January 8, 2025

CCSNH Prepares Students for In Demand Careers in Automation and Robotics

This story was originally featured by Business NH Magazine.

Ongoing workforce shortages across the state have caused NH manufacturers to turn to robotics and automation to fill production needs. The increase in use of robotics is causing for a greater need for local robotics engineering education to prepare future workers for the field.

The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) is one of NH's leading educational organizations preparing and training students for in demand careers in robotics engineering. At Manchester Community College (MCC), 100 percent of students graduating with an Associate of Science in Advanced Manufacturing Technology or certificates in mechatronics and robotics have been placed in roles following their completion of the program.

Students in Laconia at Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) can earn an Associate of Science in Industrial Automation & Robotics. The new degree program was created after local manufacturers expressed their challenges in hiring workers, thus turning to automation to meet their needs.

Students earning associate degrees at CCSNH can then transfer their credits to Plymouth State University, the only educational institution in the state offering four-year degrees in robotics.

READ MORE @ BUSINESS NH MAGAZINE

WMCC Culinary Program in Top 10 in National Ranking

The Niche ® Best Colleges ranking for 2025 places White Mountain Community College's Culinary Program #6 in the country, in a top 10 that includes such institutions as Johnson & Wales University and the Culinary Institute of America.

“We’re proud to offer a nationally recognized, high-quality program that is available to New Hampshire students at a fraction of the cost of many other schools, and that is aligned with the robust tourist economy of our region,” said Mark Desmarais, Vice President of Student Affairs at WMCC. “Students thrive here, love what they learn, and follow exciting and rewarding professional pathways upon graduation.”

At WMCC, students are trained by expert chefs who bring their real-world culinary experiences into the classroom. The two-year associate degree covers a wide range of theory and practice. Graduates of the degree have held positions as chefs, bakers, food production supervisors, food purchasing agents, food service instructors and restaurant owners. The certificate option provides students with the major baking and food-production courses.

The program is designed for convenience — culinary lab classes are offered as four-week modules, each focused on a specific area of culinary expertise and building credit towards graduation. In addition to taking traditional culinary classes, students work offsite at college-associated restaurants where they receive hands-on experience.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WMCC'S PROGRAM

100 New Pathways to Bachelor's Degrees for Community College Students

New Hampshire’s public higher education systems have created more than 100 direct pathways designed to help students move smoothly from associate degree programs offered by New Hampshire’s community colleges to bachelor’s degree programs in New Hampshire. This collaboration between the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) makes it easier for students to continue their education, earn subsequent degrees more efficiently, and fill critical jobs in New Hampshire’s workforce faster and with less debt.

Students can follow clear, structured pathways leading directly to bachelor’s degrees at Keene State College, Plymouth State University, or the University of New Hampshire (UNH). These programs—where students complete an associate degree at a community college, followed by a bachelor’s degree at a university—offer clear roadmaps and affordable options for students across the state.

“Lifelong learning is going to be critical for students to be able to participate fully in the economic opportunities of the future, and this will also be essential for the state if New Hampshire is going to sustain a competitive workforce advantage," said CCSNH Chancellor Mark Rubinstein. “Both systems are committed to making postsecondary education more accessible to all New Hampshire residents. This partnership gives students clear, affordable options to continue their education and earn degrees which are key steps to entering many of the state’s high-demand and critical-need careers.”

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Want to learn even more?

For more information, please contact:

Shannon Reid

Executive Director, Government Affairs and Communications

Community College System of New Hampshire

sreid@ccsnh.edu

CCSNH.EDU

The Community College System of NH is NH's statewide system of community colleges offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees, and dual-credit partnerships with NH high schools. The System’s colleges are Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth and Rochester; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI – Concord’s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont, Keene and Lebanon; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin and Littleton.