by Shannon Reid
Concord, NH – Dr. Ross Gittell will remain at the helm of the Community College System of NH, the CCSNH board of trustees announced following a unanimous vote to reappoint him to the position he has held since February 2012. The new appointment is for a 5 year term.
Paul Holloway, CCSNH board chair, said “We are pleased to extend Dr. Gittell’s service as chancellor of the community college system. Under his leadership, the system has made important steps forward and navigated through challenging waters. He has focused on student success in college and in the 21st century economy, and on ensuring affordable access to higher education and training here in New Hampshire in support of NH’s evolving economic and workforce needs and opportunities.”
Holloway cited CCSNH’s increased partnerships with NH employers and enhanced pathways for NH residents to high-skill, high-demand careers in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. He noted CCSNH’s leading role in creating NH’s “65 by 25” goal of having 65 percent of NH’s working age population with a postsecondary credential by 2025, aligned with future workforce needs, which has been embraced by numerous stakeholders in New Hampshire including the Business and Industry Association and the Coalition for Business and Education, to support a strong economy and future quality of life in the state.
Over the past four years, CCSNH stabilized tuition, holding it flat since 2012 and even reducing tuition by 5 percent in 2014 with dedicated support from the state.
Holloway also highlighted new transfer pathways for community college students, including Dual Admission with the University System, that show promise to expand access to affordable in-state college education for more NH residents.
“Under Chancellor Gittell’s leadership, the Community College System of New Hampshire has been nationally recognized for the value our community colleges provide to their students as it continues to lead in modernizing and innovating in higher education,” Governor Hassan said. “Chancellor Gittell is also leading in other efforts to ensure that we are preparing our young people for success in the innovation economy, collaborating with the university system, chairing the STEM Task Force to help modernize STEM education at our K-12 schools, and supporting competency-based education and the state’s workforce initiatives. He has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to education in the Granite State, and I look forward to continue working with him to build an even stronger, more innovative New Hampshire where all of our students have the opportunity to grow and to thrive.”
