. Think about that for a minute…a desire for a better life is the only admission requirement.”

He also shared 10 goals that he has for the upcoming months

• Engage with faculty, governance and union leadership on a regular basis
• Support the faculty in academic centers to increase meaningful student advising and to bring the initial vision of the centers to fruition
• Welcome back 75% of class sections to campus for the spring semester
• Plan for the expansion of the Commonwealth Honors Program for Fall 2022, bringing it to the Lawrence Campus with more course offerings
• Update and increase articulation and joint-admission agreements with top-ranked public and private baccalaureate colleges
• Collaborate with the faculty and governance leadership to review academic policies
• Ensure that regular and substantive faculty-student interaction is taking place in online courses as the U.S Department of Education now requires
• Expand outreach beyond the Merrimack Valley to capture more fully online learners in shorter, more intensive semesters
• Schedule meetings between high school English and mathematics teachers and NECC faculty in the same disciplines to dialogue on how to bridge curriculum gaps
• Collaborate with deans, faculty, and our governance body and consider some new innovative academic programs which can provide our graduates with a living wage, fulfill their desire for a better life, create more transfer pathways, and support the local economy

All College Assembly Provides Annual Report

Sheila Muller, assistant professor and chair of the Business Administration Department and chair of the Executive Committee and All College Assembly, presented a report summarizing the accomplishments of the five standing committees for the challenging 2020-2021 academic year.

The five standing committees include the Executive Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, the Information Technology Committee, and the Student Affairs Committee.

Reports for each committee can be viewed here.

Report of Administration

Trustee Writes Book on State Police

President Lane Glenn shared that Trustee Ron Guilmette, a Northern Essex graduate and retired lt. colonel with the Massachusetts State Police, has written a book commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Massachusetts State Police. Guilmette conducted extensive research, scouring genealogical records and newspaper files, to create stories, paired with never before seen photos, highlighting each of the 40 members of the first training class. The hard cover book is available on the state police anniversary website.

Plans for Spring Semester

Seventy-five percent of spring semester classes will have an on-campus component. Those courses could be hybrids, combining online and on-campus, which are the fastest growing means of delivery, according to Glenn.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Wednesday, December 1 at 5 pm in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill Campus.