Haverhill, MA (March 5, 2025) – The Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees convened for its March meeting on Wednesday, March 5, on the Haverhill Campus. Topics included the results of a change in placement testing for students, how the college is responding to directives from the Department of Education, an overview of fundraising efforts, and a new policy to help students get back on track if they received failing grades in the past.

Development and Implementation of Guided Self-Placement

Dean of Enrollment Services Donna Bertolino and Interim Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Tom Greene presented this month’s education report, highlighting a new model for placement testing for students. To reduce barriers to enrollment, the college has transitioned away from using computer-based Accuplacer testing and has moved to an internally developed Guided Self-Placement model. Bertolino said the previous test took three hours to complete and students were required to take it in person. Those factors alone made it inaccessible to some students. And for others who have difficulty performing on tests, it produced questionable results.

“As an English teacher, I saw many students who were ready for English 101 but who froze on the Accuplacer,” remarked Greene.

“The student’s voice was not heard in that process, it was the test determining which class they would take,” said Bertolino. “Students were put in developmental classes and it would take them years to get into their majors.”

A team of faculty worked with Bertolino to develop the new Guided Self-Placement model. It is more like a survey, which asks students to answer can-do statements. It generally takes students less than ten minutes to complete, and they can take it remotely, online. Students get their results immediately, which they can share with their advisors to select their classes for the upcoming semester.

Report of the Administration 

NECC President Lane Glenn updated the Board on the college’s continued response to executive orders and directives from Washington, D.C. affecting higher education institutions. Glenn said he is in constant communication with the college’s general counsel.

“The short version is at the moment these are not laws, they are considered guidance. Things are moving quickly and we intend to ensure the information we share [with staff and students] is accurate, timely, and relevant.”

Student Trustee Hikma Mohammed, who is an international student, shared that she has appreciated the response from the college, particularly surrounding immigration concerns. “I am thankful for the help from NECCO so far. [Director of International Student Support and Special Populations] Maria Hernandez is sharing updates with us and we feel protected.”

FY24 Fundraising Overview 

Allison Dolan-Wilson, vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of NECC Foundation, shared auspicious news about fundraising efforts from recent years and the past fiscal year.

“We’ve almost doubled our endowment in the past five years,” she stated. Dolan-Wilson also noted that FY25 is on track to be the first year in which more than $100,000 is raised for the NECC Fund. Gifts to the NECC Fund are unrestricted, meaning they can be spent immediately and benefit a range of resources and programs that are crucial to the success of students, faculty, and staff. For example, the NECC Fund has provided stipends for students participating in unpaid or underpaid internships.

“We want to make sure our students have experiential learning. It gives them something to add to their resume and the stipends allow them to make a decision that’s most beneficial to their learning and career goals.”

The program has provided stipends to 45 students since its inception in 2023. The college’s fourth annual Giving Day, which benefits the NECC Fund, is April 3.

Academic Restart Policy

Trustees voted unanimously to approve a new initiative called the Academic Restart Policy. Academic Restart is a one-time opportunity for NECC students to exclude failing grades from their cumulative GPA. This policy is designed to help returning students recover their GPA and return to Academic Good Standing more quickly.

“Things happen in people’s lives, we like to give them a little amnesty to get them back on track,” said Glenn.

Students can apply for Academic Restart after an absence from the college of at least two years and subsequent successful completion of at least 12 credits. To apply, students should speak with an academic advisor and then submit an Academic Restart Form to the Registrar’s Office for processing.

The NECC Board of Trustees includes nine members whom the governor of the state appoints to a maximum of two five-year terms, as well as an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of ten years, and the student trustee who serves for two semesters. The next board meeting will be held on April 2 on the Lawrence Campus. A full list of meeting dates and more information about the Board of Trustees can be found on the webpage.