Technically speaking, NHTI is a pretty sweet school

By Tim Goodwin - Oct 28, 2014 | 0 comments

All of our favorite fruits in the dining hall: bananas, apples, oranges and chocolate cupcakes.

Nick Ackerson tickles the ivories, because tickling classmates is frowned upon at the college level.

Rae-ann Iacuzio has a beverage in one hand and a Cam Burke hand in the other.

Tori Ghanem, Josh Jacob and Devon Greer cruise through campus at NHTI on Friday afternoon in the shadow of signs directing them to several places where higher education happens or places where food is served to people between quests for higher education.

There are four main things NHTI wants to provide its students – accessibility, affordability, transferability and career opportunities. Since it’s just a two-year institution, there are a lot of different paths students can take after getting their degrees. And the good people at Concord’s Community College want to make sure every path is as open as new president Susan Dunton’s door is.

After taking over this summer, Dunton has been trying to find out as much as possible about the almost 50-year-old college – and talking to the faculty and students that make it so great. And for those of you who don’t know much about NHTI, here’s you chance to find out a little more.

History

Next fall will mark 50 years since NHTI first opened its doors in Concord. And boy is there are a big celebration in the works for Oct. 3, 2015, so you might want to circle that date on your calendar. That is, when you actually get a 2015 calendar. 

Anyways, back in 1965, the New Hampshire Technical Institute was a small higher education alternative that offered just three engineering technology programs to students. It quickly earned the nickname ‘The Tech,’ one that is still used by people in the Capital Region today, including one certain member of the Insider team. In fact, in Dunton’s first interview with the hiring committee she also referred to the school as the Tech. Not a bad way to show she had done her homework. It was an appropriate nickname, since all the degree programs in computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering included the word technology. 

“I still feel there’s so much for me to learn,” Dunton said.

And like just about anything else that was around in 1965, a lot has changed when it comes to the Tech.

In 2008, the name was officially changed to NHTI, Concord’s Community College, to better express what the school was all about and there’s nothing wrong with a little name drop of the state capital in there. While the technical programs are still flourishing and have substantially grown over the years, NHTI has a lot more to offer prospective students. 

“It’s a great place because of all the liberal studies,” Dunton said. “Students can find out what they really want to do.”

Academics

In all, NHTI now offers more than 60 academic programs, in both associate degrees and certificate programs, and no longer do you need to be a math and science wiz to have any chance of graduating. You can take classes 100 percent online in six programs, which accounts for 12 percent of total enrollment. Just think about how great it would have been to wear your pajamas for every class – that is if you didn’t do that already.

“You can see how the programs here have changed,” said Director of Communications Alan Blake.

The hot programs these days still include the IT- and STEM-related degrees. The technical and advanced manufacturing programs are still a big sell and see a lot of students come through the door, especially after a few rather large grants received by the school to help bring in state of the art equipment. But the other areas of study are also doing quite well for themselves. Programs like dental hygiene and nursing lead the charge in the health and science programs and the school even offers a clinic where you can get your teeth cleaned for an affordable price.

You can secure a two-year degree in accounting, business administration and of course, computer-related fields. But we wouldn’t be doing a good job if we left out all the other great classes you can take.

There are degrees to be had in education, human services, visual arts and criminal justice to name a few. But liberal arts still reins supreme, especially for those looking to earn an associate degree before moving on to a four-year institution.

During a given school year, NHTI will serve well over 5,000 students, with about 97 percent residing in the Granite State. 

“If you look over the last 10 years, we’re up about 25 percent,” Blake said. “We have about the same student population as Plymouth State of Keene State and not a lot of people realize that.”

And if you walked into a classroom, the goals of each student would likely vary from the person sitting next to them. Some may want to do two years at NHTI and enter the workforce. Others may want to do two more years at another college. There are older students who want to either take a class or two or get a degree they never attempted after high school.

“The faculty and staff really go the extra mile to help the students succeed,” Dunton said.

And while many may think that NHTI is just a school where people drive to each day and go home at the end, is not the case. About 350 students actually live on campus and there’s a waiting list for quite a few more, as NHTI is the only residential community college in the state. Take a walk around campus someday and you’ll see the thriving student life.

“We’re not just a commuter campus where people park, go to class, grab a cup of coffee and go home,” Dunton said. “There’s a lot to be offered and taken advantage of.”

The ultimate goal is for NHTI to be an affordable place to learn. It’s why there was a $10 per credit hour reduction this year, which is relatively unheard of in the higher education world. 

“The discount was to make the institution more affordable,” Dunton said.

Athletics

Getting high level athletes to join the NHTI ranks is not the easiest sell for athletic director and men’s basketball coach Paul Hogan, but somehow he makes it work – as do many of the school’s other coaches. Just take a look at the recent success of the athletic department and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

“Having good quality coaches for all sports is very important,” Hogan said. “It’s tricky. I won’t lie. It takes patience.”

Since most students only stay two years, the roster changes quite a bit from year to year, but that problem also presents a unique opportunity for prospective athletes.

“We have some very good athletes here,” Hogan said. “And we offer an opportunity for kids to play early.”

Hogan led the men’s basketball team to the national championship in 2005 and Heather Searles won the 2007 national cross-country championship. Three years ago, the golf team took third in the nation, last spring the softball team qualified for the national tournament and NHTI has twice finished third in the Director’s Cup standings. Not bad for a two-year school competing mostly against larger four-year colleges.

“That’s truly amazing that our teams have done that well,” Hogan said. “We certainly want what’s best for the athlete. We take great pride in helping out athletes move on to other programs.”