Services for Students

Academic Support

Counselors and other professionals on all campuses offer academic skills workshops, counseling, tutoring, and other programs to help students improve skills in studying, test-taking, overcoming math anxiety, and time management. Services are available in a variety of learning centers at each campus.

Adult Learners

Montgomery College Adult Learner programs provide a variety of resources for the College’s ever-growing adult student population. Our adult student services connect students with people and offices that provide services and programs for this unique population. The programs cater to all adult students-individuals entering Montgomery College who have never attended college, and adult students now returning to college. Each of the three campuses offers individualized academic advising and counseling services targeted to adult students interested in taking courses for college credit. In addition, each campus has a financial aid office and tutoring centers and offers adult-focused academic, social, and informational workshops and programs. For more information please visit: https://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/mcpass.html.

For information regarding a specific campus, please contact the appropriate office listed below:

Germantown: MC-PASS, 240-567-6976, mcpass@montgomerycollege.edu

Rockville: Counseling and Advising Department, 240-567-5063

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: Counseling Department: 240-567-1480, Director of Evening/Weekend office: 240-567-3904

Montgomery College’s Workforce Development & Continuing Education office also offers noncredit courses (including Adult ESOL and Literacy-GED) as well as college credit courses and business training in convenient community locations. More information can be obtained by calling 240-567-5188.

Assessment

Students must demonstrate their skills in English, reading, and mathematics upon admission to the College so they may be placed in courses matching their academic skill levels. Students may be exempt from assessment if they can provide documentation that they have completed appropriate college coursework or have sufficiently high scores on standardized test instruments such as the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL. If such documentation is not available, students must take the college placement examination. The assessment center on each campus provides this testing to students. The centers also provide testing services for students who need to take make-up examinations, those enrolled in Distance Education courses, and students with disabilities who need special accommodations.

Athletics

Montgomery College offers a variety of intercollegiate and intramural sports. The College belongs to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Region XX, and the Maryland Junior College Athletic Association (JUCO).

Bookstores

The Follett Corp. operates MC Books & More on all three campuses and the Cafritz Art Store & More in The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center. New and used textbooks, rentals, eBooks, and additional classroom materials are available in the stores. Our website also features online sales of textbooks that are available for delivery to your home or for pick-up at your campus store. Hours of operation are scheduled to meet the needs of each campus and are extended at the beginning of each semester. Regular days of operation are Monday through Saturday. Please visit the MC Books & More website for hours of operation.

Each store offers reference books, study guides, and best-sellers. Books still in print may be special ordered. Other merchandise is available, such as software, art materials, school supplies, medical and laboratory supplies, and calculators. Textbook buyback may be done online or in the stores at the end of each semester. Visit the buyback link on our website for details.

Montgomery College clothing and memorabilia, gifts, and snacks are available in all stores. Gift cards, and order information on class rings and nursing pins are also available.

Students may visit the MC Books & More website to research all services available, to view course material and textbook selections, and to place orders online. For more information, to access these services, or to contact MC Books & More staff, www.bkstr.com/montgomerycollegestore/home.

Career Centers

The Career Centers provide students a range of tools and services to support their career/employment goals. These services include:

• Access to online career assessments and occupational information
• Individual assistance with goal setting, resume development, interview preparation, and effective job search strategies
• Access to online labor market information and job boards   
• Access to cooperative education and internships related to their major
• Information about job fairs and on-campus employer recruitment visits

Career Centers are available at the following locations:

Germantown: 265 SA

Rockville: 019 CC

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: 205 RC

Center for Early Education

The Center for Early Education (CEE) creates educational, active based learning experiences for children  2 ½ - 5 years of age. Our nationally accredited program cultivates academic readiness and social/emotional development within a nurturing, respectful environment that meets the needs of our community. Students, faculty/staff and community may register for the program depending on space availability. A limited number of student tuition scholarships are available. The center is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The CEE serves as a teacher training site as well as a research opportunity for faculty and students learning about child development.

Counseling and Advising

Academic advising is viewed as a collaborative process. Ultimately students bear the responsibility for achieving their educational goals and setting a course for a lifetime of learning. However, the Academic Advising Program is designed to assist students in establishing goals, minimizing barriers, and encouraging self-sufficiency now and into the future. With this in mind, students will not get “prescribed” answers, but will be encouraged to design and adapt plans which reflect their emerging interests, knowledge and goals. Students will be encouraged to make informed academic decisions and consider potential consequences of their decisions.

Counselors and faculty advisers help students make long- and short-term academic plans. They assist students in planning to complete certificates or degrees from the College and in preparing to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Counselors also listen to students’ concerns and offer advice. They can connect them with community services, if necessary, or assist them in crisis and other critical situations. Counselors help students in making educational, transfer, and career decisions and in planning for and progressing toward their individual goals.

Faculty advisers assist students in identifying useful elective courses for any declared majors, make referrals to academic support services, recommend out-of-class activities and experiences to enhance learning or career development, and educate students about academic honor or professional associations. Faculty advisers also assist students in pre-registering for academic courses in their major.

Students are encouraged to seek counseling and advising services throughout the academic year, instead of only during registration periods. Students who see the same counselor and/or adviser during their enrollment at the College benefit by setting clear academic goals that are reviewed periodically.

Counselor/Faculty Advisor Responsibilities
We will…

• Assist you in defining your academic, career, transfer, and personal goals, and work with you in creating an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
• Encourage and guide you as you define and develop realistic educational and career goals.
• Help you understand the curriculum, graduation requirements, and college policies and procedures.
• Provide you with information about the available academic support resources and services on campus.
• Assist you in understanding the purposes and goals of higher education and its effects on your life and personal goals.
• Be available to respond to your questions through scheduled appointments and email.

Advisee Responsibilities
We expect you to…

• Be consistent and try to establish a relationship with a specific counselor and/or faculty adviser.
• Seek out academic advising proactively and before you register for classes each semester (February-April for Summer/Fall; October-December for Winter/Spring).
• Be involved in the advising process by being prepared to discuss your goals and educational plans during our meetings.
• Use advising tools, such as the Course Catalog, Academic Calendar, and MyMC and other recommended by your advisor.
• Learn about College programs, policies, and procedures by reviewing the advising texts listed above
• Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern.
• Keep a personal record of your progress toward meeting your goals by having an organized way for you to find important documents easily.
• Read your Montgomery College email, which is the official method of communication for the institution.
• Take responsibility for making your own decisions based on available information and guidance.
• Follow-up on referrals to other services and information resources.

Counseling and Advising Locations & Hours of Operation

All students are highly encouraged to meet with a counselor/faculty adviser on an ongoing basis in order to develop and adjust educational plans that reflect personal, academic, career, and life goals. Counselors and faculty advisers offer a variety of advising opportunities to help you reach your goals, including new student group advising, one-on-one advising appointments, and by e-mail.  Students may schedule with the Counseling and Advising Department on any campus (Germantown, 172 Sciences and Applied Studies Building; Rockville, 215 Counseling and Advising Building; Takoma Park/Silver Spring, 233 Student Services Center).  General hours of operation are posted to the Counseling department web site at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/counseling.  Specific hours, scheduling options and instructions may be viewed from the Counseling and Advising Network page at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/can.

Student Success (STSU) Courses

Counselors teach courses that ease the transition to college and provide tools for developing academic and life skills.

Student Success courses are designed to meet the diverse academic needs and interests of students. Courses to help with the transition to college include First Year Seminar (STSU 100 ) and Seminar for International Students (STSU 101 ). These two courses in particular are an important component of the First Year Experience activities, and all first-time college students are strongly encouraged to take one of these courses. Courses in Study Habits Development (STSU 110 ), Memory Development (STSU 114 ), and Building Math Confidence (STSU 112 ) focus on building skills. Career Development: Dynamics and Application (STSU 120 ) covers how to choose, plan, establish, or change career fields. Success Group (STSU 122 ) helps students who have a history of academic and personal issues develop behavioral strategies to improve overall success.

Disability Support Services

In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the College provides accommodations, access to facilities, programs, activities, and services for qualified students with documented disabilities. Accommodations are determined on a case by case analysis, based on information provided by a qualified professional.

Disability Support Services (DSS) counselors advise students and provide academic, career, and personal counseling. They determine and facilitate appropriate academic and technological accommodations, act as liaisons with College resources and external agencies and consultants, and provide referral services for students with disabilities. DSS faculty and staff assist in arranging support services within the framework of student self-determination and self-advocacy.

Eligibility and Services

Students must submit documentation to the DSS office from an appropriate professional to verify the presence and impact of a disability. Students are responsible for the cost of this verification. DSS counselors certify eligibility for services and meet with students to determine academic adjustments and/or accommodations. Each campus offers assistive technology, including computers with disability-specific software and hardware, voice recognition and synthesizers, print magnifiers and scanners, large print, and Braille, as well as individual tutorial support.

Arranging for Services

New students and returning students requesting support services and/or accommodations need to submit a Request for Services Form to a DSS counselor at the campus they plan to attend at least three weeks before the beginning of each semester. In addition, students at any campus requesting sign language interpreter must contact the Rockville DSS Office. Students must also have an interview with a DSS counselor on their campus, complete assessment testing, select courses, and register six weeks prior to the start of classes. This timeline must be followed to allow enough time to allow DSS counselors to advise about appropriate course placement and arrange interpreter services. Failure to meet the deadline may delay services, possibly until the next semester.

For more information and application materials, please contact the appropriate DSS Office:

Germantown: 175 SA, 240-567-7770

Rockville: 122 CB, 240-567-5058

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: 233 ST, 240-567-1480

More information and all application materials are available for printing at the website: www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss.

First Year Experience

All first-time students are encouraged to participate in the College’s First Year Experience (FYE) program. This includes the Montgomery Advising Program (MAP) or International Montgomery Advising Program (IMAP) sessions, offered either in person or online (as eMAPs) by the Counseling and Advising departments. In addition to New Student Orientation, offered before every semester, the centerpiece of the FYE program is the FYE course, STSU 100  First Year Seminar.

The FYE Program will help new students learn the expectations for a college student and the skills to enhance their potential for success, time management, successful studying, and the development of an individualized education plan. They will learn about the higher education system, the purpose of general education, personal development, and career planning.

For more information, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/fye.

Food Services

CaféMC locations and vending machines on each campus offer a variety of food, snacks, and beverages. In addition, the Takoma Park MC Munchies & More snack shop is located on the second floor of the Student Services Center, next to the campus bookstore. For more information on CaféMC operating hours and menu offerings, visit the website www.montgomerycollege.edu/food. For MC Munchies & More offerings and hours, please contact the Takoma Park Bookstore at (240) 567- 1522. For vending machine locations, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/vending.

Housing

Students are responsible for their own living accommodations. The College does not approve or maintain housing facilities.

International and Multicultural Students

Counselors on each campus advise international and multicultural students from diverse cultures, including a wide range of ethnic, geographic, and language backgrounds. Students whose first language is not English can obtain specialized counseling and academic advising throughout the year. Orientation and special activities programming are offered.

For more information, please visit the Center for International and Multicultural Students at Germantown (150 Sciences and Applied Studies Building) or the Counseling and Advising departments at Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring (Rockville, 215 Counseling and Advising Building; Takoma Park/Silver Spring, 233 Student Services Center).

Libraries

Montgomery College Libraries provide quality resources and instructional services to support the programs of the college and to meet the learning and information needs of students, faculty, staff, and community members. With over 240,000 volumes held, the MC Libraries print collections cover all disciplines including arts, humanities, social sciences, health sciences, business, computing, biotechnology, and multicultural resources. The Libraries provide 24/7 access to tens of thousands of e-books, e-journals, and streaming media titles covering all subject areas and over 130 academic databases to assist with coursework, including databases that contain full text articles. Access to all resources, including books, e-books, journals, and media are found via the online Catalog and Libraries’ website at www.montgomerycollege.edu/libraries  

Patrons with a valid student identification card or a community borrower’s card may check out circulating materials for use outside of the libraries. Students registered for the current semester may also use the Libraries’ electronic resources, including e-books, e-journals, and electronic course reserves from outside the libraries, via the Internet. Audiovisual materials may also be viewed online or at one of the Libraries’ locations. Audiovisual materials are available to faculty for classroom instruction. The Libraries maintain numerous computer workstations for College and community patrons to use.  In addition, the libraries offer laptops and tablets for students to checkout and use in the library. The librar­ies also have One Button Studios and Collaborative Workstations for student and faculty use. Student use of these services take priority. A knowledgeable, professional staff is available to assist students with research, assignments, and access to the Libraries’ resources.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service is available to provide resources that the College does not own. The Libraries also offer an Inter-Campus Loan (ICL) service to deliver resources from one campus location to another. Assistive technologies are available for patrons with special needs. For more information, please visit the Montgomery College Libraries website www.montgomerycollege.edu/libraries or call one of the campus locations:

Campus library locations and main phone numbers are listed below:

                    Germantown, HS 110                                     240-567-7858

                    Rockville, MT 107                                         240-567-7117

                    Takoma Park/Silver Spring, RC 215             240-567-1540

                    Art Library at Cafritz, CF 145                       240-567-5813

Special Collections

The MC Libraries maintain a select collection of historical materials and memorabilia related to the history of the College. Any request or information about these materials may be directed to librarian Shelly Jablonski at 240-567-7174.

Military and Veteran Services

Montgomery College is a military- and veteran-friendly institution, recognizing and supporting the contributions that our students make outside the classroom as active duty service members, guardsmen, reservists, veterans, and dependents. To that end, the College assists the military community in reaching their educational goals by providing:

• Flexible withdrawal procedures in the event of activation, deployment, or enlistment,
• Waived residency requirements for active duty servicemembers and dependents,
• Flexible residency requirements for those affected by Base Realignment and Closures,
• Veterans Benefits processing,
• Tuition Assistance processing,
• Tuition Waivers for Maryland National Guardsmen,
• Servicemembers Opportunity College Student Agreements,
• Support to the Education Offices at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and
• Support services available through the Combat2College program (see below).

Combat2College

Combat2College is a nationally recognized program that offers opportunities and services to veterans and service members attending Montgomery College. Some of the program features include:

• Academic opportunities and advising,
• Wellness activities,
• Clubs for student veterans and other social opportunities,
• Space for gathering, and
• Referral and coordination with external agencies/resources.

For more information, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/combat2college.

Veterans Affairs Office

The Veterans Affairs Office (VAO) was established to assist all students applying for Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) educational benefits. To contact the office, e-mail va@montgomerycollege.edu. Students eligible to receive benefits must submit a Certification Request for VA Benefits form, available at www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions/StudentForms/StudentForms.htm to the Office of Admissions and Records or to va@montgomerycollege.edu each semester after completing registration to have their enrollment certifications submitted to the DVA. Students receiving benefits must contact va@montgomerycollege.edu regarding any changes in enrollment. For more information, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions/veb.

Parking and Motor Vehicle Registration

Each person associated with the College who parks a vehicle on any campus of the College or any property owned, leased, maintained, or operated by the College must register the vehicle regardless of its ownership. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors must abide by College traffic regulations. The College reserves the right to issue a citation or to tow, at the owner’s risk and expense, any unregistered vehicle parked in violation. Information about vehicle registration and parking is available online at www.montgomerycollege.edu/parking. The Montgomery College Motor Vehicle Regulations are available online at www.montgomerycollege.edu/verified.

Printing at MC

A kiosk style, pay-for-print system is in place at the College. Our kiosks currently use the WEPA cloud printing solution, and are located on each campus in the libraries, labs, and learning centers. To use these kiosks, you will need to create a WEPA account. The best way to pay for these copies is to pre-load your account with a minimum of $5 as funds to be drawn from for each print you request. Other payment options are also available. Visit the Printing at MC website for FAQs, tutorials, pricing, and other information: www.montgomerycollege.edu/printing. For other printing solutions, the Rockville Campus has a retail operation called  MC Copies & More. Services include printing, desktop publishing, photocopying, scanning, poster printing, button making, binding, laminating, and more! MC Copies & More is located in Room 142 Campus Center across the hall from the Rockville Bookstore. For price guide and hours visit http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/copies.

Safety and Security Services

Montgomery College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment at all times that will support and enhance the institution’s educational programs and services. The Office of Safety and Security is responsible for the protection of the College community, first aid, emergency assistance, 24-hour escort service (upon request), maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), enforcement of campus parking regulations, and the lost and found service. Officers on each campus are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In compliance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, the College’s campus security procedures are provided online in the Montgomery College Annual Security Report at www.montgomerycollege.edu/verified or www.montgomerycollege.edu/emergency. Click on the Annual Security Report.

Safety and Security Office Locations

Germantown Campus: 282 SA, 240-567-7777 (recorded line)

Rockville: 101 CB, 240-567-5111 (recorded line)

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: 117 ST, 240-567-1600 (recorded line)

Emergencies

In case of a life-threatening emergency, someone should call 9-1-1 and then notify Safety and Security. Students and employees are encouraged to carry a cell phone for reporting emergencies and receiving county and College alerts. Emergency phones are located in all campus  elevators and in numerous internal and external locations. These phones will automatically ring in the nearest Office of Safety and Security. Calls made on the emergency phones are recorded. From off-campus locations, call 9-1-1 and then notify the appropriate College administrator.

As an added safety measure, automated external defibrillators are available in every building on each campus. They are mounted in cabinets on the wall in the main lobby/entry area. A local alarm will sound when the cabinet is opened. Security officers also have portable units.

Emergency Preparedness

In the event of emergency situations involving Montgomery College directly   or if an emergency occurs at the local, regional, or national level that could impact the college community   Montgomery College’s safety and security personnel and other College officials utilize in-house emergency response plans and coordinate their response activities with local, county, state, and federal authorities, as appropriate. The College works directly in conjunction with Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, in the event of any local activation of the county’s Emergency Operations Center.

Additional information, including emergency evacuation area maps, is available at www.montgomerycollege.edu/emergency.

Student Employment Services

The purpose of Student Employment Services is to teach currently enrolled students and recent graduates the skills that they need to become successfully employed, to assist students in matching their career or job goals to employment openings (current or future) to ultimately obtain employment, and to successfully place students into cooperative education and internship experiences that are related to their majors. Employment services include

• individual assistance with résumé writing, cover letter preparation, interview skills, job readiness, and job search skills;
• job readiness workshops (résumé preparation, interviewing techniques, etc.);
• job listings for full-time, part-time, and temporary employment opportunities;
• internship information and referral;
• employer on-campus recruitment, part-time job fairs, and annual career information job fairs;
• online job search resources; and
• résumé writing and federal employment application software programs.

Employment information and resources are located in the Germantown and Takoma Park/Silver Spring Career/Transfer Centers and in 019 Campus Center on the Rockville Campus. A job opportunity coordinator is available on each campus to work with students on an individual basis. For more information, please e-mail studemp@montgomerycollege.edu or visit the website: www.montgomerycollege.edu/ejobs.

Student Life

The Student Life Office on each campus provides a place for students to take advantage of a variety of programs and opportunities to get involved in at the College. These opportunities are an integral part of the co-curricular experience and enhance the academic experience at the College. Programs provide students with skills and abilities in such areas as leadership, communication, program planning, budget and financial management, collaboration, social and civic engagement, and multicultural understanding. Programs and events may focus on student, college, campus, and community issues; examples of such issues are academic majors, honor societies, entrepreneurship, recreation and wellness, arts, service learning, and theatre and film.

The Student Life Office offers leadership training to give students the necessary skills to participate effectively in clubs and organizations. Students have the opportunity to run for student government offices, participate in planning and recommending allocation of budget expenditures, and contribute to the development of campus life. Available clubs and organizations vary by campus but generally include cultural, ethnic, religious, political, mentoring, tutorial, recreational, academic, and service clubs; other organizations include campus newspapers and the campus Student Senates. Suggestions for new groups and programs are always welcome.

The Student Life Offices are located in room 186 of the Sciences and Applied Studies Building at Germantown, room 005 of the Campus Center at Rockville and room 217 of the Student Services Center at Takoma Park/Silver Spring.

New Student Orientation

The New Student Orientation Program is a beneficial program for all incoming first year students and is offered online or in-person. The three campuses offer several program formats before the beginning of fall and spring semesters. Specific information may be obtained from the Student Life Office websites for each campus: Germantown, www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/studevel; Rockville, www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/stdactrv; Takoma Park/Silver Spring, www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/stdactp.

The orientation program introduces students, parents, and family members to a variety of first-year experiences designed to facilitate the transition to college life and help students enjoy a successful year at Montgomery College. Faculty, staff, administrators, and students collaborate to provide work-shops, open houses, tours, discussions, and social events to help new students and their families learn about services, college expectations, campus life, academic issues, parent/family involvement, safety, and much more.

Support Centers

The College provides a number of centers at each campus that support student success. Services include tutoring, study skills development, access to information technology, books, models, audiovisuals and other media, and other success skills materials and support activities. There is no charge for use of these services. Students are encouraged to stop by any of the centers listed below for information regarding hours and available services.

Germantown Campus

• Math Accounting Physics Engineering Learning (MAPEL) Center, 229 HT
• Science Learning Center, 202 SA
• Technology Lab Center, 230 HT
• Writing Center and Language Lab, 150 HS

Rockville Campus

• CA/CS Computer Tutoring, 320 HU
• Career and Transfer Center, 219 CB
• ESL Tutoring, 20 MT
• General Purpose Computer Labs, 312, 314 HU; 21A, 25/26 CS
• Math/Science Center, 02 MT
• Writing and Reading Center, 002 HU
• Writing, Reading, and Language Center, 20 MT

Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus

• Learning Skills Support Services, 325 HC
• Math/Science Learning Center, 101 SN
• Math Tutoring Center, 249 MP
• Medical Learning Center, 221 HC
• Social Sciences Computer Center, 110 CM
• Student Technology Center, 304 ST
• Writing, Reading, and Language Center, 105 RC

Television

Montgomery College Television (MCTV Channel 10 on Verizon, Comcast, or RCN cable), is a nationally award-winning educational television channel providing high-quality, thought provoking TV programming for students and community members of all ages. Montgomery College students can get involved in many ways: participating in practical hands-on engineering and television production internships, involving live TV studio, remote field shoots, state-of-the-art digital video and audio editing, and multimedia projects; supplementing in-class, blended, or online classes by watching related support programs; or simply by being a part of the station’s community of viewers. For more information about the College’s array of digital media services, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/mctv.

Transportation

Current Montgomery College students can take the Ride On bus free of charge. They must simply show the Ride On driver a College student identification card with a current semester sticker. Express routes may incur a fee. Ride On schedules, maps, and routes are available online at the Ride On and Transit Services page of the Montgomery County website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov. For details on how to obtain a valid MC student ID, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/studentid.

TRIO Programs

In 1965, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate more fully in the country’s economic and social life. These programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO Programs.

Educational Opportunity Center

The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) provides information and counseling on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. An important objective of EOC is to counsel participants on financial aid options and to assist in the application process. The goal of EOC is to increase the number of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions.

Students in the program are eligible to receive career counseling, college admission and financial aid counseling, application assistance, financial literacy advising, and, when necessary, referrals to English as a Second Language and GED instructional programs. Participation eligibility is based on the following categories: first-generation college student (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree), low-income student (based on taxable income and family size), and the desire to enroll in postsecondary education. In addition, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents or meet the residency requirements for federal financial assistance. The EOC office and satellite locations at community-based organizations, social services agencies, and other community resource programs make higher education information conveniently accessible to Montgomery County residents.

The EOC program is located in 150 CF on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. For more information, please call 240-567-5644 or visit the website cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/department2.aspx?id=69655.

Student Support Services

Student Support Services TRIO is a federally funded grant program serving Montgomery College since fall 2001. Our goal is to positively affect and increase the college’s retention, transfer, and graduation rates by providing and coordinating a variety of educational support services and activities for our first-generation college students, meet federal low-income guidelines, and/or students with disabilities. In this capacity, we facilitate the process of a student’s transition from one level of higher education to the next.

Participation in the program is limited to 175 Montgomery College students. To qualify (to be eligible) a student must be

1. a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
2. currently enrolled, and
3. a member of one or more of the following categories:

• a first-generation college student, meaning that neither of the student’s parents has received a four-year degree prior to the student turning 18;
• a low   income individual   meet low-income requirements based on federal guidelines. If a student is receiving a financial aid Pell Grant he or she may qualify; or
• an individual with a disability   have a documented physical or learning disability through the college’s Disability Support Services Office.

Student Support Services’ goal is achieved by providing

• staff invested in one’s academic success,
• personalized attention to an individual situation,
• assistance in learning to navigate through the College system and identify resources,
• a learning community for personal and academic growth,
• academic advising and monitoring,
• resource information for career exploration and planning,
• transfer assistance and advising,
• financial aid application assistance, and
• a sense of belonging and purpose.

We believe in the value of each individual, and we enjoy the privilege of serving and witnessing student growth. We believe in students’ dreams and provide a nurturing and supportive environment for the realization and accomplishment of those dreams. We are committed to lifelong learning. Our goal is to empower students to make positive life choices, adapt to a changing world that requires new responsibilities and skills, and create and maintain supportive connections and communities.

Please e-mail sss@montgomerycollege.edu or visit our website at www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/ssserv for more information.