The Center for Business and Accounting Services and the Center for Professional Studies have merged into the Business & Professional Studies Center. Together they are building a strong presence to provide more services to students.
Located in the Spurk Building on the Haverhill Campus, the Center for Business and Accounting Services, mostly known as the Business Center at C201, and the Center for Professional Studies, right next door, at C203, are now one academic center offering extended hours to students.

Since the Spring 2023 semester, students have access to the center from Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Whether for printing a last-minute assignment, using the computers, or having a snack or a drink (water, tea or coffee) the airy well-lit center decorated with encouraging quotes at C203 welcomes students with a cozy environment for reading quietly while charging their electronic devices.

Most importantly, this merged center provides an academic advisor and permanent support from faculty who volunteer their time for community work.

“Working together we create a strong presence”, said Lisa Fabbri-Lopez, assistant professor of the Human Services Division.
Fabbri-Lopez explained that her division is looking for ways to overlap and collaborate with Business & Accounting professors to craft events and talks aboutwhere students can learn from both career pathways. Fabbri-Lopez also emphasized that in Business careers it’s important to learn how to interact with human relationships. At the same time, it’s highly beneficial to be business savvy to thrive in any other professional studies.

“The idea is bringing topics and creating awareness from human services to the business field,” Fabbri-Lopez said.
Professional Studies encompasses Criminal Justice, Educational Studies, Human Services, Early Childhood Education and American Sign Language Studies. While Business associate degree programs include Accounting, Business Management, Business Transfer and Hospitality Management. Now their academic centers have joined and renamed as Business & Professional Studies Center.

“One big advantage for students is that now they have more and longer access to the center,”said Sheila Muller, assistant professor of Division of Business and Professional Studies.

Muller also highlighted the great opportunity for collaboration between both centers as beneficial for students.

On Feb. 23, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. one of the BIZTalks Series, formerly known as Lunch and Learn for Business students, will be a collaboration with Professor Fabbri-Lopez.

Fabbri-Lopez will share her knowledge and experience in Customer Services into the business industry and she will lead an event called “Delivering a Knock your Socks off Service” which is about “recognizing how our service delivery affects our company image and revenue generation,” said Fabbri-Lopez

Students will learn the skills necessary to provide superior service despite the customer’s anger/dissatisfaction.
Furthermore, the Human Services Division also has Tuesday Talkies with Takis, an event series launched on the last Tuesday of the month, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. which shows Human Services relevant movie or documentary, followed by a discussion or reflection led by a faculty expert on the subject matter.

Soon, they will bring expertise from the Business faculty to be shared with Professional Studies peers.

Open to all students regardless of their major, these events are hosted at C203 (main entrance is at C201) with Zoom access.

This study room serves as a quieter place for students or faculty when there are no scheduled events.

For more information or registration about BIZTalks Series, contact Professor Sheila Muller at smuller@necc.mass.edu.

For Tuesday Talkies with Takis, contact Professor Lisa Fabbri-Lopez at lfabbrilopez@necc.mass.edu

With so much knowledge to acquire, being on top of assignments and due dates can be a challenging task.

The invitation to stop scrolling down on social media, focus on your study goals, connect with peers and professors in a casual business style lounge or have an easy break with free amenities, is open.

No RSVP needed, just come in at C201, Spurk Building, NECC Haverhill Campus. From Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.