Cambridge College forges partnership with Northern Essex Community College

Cambridge College and Northern Essex Community College (NECC), announced the launch of a new collaboration intended to seamlessly integrate NECC Associate degree offerings with Cambridge College’s Bachelor degree offerings, reinforcing both schools’ commitment to equal access to education and the region’s potential for the future.

“Cambridge College, NECC, and the City of Lawrence share a commitment to the fundamental concept of equal access to education, which is the key that opens the door to a better life,” said Deborah Jackson, President of Cambridge College. “We are so committed to making sure those doors are open for our students. Our new partnership with NECC will prepare our students to enter Lawrence’s workforce and make it easier for them to advance across the career continuum.”

The collaboration focuses on bringing new educational and professional opportunities to the City and area residents.  Through a partnership with NECC, Cambridge College will offer flexible and accelerated degree completion programs in Early Childhood Education and Care, Human Services, Psychology, Management and more. Since Cambridge College opened a campus in historic Lawrence in 2003, the school has become a magnet for attracting adult learners and busy professionals in the Merrimack Valley.

 “We are thrilled to partner with Cambridge College to provide this unique educational opportunity for our graduates,” said NECC President Lane A. Glenn, Ph.D. “I am so pleased that Cambridge College recognizes the potential of our gateway city and we look forward to ensuring our students enter the workforce with the confidence and stability that education provides.”

The collaboration between Cambridge College and NECC allows students settled in the Lawrence area easy access to well-respected, accredited bachelor degree programs. Students will have the opportunity to access tuition discounts up to 18 percent, along with an optimized credit transfer process that offers them an accelerated route to completion. The two institutions have worked together to create flexible and convenient program options, ideal for adult students balancing family, employment and other responsibilities while advancing their education.

The formal signing ceremony took place in early December and in addition to featured remarks from NECC President Lane A. Glenn, Cambridge College President Deborah Jackson, NECC Vice President of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations Noemi Custodia-Lora, and CC-Lawrence Assistant Director Melissa Sue Frasca, guests heard the moving testimonials from three NECC/Cambridge College students, describing how their education improved their lives for the better. 

About Northern Essex Community College

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  More than 6,600 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 6,700 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  Over 1800 students are enrolled in one of Northern Essex’s 25 associate degrees and certificate programs in the health care field including nursing and radiologic technology.  The college is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts.

For more information:

• Visit www.necc.mass.edu
• Contact Ernie Greenslade at egreenslade@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3862
• Contact Jacqui Conrad at jacqueline.conrad@cambridgecollege.edu or 617-873-0621