Tag Archives: PACE

Features

PACE Hosts Aquarium Field Trip

 

On Dec. 3, PACE traveled to downtown Boston for an educational trip to the New England Aquarium. Normally, PACE takes field trips to four-year colleges and universities.

“They provide students with an opportunity to visit area colleges in person, take campus tours, attend information sessions, and meet with university staff to review their transfer credits,” says Kristen Arnold, PACE coordinator.

On these trips, PACE students often have “Mentor Meet-Ups”, where PACE alumni meet up with the group to talk about their transfer process and share their transfer words of wisdom.

PACE also takes cultural trips, like the trip to the New England Aquarium. “The purpose of the cultural trips is to provide an opportunity for our students to learn about and enjoy our local sites of interest,” says Arnold.

The transportation and costs of going to these places can get expensive, so students have the chance through PACE to take trips that normally wouldn’t be available to them.

The Aquarium has a central tank with all different types of fish, sharks, turtles and other sea creatures. As you walk the spiral walkway, each floor leads to a different exhibit.

By the time you reach the top, divers are in the tank, cleaning, feeding or getting live action feed for the television screens on the outer walls of the Aquarium.

The spot to be is the stingray petting pond. Two aquarium employees explain how to let the stingrays come to you, instructing you to lay your hands flat. The baby stingrays surprisingly knew exactly how to sit in place and let you pet them.

A new addition to the aquarium is the virtual turtle hospital, accompanied by jellyfish displays. These two floors in conjunction infatuate children while being incredibly educational. Individuals learn how to feed a turtle, what the turtle’s heartbeat sounds like in cold and warm temperatures, and observe jellyfish along the way. 21-year-old Stephanie Deleon, Communications major, says, “My favorite part is definitely the massive turtle and the sea lions. I really want to hug one, they were so cute.”

New technology is present as you walk up each floor for every creature. Sound stations with headphones are set up for people to listen to the sounds of the deep, like humpback whales, hammerheads or surface dwellers like emperor penguins, for example.

The top of the tank is open-faced, with touch screens full of information for each creature.

“I learned that a horseshoe crab sheds their shell several times during its first year, and then like once a year after its third or fourth year,” says Deleon.

The electric eel had a sensor where you could tell if the eel was tracking, killing or eating its prey. Some of Arnold’s favorite trips with PACE include the Paranormal Tour in Salem, visiting WBZ Studios in Boston, and lobster boating in Maine.

“We’re so lucky to live in this area, because history and culture is all around us. PACE provides an opportunity for our students to get out there and experience it,” says Arnold.

Campus Life

A Look at NECC’s Spring Semester

 

Another spring semester comes to a close on both NECC campuses.

There have been many successes, events, causes and sporting events that have been going on between the Lawrence and Haverhill campuses. The beginning of the semester was rocky because of the semester due to the unpredictable and what seemed to be never ending snow.

For most students and this semester, the consistency of snowstorms throughout the month of February were disruptive to their class schedules. Classes that would normally meet on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule did not have many Monday classes in the beginning of the semester.

Also, Tuesday and Thursday classes were affected only meeting twice a week, some Tuesday classes either had cancellations or the campus all together was shut down.

Instructors had to change around their lesson plans to format the rest of the semester.
To make up for lost class time, some have had to cancel out some topics they planned to teach.
Other instructors may have had to attempt to squeeze together what was supposed to be learned on the lost days.

The snow caused the closure of both campuses, delays in classes, crammed schedules and difficulty managing an extra workload in some courses.

“In the middle of this crazy winter, I actually looked forward to getting out of the house and going to school,” said NECC business transfer student Hannah Latham.

Many students commented about the impact the snow has made on their spring semester class work.

“I had classes rescheduled, and we tried to cram in what we could every class. It was a game of catch up all semester,” said NECC Health and Wellness student Marjorie Vaccaro.

As the semester continued into the late winter and early spring months, NECC was lively as ever.

Early in the semester on February 25, guest speakers David Forsberg, Governor Charlie Baker’s campaign manager, and Charlie Baker III, a Democratic campaign strategist visited NECC’s Haverhill Campus. Each discussed and spoke about how to have a successful campaign and winning an election.

More recently on May 1, there was a surprise visit by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on the Lawrence Campus. Senator Warren spoke to students a part of the PACE Program funded by a TRiO grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Also, “College for a Day” on April 15 as well as Spring Jam were widely successful.

A large amount of possible students attended the event, as well as current students.

Many participants were checking out the events hosted by the Student Engagement Center and Student Life on the quad for Spring Jam.

Currently, it may be crunch time for assignments and studying for exams for students.
That last project, paper or presentation has to be submitted this week before grades close.
Also, if the instructor or professor offers, extra credit assignments for that extra boost in a grade are due.

Students reflected on how they think they did overall this semester.

For some students. their final average could be unknown — some keep track of their grades, and others just go along with the course.

“Overall, this semester has been really good. I liked the fact that they were able to accommodate me with my schedule. I can work and go to school which not a lot of students do,” said Latham.

Another student commented on his overall grades for the spring semester.
“I think I did pretty well. I struggled with a couple classes. About 3 out of the 5 could be A’s or B’s. I’m not sure,” said NECC Communication student Matt Couture.

NECC offers a variety of summer courses to help students lighten their load for an upcoming semester or complete their degree more quickly.

Registration is taking place now for Summer classes.

Courses are open to NECC students as well as to students from other colleges who are home for the summer.

“I am taking two online classes this summer. I’m behind two courses and I’m using them to catch up,” said Couture.

Many students who attend NECC take advantage of the summer classes offered on both campuses because of its convenience and can be beneficial to some students.

“I might take an online course this summer, to get ahead,” said Vaccaro.

Also, now is the time for current students to register for Fall classes and to complete financial aid paperwork (if it is needed).

Registering for classes and completing financial aid paperwork before leaving for the semester may make for a less stressful summer.

For more information or to register for classes contact NECC Enrollment Services at (978) 556-3700 or email them at admissions@necc.mass.edu.

Interested students can also drop by the One-Stop in Haverhill or Lawrence during their walk-in hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.

Campus Life

NECC Students and Transfering

 

By Erica Croteau

NECC provides a full advising staff who are in constant contact with many of the four year colleges and universities within Massachusetts and in surrounding states. These staff members assist in the basic legwork that gives students knowledge about the transferring process.

Sarah Parsons, current liberal arts major here at NECC said, “the transferring process intimidates me because I’m unsure of all the information other colleges will need, and how long the process will actually take from start to finish.”

While the transferring process is one with numerous steps and fine details, NECC students have the opportunity to use resources such as the PACE transfer program to figure out what his or her next step is.

PACE or Pathways to Academic & Career Excellence, offers a transfer advising program to all NECC students. From college visits to applications, advisors offer individualized academic and transfer advising plans.

Some students, including future student Emma McElroy, have not been aware that such programs exist on the NECC campus.
McElroy said, “I have never heard of the PACE transfer program. But the fact that they offer help and guidance through the whole process is extremely comforting – knowing that a trained professional is right by your side puts my mind at ease.”
With the intensity and weight that comes along with transferring, students carry a certain amount of anxiety and stress that is lessened by the services and help offered at NECC.

Whether transferring to an instate or out of state university or college, the feelings of being anxious and the rush of excitement makes for a journey that leaves college students feeling ready for a switch.

Business transfer, Hannah Latham, said, “I started at NECC after [I] withdrew from a previous college, just two days before I was supposed to move back in. So I really just want to find somewhere I would like to stay for the rest of my college years.”

With the spring semester coming to a close in just a few short months, students have the opportunity to take advantage of resources such as PACE in order to make their next academic move.

To search possible transfer opportunities, visit Collegeboard.com or visit an advisor at either the Haverhill or Lawrence campuses.

Campus Life

NECC PACE Transfer Advisor Highlights Program’s Purpose

 

By Erica Croteau

Because NECC houses more than 70 associate’s degree programs and certificates, students are able to transfer out of the community college with a degree in hand. While the transferring process includes several steps and fine details, the PACE transfer program assists students from start to finish.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, PACE is able to support first-generation, income eligible students with graduation and transfer processes. While being funded by the government, PACE is only able to service NECC students who meet criteria that is purposely outlined by the government.

Once deemed eligible, students are able to meet with advisors in order to see what needs can be met and what steps can be taken.

NECC transfer advisor, Kristen Arnold, said, “my goal is to meet one-on-one with all our students to help them clarify their career and transfer goals.”

During this process, advisors implement a transfer questionnaire that allows them to understand factors that will ultimately sway a student’s decision to transfer. This could include aspects such as a student’s intended major, a price range and whether or not he or she plans to commute. Once these factors are outlined, students and advisors can work together to create an appropriate application list that will allow them to move forward in the process.

As the transfer process includes many steps and details, Arnold voiced that paperwork becomes one of the most difficult challenges when going through the process.

“Depending on where students apply and how many colleges they decide to apply to – the paperwork can get a bit complicated. It’s really important to stay organized and ask your advisor for help when there is something you receive that you don’t understand,” said Arnold.

While the process could pose some difficulties, Arnold has seen that starting out at NECC makes a difference in several aspects of a student’s academic career. When asked if NECC transfer students have been properly prepared academically, Arnold said, “our students do very well when they transfer and transfer admissions staff have also commented to me on how well prepared our students are for upper level coursework.”

From start to finish, PACE offers eligible students the chance to make that successful transition while making sure that each step is checked off and completed correctly along the way.

With spots currently open in the PACE transfer program, reach out to Kristen Arnold atkarnold@necc.mass.edu to see if you are eligible for their services.

Features

PACE yourself at NECC with Karen Mitchell

 

By Fred Riley III

Karen Mitchell is the director of the Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence also known as the PACE program at Northern Essex Community College.

Mitchell has been working at NECC for 21 years or one-third of her life. Mitchell started at NECC in 1993 as an academic adviser/career councilor. During her time as an academic adviser from 1993 until 1997, Mitchell advocated Perkins Vocational Education grants for college woman in non-traditional careers and assisted Lawrence high school juniors and seniors in making the transition to college through the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Project (MEOP).

In 1997, Karen became the director of the PACE program at NECC. The Pace program is a federally funded program. Started by President Lyndon B. Johnson in The Educational Opportunity Act of 1964, the program is available to 250 students, or two-thirds of students at NECC as mandated by Congress.

PACE participants must come from families with incomes at least 150 percent or less of the federal poverty level, and either parent must have graduated with a bachelor degree or higher.

PACE was originally part of the Trio Project started by the Educational Opportunity act of 1964. It stands for the three education programs that were started in 1964. Currently there are now eight educational funded programs provided by the federal government. The programs are available to students in more than 1,000 colleges in the U.S., the Caribbean
and the Pacific Islands.

Mitchell graduated from The University of New Hampshire, Durham in 1973 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Spanish and minored in education. Mitchell started working in education as a Spanish teacher at Kennett High School in Conway, N.H. from 1974 through 1977.

Mitchell then earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. in 1979. She went on to work as a student adviser for New England College in Henniker, N.H. from 1979 until 1988.

In 1988, Mitchell became a college counselor at Great Bay Community College in Stratham N.H. and worked there until 1993. In 1993, she started working at NECC.

In 1995, Mitchell earned a second masters degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire, Durham. She has also attended NECC. In 1999 she was awarded a certificate in Computer Applications with high honors in the subject.

Mitchell continued teaching Spanish to students online from 2009 through 2012 for students of the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School in Exeter, N.H.

Mitchell’s office is located in the student advising center on the second floor of the Haverhill campus. She also travels to the Lawrence campus once a week.

Mitchell said her favorite part of the job is “to help students achieve their goal and dreams, it is phenomenal.”

Michael Markham, who also works for PACE, said, “Karen is energetic, kind, and compassionate in putting students ahead of everyone. She is good working with students who face challenges.” Markham has been working with Karen for the last 17 years.

Mitchell likes to travel. While attending the University Of New Hampshire, Durham, she spent her junior year studying abroad at the University of Navarra in Pamplona Spain. She has also been to France, England, Hawaii, Guatemala, and she has visited Yellowstone. She would like to visit Iceland and Switzerland in the future.