New England College

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From the College

New England College (NEC) is a place where students amaze themselves with what they learn and with what they can accomplish. A college that prepares students for the professional world, NEC also empowers its graduates with a broad knowledge base that results from a focus on the liberal arts and hands-on learning. In addition, students develop strong analytical and communication skills that are vital to success in any career. The College’s current enrollment stands at about 1,580 students (1,040 are undergraduates). The diverse student body, representing thirty states and twenty other countries, enriches the College curriculum’s multicultural focus and global perspective. New England College prides itself on its commitment to each individual student and provides a strong support network to assist students with a variety of learning styles. The Pathways Center plays a key role in the academic and professional achievements of all students. It is an innovative combination of academic advising, study skills and support services, and career planning and placement. The Pathways Center is an integral part of academic life at NEC; students begin honing their academic and professional skills, planning for their future, and building their resumes from the moment they arrive on campus. Thus, NEC graduates are extremely successful in finding employment upon graduation. As an example, education majors have enjoyed 100 percent job placement over the last eleven years.

The campus, which is nestled in the center of Henniker, a classic small New England town, consists of thirty-two buildings. Students take advantage of the many extracurricular activities available at NEC, ranging from outdoor recreation to theater productions and the student newspaper. There are thirteen Division III intercollegiate sports teams at NEC in addition to numerous club and recreational sports options. The campus offers 26 acres of playing fields, a fitness center with the latest exercise and strength-building equipment, a gymnasium, and an indoor field house for student athletic activities. The Lee Clement Ice Arena, home to the NEC Pilgrims, provides some of the best hockey games in the region.

New England College’s location offers students the best of all worlds. Students have easy access to vibrant cities and the incomparable recreation and wilderness regions of New Hampshire. The College is located a short drive from the state capital, Concord, and about 30 minutes from the state’s largest city, Manchester, and its airport. Portsmouth, Boston, and some of the best ocean beaches in New England can be reached in just 90 minutes. Alpine and Nordic skiing opportunities abound. Pats Peak, located only 3 miles from the campus, provides free skiing and snowboarding to all NEC students. The College’s 225-acre campus offers excellent trails for cross-country skiing and hiking. The Contoocook River flows through the center of the campus, spanned by the College’s historic covered bridge, a popular subject for photographers, especially during autumn. Almost all NEC students reside on campus in the six residence halls located adjacent to classroom buildings and the student center.

The College offers twenty-nine majors, a remarkable number for a small college. Such variety permits students to consider a number of options before selecting a major, which is encouraged. Graduates of the undergraduate program are awarded the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science, depending upon their major. A number of concentrations are offered within the majors, further permitting students to develop expertise based upon their specific career goals. For instance, a student can major in art with a concentration in photography.

Majors available at NEC include art, art history, biological studies, biology, business administration, communication, comparative literature, creative writing, criminal justice, educational studies, elementary education, engineering (3+2 program with Clarkson University), English, environmental chemistry, environmental science, environmental studies, health sciences, history, kinesiology, mathematics, outdoor leadership, philosophy, physical education, political science, psychology, secondary education, sociology, special education, sport and recreation management, theater, and theater education.

In addition, New England College offers a 3+3 program in conjunction with New York Law School that allows students to obtain their undergraduate and law degrees in six years. There are also a 4+1 M.B.A. program with Union University and a 4+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy program with Franklin Pierce University, giving students postgraduate opportunities to look forward to. In conjunction with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, NEC also offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), Master of Physician Assistant, and Doctor of Pharmacy programs.

Students may elect an individually designed major, combining elements from several majors, subject to faculty approval. Many students pursue internship options (required for 70 percent of majors) in a wide range of disciplines, including business, fine and performing arts, government, health care and human services, law, media and communications, professional sports, and many others. Recent internship sites have included National Public Radio, Disney World, the Verizon Wireless Center, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Manchester Monarchs, and Edge Sports. In addition, a joint venture between Edge Sports and the College has allowed students to manage the Edge Sports Magazine and Web site (http://www.edgesportsonline.com). This cross-curriculum project has provided students hands-on experience in the full production of these publications, from sales calls to marketing to layout and print.

Education majors have many opportunities to interact with children and adolescents, from early on in their programs to their capstone student-teaching experience.

A comprehensive liberal arts college that also offers professional programs, NEC aims for its students to develop certain abilities: to think and communicate effectively, to understand the methods of the broad academic disciplines, to develop a strong sense of ethics, to respect other identities and cultures, and to develop a lifelong love of learning.

The First-Year Experience at NEC introduces students to college-level learning. It includes two writing courses, a computer technology course, seminars on human rights and cultural diversity, a course in science, and a course in basic mathematics. The New England College curriculum is rooted in the belief that students learn best when actively involved with their subject matter; thus, NEC courses focus on learning by doing. Students may also elect to participate in the honors program, where they work one-on-one with faculty members on research and student projects that earn extra credits. The academic year is divided into two main semesters, fall and spring. Additional sessions during January and the summer months offer students opportunities to take courses online or on campus. To graduate, students are required to complete a minimum of 120 credits as part of an approved program of study. CLEP and AP credits are accepted.

New England College encourages students to consider study-abroad options available to them via consortia agreements with a wide range of institutions located throughout the world. Students generally spend one semester when studying abroad, although some opt for a yearlong program. Participating institutions are located in Australia, Canada, England, France, Japan, and South Africa. Students may also choose to participate in travel courses, which are generally offered during the January term.

NEC’s membership in the New Hampshire College and University Consortium (NHCUC) enables NEC students to take courses at any of the NHCUC member institutions and apply these credits to their degree program at the College.

The College’s Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) was opened in 2001. A state-of-the art facility, the CEI provides networked data ports, Internet access, videoconferencing, and the full range of electronic and broadcast media access that enables professors to enhance their teaching by connecting to today’s global network of information. The Simon Center, at the heart of the NEC campus, serves as the student center for the College. The entire campus is wireless, enabling students to access the College’s network and the Internet from laptop computers at any location on campus. The H. Raymond Danforth Library provides a comprehensive research facility in addition to housing the Academic Support Center, where students may receive comprehensive subject tutoring and organizational and time management skill training from professional tutors. The library holds more than 100,000 volumes as well as a new thirty-three-station computer laboratory with Internet access. The science building serves as the home of the science departments, although classes for many other disciplines are scheduled in this large facility. Also located in the science building is the newly renovated Mainstage Theatre, where a number of plays are presented each year by NEC’s outstanding Theatre Department.

For the 2008–09 year, tuition and fees were $26,272. Room and board were $9288.

New England College offers a wide range of scholarships and grants for incoming students, ranging from $1500 to $17,000. The majority of these awards are merit-based, taking into account the student’s academic achievement or other talents and accomplishments, such as participation in the arts, community service, and student government. Some need-based grants are available as well and are awarded to students based upon information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All awards are renewable on an annual basis, depending upon the student’s academic record and/or documented financial need.

There are 62 full-time faculty members at New England College. More than 75 percent hold terminal degrees in their fields. The NEC faculty is highly accomplished and active professionally, publishing books and articles, participating in national conferences, conducting scientific research, and creating works of art. The main focus of the NEC faculty members is teaching. They understand that students learn best by doing and so incorporate practical projects and activities into their course syllabi. The low student-teacher ratio (13:1) contributes to the friendly, highly personalized classroom experience. Students benefit from regular, personalized interaction with their professors, which helps them develop their knowledge and abilities beyond what they had ever thought possible.

New England College’s student government is actively involved in the academic, cultural, social, and organizational life of the institution. The Student Senate functions as a liaison between students and the NEC faculty, administration, alumni, and trustees. The Student Senate is responsible for its own budget, which funds numerous student-run clubs, organizations, social events, and recreational activities.

Freshman applicants must have received their high school diplomas (or equivalent) before attending New England College. A basic college-preparatory program is recommended, with course work in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and other academic electives. The Office of Admission takes into account the student’s academic record, extracurricular activities and achievements, personal statement, and letters of recommendation, as well as the student’s maturity and determination to succeed. Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are not required, although most students submit scores. Students are encouraged to arrange an interview, conducted either in person or via telephone, with an admission counselor.

New England College has a rolling admission system; applications are reviewed as they become complete. All applicants must submit a completed application form, a $30 application fee, official high school transcripts covering at least the first marking period of the senior year, a personal essay, and two letters of recommendation from high school teachers or guidance counselors. Most students receive decisions within two weeks of their file’s completion. Students are encouraged to apply early, as scholarship decisions are made shortly after admission, and they are considered for the full range of scholarship opportunities at the early part of the application cycle. Students whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores. Those students who do not meet TOEFL score minimums may participate in the English language learner (ELL) program at NEC. Transfer students must also provide official college transcripts and a supporting letter from their college’s dean of students.

Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Admission or at the New England College Web site. Students may submit their applications online. For further information, interested students should contact: