The community colleges of New Hampshire are running full steam ahead in their drive to meet the growing demand for a two-year education in the state.
Photo: Chancellor Richard Gustafson, Board of Trustee member Robert Mallett, Board of Trustee Chairman Paul Holloway, and Katharine Eneguess, President of White Mountains Community College, pose with sweatshirts displaying the new logo of the Community College System of New Hampshire. Similar sweatshirts were presented to Governor John Lynch and members of the Executive Council following the approval of new names for the CCSNH colleges.
Six months after the Legislature approved, and Gov. Lynch signed, a measure to allow the system to govern itself through a board of trustees, college and system leaders have continued to work vigorously to implement the plan and to promote the broadened scope of the state's two-year colleges.
Part of that process includes a name change for most of the colleges - a course that included months of public input before being approved by Gov. Lynch and the Executive Council on Jan. 30. The colleges will unveil their new look during a joint event later this spring.
"Our community colleges play a critical role in ensuring New Hampshire has the educated workforce it needs to compete in this changing global economy. I look forward to continuing to work with the community college system and its board of trustees to help keep higher education affordable and accessible for more of our citizens," Gov. Lynch said.
The community college in Berlin will become White Mountains Community College, a name that reflects the geography of a service area that includes academic centers in Conway, Littleton, and Woodsville in addition to the main campus in Berlin. According to college president Katharine Eneguess, "Discussion began last fall regarding the opportunity to change our name. Suggestions were made both internally and externally. We took special care to insure the name reflected the region we serve. White Mountains Community College was chosen due to the fact that you can see or are within the White Mountains wherever you go within our service area." It was also the name most chosen by those who participated in the selection process. "Simply put, it best reflects the region," says Eneguess.
Eneguess stressed the new name does not mean the college is eliminating the technical programs it has become so well known for. "We will continue to offer our technical programs in the area of automotive technology, information technology, mobile equipment technology, and spatial information technology, as well as others. These programs help prepare students for good paying jobs, and we have no plans to discontinue them. The name change simply reflects an expansion of our mission to an education that helps students to prepare for a four-year program," says Eneguess.
In addition to its new name, White Mountains Community College is planning a number of enhancements to meet the educational needs in the region:These improvements come as the community colleges report that student demographics and demands have changed over the years in tandem with the state's economy. Once geared primarily toward vocational programs, the colleges have grown to include serving students pursuing professional programs in fields that include allied health, business, and education, as well as general studies programs as part of a path to a four-year degree. The vocational fields themselves have evolved into higher-tech programs requiring broader competencies in math, technology, business, and communications.
"The community colleges have a much broader mission than just a generation ago," said Dr. Richard Gustafson, chancellor. "For many students, we’ve become an ideal solution for those looking to embark on their educational path at a college that offers affordable tuition, small class size, world-class teaching, and the ability to enter a profession or transfer to a four-year institution."
The new names for the community colleges approved today by the Governor & Council:| From | To |
| NHCTC-Berlin | White Mountains Community College |
| NHCTC-Claremont | River Valley Community College |
| NHCTC-Laconia | Lakes Region Community College |
| NHCTC-Manchester | Manchester Community College |
| NHCTC-Nashua | Nashua Community College |
| NHCTC-Stratham/Portsmouth | Great Bay Community College |
| NH Technical Institute | NHTI - Concord’s Community College |
