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Irene Chalek, Program Director As part of its effort to transition ABE and GED students and others who
may need some additional support into college, Northern Essex Community
College is offering an ABE Transition to College program. A class of 17 students graduated last Spring from the one-semester program
and a second class with 27 students began August 26 and runs through December
of this year. Designed to take the anxiety out of transitioning from a GED class to
college level coursework, this free program has been a great success,
according to Irene Chalek, the college's director of Adult Basic Education
and Transitional Services. Fifteen of the 17 students who completed the
program in the spring will be enrolled in college programs this fall;
all but one will be attending Northern Essex. Funding for this one-semester program is administered by Northern Essex
Community College with a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation
and The New England Literacy Resource Center. The program provides ongoing academic work in reading, writing, math
and computers while integrating college adjustment skills such as time
management, organization, note taking, paper writing, library, study and
homework skills. Additionally, students learn about the culture and expectations
of college, complete an NECC application and financial aid forms, and
receive career development guidance and advising. The program is primarily for adult learners who have a GED, are in a
GED preparation class, or are high-level English as a Second Language
(ESL) students who are interested in continuing to a post secondary education. Migel Queliz of Lawrence, a native of the Dominican Republic and father
of four sons, ages 16 to 28, just graduated from the program this spring
and will be enrolling at Northern Essex in the fall to study accounting.
Queliz was so happy with the program that he has encouraged two of his
four sons to enroll. "I think this will be very helpful to them as
they move from studying English to college level work," said Queliz.
"They will become familiar with the education process, learn about
support services that are available to them, and, most importantly, how
to study. They are much more likely to be successful in college having
participated in the program." This program was designed to address the attrition of those students
who head off to college unprepared, are easily overwhelmed and drop out.
While the program focuses on GED students, it is available to anyone who
finds the thought of applying to and attending college daunting. For additional information on the ABE Transition to College Program,
contact Lynn Ricketts, educational counselor at 978-738-7621. With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence and extension sites in Andover, Methuen and Newburyport, Northern Essex Community College is a state-assisted college, offering over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of non credit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Close to 11,000 students ranging from recent high school graduates to workers employed locally attend classes days, evenings, and weekends. Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. |
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