Daily Archives: April 1, 2022

Features

Spotlight on Professor Isabelle Gagne

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Isabelle Gagne is a pyschology professor here at Northern Essex community college and she is a valuable part of the NECC community.

Like most faculty, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges in recent years.  However, Gagne has been teaching online classes for some time now.

Gagne says, “I’ve been teaching online for many years. I think it’s just a different modality of teaching and learning. I think what’s important is that students think about their preferred learning style as well as their strengths and weaknesses. They should pick a class modality where they will be engaged in the material and motivated to learn.”

Gagne also believes that online classes have had certain consequences for her and for her students.

When asked what has been difficult about online classes, Gagne said, “The most difficult thing for me is not meeting my students. I love engaging with my students and I often learn from them how to be a better teacher and a better human overall. Students bring me joy and help me remember why I do what I do.”

Gagne also said that there have been disadvantages to students in online classes, She said, “Yes, I think it’s more difficult (but not impossible) to create genuine connections and deep learning. I think when students say: “I didn’t learn anything” they mean they don’t know how the content is useful and how they can apply it to their lives. It’s important to explain to students how what they are learning can be applied to their own individual lives.“

 

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PACE helps students succeed

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Pathway to Academic and Career Excellence also known as PACE is a Student Support Services program funded by a TRiO grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The PACE program began at NECC in 1980 and it is still expanding. While attending NECC students can be eligible through four ways. One is if neither of their parents have a bachelor’s degree. Another way is students who are first-generation college students. They also look at a student’s financial aid status to see if students meet the financial guidelines. Lastly is If a student works with the CARS office at Northern Essex they may also be eligible.

Kristen Arnold PACE Director who has been working in PACE at Northern Essex for almost 14 years and has been the director for almost five years says, “I would encourage students to work hard because if they can be successful at NECC they can be successful at a four-year school too.”

Along with Arnold the PACE program consists of three other members. Jessica Rocker, PACE Transfer Adviser offers her service for a seamless transfer. S

heila Corsaro PACE Academic Adviser sets students pathways the minute they enter NECC.

Christine Carbone PACE Data Specialist completes the team by exerting her skills to further the program.

The program also has two mentors who constantly check up on students making sure their needs are fulfilled.

Every year they accept 258 students — they currently have about 30 openings and are looking to fill those spots for this year.

The program has a lot of beneficiary factors that help students further their academic achievements.

One activity they offer is weekly workshops.

“Every week we offer a new workshop with a different topic that is relevant to what’s happening at that time of the year at the college,” Arnold says.

These workshops are built in to keep students on track during the school year.

Workshops provide students with tools that can help her/him successfully in transferring and in his/her career.

The program also offers field trips. They pick 10-14 schools in the year for field trips, mostly four-year colleges and universities that include on-campus tours and transfer information sessions. Trips are 100% free and the only requirement is that students are an active PACE participant.

Since PACE is a federal funded program one of its best tools is scholarships. They offer a variety of scholarships that are awarded based on academic performance, financial need, demonstrated commitment to a field of study, volunteer activities support for transferring to a four-year school compelling personal essay, and military service.

“I have had many students over the years who got their start at NECC and are now are doing some amazing things at their four-year colleges and in their careers,”Arnold says. “It is unbelievable the places you can go and things you can do after leaving NECC.”

 

Campus Life, Features

Center for Liberal Arts offers variety of services

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The Center for Liberal Arts is the home for all the Liberal Arts students here at Northern Essex Community College. There are many students who fall under the umbrella of liberal arts at NECC.

P “There’s a pure liberal arts degree and then there are some other areas of the liberal arts you can get degrees in,” said Professor Kimberley Lyng,  liberal arts program coordinator. Some examples of those degrees that fall under the liberal arts category are philosophy, journalism/communications, writing, and psychology.

Located in the Spurk Building in room C209, the center for liberal arts offers a variety of services for its students. As Lyng puts it, “The Liberal Arts Center is located in the Spurk Building in room C209 and is a wonderful space students can use to study or work on assignments or meet with friends or get help with advising. We have computers and a printer in the Center as well as several comfy chairs and a large table that can be used for study groups or learning communities.”

Furthermore, the liberal arts adviser, Shakira Andino can be found in the Center for Liberal Arts and can answer any kind of registration questions that a liberal arts student may have.

Like everything else in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has offered unique challenges for the Center for Liberal Arts. One of the chief aims of the center is to provide a place where liberal arts students can connect face to face.

Of course, the pandemic has made this exceptionally difficult. However, as Lyng puts it, “Despite the obstacles, everyone has done a really nice job stepping up and trying to still connect with each other whether it’s through Zoom or some in person activities…”

 Overall, the Center of Liberal Arts has a very talented and dedicated staff and unique and important services to offer that have the potential to enrich the life of any liberal arts student at NECC.

           

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Fall registration begins soon

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As spring begins to settle in and the semester mid-way done, it’s only appropriate to begin planning ahead what step to take for the academic year.

Registration for the Summer and Fall semester of 2022 will begin on April 4.

While many students might think it could be too soon to register for classes, registering early can bode well for those who want specific classes and work out a stable schedule.

Naturally, those who want to wait to register for classes are free to do so and view the Academic catalogue available could help ease the stress of picking classes. There is plenty of time to think about which classes would fit one’s schedule and how it would affect them.

There is always a one-week grace period at the beginning of each semester to drop out at no extra cost.

One other thing to point out is the variety of classes that take place either online, on campus or use a hybrid of both.

Everything boils down to the students and their advisors setting up the perfect plan and schedule to succeed for the following semester.

As a little tidbit of information, if a student plans on going to campus, it is best to fill out the COVID-Vaccination cards online beforehand so that they are ready to go day one.

With only less than two weeks left before registration opens, students should be aware to not stress themselves out and to take the time to curate a schedule that works for them to bring them one step closer to achieving their goals.

Even with April 4th coming and going, getting a possible head start to secure their classes to be stress free during the summer is only one of many ways students can go about registering for their classes. If signing up for classes early is not a student’s way to go when planning for their classes next semester, they can just as easily focus on continuing and finishing all of their classes for the Spring semester and take a break at the end.

There is no rush when it comes to fulfilling a schedule and plan that works for a student. Checking in with their advisors and keeping up to date with the Student Success Hub should be on the radar for those who are ready to register for Fall classes.

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NECC turns to mask optional

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Northern Essex President Lane Glenn announced on March 9, that the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges will be transitioning into mask optional environments. As of March 21, both Northern Essex campuses became mask optional.

According to the statement on the Northern Essex Coronavirus updates and information page, the COVID Response Team said that “the shift will be in accordance with current local, state and federal guidance.”

The website also said  “the school will respond accordingly should conditions change.”

Later on in the statement, it does mention that if students still wish to wear an N-95 or wish to receive a free COVID test kit, students can fill out a PPE request form on the NECC website.

I interviewed a couple of NECC students to get their reaction about the news.

“I think that mask optional is a good idea because some people aren’t able to wear masks because of a condition,” said Miabella D’ambrosio, a freshman at Northern Essex. “Some people also just don’t like them but I do think there should be guidelines for big events.”

I also asked if we should still be concerned with COVID despite heading in the right direction.

“I think we will always be concerned about COVID but I also think that as time goes on it will become less and less scary,” D’ambrosio said.

I also asked Kaily Burke, who has been a NECC student since 2018 for her thoughts.

“It’s hard to say what’s the right direction because we never know what’s next,” Burke said.

“More variants will come. However I know we’ve calculated the risk at NECC.”

Everyone on campus is required to be vaccinated.

“I’ve seen a lot more masks on campus in the last week than I still do in the grocery store,” Burke added.

While students are still required to get the COVID 19 vaccines, students, faculty, and teachers can all take a breather and choose to wear a mask if they wish.

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The season of transferring

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The end of the semester is nearing faster than you might expect, that also means the process of transferring is underway. 

For many students the spring semester is when they start looking to transfer to a four-year school after finishing their associate’s.

Attending a community college, such as Northern Essex is a great way to save money and to determine your major before going for your bachelor’s, and luckily there are some great programs that are available to help. 

Some of these programs include the Massachusetts Independent College Guarantee which is a partnership agreement between NECC and private colleges and universities in Massachusetts. 

After obtaining your associates at NECC you then would apply to one of the private colleges on the list and would be guaranteed admission. 

The eligibility for a student must be an associate degree from a community college and a minimum GPA of 2.5. The other option is the Mass Transfer Pathways which has three pathways you can choose from to save up to 40% on your bachelor’s degree. 

Shakira Andino, an advisor at NECC encourages students to attend community college then transfer. 

“It’s the same education, at a better cost. You have more freedom to live your life at a four-year school, but you learn to manage your money at community college. There’s such a stigma to community college, but it’s up to you to get the work done.” 

Some tips she would give would be to think about whether you want to be close to home and to visit their campus to see if you find it and the campus’s surroundings comfortable. 

Aryanna Poirier recently just transferred to UMass Lowell after attaining her associates in psychology. 

“I wanted to transfer to UMass Lowell because I knew people who went and loved it, and I knew that their psych program was good. It was also relatively close to my residence which was a plus!” 

Some advice she would offer would be to get in touch with your advisors. “Get in touch with their advisors, both from NECC and from UMass Lowell as soon as possible. They’re there to help you, and most of them are wonderful at their jobs!” 

Some other notes of advice are to know when deadlines are and what they’re application process is like as it may differ from each school. The transfer programs can be found on the NECC website under the learn tab. 

Transferring schools shouldn’t have to be difficult. Just make sure to use your resources and go wherever you think is the best fit.

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Psychology Program Coordinator Krista Titone shares her story

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Fearless Krista Titone grew up in the suburbs of Hampstead, NH, an only child, raised by both her grandparents and father. As a child she felt safe, supported and loved by her friends and neighbors. Titone says “I had the most amazing childhood and am so very very grateful to my grandparents for taking care of me and giving me the best life.”

In her adolescence she attended an all girls Catholic school, Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen, MA, in a time where education was valued and she was expected to do well in her studies and never give up. She then went on to receive her masters in community and social psychology at UMass Lowell and her Ph. D in social psychology at Walden University. Throughout her life Titone has exhibited her athletic skills, playing soccer and Division III softball and basketball in college.

Titone says “I am grateful I was a child of the 1980’s and 1990’s. It is not quite the same anymore for kids and it’s disappointing. I am so glad I grew up without cell phones and computers. I don’t feel old at 37, but sometimes I feel it when I speak to my students and realize how dramatically different their childhoods were.”

In the philosophical argument of nature over nurture, Titone more frequently recognizes nurture. She says “I do not believe I would be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the wonderful experiences and healthy environments I grew up in…I learned tough love and it worked. It pushed me to always be better and I am grateful.”

On pursuing a degree in psychology, Titone says, “I am fascinated with human behavior and always have been. I took my VERY first Introduction to Psychology course at Northern Essex one summer back in 2002! I instantly fell in love.”

She says, “Honestly, as cliche as it sounds, my love for teaching and my love for psychology are what motivates me in my teaching career. My passion drives me each and every day. When my students are in the classroom and they are interested and engaged, that keeps me motivated and loving what I do.”

Titone is zealous, analytical and ambitious yet sensitive. Her wife, Cheryl, would describe her as driven, funny, intelligent, and optimistic. Her greatest achievement thus far is receiving her Ph. D by the age of 30 and as she grows she’d like to ameliorate her level of patience, both in and out of the classroom.

Titone enjoys reading non-fiction, running and summer days by the pool. She also appreciates trying new, sour beers and loves road trips with her wife and two dogs. She says, “I am a crazy cat lady. My wife and I adopt senior and hospice cats so animals are our passion and our love.” She also says, “We have rescued so many senior and hospice animals and given them many extra months through our love and attention.”

She disfavors the winter and fiction books, fruit and coffee, and especially detests mornings. She says, “I hate getting up early. I’m much more of a night owl!”

Her strengths include teaching, she exuberantly comments “I’d like to think! Ask my students!”, and working efficiently. Her weaknesses she says are “…cooking, doing anything crafty, I am not creative.”

Titone’s biggest fear has always been losing her grandmother. Since she was a young girl, she has deeply cherished their relationship. She says “She was my “mother”, my best friend, and my everything. I owe her everything and I made sure to tell her that before she passed. I know she is proud of me and I will always be grateful for her. She loved me deeply and I loved her deeply and always will.”

Passionately, she says “I am very much like my grandmother and I want to be her living legacy. I want to continue to be successful in my teaching career and in my separate real estate career. I want to make an impact on my students always and I want to inspire them to pursue their dreams in psychology. I want to continue to inspire my students to value education and not give up on their dreams. If I can make that happen, I’ve done my job.”

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Reading is the new yoga

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Covid-19 gave way to new hobbies, such as reading. According to the New Yorker, reading can put people in a pleasure-like state of mind, similar to meditation.

I interviewed 2 current and one previous student from NECC asking how they utilize reading to better help their mental health.

Maddie Reid, a current student at NECC, told me how reading made her feel during the pandemic.

“Reading for me was escapism from what was happening. It allowed me to take a step back from the world and enter a new one where there was no pandemic and it was quite a happy scene”.

Reid then explained to me how reading helped to let her mind settle away from the problems of the world and she noticed herself feeling calm.

The same feeling was felt by former student Karen Smith. As a mother of three, covid took a large mental toll on her.

She picked up reading when her daughter suggested a book for her to read.

After reading that book she told me, “It really changed what I did with my time during covid. Instead of being on my phone unnecessarily for hours at a time I would pick up a book and begin reading. It helped to mentally to take a break from the news and social media”.

The news can be a downer, especially in times of despair like when we were in covid.

Taking a break from that to read can be a great measure to keep your mental health in check.

Ella Lane too told me that the world she entered while reading kept her anxieties about covid and the world away. “Creating that world in your mind from a book was essential for me to keep my anxiety in check and to not work myself up from the media.

Reading protected my mind from the scary thoughts regarding what was going Smith 2 on”.

Books for Ella were an iron curtain between her imagination and the real world.

Books have been known to be a relaxing tool for people, especially during times of covid. It is the small habits and choices, such as picking up a book, that can really help one’s mental health.

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What it means to be an honors student at NECC

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The Honors Program at Northern Essex Community College, run by Professor Ginger Hurajt, is a program put in place for NECC’s brightest and most motivated students.

Graduating with an Honors degree at NECC means you have taken Honors Seminar and completed two other Honors projects in other classes, alongside the high GPA and educational dedication. Students love being a part of this, or want to, and seem to join and enjoy it for a myriad of reasons.

April Richer is a student currently enrolled in Honors Seminar who has returned to her education after 20 years.

For her, her start in the Honors Program was with an email.

“Quite honestly NECC does an amazing job giving all students opportunities to be successful, to have a full and rewarding experience, to support those students who have a diverse amount of need. I experienced so many amazing opportunities in my academics, and I was encouraged by my professors to seize on many opportunities. It may have been the second email from the Honors Program that I looked harder at this (Honors Program) as an option.”

Richer even says how she wished she had taken the class sooner, but is still very grateful for this opportunity.

Another student says that Honors Seminar is the best course she has ever taken. “The reason that this course is the best is because we can choose our own topic, and on top of that we get to do an in depth research project. This keeps the class engaging and always enjoyable, it starts to not even feel like a class.”

She said she was required to do an interdisciplinary topic. She chose to study the ethics behind medical engineering. “It is the job I want in the future (genetic engineering). This class is preparing me for the rest of my life in a way no other class ever could.”

The research she has been doing has not felt like labor. She recommends joining the Honors Program to everyone she meets. It is hard work, but it becomes a lot easier when you are passionate about your topic.

Another student said she is not in the Honors Program, however she is heavily considering joining it. “I plan on applying to a four year college after I get my associates. I want to join the Honors Program to stand out on applications. I also hope to get experience in a class where a harder work ethic is needed to prepare for my future”.

She  wants to study math and biology when she moves on. When asked about what she would do her project on, she said she would likely study the direct connection between the two: how math can be applied to the study of biology. She knows how competitive college admissions are, so anything that can make herself stand out. Not only that, but she also knows that four year college will be very hard for her if she is to study biology and math. This course will help her prepare for that work and know what to expect out of an average class. Given, of course, that Honors Seminar tends to be harder and more work than other NECC classes.

Finally, Nancy Evans, like Richer, got an email saying she was eligible for the Honors Program. After having a tough time in high school, she decided to make her comeback strong. “I emailed Ginger asking what it (the Honors Program)may be like, and she was helpful and reassuring. I decided to give it a go and was happily surprised”.

So far from her experience, the best thing is how small the classes are. It gives a really good personal feel with your professor and peers which helps in a class as intensive as seminar.

“I am glad I received the encouragement despite my past because this is an education experience that I am truly enjoying. I enjoy how individualized and personal the classes have felt. I am also interested to see what other Honors classes are in my future”. Evans’ story is moving, but she is also inspired by all the amazing work her peers are doing alongside her.

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How NECC students deal with stress during midterms

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No matter what major or class students are taking, here at NECC, it’s that time of the semester again where students are prepping and studying for midterms.

While most students would agree that a time like this can be stressful, overbearing, and exhausting, many students have come up with their own unique ways that they de-stress. While there are countless ways to de-stress on campus, like joining a club, getting involved in community events, or attending a student event, there are numerous ways that students take time to de-stress outside of the classroom.

“This past semester I’ve decided to run my own DnD campaign. It’s something that brings me a lot of joy, so to destress I’ll plan and develop the story, make my own characters, and draw up some maps for my game. I’ll also go park my car somewhere in a nice spot and plan for my game there,” says NECC freshman Angelles Amezquita.

Another NECC student, Anytza Delgado, spoke about what she does during her time away from the classroom. “To de-stress from midterms, I set time aside to do activities that don’t require much thinking. For example, painting, taking a dance class, catching up on any tv shows or movies, or spending time with family and friends …  I have found that doing these things allows my mind to take a break, and in turn betters my mental health.”

“When I feel stressed about midterms I like to go for a walk and just take a couple deep breaths to try and calm myself down. I really feel like stepping away from my schoolwork and my devices for awhile really help me to remain calm and remind myself that I’m working towards my goals in life,” says dual-enrollment student Jessalyn Alessandri.

If students need extra help dealing with stress and anxiety not only during midterms week, but at any time during the school year, the NECC website offers multiple ways students may reach out for help. Under the ‘Student Services’ section, students may choose from three different options, whether that be counseling services, academic support services, or career services.