Trustees opened the April meeting with the election of a new slate of officers.  Attorney William Cox was elected vice chair and Marianne Paley Nadel was elected secretary.  Jeff Linehan will continue as chair, a position which is appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

NECC is Leader in Competency-Based Education

Last fall, Northern Essex was the first of the Massachusetts public colleges and universities to offer Competency-Based Education (CBE), a method of learning designed especially for busy adults who need flexibility in order to pursue a certificate or degree.

Sixty-one students enrolled in the nine CBE courses offered in the fall and 71 students enrolled in the eight courses offered this spring, according to Kim Burns, dean of academic innovations and interim dean of professional development.

CBE courses follow a “mastery” approach, said Burns.  Students are given flexibility within a 15-week period and can start and complete courses online on their own schedule.  Each CBE student is assigned a learning coach, who will provide course orientation and advice on how to succeed academically.

Northern Essex currently offers an eight-course certificate in computer applications as well as individual courses as CBE courses.

The college recently received a $180,000 grant from the Department of Higher Education’s Performance Incentive Fund to develop—along with Middlesex Community College— Early Childhood Education classes using the CBE format.

Four Recent Retirees will Receive Emeritus Status

Trustees voted unanimously to honor four recent retirees with emeritus status at the May 20 Commencement Ceremony.

Those recent retirees include: Thomas Fallon, dean emeritus of institutional research & planning; Nita Lamborghini, dean emerita of student life; Betsy Pardo, academic coordinator emerita of English as a Second Language; and Gail Stuart, coordinator emerita of library services.

At Northern Essex, the rank of emeritus is an honor that recognizes sustained excellence in performance, character, and meritorious service to the college. Emeritus status is given to retired college employees based on recommendations by the college’s emeritus committee to President Glenn and approval by the board of trustees.

Report of Administration

President Lane Glenn presented updates on the following:

Strategic Plan Update: Professional Growth

This month’s report focused on the Professional Growth Goal, one of four in the college’s strategic plan, NECC 2020.

This goal team is tasked with increasing opportunities for faculty and staff that encourage professional growth, foster experimentation, and advance curriculum innovation.

To date, the team has introduced adjunct faculty fellows who are helping connect part-time faculty with the resources that are available to support them with teaching and learning.

The group also helped lead the annual Professional Day which was held on Friday, March 31 on the Haverhill Campus.  The theme was “Student Voices: Listening and Learning” and more than 200 faculty and staff and 30 students participated.  President Glenn called this year’s professional day “one of the best the college has ever had.”  “There was a range of students with different experiences and we listened and learned.  Our goal was to find out how we can do better.”

Spurk Building Renovation

The Spurk Building on the Haverhill Campus is on schedule for a fall 2017 opening after being closed for a year for renovations.

When complete, the building will feature renovated restrooms, new windows, central air conditioning and more.

Dimitry Building Renovation

Renovation of the Dimitry Building in Lawrence has been postponed.  The work is now scheduled to take place spring of 2018 through spring of 2019.

The renovations will include new windows, new siding, parking lot improvements, and new and beautifully landscaped outdoor space.

Communiversity Space

Renovations to the 2nd floor of 420 Common Street will be completed by the end of April, providing new space for the college’s communiversity partners, Regis and Lyndon State College.

Opening this summer, the space will include classrooms plus a computer lab.

“It will become the hub for our communiversity partnerships,” said President Glenn.  Northern Essex partners with Regis and Lyndon State to offer bachelor degree completion programs on the Lawrence Campus.

For more information visit the website.