Haverhill, MA (December 13, 2022) – Northern Essex Community College and Haverhill High School are one of five partnerships statewide to receive funding to create new STEM Tech Career Academies. The initiative will help more young people earn associate degrees and industry certificates in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.

The Baker-Polito Administration awarded each partnership the $1 million multi-year grant to cover the costs of planning, implementation, and launch.

The Hartleb Technology Center on NECC’s Haverhill Campus

For Northern Essex and Haverhill High School, the planning phase will begin this spring to eventually launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on manufacturing, healthcare, and environmental & life sciences. The partnership will leverage existing Early College and Innovation pathway programs will include participation by the industry partners of both Haverhill High School and Northern Essex.

“The ultimate goal is to establish a high-quality workforce-related degree program for about 400 students when this academy is fully operational,” says Dr. Paul Beaudin, NECC provost. “We’re excited to be chosen as one of the five partnerships for this initiative. This helps confirm our long-standing collaborative partnership with Haverhill High School.”

When the program is ready to launch in the fall of 2025, the cohort of Haverhill High School students participating in the academy will earn between 18-24 college credits before graduating high school. They will then transition to Northern Essex, where they will finish their associate degrees.

“We are thrilled about the possibilities this partnership with Haverhill High school will create for both students and our community,” says Aaron Altman, Northern Essex associate dean of K-12 partnerships.  “Rather than thinking about college OR career, what makes this this opportunity so exciting, is that it provides a unique approach towards finding the connection between college AND career, leading to increased opportunities for our students.”

The program will include internships both at the high school and college levels. Classes will take place at Haverhill High School and on the NECC campuses.

The need for STEM graduates particularly impacts Massachusetts because growth in these jobs will outpace average job growth and is projected to account for 40 percent of total employment increases in Massachusetts. According to 2018-2028 Massachusetts job growth projections, STEM occupations will grow at 7.2 percent versus 3 percent across all occupations.

The following schools and organizations also received $1 million grants to launch STEM Career Tech Academies:

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is partnering with Dearborn STEM Academy and Cambridge Ridge and Latin to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on manufacturing, IT, and environmental & life science careers. The partnership will leverage existing dual-enrollment and Early College programs and includes National Grid, Rapid7, and Suffolk Construction as industry partners.

MassBay Community College is partnering with Natick High School to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on manufacturing and environmental & life sciences. The partnership will leverage existing dual enrolment and Early College programs and includes Northeastern Center for STEM Ed, MIT, MathWorks, and MRSI Systems as industry partners.

Bristol Community College is partnering with BMC Durfee High School, Somerset Berkley High School, Westport High School, Taunton High School, and Attleboro High School to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on environmental & life sciences careers. The partnership will leverage Early College programs and includes Associates of Cape Cod, Celldex Therapeutics, and Waters Corporation as industry partners.

Springfield Technical Community College is partnering with West Springfield High School and Veritas Prep Charter School to launch a STEM Tech Career Academy focusing on healthcare, manufacturing, and business and financial services. The partnership will leverage existing Innovation Pathways and Early College programs and includes Baystate Eye Care Group, Each Moment We’re Alive, Walgreens, and Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Club as industry partners.

For more information on Early College at Northern Essex, contact Aaron Altman aaltman@necc.mass.edu.