Governor Announces Plan for Community College Promise Program

Governor Kelly Ayotte held a press conference on October 14 at Manchester Community College to announce her intention to create a Community College Promise Program that would provide free tuition for New Hampshire students with family income of up to $100,000. 

“Our community college system ranks among the top ten in the nation and is a vital partner in our efforts to create more pathways to good-paying careers for Granite Staters,” said Governor Ayotte. “Today, we are taking another step toward making higher education more affordable and helping more people achieve their career goals. I will include a Community College Promise Program in my next budget to provide free tuition for New Hampshire students with a family income of up to $100,000. I look forward to working with Chancellor Lloyd, CCSNH leadership, and the Legislature to make this plan a reality and expand opportunities for students across our state.”

Planting the Seeds of Something Great

Madelyn finished high school a year late but earned her associate degree in Business Administration from Great Bay Community College a year early, and both ceremonies were just two days apart. Traditional high school wasn’t working for her, so she enrolled in Early College, which lets high school students take college courses for both high school and college credit at little or no cost. “I basically got a free associate degree, no strings attached,” she said.

Now Madelyn is exploring careers in hospitality, real estate, sales and public relations, and she hopes to own a boutique someday. Her advice to students who don’t fit the traditional mold gives the story its name: “If you feel like you’re not thriving, plant yourself in different soil and you’ll grow better in an area where you feel confident.”

NCC Receives Cessna Airplane Donation

The Aviation Technology program at Nashua Community College (NCC) recently received a donated Cessna 150 – and an offer to host aviation interns by the donor, David Wilkie.

“An intact plane is a wonderful learning tool for our students. In this case, the plane is in good condition, with the exception of no engine – in our case, this is actually a plus,” said Professor Doug Mitchell, head of the Aviation Department. “Our powerplant classes will have the opportunity to take one of our engines, install it into his plane, troubleshoot it and eventually get it up to running condition. This is a real scenario which they will encounter as they go into the industry.”

Granite Staters Value CCSNH for Career Training, Affordability, and Ease of Access

The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) recently conducted a statewide survey with The Granite State Poll: A States of Opinion™ Project, to better understand respondents’ needs and expectations related to higher education. The survey, which gathered responses from 2,143 New Hampshire residents, found high favorability among Granite Staters for the community colleges and see them providing critical roles for a wide range of individuals – from high school graduates exploring a first career to professionals looking to make a change.

The survey results found that the benefits of a community college education are highly valued by Granite Staters:

• 93% place importance on programs that align with job skills and career goals
• 93% identify affordability as a key consideration
• 92% value flexible scheduling options
• 85% consider proximity to home an important factor