Great Bay Community College

Great Bay Community College (GBCC) is a public two-year community college in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. The college is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The main campus is at 320 Corporate Drive in Portsmouth (in the Pease International Tradeport area), and an additional campus is located at 5 Milton Road in Rochester, New Hampshire.

History

The college was founded in 1945 as the State Trade School of Portsmouth. In 1949, it was renamed "New Hampshire Technical Institute - Portsmouth". The current name derives from nearby Great Bay, the largest tidal estuary in New Hampshire. The college has changed its name several times:^[1]

Academics

Great Bay Community College provides accessible, student-centered, quality higher education programs for a diverse population of students seeking career, degree or transfer opportunities. A strong commitment to lifelong learning is reflected in our policies, programs and activities. We will continue our strong tradition of providing education in the sciences, career and technical programs as well as in the liberal arts. We endeavor to promote economic development through community engagement and workforce development for the region.

Specialized accreditation

• Business programs - Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Nursing - National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), full accreditation; New Hampshire Board of Nursing and Nurse Registration, full accreditation
• Surgical Technology - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Veterinary Technology - Committee on Veterinary Technology Education and Activities (AVMA-CVTEA)^[2]

Athletics

The college's athletic teams, the Herons, compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. GBCC is a member of the Yankee Small College Conference. The school's official colors are blue and gold. The school mascot is a heron.

• Men's and women's basketball
• Women's volleyball
• Co-ed golf and bowling

Demographics

As of fall 2014 semester, the college has 2,217 students enrolled. The college is 92% in-state students and 8% out-of-state students. 60% are female and 40% are male, with a median age of 23. Great Bay Community College serves:

• High school students taking college courses through Running Start, Early College, and Estart.
• Traditional students just graduating from high school.
• Adult student career changers, career advancers, displaced workers, adults seeking career counseling and training to accomplish their goals.
• Business community through customized short term training.
• College graduates seeking career training/retraining.

Rochester campus

In May 2012, Great Bay Community College opened the Advanced Technology & Academic Center (ATAC) in Rochester to offer traditional academic programs as well as a certificate program in Advanced Composites Manufacturing. ATAC is the largest single project under the statewide Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Education initiative formed by the Community College System of New Hampshire under the federal TAACCCT-NH grant, with a $19.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration. The Northeast Economic Developers Association named Great Bay Community College's Advanced Technology & Academic Center "Project of the Year" on 8 September 2014, at its annual conference. The award recognizes major economic development projects based on job creation, capital investment, leveraging of development resources, use of public/private and/or intergovernmental partnerships and benefits to the surrounding community and/or environment.^[3] John Ratzenberger, actor and advocate for advanced manufacturing, was a featured speaker at the 2014 Distinguished Leaders Awards and praised Great Bay Community College for their work.^[4]

Transfer and articulation agreements

As a comprehensive community college, Great Bay has developed partnerships with public and private four-year institutions both in and out of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Transfer Connections Program allows students to start their education at Great Bay Community College in the Liberal Arts program and transfer to any of the University System of New Hampshire colleges or universities, including a dual admission program with the University of New Hampshire.^[5]

References

External links

• Great Bay Community College official website

Coordinates: 43°4′19″N 70°47′55″W / 43.07194°N 70.79861°W / 43.07194; -70.79861