New England College
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| File:New England College Logo.png | |
| Motto | Dura duranda alta petenda |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "We work hard to achieve greater heights" |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Established | 1946 |
| Endowment | US $9,274,821[1] |
| President | Michele Perkins |
| Students | 2,017[2] |
| Undergraduates | 1,127[2] |
| Postgraduates | 890[2] |
| Location | , , 43°10′34″N 71°49′20″W / 43.17611°N 71.82222°W |
| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Red, Blue and Navy |
| Nickname | Pilgrims |
| Affiliations | NCAA Division III, The Commonwealth Coast Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference, North Atlantic Conference |
| Mascot | Patty the Pilgrim |
| Website | www |
New England College (NEC) is a private four-year liberal arts college in Henniker, New Hampshire, enrolling a total of approximately 2,017 undergraduate and graduate students.[2] The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges,[3] and offers a variety of associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.[2]
History
Founded in 1946,[4] New England College was established to serve the needs of servicemen and women attending college on the G.I. Bill after World War II.[5] During its early years, the college purchased the Torrington Park School for girls in Arundel, England in the county of West Sussex. For a time, the school functioned as an extension campus for NEC students wishing to study abroad; at one point, the college even changed its logo to incorporate the flags of both countries. However, this program was later abandoned.
Campus
NEC is located in the small town of Henniker, New Hampshire, which is located approximately 17 miles (27 km) from Concord, the state's capital, 31 miles (50 km) from Manchester, and 81 miles (130 km) from Boston.[6] The Contoocook River runs through the center of town and alongside the NEC campus. A covered bridge joins the main campus with roughly 20 acres (8.1 ha) of athletic fields.
The 225-acre (91 ha) campus, which has no distinct borders separating it from the town of Henniker, features 30 buildings, many of which feature white clapboard style siding or brick mid-century architecture. The campus is known throughout New England for promoting environmental education initiatives. Pats Peak ski resort lies just outside the village center, and many students participate in outdoor activities such as skiing/snowboarding, whitewater rafting, hiking in the White Mountains, and rock-climbing.[7]
Academics
New England College offers 36 bachelor's degree programs, 12 master's degree programs, and 1 doctoral degree program.[6] The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.[3] Additionally, the school's Teacher Education Program (as well as the majors in Physical Education, Special Education, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education) are approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education.[8] Currently, the school employs 68 full-time faculty members, and holds a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.[2]
Student life
The college is home to several student organizations, including various student government committees. Students also publish an award-winning campus newspaper called The New Englander, and operate a campus-based radio station, WNEC-FM.[2] Fraternities and sororities are also an active and vital part of campus life at New England College. The Greek life chapters on campus are Phi Mu Delta and Kappa Delta Phi NAS.
Athletics
New England College competes in 15 intercollegiate NCAA Division III athletic sports, including soccer, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, softball, baseball, basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, and cross-country.[9] In 2011, New England College Athletics began competing in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), after over a decade of membership in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.[10]
Notable persons
Notable alumni include Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis, who attended her freshman year at NEC before transferring to Boston University; meteorologist and former weather reporter for CBS's The Saturday Early Show, Ira Joe Fisher; science fiction author Allen Steele, Jr.; Wallace Stickney, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President George H. W. Bush; writer Mariela Griffor; and David C. Arnold, former president and CEO of Softdesk, Inc (an AutoCAD software development company which was purchased by Autodesk in 1997).