NASHUA, NH – Before the new academic year, the Nashua Community College (NCC) held an open house event on Thursday evening. More than 90 interested students registered along with 200 family members as attendees.
The students were a mix of potential new applicants, students looking to jumpstart college while still in high school, and newly accepted students who begin this fall and visiting the campus for the first time.
Faculty and Staff representing more than 30 degree and 20 certificate programs held one-on-one conversations at tables spread throughout the gymnasium. Representatives of school services departments – Financial Aid, Dual Enrollment, Multicultural Engagement, Accessibility Services, Workforce Solutions, and the Honors Program were on hand to answer inquiries into those areas. Despite a high volume of attendance, each student was provided individual attention.
A large team of student volunteers worked with the visitors and conducted multiple group tours of the facilities. Highlights of the tour were the nursing lab, the aviation labs, and the industry-transportation garage.
Attendees came for many reasons and a wide range of points in their educational careers.
Potential applicant Margelite Covera-Herrera a native of Peru, has been studying English. She came to the open house on the recommendation of a friend. “My friend studied here she studied electronics and engineering and recommended the school to me,” she said.
She was at the open house to investigate options, as she said. to begin a career direction, maybe business or maybe engineering.” The technical training to work programs were the most interesting to her.
Professor and Business Department Chair Garry Kirk was happy about the turnout for the event noting.
“Turnout has been much better, as a matter of fact, I have not stopped talking to people which is wonderful. I was here years ago when we only got a handful of people,” Kirk said. “For him, the numbers reflect the relevance and value of NCC to the community.
Multicultural engagement is a priority of the community college and a part of the open house. Elizabeth Berry a professor and department chair manages the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. For her, the recent overhaul of the admissions and student services area process is reaping dividends in student interest. “This open house is amazing, this is a great crowd, measures of our efforts when you see numbers like this,” she said.
The fall semester of the new academic year at NCC begins August 26.
