Greetings, Lynx,

We heard you!

Folks often complain about communication but, like the weather, no one does anything about it. The Lynx Lowdown was born out of multiple requests for a regular college newsletter.

Think of this issue as a test case, an experiment.

We anticipate publishing LL about one week after each Town Hall. This first issue includes an update from each Cabinet area, messages from Faculty and Staff Councils, a student spotlight, and a calendar.

We welcome your feedback on this first issue and your ideas for future issues. Please share those with me, anyone on Cabinet, or Director of Marketing Emily Marsh.

The October Town Hall PowerPoint presentation can be found here.

If you have questions about this update, please contact ptompkins@ccsnh.edu.

This is a reminder that Yearlong Alerts are always open for faculty and staff. Please go to the Care Action Team on our website to start the process.

Also, we have a new Alert Reason available. Submit it for students who are experiencing challenges with upholding NHTI Student Conduct & Community Standards according to the Student Handbook. This is not for emergency or extreme behavior incidents. Examples of when to use this alert:

• Student is being disrespectful of others
• Student is being disruptive in class or on campus
• Student has displayed subtle or indirect unwelcoming and/or hurtful behavior

If you have questions about this update, please contact rdean@ccsnh.edu.

Academic Affairs and Workforce Education will be embarking on the following initiatives. We are putting together two committees comprising of department chairs, program coordinators, academic advisors, and staff to work on identifying:

1. Grading schema
2. 7 or 8-week sessions for NHTI

We are in the preliminary stage of developing a charge for each committee.

We will also be working with the Vice President for Student Success and her team to redefine student success in relation to access, completion, and post-graduation outcomes. The aim of this initiative is to align our programs through the development of a clear and efficient pathways post-graduation.

If you have questions about this update, please contact hiweka@ccsnh.edu.

The FY26 Operating Budget first-quarter results indicate that NHTI remains financially stable overall. Tuition revenue has reached 51% of the budget and fees are at 52%. Day and evening class enrollments are trending slightly down, while online enrollment has increased significantly. Dual enrollment figures are still being finalized. Waivers and exemptions are higher than anticipated, largely due to increased participation in Early College and National Guard programs. Personnel costs are pacing as expected, aided by some vacant positions, and seasonal spending patterns for utilities and maintenance are consistent with prior years. At this time, there are no major unbudgeted expenses impacting the budget.

NHTI currently has both an Emergency Preparedness Plan and an Emergency Response Plan, though neither is fully finalized and both are undergoing review and improvement. The Preparedness Plan outlines proactive steps to identify potential risks and strengthen readiness before an emergency occurs, while the Response Plan focuses on actions to take during and immediately after an incident to ensure safety and effective communication. Recent power loss events have highlighted areas for improvement, and the college is actively updating both plans to better support the campus community. In the meantime, everyone can help by signing up for RAVE Alerts, creating a departmental contingency plan, and designating one person to notify Campus Safety in the event of an outage.

If you have questions about this update, please contact mbourdon@ccsnh.edu.

We know it can be tough to balance daily work with required trainings, but these trainings are important for everyone at CCSNH—staff, faculty, and adjuncts alike. Deadlines are listed in the training portal to help you plan ahead. Finishing your trainings on time helps keep our campuses safe, compliant, and running smoothly.



Faculty and staff evaluations are also an essential part of maintaining high standards at NHTI. They support professional growth, promotions, and other personnel decisions, while helping us stay in line with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and NECHE accreditation requirements. The frequency of evaluations is listed in the CBA. Supervisors will get reminders at least a month before their due dates, and Department Chairs will receive annual and periodic notifications.

Thank you to everyone who has completed the Title IX training through Catharsis Productions! Some recent updates to the Title IX policy were made to align with federal regulations. These updates don’t change what can be reported or the responsibilities of mandated reporters, but it’s a good idea to review the updated definitions on the Title IX webpage.

If you have questions about this update, please contact khart@ccsnh.edu.

Faculty council was held on Tuesday, September 30. Each month standing items include updates from curriculum, standing committees, Commencement, Convocation, Lynx Forum, GOAT, meetings with the President, as well as a union update at the end of the meeting.

We also hear from system level faculty team members including ONE-NHCC, Academic Governance Council and CFAAC.

Highlights of the last FC meeting included hearing about the Honors Team. If you’re interested in that team, see Alan Lindsay. There was a determination to create a team to work on an NHTI policy on AI. If you’re interested in that see Jessana Palm. The system is also looking at AI and is calling for members for that team. See the CCSNH-Our Community Bi-Weekly Update email of Oct 1.

Hector also joined our meeting and shared updates from the Academic Affairs section of this email (scroll up to review). Faculty also found out more about the proposed common Canvas course shell. Lastly, Hector brought up difficult student behavior. He says he’s aware and faculty is supported.

If faculty want to add something to the Faculty Council agenda for October, please email Sue Diener.

We also want to congratulate Halle Blomback on her recent nuptials. 

If you have questions about this update, please contact sdiener@ccsnh.edu.

NHTI’s Staff Council was held on Wednesday, September 24. Each meeting we discuss matters relevant to staff members, and the greater NHTI community. The group promotes collaboration, innovation, best practices, and engagement. As a non-governing, volunteer body, NHTI’s Staff Council serves as a voice for NHTI's staff members and will bring forth pertinent inquiries or ideas to the President’s Cabinet or to GOAT through the shared governance process.

Highlights of the last FC meeting included hearing about the 60th Anniversary weekend, town hall updates, and open discussion around a variety of topics.

If you would like to add something to the Staff Council agenda for October, please email Kaitlin Moody.

If you have questions about this update, please contact kmoody@ccsnh.edu.

Student Spotlight

In the brief time that Paige Marinelli has been an RA, she has gone the extra mile to ensure that she is supporting all residents, her fellow RAs, and the Department of Residence Life. When you see Paige, you see a smile and hear laughter, as she brings joy to those she is around. When she is not supporting her peers within the residence halls, she is working hard on her studies in Early Childhood Education. As a future educator, Paige's passion for working with children shines through her various class projects and even through her RA duties. Paige is a hardworking and dedicated student leader who exudes care and passion in all that she does, and she leaves a positive impact with a smile here at NHTI.

Do you have a story you think should be shared with our community? An outstanding student you want to brag about? Something unique happening in your department or class? A fellow staff member that you want to give a shout-out to?

Event Calendar