For many college students across the country, a top priority is having a job. Very few students actually have the luxury of just focusing on school, or a job and a majority have to balance both.
I was fortunate enough to begin my college journey with a job that fit my needs as a full time student. I’ve been working as a Group Leader at Rangers Club for the Methuen Public school system since high school. I’ve currently been employed there for four years. Working there has provided me with the opportunity to be able to perfectly balance school and work life. For many students working a part time or full time job can be draining and time consuming, leaving little to no time for school work. My job allows me to register as a full time student while working a few hours a day as well as weekends off to dedicate to my academics.
Working at Rangers Club means I can manage my time properly and also allows me to work with amazing kids and staff members. Rangers Club is currently hiring for multiple positions. More information can be found on the Methuen Public Schools Website under “Employment.”
For those who are interested in part and full time jobs, NECC will be having a job fair on Thursday October 4, which is free and open for students to attend and talk to potential employers from a variety of companies and organizations as well as potential “on spot interviews.”
The fair will be held in the Haverhill Campus Hartleb Technology Center, Room 103 A&B.
Cars are parked in the Spurk building lot on Sept. 10. Photo by Mariella Mendez
This upcoming school year is all about change, and this one will have a big impact. Many students may not know that the school has officially changed the parking policy. This means students will have the freedom to park at any lot available for free.
After brief interviews with new students and returning ones, many said they were pleasantly surprised to hear the news, which they were not aware of.
Mileichali Minaya, 18, Psychology major is new to campus, and although the new parking policy does not exactly pertain to her directly because she doesn’t drive to campus, she was still pleased to know that NECC was taking initiative to help those who do drive to class.
Minaya says, “I don’t drive myself to classes but this will definitely benefit the student body.”
She brought up a good point saying, the closer you allow students to park, the better they can arrive to class efficiently and on time.”
The problem with the old policy seemed to be that students had to calculate arriving to class on time especially when they are parked relatively far from their building.
Although the Haverhill campus is pretty compact, walking from one end to the other is time consuming.
David Gardner, 19, Elementary Education major expressed joy upon hearing the news.
He says, that “although the cost of parking wasn’t too pricey to begin with, it was another inconvenient process that students had to go through.”
Gardner believes that this policy will be “smoother for us students, who pay enough already to attend school.”
Nineteen year old graphic design major, Susan Elias is a returning student who had positive comments about the new policy. “I drive to school on a daily basis, but I have never paid for parking. I wasn’t aware of the new change, I’m glad students don’t have to pay anymore, that’s awesome.”
“I approve of this policy because I don’t find it fair that students have pay for parking just to be able to get to class,” Elias said.
“I think this will be great for the students and maybe more will feel better about driving to school instead of finding alternatives. This also reduces the fear of receiving a ticket for accidentally parking without a pass and will attract more students to our campus.”
New hang tags will be administered to students free of charge when they register for their initial semester. E
very semester, students will have to get stickers for their hang tags that indicates what semester you’ve registered for. The hang tags are interchangeable meaning you can switch in between vehicles. Any students attending orientation will receive their tags there.
Hang tags are to be displayed at all times and are to be hanged on the rearview mirror. If it is stolen or lost, students must report to Enrollment Services and Student Financial Services who administer a new one. T
he hang tags will be available in the Student Success Hub in the Haverhill Campus and the El-Hefni building (44 Common St) in the Lawrence Campus.
NECC faculty members can get their hangtags in the Public Safety pickup locations which are located in the Public Safety desk room in TC-122 in haverhill or at the Public Safety desk on 414 Common street in Lawrence.
Parking for visitors will be located in the Hartleb Technology Center parking lot and specific parking areas will be designated whenever there is an upcoming event. Parking on the Lawrence Campus will be located on 78 Amesbury St. Lot D, the Goudreault Lot C on 414 Common St. and the Dimitry A parking lot on 45 Franklin St. At Riverwalk there is parking on Merrimack Street across from the Riverwalk building.
Students or staff who park in handicapped spaces are not authorized to obtain a hang tag but are encouraged in case handicapped spaces are not prominently available.
Northern Essex introduces a new position this year that was recently filled by Deborah Crafts, who has been hired as the Director of Public Safety.
Crafts has had a variety of experience from Northeastern University where she worked for the Northeastern police department full time while still attending as a student.
Prior to joining the Northern Essex staff she also had prior experience working at Bentley University and MassBay Community College as a temporary director.
Crafts states that the positionat Northern Essex interested her because she “really enjoys working at a community college.”
She is particularly excited about this position because she gets to create her own department from scratch.
New NECC Director of Public Safety Deborah Crafts Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom
Crafts is entering this school year full of ideas.
When asked about any potential changes she’d implement on campus she replied, “One of the first things I would do is ask you, what do you think is needed here. And that’s what I’m doing right now, is I’m really talking to people. I’ve been here two months and there are people who have been here for years. I’ve been at seven institutions and they’re all different, and have different needs, so generally speaking right now I am just going out and searching for what people want on campus.”
Not only is Crafts looking to keep both the Haverhill and Lawrence Campuses safe, but she says, “philosophically, we’re in an educational institution so part of my role is to educate, so that students not only feel safe here, but also feel safe at home or at your first job.”
She is aiming to implement workshops and informal events for students and faculty to provide tips and tools so that everyone feels control of their safety.
She also wants the public safety department to be a space for students to go to if they feel unsafe about any aspect of their lives whether it be at school or at home.
According to Crafts,smaller changes can make big differences on campus, like communicating with one another if someone sees something that seems out of place.
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One of the first things I would do is ask you, what do you think is needed here. And that’s what I’m doing right now, is I’m really talking to people…. – Deborah Crafts
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Eventually she would like to implement access control, where students are able to enter buildings with their ID cards as a form of access.
She says she would also like to see more forms of security in and around the buildings and staff who can stay vigilant of areas as well as educating and preparing students.
Northern Essex has also issued a new Public Safety Space in the Spurk building in room 110.
The room next door will be the Public Safety Communications Office and will be equipped with video feed, and emergency backup power.
Crafts is hoping to include a centralized form of communication in which someone would be in the communications office throughout the day to answer calls as a dispatcher would, inc ase of an emergency.
Students also have the freedom to contact the Public Safety Office if they feel they need an escort to their car.
Many students attend night classes or stay on campus during later hours and therefore can have security walk them over to their vehicle.
Northern Essex will be releasing their annual security report, also known as a Clery report on October 1, which provides any crime statistics on campus.
Students have full access to this report and should update their knowledge of campus crime.
Students should always remain aware of checking any emails regarding the Public Safety Department. To report a medical or safety emergency on campus, students should dial 911 as well as notify the Public Safety Office by calling (978)-566-333 or ext 333 from an on campus phone
