Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting (OFFICIAL) – February 5, 2025
A meeting of the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees was held in room TC103AB in the David Hartleb Technology Center located at 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA on February 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. A Zoom Teleconference option was also available.
PRESENT:
Ms. Borislow
Mr. Cousins
Ms. Fernandez (arrived at 5:12 p.m.)
Mr. Hamm
Ms. Hatem-Roy
Ms. O’Rorke (joined via Zoom)
Mr. Silverio
UNABLE TO ATTEND: Mr. Gomez, Ms. Mohammed, Ms. Quiles, Ms. Sanchez
ALSO, PRESENT: President Glenn
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Borislow called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with a roll call of attendance and a quorum present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the December 11, 2024 meeting will be presented for approval at the March 5, 2025 meeting.
REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEE:
a) Audit and Finance Sub-Committee:
2) Introduction of GW&K Investment Management Report:
Agenda Item 7a2 was taken out of order to ensure the investment firm representative was present for the report. Trustee Hamm reported that the A&F committee met earlier today, where Jim McCarthy, from GW&K Investment Management, provided a full report. The College’s investments are continuing to grow as they have for the past few years. Trustee Hamm was pleased to report the portfolio’s performance has shown a 3.9% increase for Q2 over Q1.
Trustee Fernandez arrived at 5:12 p.m.
CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
a) Introduction of Newly Hired Employees:
President Glenn introduced and welcomed NECC’s newest employees: Patrick Lochelt, full-time Associate Professor of English; Heather Ringwald, Office Manager President’s Office; Brian Abramowitz, Coordinator of Instructional Technology; and Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus, Vice President of Lawrence Campus and Community Relations. The Trustees also welcomed the newest employees.
EDUCATION REPORT:
a) STEM Update at NECC by Carolyn Knoepfler
President Glenn introduced interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Sharon McDermot who introduced Dean Knoepfler. Dean Knoepfler has served as the Dean of STEM at NECC for 10 years. Her topic is an update on STEM activities.
The STEM division is lively, highly active division. Dean Knoepfler credits this to the efforts of the STEM faculty, advisors, and staff. Example of these efforts are evident in the division’s recent move to Lawrence. Building B&E will be temporarily closing at the end of the semester for major renovations. Faculty and staff spent the fall semester packing and preparing for the move and were able to start the spring semester in the labs at the Amesbury Street location. Labs are running Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. And to meet the needs of students, classes also shifted to hybrid.
Dean Knoepfler presented a STEM enrollment update and was happy to report a 14% increase of students in STEM majors with 3925 students enrolled in STEM courses this Spring not including the Spring II start. The demographics for NECC STEM majors continue to track higher than the nations average. (e.g., Biology majors at NECC are 65% female and 53% Hispanic; the national levels are 55% and 14% respectively.) She was especially proud to report the Spring 2024 to Spring 2025 enrollment increase of 24% in science courses and 12% in math given the move to Lawrence.
Dean Knoepfler shared details of a new collaboration with Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) that came, in-part, from an introduction by President Glenn to John Doyle, GMGI’s education director. A new articulation agreement will allow students at GMGI who have completed their rigorous training certificate program to be awarded credit for 3-4 NECC science lab courses towards an Associate of Science degree. There are also conversations about NECC students and faculty having access to the state-of-the-art labs at GMGI through master classes and faculty sabbaticals.
Q: Chair Borislow asked if the STEM relocation to Lawrence was permanent? A: No, renovations are expected to begin in July and will take about a year to complete.
Q: Trustee Fernandez asked if the GMGI students would come to NECC? A: Yes, GMGI students would come to NECC to complete course work towards a degree. We are looking at ways to help with transportation and John Doyle is very agreeable to finding opportunities for NECC students to have access to the labs at GMGI.
BOARD CHAIR UPDATE:
Chair Borislow and President Glenn attended the Massachusetts Governance Leadership Institute on December 12 hosted by the College of the Holy Cross. It was a day of learning and prep. In addition, Chair Borislow, Trustee Hatem-Roy, and President Glenn will be attending the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2024 Community College legislative summit in Washington, DC next week.
Chair Borislow was pleased to recognize Trustee O’Rorke as the recipient of this year’s NECC Foundation’s Impact Award for Philanthropy and Volunteerism. She will be recognized at the 3rd annual Impact Awards breakfast meeting on May 7, 2025.
REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES:
a) Audit and Finance Sub-Committee: Trustee Hamm presented at the top of the meeting.
b) Alumni Advancement Sub-Committee: Trustee Fernandez put out a call for sponsors. If Trustees would like to sponsor NECC-giving or know of corporations/organizations that participate in sponsorships, please reach out to Allison Dolan-Wilson with contact information. With the upcoming Day-of-Giving, she also asked Trustees to start thinking about ideas for matching gifts.
c) Nominating Sub-Committee: Trustee Cousins shared the sub-committee met on February 3 and is developing a list of diverse candidates. The nominations will be completed before the deadline.
d) Presidential Evaluation Sub-Committee: Chair Borislow reported out in Trustee Gomez’s absence. The sub-committee has received its direction from the Board of Higher Ed. Last year’s recommendation was approved in this year’s appropriation. This year’s recommendation is forthcoming after the evaluation.
REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION:
President Glenn began his report with a brief update on the College’s response to recent federal government executive orders. The areas of concern included finance, immigration, and DEI. NECC remained consistent in its approach: Assess, Consult, Mitigate, Respond/Communicate. Myriad legal advice and guidance is readily accessible at the local, state, and national levels.
The financial impact centered on the freeze of federal funding was discussed. After assessment, there does not appear to be a risk to FAFSA and student financial aid. Although the federal funding freeze was rescinded, we continue to assess and consult about the risk to the 40-year-old PACE Program TRIO-SSS, which is a statewide model for the success of the program.
President Glenn shared that he used the Fast Friday Forum on January 31 to emphasize that the College will not overreact but will assess in a measured way and communicate (1) accurate and (2) timely information. In response to the immigration concerns, the College is holding a series of “know-your-rights” workshops. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA) has issued an advisory for how police will respond on campuses. NECC will continue to follow the law and advocate where needed.
No changes are needed in light of the recent executive orders relating to DEI. NECC (as it is built into the DNA of all community college systems) will continue to serve underrepresented and marginalized communities. At NECC, we do not have a Chief DEI Officer. Those responsibilities belong to everyone. It is in the title of the strategic plan, Success for All, which includes goals for filling in gaps.
The Trustees commended President Glenn’s measured and informed response and recognized the testament to his leadership to mitigate anxiety and not overreact.
a) NECC/Whittier Tech Shared Campus Update
President Glenn shared the PowerPoint presentation, Whittier Tech at NECC: a Shared Vision for Career and College Readiness, that was prepared for the kick-off municipal working group meeting on January 27. He cited a rising demand for career and technical education and a growing need for a skilled workforce in career technical labor combined with the Communities’ rejection the $445M Whittier Tech project in 2024 as catalysts for the proposed project. Whitter Tech at NECC would provide a safe, modern facility for all students and expanded access to career technical training and early college programs. The programs would provide high school pathways to careers in the trades and/or early college and degrees. It will also provide adult learners with pathways to fill workforce needs.
There are several levels of collaboration being considered: two schools, one campus; two schools with shared space and services; two schools with one common identity and shared space & services, and the aspirational, fully integrated school model. Current action steps include: convening a municipalities working group, completing the preliminary shared campus vision study, completing the space utilization study, and determining land use arrangement. The working group is also exploring potential funding sources.
Chair Borislow commended the work of President Glenn. She finds it remarkable how he has built the relationships with the municipalities that are necessary to bring the 11 communities to consensus.
Q: Trustee Fernandez asked if all 11 communities have to agree and how close is everyone to saying “yes”? A: All 11 communities will need to submit letters. The convening municipalities working group meetings address the needs across each community and reach consensus.
Q: Trustee Silverio as what is the expected budget? A: The project is at least three years out, so there are no concrete budgets right now. President Glenn reminded the Trustees that communities rejected the $445M last year, but the new budget will have new considerations such as land use and possibly selling of assets.
b) Mass. Association of Community Colleges – FY26 Budget Priorities: President Glenn shared highlights from the handout including MassEducate ($96,306,000), SUCCESS ($21M), Community College Faculty and Staff Compensation, Community College Capital Needs ($125M).
c) MassReconnect & MassEducate Update: MassEducate generated an approximately 10% increase in enrollment with more to come at the Spring II start. Enrollment for AY25 is approximately 5000 and we are working on goals to return to the norm of approximately 6000 students.
d) Save-the-Date:
NECC Legislative Breakfast, Friday, February 14, 8-10 a.m., Haverhill Campus (TC103)
NECC Police Academy Graduation, Friday, February 14, 10-12 a.m., Haverhill Campus (Sport & Fitness Center)
e) Communique:
Chair Borislow spotlighted the announcement that President Glenn will receive the Campus Compact Eduardo J. Padrón Award for Presidential Leadership at the National Conference March 31-April 2.
Lloyd Hamm’s River Run will also be recognized as the Business of the Year at Friday morning’s Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s 34th Annual Business Awards Breakfast.
NEW BUSINESS:
Chairwoman Borislow noted that the board had two (2) grants presented for approval totaling $113,400.31 and asked for a motion to approve both grants collectively. They were:
a) Grants
1) Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship Mini-Grant | $ 1,500.00
2) Massachusetts Department of Higher Education: Basic Needs Security Grant Program* | $ 111,900.31
*Pending Sponsor Approval
On a Motion presented by Trustee O’Rorke and seconded by Trustee Hatem-Roy, by roll call vote, the Board unanimously approved the two grants (ADM-3907-020525 and ADM-3908-020525) totaling $113,400.31 as presented.
OTHER BUSINESS: There was none.
ADJOURNMENT: With no other business, Chairwoman Borislow adjourned the meeting at 6:22 p.m., and wished all safe travels, especially those attending the ACCT Legislative Summit next week.
