HENNIKER – New England College announces that all facilities will be open and available to students and faculty for the Fall 2021 semester. Last spring, the College decided to hold summer classes remotely, but for both Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, NEC held in-person classes and provided on-campus housing.

“We have been wonderfully successful in creating safe teaching and learning environments in Henniker and Manchester with very few COVID cases, nearly all of which were asymptomatic.” said Dr. Michele Perkins, President of NEC. “I am very confident we will be able to return to something close to normal by the fall.”

Throughout the pandemic, NEC has safely and responsibly opened its doors for face-to-face education while providing ample opportunity for students to study remotely and in a hybrid learning environment. In Fall 2021, NEC will continue to be open to all students and continue to provide remote learning options for those students who need them.

In the meantime, NEC looks forward to welcoming more than 300 students over the summer for in-person learning in Henniker and Manchester as well as online. Summer learning at NEC offers an excellent value: $200 per credit with inexpensive housing and wonderful facilities. Also over the summer, NEC’s pre-college and community education programs bring together future NEC students and members of local communities for safe teaching and learning.

“As we return to a nearly normal residential program, we know we still have a lot of work to do,” Dr. Perkins acknowledges. “Though we remain hopeful that the scourge of COVID will soon be behind us, we remain vigilant in this very volatile environment. Our faculty, staff and students have helped enable NEC’s success in the face of this health emergency by following the rules and demonstrating their commitment to learning. We also appreciate the efforts of public officials in Henniker, Manchester and Concord who have worked closely with us to find the right path during a difficult time.”

In another hopeful sign, NEC resumed athletic competition this spring and looks forward to a full schedule of competition next fall. Because of the large number of people involved and the limitations of social distancing, Commencement on May 8, 2021 will be held virtually and feature guest speaker Wes Moore, currently CEO of Robin Hood in New York City, one of the largest poverty-fighting organizations in the country.