Latest News

‘I didn’t know these doors were open to me.’ schools promoting equitable access through homegrown career pathways

August 2022

By Sarah Earle

Heading into the 2020-2021 school year, Stacey Kallelis was facing the unfortunate task of telling several of her students who were working toward criminal justice careers that there were no internships available for them. 

“When you think about the nature of the work, it’s very challenging to give them real, meaningful experience,” said Kallelis, the Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Salem High School. 

Then Kallelis heard about a grant provided by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in support of “hyperlocal” career pathways: programs that bring together a community partner, a student body, and a higher education institution to create a workforce pipeline in a community. 

“I was like, ‘wait a second, why don’t I utilize this to solve my problem?’” Kallelis said.

With funding from the Charitable Foundation, Kallelis collaborated with the high school’s criminal justice teacher, the Salem Police Department, and Nashua Community College to create an Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) that offered college credit, real-world learning, and academic rigor. In its second year, the program has more than doubled in size and gets rave reviews from students and the police department alike. 

“It’s been a huge success,” Kallelis said. 

Salem’s criminal justice pathway is just one of numerous such programs taking root around the state, with support from the Charitable Foundation.

“We have projects in virtually every career field you can think of,” said Michael Turmelle, the Charitable Foundation’s Director of Education and Career Initiatives. 

Community partners ranging from manufacturers to healthcare providers have been eager to come to the table because of their workforce needs. Students, however, are the real focus. Introducing young people to career opportunities in their own backyards and addressing the obstacles that separate them from those opportunities is the main goal of the initiative.

“We’re approaching this from an equity perspective,” Turmelle said. “We want our funds to go toward helping students who have some barriers. … We see the value of education to help lift people and give them more opportunity.”

A brush with the law in Salem

Salem High School’s criminal justice program has three components: an “early college” course taught by a Nashua Community College professor, a weekly hands-on learning experience at the Salem Police Department, and a final project where students incorporate everything they’ve learned. 

Kallelis has made a point of promoting early college at the high school because it not only saves students time and money but also helps them envision themselves as college students and get used to the rigor and pace of college classes. “It’s their first true experience as college students,” she said. “It can be overwhelming at the beginning, but you see them all kind of grow and mature through the process.” 

The sessions at the police department, though, are the real draw. Throughout the course, students get to sit in on dispatch shifts, learn how to lift fingerprints, try radar equipment, drive golf carts wearing alcohol impairment goggles, and ride in a BearCat with the SWAT team. 

“It gives them insights into all the day-to-day workings of the police department,” said Salem Police Chief Joel Dolan. 

Sign up for Reaching Higher’s monthly newsletter to get stories like these delivered to your inbox, along with policy updates, education news, educator resources and more! 

Facing a sharp decline in job applicants in recent years, Dolan and his staff had been brainstorming recruitment strategies when Kallelis approached him about the criminal justice partnership. They created a training program similar to the citizen police academy they had already established. 

When a BearCat shows up at school, kids tend to notice: In its second year, the program grew from seven students to 17. And most are going on to two- or four-year criminal justice programs.

“If we can let these high schoolers see what we do and how we do it and give them that knowledge, we hope that plants the seed,” Dolan said. 

The program’s capstone event – a mock murder trial – was a big hit with students and officers alike, Kallelis said. 

“The whole thing has been a real mood booster for everyone,” she said. “One of the police officers got up to speak and wanted everyone to know that this was the most amazing experience he’s had in his entire law enforcement career.”

Close to the bone in Concord

You can’t choose a career you don’t know exists, and many young people simply haven’t been exposed to some of the promising and accessible careers in their communities.

Take orthopaedic technology, a program offered by NHTI as both a certificate and associate’s degree. “Students who go through the program love it. They have multiple job offers before they graduate,” Laura Scott, former Director of Alumni and Development for NHTI, said in an interview last spring.

However, unless they’ve broken a bone, many young people haven’t heard of orthopaedic technology. That’s why NHTI partnered with the Concord Regional Technical Center at Concord High School, Concord Orthopaedics, and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce to create an orthopaedic technology pathway. 

CRTC students who participated in the program received hands-on training and in-office and lab experience, as well as college credit through Running Start for their medical terminology course. The Charitable Foundation grant paid for the course and textbook. Some students also received gas cards and meals to ensure they could participate in the program. “We made sure there was no cost at all,” Scott said. 

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce represented an ideal fourth prong of the hyperlocal pathways program: a business entity that can potentially replicate the program for other partners. 

The Chamber helped organize a networking event, similar to its “business after hours” events, pulling together a panel of experts to talk about careers in the medical field they might not have considered. 

“It was a really good thing for the students to hear about all the jobs that were available with a certificate or associate’s degree,” Scott said. “The parents loved it too. … We had this panel saying ‘we’ll hire you now with an associate’s degree, and you’ll make $45,000 a year.’ ”

A well-oiled machine in Kingston

Students at Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston can explore careers at many levels, from a dabble to a deep dive. But sometimes, providing the right level of exploration to match a young person’s interest can be a challenge. 

That’s how the school’s advanced manufacturing program came about. Students who become interested in manufacturing through a school-sponsored tour of a local business didn’t really have an option for further exploration short of an internship, and none of the career and technical education (CTE) centers in the area offered an advanced manufacturing program. 

“We were kind of missing that middle piece,” Brian Stack, former Principal of Sanborn Regional High School, said last spring. 

Utilizing one of the Charitable Foundation grants, the school put together a course that includes tours of manufacturing facilities, job shadow opportunities, industry-specific training, and coursework in business skills such as resume writing and interviewing. Students in the program earn an OSHA certification and an optional English credit. They can choose either a work-based learning program at a local business or take classes at Great Bay Community College. 

“A lot of times it’s students who maybe don’t think they have the aspirations to do college or a community college, and once they go, they say, ‘hey I could do this,’” said Kerrie Alley-Violette, Career Pathways Coordinator for the school and co-teacher of the advanced manufacturing class.

Along with psychological barriers, the program breaks down material barriers students face. The grant pays for the OSHA certification, tuition costs, and miscellaneous items like industry clothing and money for transportation and meals they miss at school when they’re in the field. 

“We have a lot of students who just could not otherwise afford something like that,” Alley-Violette said.

The success of the program and others like it rests on strong relationships with community partners, as well as an adaptive mindset, Stack said. 

“It takes educators who are willing to be flexible to even get something like this up and running and sustain it,” he said. “They have to take a leap of faith.” 

In its second year, the program is already helping students find their way to career pathways in the community. 

“One business owner has said, if these kids make it through the first year of the program successfully, he will guarantee them an interview, and if he hires them, he will pay for their second year,” Turmelle said. 

Violette said she’s received a lot of positive feedback from students and parents. “They’re finding an interest, or they’re finding a niche, and they’re saying, ‘oh, I didn’t know these doors were open to me,’” she said. 

Mapping the way in the White Mountains

Numerous other hyperlocal pathways are up and running or in the works all over the state – including one that will provide a roadmap of sorts for creating successful hyperlocal pathways: a bike tech program that will launch in the fall through a partnership between the University of New Hampshire and 20 area businesses in the North Country. Students in the program will earn five industry-recognized credentials and learn how to work on mountain bikes, including electrical bicycles, in preparation for careers in the hugely popular mountain biking industry in the North Country. As part of the program, a UNH researcher will conduct case studies and publish a paper about hyperlocal pathways.

The goal, said Turmelle, is to identify the elements that make the pathways successful so they can continue to proliferate in communities around the state. 

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness is a project of Reaching Higher NH. The Alliance is a diverse and collaborative group focused on bridging policy, communications, and engagement efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready. Alliance members include representatives from K-12 education, postsecondary education, business & industry, and the nonprofit sector. Learn more at www.TheNHAlliance.org

Middle schoolers get a glimpse of career and technical education pathways at alumni events

July 2022

By Sarah Earle

Faith Lanzillo was not surprised by the shrugs and blank stares she received from her middle school audience when she asked what they knew about CTE (career and technical education). At their age, her reaction would have been the same.

“In middle school, I didn’t know there was CTE,” said Lanzillo, one of six career and technical education “ambassadors” who shared their stories with students at the Daisy Bronson Middle School in Littleton in May.

Now an emergency medical technician and college student, Lanzillo credits her high school’s CTE program with setting her on a solid career path. “It was a big game changer for me,” she said. “I feel like it’s important for kids to know it exists.” 

The event was the first in a series of grant-funded CTE alumni events designed to introduce young people to CTE at an earlier age, expanding awareness and affording them more time to explore all options as they prepare for high school and life thereafter. A second event was held at the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center in Claremont in July, and a final event is scheduled for September in Hudson. The events provide a blueprint for other CTE centers to follow as well. 

“It’s just giving students a little bit of, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing. This is what we’re about,” said Stephanie Gray-Lemay, an Education Consultant for the Bureau of Career Development at the NH Department of Education.

As small groups of middle schoolers rotated among them in five-minute intervals, the alumni described their varying experiences in CTE programs.

In contrast with Lanzillo, whose career pathway proceeded in a straight line from a CTE health science program to a career as an EMT, Kuba Kubkowski took more of a zig-zagging path. After graduating from the health science program at the Hugh J. Gallen Career and Technical Center in Littleton, he went on to nursing school. But partway through, he discovered a talent for sales and ended up getting a degree in business management instead. Starting on a career pathway while in high school helped him home in on his real passion earlier, saving him time and money. But, he told the students, thinking about career options as early as middle school can give you even more time to explore, without locking you in.

“I really encourage you guys to try as many things as you can,” said Kubkowski, who now owns two businesses in town. “You never know which path you’re going down or what opportunity might come up.”

Participation in CTE programs around the state has been steadily climbing for the past five years, according to data provided by the Department of Education. In 2022, approximately 10,000 students have participated in CTE programs in New Hampshire. 

Providing greater access to the opportunities available through career and technical education has become a priority for lawmakers and educational leaders of late. Legislators recently passed HB 1661, which aims to promote access through calendar alignment, embedded credits, and transportation.

The legislation is part of a broader movement to construct a career pathway network for students. Experts say these pathway systems need to include guidance from mentors such as these recent alums to help students build their career navigation skills. Research also shows a strong link between middle school career exploration and career outcomes.

Garrick Berry, who attended the White Mountains Regional Culinary Program in Whitefield, was in middle school when he discovered his passion. “When I was your age, I realized I loved to cook. I loved to make people happy,” Berry, who now works as a line cook at the Littleton Freehouse, told the students. “As soon as I became a freshman I took as many culinary classes as I could.” 

A lot of students miss out on such experiences because CTE simply isn’t on their radar, said Gray-Lemay, a Littleton native and former CTE teacher.

“Even the kids in our own facility didn’t realize there were programs there,” Gray-Lemay said. “If we can get the word out to more students, that will be amazing.” 

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness is a project of Reaching Higher NH. The Alliance is a diverse and collaborative group focused on bridging policy, communications, and engagement efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready. Alliance members include representatives from K-12 education, postsecondary education, business & industry, and the nonprofit sector. Learn more at www.TheNHAlliance.org

Youth Retention Initiative webinar emphasizes inclusive narratives, collaboration

May 2, 2022

Ensuring all New Hampshire young people find meaningful postsecondary pathways starts with adopting inclusive language, Reaching Higher’s Nicole Heimarck explained during an April 12 webinar hosted by the UNH Youth Retention Initiative. 

“Kids pick up on values and perceptions from a very early age,” said Heimarck, Executive Director of Reaching Higher and Director of the New Hampshire Alliance for College and Career Readiness. “Our number one aim has really been to have a broad and inclusive definition of life after high school … Success comes in all shapes and sizes.” 

Heimarck was one of four featured panelists and four UNH faculty researchers who shared findings and insights during the webinar, which explored recent research findings on college vs career, state brand identity, youth-supportive policies, and collaboration. The UNH Youth Retention Initiative was designed to deepen understanding of how youth and emerging adults are considered in efforts to retain and recruit young people.  ​

 Panelists and faculty researchers emphasized several important findings and key challenges in supporting students on their postsecondary journeys while also encouraging young people to put down roots here in New Hampshire. 

• Messaging around postsecondary opportunities needs an update

Young people and their families need narratives and definitions that resonate with their experiences, faculty researchers Cindy Hartman and Andrew Coppens explained. The college-for-all ethos that came into fashion in the 90s leaves many students feeling marginalized or uncertain.

Educators, counselors, and guardians should be careful not to label postsecondary opportunities in ways that limit students or discount their experiences, Heimarck added. For example, describing a pathway as “alternative” or “nontraditional” may imply that it’s a less desirable option than a two-year or four-year degree, she said.

Similarly, workforce leaders need to ensure their language is inclusive, said Will Stewart, Executive Director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire. For example, the organization recently changed the name of one of its annual awards from “young professional of the year” to “young person of the year,” Stewart said. “A lot of people just didn’t see themselves in that word,” he said. 

• Young people need earlier exposure to pathways

Young people are experiencing important developmental changes during middle school, said UNH faculty researcher Jayson Seaman. They need exposure to messaging that captures the full spectrum of postsecondary pathways before they enter high school and begin making choices that will affect their academic, occupational, and residential trajectories. 

• Collaboration is critical

Educators, business leaders, non-profit organizations, and other community partners need to work together to create an ecosystem where all young people can thrive after high school, panelists said. 

Michael Turmelle, Director of Education and Career Initiatives at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, described how his organization has been creating partnerships around “hyperlocal” career pathway opportunities in communities. Through these partnerships, high school students are earning industry credentials in a variety of fields while working and earning high school and/or college credit, he said. 

Beth Doiron, Director of College Access and DoE Programs and Initiatives for the Community College System of New Hampshire, discussed her organization’s work in bridging businesses and educational institutions, as well as in creating stepping stones between high school, community colleges, and four-year colleges. 

• Change needs to happen at multiple levels

In addition to grassroots efforts such as the Charitable Foundation is spearheading, New Hampshire needs to enact policies that support a broad range of opportunities for students, Heimarck said, noting that Reaching Higher has been following a number of legislative initiatives designed to increase access to more postsecondary pathways.

“We’re hearing a lot of excitement and seeing a lot of energy and momentum building around (pathways),” she said. “In order to have the greatest success, we really need both grasstops and grassroots efforts.” 

The recorded webinar can be viewed here. For additional information on the Initiative, view the Key Findings report. 

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness is a project of Reaching Higher NH. The Alliance is a diverse and collaborative group focused on bridging policy, communications, and engagement efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready. Alliance members include representatives from K-12 education, postsecondary education, business & industry, and the nonprofit sector. Learn more at www.TheNHAlliance.org

NH lawmakers put AP designation at risk with divisive concepts law, according to  College Board principles

March 4, 2022

The College Board, which administers the SAT college entrance exam and Advanced Placement courses in high schools nationwide, announced last week in a new statement of principles that high schools that ban “required topics” in their Advanced Placement classes are at risk of losing their AP designation. According to the standards, schools that ban topics related to race, culture, biology, and others could lose  their AP designation. This means schools risk losing their ability to offer certain AP courses.  

New Hampshire lawmakers passed a “divisive concepts” ban as part of the statewide budget in 2021 that states K-12 public schools can’t teach certain topics pertaining to race and gender; specifically, that one race or gender is inherently superior to another, which is often thought of as “systemic racism and sexism,” or “unconscious bias.” 

The result in NH classrooms, according to educators and school leaders, has been confusion around what the law actually means. Additionally, the law has had a chilling effect on speech and teaching about race, history, literature, and other topics. 

Now, that ban may be jeopardizing school designations that make them eligible to offer the AP program to their students. In turn, thousands of students’ risk losing their AP courses. These courses play an important role in the college admissions process as well as offering college credit or the ability to skip introductory level college courses.

Supporters of the law, including Representative Alicia Lekas (R-Hudson), have defended the law and have strongly opposed proposals to repeal it this year, saying that it is clear and unambiguous and does not ban any concepts. However, thousands of New Hampshire teachers, legal experts, and members of the public have testified this year that it is having a  chilling impact on what’s taught in the classroom. 

The law could be in direct contradiction with the first principle in the College Board standards, which states:

AP stands for clarity and transparency. Teachers and students deserve clear expectations. The Advanced Placement Program makes public its course frameworks and sample assessments. Confusion about what is permitted in the classroom disrupts teachers and students as they navigate demanding work. 

Additionally, a number of new bill proposals may also put NH schools at risk of losing their AP designation and cause students to lose access to AP courses. House Bill 1255, the “teacher loyalty” bill proposed by Lekas, would ban the teaching of a “negative account” of U.S. history and current events. The bill could put schools and students at risk of violating the third principle, which states:

AP opposes censorship. AP is animated by a deep respect for the intellectual freedom of teachers and students alike. If a school bans required topics from their AP courses, the AP Program removes the AP designation from that course and its inclusion in the AP Course Ledger provided to colleges and universities. 

HB 1015, sponsored by Representative Glenn Cordelli (R-Tuftonboro), would require teachers to post curriculum at least two weeks in advance so that parents could opt out of any parts of the course that they or their children find “objectionable” or that “violate the student’s convictions.”

HB 1015 could also put schools and students at risk of violating one of the standards:

Parents do not define which college-level topics are suitable within AP courses; AP course and exam materials are crafted by committees of professors and other expert educators in each field. 

In February, the House Education Committee recommended killing several proposals that would repeal the content ban, including HB 1576, sponsored by Representative Manny Espitia (D-Nashua), and HB 1090, sponsored by Representative Charlotte DiLorenzo (D-Newmarket). The committee is expected to vote on HB 1255, the “teacher loyalty” bill, and HB 1015, the opt-out bill, the week of March 7. 

The committee is still accepting written testimony in the form of email at HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us

Exploring Key Traits and Practices to build exemplary career pathway systems

Career pathways and credentialing are rapidly developing topics across K-12 education systems in New Hampshire and nationwide. Over the past five years, there have been new advancements at the state and local levels, as well as among key stakeholders around requirements and administrative frameworks. With the passage of SB 276, the Drive to 65 Act in 2019, and SB 148, the Career and Technical Education Omnibus Bill in 2021, the state is beginning to construct plans for a statewide career pathway network. In the meantime, the advancements around pathways in secondary, postsecondary, and career spaces have led to ambiguity around the definitions, criteria, and elements of meaningful and rigorous pathway systems. 

This study, released by the New Hampshire Alliance for College and Career Readiness, provides a dive into research-based practices and advancements in other states, as well as an overview of the legislation and administrative rules in New Hampshire, in order to offer clarity and guidance to the various discussions of career pathways. 

Click here to download the pdf of this study.

For questions or comments about the study, please contact Nicole Heimarck, Executive Director, at nicole@reachinghighernh.org or Christina Pretorius, Policy Director, at christina@reachinghighernh.org. 

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness, is a project of Reaching Higher NH. The Alliance is a diverse and collaborative group focused on bridging policy, communications, and engagement efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready. Alliance members include representatives from K-12 education, postsecondary education, business & industry, and the nonprofit sector. 

At the crossroads of college and career: Community college events showcase programs and pathways

Fall 2021

By Sarah Earle

Gathered in the avocado-colored Innovation Lab at NHTI, state officials, business representatives, and community members tapped on their cell phones to answer the question on the screen at the front of the room: “What skills are most needed in our current and future workforce?”

Instantaneously, their answers popped up on the screen: communication skills, work ethic, trades, data analytics, climate technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, global partnerships.

The question is a pivotal one for educators, employers, and lawmakers. Community colleges, with their focus on addressing workforce needs, providing affordable degree and credentialing programs, and serving non-traditional populations, sit at the crossroads of that query. 

NHTI and Manchester Community College, two of the seven colleges in the Community College System of New Hampshire, held events last month that showcased their work in bridging students to careers and invited collaboration with state officials and business and community leaders. 

“We need to determine what it is that you, our community members, need,” Christie Cho, coordinator of NHTI’s Library and Learning Commons, told the 30-some people in attendance at a Workforce Pathways Dialogue and Coffee Hour on October 4.

Pathways have emerged as a key concept in K-12 and higher education in recent years. A bipartisan omnibus bill passed by NH legislators during the last session targets several key components of strong college and career pathways, including funding for career and technical education centers and changes to dual and concurrent enrollment programs. School leaders and educators are also incorporating pathways into their middle and high school curriculum. 

Recognizing the importance of college and career pathways, Reaching Higher and the New Hampshire Alliance for College and Career Readiness have made them a key focus of our own work in recent months. 

Read Reaching Higher’s new research on pathways: Exploring Key Traits and Practices to Build Exemplary Career Pathway Systems

Learn about current legislation affecting pathways: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: The Career and Technical Education Omnibus Bill

The concept of pathways is nothing new for community colleges.  “We have many, many pathways for students already. That’s what we do best,” NHTI President Dr. Gretchen Mullin-Sawicki told guests during the Workforce Pathways Dialogue event.

In response to student and workforce needs, the college has recently added several new pathways:

• Transfer Academy Pathway

Introduced last spring, this pathway is designed to create a transition from high school to NHTI to the University of New Hampshire. The pathway builds on the popular Running Start dual and concurrent enrollment program that’s already in place in high schools around the state and helps ensure that credits aren’t lost as students segue from one institution to the next. 

Learn about key issues facing higher education institutions: WEBINAR: Higher Education Roundtable addresses key questions around workforce development access and institutional consolidations

• Orthopaedic Technology Pathway
  Funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Career Pathway grant, this pathway, now in its second year, facilitates job-shadow experiences for students in Concord Regional Technical Center’s medical terminology course through Concord Orthopaedics.

Read Reaching Higher’s story on high school pathway programs: Choosing their own adventures: with more options than ever and new challenges ahead, students need clear, personalized guidance as they explore career pathways

• Department of Corrections pre-apprenticeship program
  Working directly with business partners and the Department of Corrections, NHTI offers inmates a short-term, technical education training program in CNC machining.
  

• Microcredentials Program

Launched in 2020, the microcredential program offers three-week classes in specific focus areas including Early Childhood Education Pedagogy, Teaching for All Learners, Math for Engineers, and IT Help Desk Technician. These are designed to fit into certification pathways and help participants advance in their fields or qualify for an entry level position.

• Accelerated online programs
  Recognizing the pressing needs of both students and industry partners, NHTI has begun offering eight-week online programs, many of which connect to bachelor’s degree programs at four-year institutions. Courses include accounting, business, criminal justice, hospitality, math, and psychology.
  

• Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab links business partners with students to work on specific projects. In addition to helping students develop job skills and valuable “soft skills,” these partnerships motivate students and give them clear goals, explained Rebecca Dean, Associate Vice President of Enrollment & Student Success. “It’s where they get a sense of identity and purpose,” she said. Launched just before the pandemic, the program got off to a slow start and is now seeking partnerships in the community. “We really, really need you to help us get our students connected and working in New Hampshire,” Dean told the group. 

Manchester Community College is also continuously evaluating and developing its programs in response to student and workforce needs, school leaders told legislators at a briefing and campus tour on October 20. The event highlighted several key developments:

• New HVAC lab

Constructed with open access to its electrical and heating systems, the new HVAC lab allows instructors to simulate every possible HVAC scenario, HVAC Department Chair Eddie Curran explained. “This building really is one of a kind not only in New Hampshire and New England but in the country,” he said.

• LNA program expansion

MCC responded to the increased need for healthcare workers during the pandemic by building an additional lab for LNA training, Kristine Dudley, Director of Workforce Development told the group. The school was able to train 46 new LNAs during COVID. Recently, MCC partnered with the International Institute to offer English instruction tailored to New Americans aspiring to become LNAs.

• Critical partnerships

Industry partnerships have helped MCC develop and build several of its popular programs. Its automotive department has partnerships with most of the large automobile dealerships in the area, and its growing Powersports Technician certificate program evolved out of conversations with a local dealer asking for help getting technicians into the powersports field. It’s now the only such program north of Florida.

• Cutting edge programs

MCC’s competitive Electrical Lineworker certificate program is currently developing the curriculum for a substation technician program, which will bring together specialized knowledge in electrical technology and computer science. Students in MCC’s Cybersecurity program are working with “lifi,” a wireless communication technology that uses light to transmit data. And the Advanced Manufacturing program utilizes robotics technology, 3-D printers, and other cutting edge technology to train workers for a new era of manufacturing. 

The community college events brought together legislators from both political parties, several of whom worked together on legislation that promotes college and career pathways amid a difficult legislative session. Rep. Mary Heath (D-Manchester), who attended the Manchester Community College briefing, said she was pleased with how Republicans and Democrats worked together to save the Governor’s STEM Scholarship program and increase funding for the community college system. New Hampshire needs to do more however, to support post-secondary institutions, she said.

“We need to find common ground,” Heath said after the event. “We need to support our community colleges because when we support them, we support our workforce.”

PODCAST: A Firsthand Look at ‘First Gens’

Summer 2021

First-generation college students face specific challenges such as decoding the “hidden curriculum” of college life, but they also bring strong positive traits such as perseverance to the table. In this episode of School Talk, a podcast produced by Reaching Higher NH, Hannah Harding, a summer intern at Reaching Higher, talks about the research she’s conducting on “first gens” at UNH as well as her own experiences as a first generation college student.

A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT 'FIRST GENS'

WEBINAR: Higher Education Roundtable addresses key questions around workforce development, access, and institutional consolidations

On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, the New Hampshire Alliance for College and Career Readiness hosted a Higher Education Roundtable. The event provided valuable insights on the higher education landscape and key questions confronting New Hampshire. Moderated by Nicole Heimarck, Executive Director of the Alliance, the roundtable featured three panelists with different perspectives and expertise:   

• Michael Turmelle, Director of Education and Career Initiatives for the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

• Brian Prescott, Vice President of the National Center For Higher Education Management Systems

• Joyce Judy, President of the Community College of Vermont

Turmelle spoke about the impact of a shrinking student population in the state and the challenges young people are confronting. He emphasized the importance of helping students find viable career pathways and exposing them to postsecondary options early in their education.

“We’re talking about flexible models for career exploration and developing experience in the field that emphasizes academic preparation, pre-service work experience, work-study skill development and acquisition, a growth mindset of continual improvement in learning,” Turmelle said. “If you can begin to explore the world of higher education while you’re younger … you now know that you can do college work. You know that university is within your reach.”

Prescott, who, brings a national perspective on higher education, identified some common features of successful mergers and consolidations in other states. 

Leaders charged with studying and developing proposals for mergers should have “a clear and compelling justification for why merging or consolidating institutions or functions is important,” and “a really thorough understanding of the assets in place as well as the challenges,” Prescott said. Their recommendations should be grounded in evidence, and they should develop clear metrics for success and engage a wide variety of stakeholders as well as experts without a stake in the outcome. 

Additionally, leaders should understand that “there’s a need generally to spend money to save money,” he said. “Consolidating systems is going to cost a considerable amount of money.”

Judy described Vermont’s experiences undergoing a merger of its universities. The key to their success, she said, was bringing a wide range of voices into the conversation and keeping clear lines of communication with policy makers. “We needed to make sure there was buy-in and that there were no surprises,” Judy said. 

Judy also spoke about why Vermont ultimately decided not to include the community college system in its consolidation. Along with serving a very different student population than the four-year institutions, the community college was in a better financial position to stand on its own, she said.

The committee studying the consolidation was also concerned about national trends. “As they have looked around the country, when there have been mergers of the community college with bachelors institutions, soon the demands and the expectations to meet your bachelors programs quickly overpower and become the dominant force,” Judy said. “And the community college mission and the community college programs get sucked up into the needs of the bachelors programs.” 

Roundtable will offer rich discussion of key issues in higher education

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness will host a Higher Education Roundtable on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 1 p.m. to provide important information on state, regional, and national trends in higher education, particularly around workforce development, access, and institutional consolidations. There’s still time to register for this lively discussion featuring experts in the field of higher education. The roundtable aims to inform the dialogue around the proposed merger of the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of NH and bring new voices and perspectives into the conversation. 

About our panelists

• Michael Turmelle, Director of Education and Career Initiatives, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
  Michael Turmelle is the Director of Education and Career Initiatives at the NH Charitable Foundation.  In his role, Michael oversees education grantmaking, as well as the Foundation’s scholarship program.  Each year, NHCF awards more than $6M in scholarships to NH students pursuing higher education.  Prior to his work at the Foundation, Michael worked in higher education and K-12 public education for nearly 26 years.

• Brian Prescott, Vice President, National Center For Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS)
  Brian Prescott is Vice President at NCHEMS, where he leads and supports projects on behalf of states, state agencies and systems related to state strategic planning, postsecondary finance and affordability, governance and organization, demographics, and student success and workforce outcomes. Recent projects include supporting statewide legislatively created strategic planning commissions in Vermont and Utah, as well as a review and evaluation of the performance funding policy in Florida. His background also includes involvement at the national level in the development and use of data systems to support policy objectives like program quality and informed student choice. Prior to coming to NCHEMS in 2016, Prescott spent 11+ years in a similar role at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), where his work included authorship of two editions of WICHE’s widely used state-by-state projections of high school graduates. He currently serves as a member of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Board of Directors. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Virginia.

• Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont
  Joyce Judy has been president of CCV since 2009. A special focus of her work is on expanding access to higher education for all Vermonters, from high school students taking college courses to adult students seeking new career opportunities. She has overseen the development of a broad number of workforce education initiatives and has been a statewide leader in increasing the number of students who continue their education after high school. By expanding CCV’s relationships with the philanthropic community, Judy has achieved significant growth in private support for CCV initiatives, including several scholarship programs, the Introduction to College and Careers course to improve college-going rates of Vermont high school students, and enhanced services to veteran and military students. 

The panel will be moderated by Nicole Heimarck, the Executive Director of the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness.

Read more: 

‘High Risk and Low Reward’: Higher education leaders weigh in on proposed college system merger
Amendment would slow down merger and ensure members had expertise in higher ed
‘Gift to the Class of 2021’ provides free community college classes to all graduating seniors
Governor’s proposed budget defunds STEM scholarships, which have fueled rapid growth in dual enrollment

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness, is a project of Reaching Higher NH. The Alliance is a diverse and collaborative group focused on bridging policy, communications, and engagement efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready. Alliance members include representatives from K-12 education, postsecondary education, business & industry, and the nonprofit sector.

‘Gift to the Class of 2021’ provides free community college classes to all graduating seniors

Spring 2021

Every student graduating from high school this year will be eligible for one free community college course, thanks to a partnership between the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges. 

The “Gift to the Class of 2021,” a commitment of more than $1 million from the two foundations, will allow any graduating senior to take one course at any of the Community College System’s seven colleges, no matter their circumstances. No tests or financial aid applications are required, and the course can be a standalone class or one that leads to a certificate, degree, or credential. 

To enroll, students will meet with an admissions counselor and enroll in the course. From there, the counselor can help them navigate their next steps, including if they qualify for additional aid for more courses. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our young people, our businesses, and our state as a whole,” said Nicole Heimarck, the Executive Director for the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness, which is a diverse and collaborative group focused on policy efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready.

“This class gift is a big step forward to ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to pursue a career path that they are passionate about,” she continued. “It tells them that their learning path can continue forward if they want it to, that we’re committed to their futures and the future of our state. For many, we hope that this course can open more doors to higher education and career opportunities.” 

The gift is designed to help students bypass financial and logistical hurdles that keep them from enrolling in post-secondary learning opportunities-- and that have loomed larger than usual during the pandemic -- and to make up for lost time.

“Our primary goal is to provide opportunities to this graduating class that has been so deeply impacted by the pandemic and thrown off course,” Michael Turmelle, Director of Education and Career Initiatives at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, told Reaching Higher last week. “They’ve gone through 16 months of this, at precisely the time when they would have been engaged in a whole host of activities that would have prepared them for life after high school.” 

“New Hampshire’s graduating seniors should be incredibly proud, and you should know that New Hampshire is proud of you,” Richard Ober, President and CEO of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation said in a statement last week. “You have persevered to finish your high school careers under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. We hope that this gift, made possible by hundreds of generous New Hampshire people who are rooting for you, will help you take the next step toward your dreams.”

TROUBLING STATISTICS

Along with disruptions to their schedules, this year’s seniors had to navigate new ways of accessing school counselors, who play a key role in students’ post-secondary search and application process. Many weren’t able to take SATs, couldn’t find summer jobs last year, and faced additional challenges at home.

Statistics show the impact of those losses, Turmelle said. 

The number of graduating seniors matriculating directly into community college in New Hampshire dropped from 1,600 to 1,300 between 2019 and 2020. Nationally, the number of students filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has declined this year, as has the number of students making early decisions and meeting the May 1 deadline for college deposits. All of this comes at a time when the need for college-educated workers is outpacing the number of college graduates. 

“A lot more kids have no plans for the fall,” Turmelle said. “There are just really troubling signs on the horizon.”

THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONNECTION

The “Gift to the Class of 2021” addresses these worrisome trends by investing in educational equity, Turmelle said. While the free classes are available to all students, the two organizations  expect it will appeal most to those who don’t yet have plans.

“There’s a whole host of reasons why the Charitable Foundation is making a big bet on community college,” said Turmelle, who will speak about the gift as well as key issues facing higher education at a Higher Education Roundtable hosted by the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness on Wednesday, May 19. 

First, community colleges tend to work with students who are “furthest from opportunity,” he said. Pell Grant eligibility, an indicator of income, is much higher among the community college population than among the four-year college population. 

Additionally, community colleges are versatile and easy to access. Students can quickly get a career credential, or they can stack programs on top of each other to advance in their fields.

“I hope New Hampshire students take advantage of this wonderful opportunity not only to gain a free course but also put themselves on a path to college success at institutions that are ready and eager to help them take that next step,” Susan Huard, Interim Chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire, said in a statement released last week.

Finally, community colleges are hyper-focused on the needs of their respective regions. They’re well connected to the businesses and industries in their area, serving as a key link between young people and viable careers.

“We have a flood of young people leaving the state because of the cost of college,” Turmelle said. “If we can connect students to the local community college, they may be more likely to get connected to a job in the region and therefore more likely to stay in New Hampshire.”

Read more about issues facing higher education in New Hampshire here. 

VERMONT’S SUCCESS STORY

The NH Charitable Foundation (NHCF), which awards millions of dollars in scholarships every year, devised the “Gift to the Class of 2021” in partnership with the Foundation for Community Colleges based on a similar initiative in Vermont that proved highly effective.

While every other state in the country saw a decrease in community college enrollment last year, Vermont’s enrollment doubled, thanks at least in part to a class gift by the McLure Foundation, offering a free community college class to high school seniors.

More than 50% of those who enrolled in courses last year were first-generation college students. About 90% completed the course and 70% passed. Many learned they were eligible for additional aid after enrolling the first class, and 81% of students surveyed said they planned to take more community college classes.

“It tells the story that we all intuitively know,” Turmelle said. “If costs and other barriers are removed, kids will come.”

To take advantage of the “Gift to the Class of 2021,” eligible students should contact the admissions office at their local community college. Academic counselors will be available to help students choose courses. Students can choose an online, hybrid, or in-person class. Graduating seniors who have already enrolled at CCSNH college for the fall are also eligible for the class gift.

About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The Foundation manages a growing collection of 2,000 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards more than $50 million in grants and scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641. To learn more about Charitable Foundation scholarship programs visit www.nhcf.org/scholarships.

About the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges

The Foundation is a charitable organization established to provide greater access to educational opportunities through financial assistance for student scholarships, program development and enhancements to facilities across New Hampshire’s seven community colleges, which serve students in every region of the state. The Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to create scholarships and program partnerships that prepare students for in-demand, skilled jobs to meet the needs in the workforce. To learn more about supporting community college students, visit GiveNHCC.org.

About the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness, is a project of Reaching Higher NH. The Alliance is a diverse and collaborative group focused on bridging policy, communications, and engagement efforts to help all NH students graduate college and career ready. Alliance members include representatives from K-12 education, postsecondary education, business & industry, and the nonprofit sector. Learn more at www.TheNHAlliance.org 

Higher Education Roundtable will offer insights on proposed merger and larger trends

Spring 2021

The NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness will host a Higher Education Roundtable on Wednesday, May 19, at 1 p.m. to provide important information on state, regional, and national trends in higher education, particularly around workforce development, access, and institutional consolidations. The roundtable aims to inform the dialogue around the proposed merger of the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of NH.  The Alliance has purposefully invited new voices to this event in an effort to expand the dialogue and engage with guests not directly involved with the proposed merger of NH’s two systems. 

Speakers for the event include:

• Michael Turmelle, Director of Education and Career Initiatives, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

• Brian Prescott, Vice President, National Center For Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS)

• Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont

The panel will be moderated by Nicole Heimarck, the Executive Director of the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness.

This event is open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom. Registration is free, but required. Register via Zoom: https://bit.ly/NHhigheredroundtable

‘High risk and low reward’: Higher education leaders weigh in on proposed college system merger

Spring 2021

On Friday, March 12, lawmakers heard testimony on Gov. Chris Sununu’s proposed merger of the Community College System of New Hampshire and the University System of New Hampshire as part of the proposed state budget. The proposal would unify the Boards of Trustees of the University and Community College Systems in New Hampshire into a single governing body, with the goal of merging the institutions into a single “College and University System” with a new chancellor by January 1, 2022.

The two higher education systems are anticipating a shrinking number of potential students in the next decade, contributing to an anticipated $60 million drop in revenue by 2023. The University System, which includes the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College, Plymouth State University, Granite State College, and the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, also stated that they are facing more competition for students from out-of-state institutions and increased tuition costs. 

Read the full story here.

Understanding the Full Scope of NH Department of Education's Partnership with Modern States

Fall 2020

Earning college credit while in high school and acquiring credits at a low rate of cost has always been of interest to the NH Alliance on College and Career Readiness.  We aspire for each and every Granite State student to pursue their college and/or career dreams in a manner that bears limited student or family debt while providing a pathway into the workforce that is satisfying and sustainable. 

To that end, our network of members believes in "empowering students and families early and actively with the information they need to make informed decisions.” This post highlights information students and families need to know and understand about course enrollment and completion through Modern States.  

To access the full report, “NH DOE's Newest State Partner Requires ‘Unambiguous Consent’ to Students’ Online Data, Raising Questions about Privacy and Security” on Modern States click here. This report was a collaborative effort by the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness and Reaching Higher NH.

What We Do

We work at the community level to bridge silos and connect students and their families to opportunities and resources needed to achieve college and career readiness. This includes advancing policies that support college and career readiness.