New England College (NEC) is a private non-profit college located in the town of Henniker, New Hampshire, enrolling a total of approximately 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
History
Founded in 1946, New England College was established to serve the needs of servicemen and women attending college on the G.I. Bill after World War II. During its early years, the college purchased the Tortington Park School for girls in Arundel, in the English county of West Sussex. For a time, the school functioned as an extension campus for NEC students wishing to study abroad; at one point, the college even changed its logo to incorporate the flags of both countries. However, the Arundel campus was later sold. For many years, the Theatre Department sent a group of students over to the British campus during the January term and spring term to prepare three shows for touring in England, Scotland, Wales and sometimes elsewhere in Europe. This was a model program that combined study abroad with practical theatre experience.
Campus
NEC is located in the small town of Henniker, New Hampshire, which is located approximately 17 miles (27Â km) from Concord, the state's capital, 31 miles (50Â km) from Manchester, and 81 miles (130Â km) from Boston, Massachusetts. The Contoocook River runs through the center of town and alongside the NEC campus. A covered bridge joins the main campus with roughly 20 acres (8.1Â ha) of athletic fields.
The 225-acre (91Â ha) campus, which has no distinct borders separating it from the town of Henniker, features 30 buildings, many of which feature white clapboard style siding or brick mid-century architecture. The campus is known throughout New England for promoting environmental education initiatives. Pats Peak ski resort lies just outside the village center, and many students participate in outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting, hiking in the White Mountains, and rock-climbing.
Academics
New England College offers 37 bachelor's degree programs, 12 master's degree programs, and 1 doctoral degree program. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, the school's Teacher Education Program (as well as the majors in Physical Education, Special Education, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education) are approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Currently, the school employs 40 full-time faculty members, and holds a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
New England College emphasizes experiential learning as an essential component in the development of an enduring academic community. Building upon a strong liberal arts foundation, the College challenges its students to reach their full potential through informed discourse and the pursuit of excellence in a framework of academic freedom that reflects the College's values.
Student life
The college is home to several student organizations, including various student government committees. Students also publish an award-winning campus newspaper called The New Englander, and operate a campus-based radio station, WNEC-FM. Fraternities and sororities are also an active and vital part of campus life at New England College. The Greek life chapter on campus is the sorority Kappa Delta Phi NAS.
Athletics
New England College competes in 17 intercollegiate NCAA Division III athletic sports, including soccer, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, softball, baseball, basketball, cross-country, wrestling, and volleyball. The Pilgrims have competed in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) since 2011. In 2018 they will depart the NAC for the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC). From 1989-2011 NEC was a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).
Notable alumni
Notable alumni include:
- David C. Arnold, former president and CEO of Softdesk, Inc (an AutoCAD software development company which was purchased by Autodesk in 1997)
- Geena Davis, Academy Award-winning actress who attended her freshman year at NEC before transferring to Boston University
- Ira Joe Fisher, meteorologist and former weather reporter for CBS's The Saturday Early Show
- Mariela Griffor, poet and diplomat
- Mark Lindquist, sculptor
- Allen Steele, science fiction author
- Wallace Stickney, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President George H. W. Bush
- Steven Zirnkilton, voice actor, narrator, radio show host, and politician
Notes and references
External links
- Official website
- New England College Graduate Degree Programs
- NEC Athletics
- New England College Online