CCSNH Joins Industry Association to Advance NH's Life Sciences Sector

The Community College System of NH (CCSNH) recently joined NH Life Sciences (NHLS), a statewide association formed in 2023 to advance the life sciences industry in the Granite State. 

“CCSNH is glad to partner with NHLS and to contribute to the broader efforts to meet New Hampshire’s workforce needs in life sciences. The life sciences, and the interplay of this industry with healthcare and manufacturing will be vital to New Hampshire’s future and we look forward to partnering with NHLS to build educational pathways for our students to contribute to that work,” said Dr. Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH Chancellor.

New Hampshire’s community colleges offer a variety of life science associate degree and certificate programs such as biotechnology, bioengineering and advanced manufacturing processes.  

In a press release that announced CCSNH’s membership, NHLS wrote: “As life sciences companies of all sizes look to expand in the state and prepare today’s workforce for the future, CCSNH will play a critical role in engaging with industry to build curriculum and programs that our companies need to remain at the cutting edge of innovation and to continue to attract and retain workforce talent to the Granite State.”



BioPharma Reporter recently ranked New Hampshire one of the top four fastest rising regions for life sciences in the country. In 2023, an estimated 400 companies employed more than 7,000 people and contributed close to $6 billion to the state’s GDP. 

Helping Students in The North Country

Eric and Donna Johnson Create Scholarship Fund for White Mountains Community College

Eric Johnson, a proud 1961 graduate of Berlin High School, carries his hometown in his heart. In a heartfelt tribute to his roots, Eric and his wife, Donna, established a legacy scholarship fund through The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges to support White Mountains Community College students.

“Donna and I are grateful for what we have and our ability to give back. We hope that future generations of WMCC students have the same success in life that we have had. We are very proud we had the opportunity to do this, especially given Berlin has faced many challenging times since I lived there,” Eric said.

The Eric and Donna Johnson Scholarship Fund awarded its first awards to six students this spring.

The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges provides greater access to educational opportunities through financial assistance for student scholarships, program development, and enhancements to facilities across New Hampshire’s seven community colleges. The Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to create scholarships and program partnerships that prepare students for in-demand, skilled jobs to meet the needs of the workforce.

Great Bay Community College Sponsors Federal Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program

Great Bay Community College (GBCC) is making it easier for employers to train or upskill individuals interested in becoming medical assistants by sponsoring a new U.S. Department of Labor medical assistant registered apprenticeship program. This collaboration between GBCC, ApprenticeshipNH, and the NH Office of Apprenticeship provides support for employers to fill the workforce shortage of medical assistants in the Seacoast area.

Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) combine formalized, paid, on-the-job learning with technical education. They are a proven way for employers to hire and retain workers in tight labor markets and for apprentices to earn immediate employment with steadily increasing wages. Through the partnership with GBCC, employers agree to hire apprentices, provide on-the-job training, and assign a mentor to support the apprentices as they progress through the educational elements of the program.  

“Great Bay Community College has a long-established, robust medical assistant program that has served as the model for other colleges. Apprentices have frequently been enrolled in the program, but our sponsorship means that we now handle many of the administrative and reporting responsibilities on behalf of employers,” said Lynn Szymanski, Director of Workforce Development at GBCC.

Federal funding through the US Department of Labor is available through ApprenticeshipNH for both employers and apprentices. Employers are eligible to receive $2,000 when signing on under the GBCC sponsorship and $500 per apprentice (up to a maximum of eight apprentices) hired within six months of the start of the apprentice program and retained for six months.

The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security projects continued high demand for medical assistants across the state, with 21.5% job growth in Rockingham County between 2020 and 2030.



Dartmouth and NH Community Colleges Discuss Collaboration

Leaders from the Community College System of New Hampshire travelled to Hanover, NH to meet with potential collaborators at Dartmouth. The group discussed partnerships and the sharing of knowledge and resources between the two higher education organizations.

Attendees of the half-day gathering discussed topics including ways to support NH's emerging industries through research and workforce development, student support possibilities, the potential to share professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, and extending access to cultural resources among the institutions. CCSNH Vice Chancellor Chuck Lloyd provided an overview of the community college system, including student demographics and institutional strategic priorities.  

“The energy around exploring collaborations that will benefit all of our students and staff was so exciting,” organizer Heather Drinan, Dartmouth’s director of state government relations and community outreach, said after the meeting.