Northern Essex Community College: A Comprehensive Overview

Northern Essex Community College (NECC), a public community college located in Essex County, Massachusetts, has been serving the residents of the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire since its establishment in 1961. With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, NECC is an integral part of the Massachusetts Higher Education system.

History and Establishment

In 1958, Massachusetts Governor Foster Furcolo initiated a plan to create a network of community colleges throughout the Commonwealth. Consequently, Northern Essex Community College welcomed its first cohort of 186 students in the fall of 1961. Classes were held in the former Greenleaf Elementary School on Chadwick Street in Bradford, Massachusetts. The majority of these students were recent graduates of Haverhill High School and other high schools in the surrounding areas.

Campus and Locations

NECC operates with a main campus located at 100 Elliott Street in Haverhill. In 1971, the Haverhill campus was established in a bucolic setting next to Kenoza Lake. The campus spans 106 acres and includes seven buildings, among them the David Hartleb Technology Center, which opened in 2005 and is named after the college’s third president, and the Behrakis One-Stop Student Center. The college also has locations in Lawrence, including the Dimitry Building at 45 Franklin Street, the Louise Haffner Fournier Education Center at 78 Amesbury Street, and the Dr.

Academic Profile

NECC holds accreditation as a public two-year college, granting associate’s degrees and program completion certificates. The college offers more than 70 credit associate degree and certificate programs. Furthermore, around 3,400 students participate in noncredit workforce development and community education classes, which are held on campus as well as at various businesses and community locations throughout the Merrimack Valley.

The college provides a variety of academic programs through its different divisions:

Read also: Courses at the University of Essex

Biology, Chemistry & Physics: Offers A.S. degree programs designed for students intending to transfer to four-year institutions. The faculty members possess advanced degrees and are experienced teachers.
Business: Provides A.S. degree programs for transfer students and A.A.S. and certificate programs for students seeking immediate employment or specialized skills.
Social Sciences: Offers A.S. and A.A. degree programs for students planning to transfer, and A.A.S. degree and certificate programs for career-focused students.
Humanities & Bilingual Studies: Provides A.A. and A.S. degree programs for transfer, and A.A.S. and certificate programs for immediate career entry.
Mathematics, Engineering Technologies & Computer Sciences (METCS): Offers A.S. degree programs for students aiming to pursue advanced degrees, and A.A.S. and certificate programs for those entering the workforce directly.
Nursing & Health Sciences: Provides A.S. degree programs for transfer and A.A.S. and certificate programs for direct entry into health careers. The faculty are licensed professionals with diverse backgrounds.

NECC also offers special programs such as:

Online learning options for select degree programs
English as a Second Language (ESL) program
Academic remediation
Distance learning programs
Double major options
Independent study
Learning disabilities services
Advanced Placement (AP) credit
Accelerated degree programs
Student-designed majors
Internships
Off-campus study
Summer sessions for credit
Study-abroad programs
Part-time undergraduate degree programs
Credit for life experiences

The college operates on a semester-based academic year and maintains a student-faculty ratio of 21-to-1. With an open admissions policy, NECC provides opportunities for a wide range of students. In 2022, the average class size was 13.7 students.

Student Body

NECC had 4,932 and 4,715 students enrolled for the fall 2019 and fall 2020 terms, respectively. The total number of students in Fall 2022 was 4,339.

The student body exhibits the following characteristics:

Full-time enrollment: 1,474 (Fall 2022)
Part-time enrollment: 3,241 (Fall 2022)
Age Distribution: Under 18 (12%), 18-24 (55%), 25-64 (34%), Over 65 (0%)

Faculty and Staff

For the fall 2018 and fall 2019 terms, NECC employed 263 and 264 full- and part-time faculty members, respectively.

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The president of NECC serves as the administrative head of the college, reporting to the board of trustees. The president's leadership cabinet includes various key positions, such as the dean of academic innovations and professional development, director of public safety and risk management/chief of police, vice president of the Lawrence campus and community relations, vice president of institutional advancement, executive director of human resources, vice president of academic and student affairs, chief technology officer, vice president of administration and finance, assistant vice president of student affairs, dean of students, dean of institutional research, planning, and effectiveness, dean of development, dean of business and professional studies, and chief marketing officer.

Financial Information

NECC received appropriations of $20,288,244 and $21,111,643 from the Commonwealth for fiscal years 2019 and 2020, respectively.

In fiscal year 2019, NECC purchased 131 fixed assets with a total cost of $274,389. This included 103 information technology (IT) assets that cost a total of $152,953 and 28 non-IT assets that cost a total of $121,436. In fiscal year 2020, NECC purchased 351 fixed assets with a total cost of $1,097,627.

The college utilizes procurement cards (P-Cards) for purchasing consumable supplies related to college-related business and travel expenses. In fiscal year 2019, NECC had 57 P-Cards that were used for 3,968 transactions, totaling $744,080.

For the 2020-2021 academic year, in-state tuition and fees were $5,544, while out-of-state tuition and fees were $11,328. Books and supplies are estimated to cost $1,400. At Northern Essex Community College, 61 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $4,116.

Read also: Discover Essex County College

Technology and Resources

NECC provides students with access to technology and resources to support their learning. At least one staffed computer lab is available, and a wireless computer network extends throughout the campus. The college provides approximately 750 computers for student use.

Student Life and Services

NECC offers a range of services to support student success, including:

Employment services
Academic/career counseling
Placement services for completers
On-campus day care for students' children

NECC is home to Parnassus, a nationally recognized award-winning literary arts magazine in publication since 1965. The NECC Observer is the college's award-winning student newspaper.

The school's athletic teams are known as the Knights and offer men's basketball, baseball, track & field, and cross country.

Recognition and Achievements

In 2001, Northern Essex became the first federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in all of New England. NECC is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch affordable programs both online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence.

Notable Programs and Initiatives

NECC has implemented several innovative programs and initiatives, including:

Competency-Based Education: In September 2016, Northern Essex became the first community college in Massachusetts to offer competency-based education.
Municipal Police Recruit Training Academy: The Municipal Police Recruit Training Academy opened on NECC's Haverhill campus in January 2015.

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