About
Chester College of New England is the only small, private, liberal arts college in New Hampshire to offer the Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts, Photography/Media Arts, Graphic Design, Creative Writing, Professional Writing, Communication Arts, and Interdisciplinary Arts. It is the only arts-focused college in NH to be accredited by NEASC. Along with offering small class sizes and a low student-to-faculty ratio, all of Chester College’s full-time faculty members have terminal degrees in their areas of expertise. Chester College Online seeks to attract students who value the academic breadth and challenge of the liberal arts while immersing themselves in the creative and professional arts. Chester College continually strives to maintain an academic environment that supports the intellectual, pragmatic and creative endeavors of students and faculty. Not only does Chester College accommodate a wide variety of learning styles, it also aims to always foster students’ interest in intellectual growth and lifelong learning.
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Mission
Chester College of New England embraces the idea that the liberal arts are essential to lifelong education, as well as being the foundation of all creative and professional endeavors. All degree candidates must satisfactorily complete the general education core curriculum, which includes courses from the liberal and creative arts.
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Accreditation
Chester College of New England is approved to award the Bachelor of Arts degree by the Postsecondary Education Commission of the State of New Hampshire. Chester College of New England is accredited to award the Bachelor of Arts degree by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, 209 Burlington Road, Bedford, MA 01730, 781.271.0022.
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History
Chester College of New England was founded as White Pines College in 1965 by the late Dr. Faith Preston. The College opened in 1967 with five classrooms, administrative offices, a library with 4,000 books, a snack bar, and a bookstore. The College concentrated on Liberal Arts with majors in Secretarial Science, Business Management, and General Studies. The 10 students, five men and five women, lived in the homes of local residents. The first class graduated in 1969.
In 1975, the College was admitted to full membership to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Membership in this regional accrediting body indicates that the College has been carefully evaluated and found to meet or exceed educational standards agreed upon by qualified educators.
In 1998, the mission of the College was revised to offer professional arts programs informed by a strong commitment to the liberal arts and the fine arts. Four Bachelor of Arts degree programs were developed, and in 1999, the College received authorization to become a four-year baccalaureate degree-granting institution. In 2001, The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges granted accreditation for awarding the bachelor’s degree in these four new programs.
To acknowledge the significant change in the College’s mission and in recognition of the conversion to a four-year baccalaureate degree granting institution, in October, 2002, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name of the College to Chester College of New England.
In the fall of 2003, Chester College completed an extensive 18-month accreditation review. As a result of this review, in March of 2004, the College received continued accreditation from NEASC, until the next scheduled comprehensive evaluation, in the fall of 2013.
In October 2003, the College accepted an invitation to join the New Hampshire College and University Council (NHCUC), a consortium of public and private colleges in New Hampshire, as a candidate member. In July 2005, the NHCUC welcomed Chester College as a full institutional member of the NHCUC.
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Location
Chester College of New England
40 Chester Street
Chester, NHÂ 03036
