Montgomery College has been changing lives in Montgomery County for more than 70 years. Founded in 1946, Montgomery College began as an evening college at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, serving an initial student body of just 186 students.
By 1950, the College acquired the buildings and land previously occupied by the Bliss Electrical School. This Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus location became the College’s first campus. Rockville Campus opened in 1965, and the Germantown Campus opened in 1978.
Today, the College is a multi-campus institution that serves nearly 60,000 students annually, through a combination of credit and noncredit continuing education programs.
Chartered by the state of Maryland and governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees, Montgomery College is widely recognized for the quality and scope of its academic programs in liberal arts, humanities, sciences, business, and technologies.
Campuses are located in Germantown Campus, Rockville Campus, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, complemented by Workforce Development and Continuing Education centers and other off-campus sites throughout Montgomery County.
More than 100 degree and certificate programs prepare students to earn an associate’s degree, transfer to a four-year college or university, enter the job market, upgrade career skills, complete an apprenticeship, or enhance life through enrichment experiences.
A highly accomplished and innovative faculty provides individualized instruction and a supportive learning environment. Affordable tuition and various extracurricular activities-such as athletic programs, performing arts, student clubs and multicultural organizations, and student government-create a complete college experience for the county’s culturally diverse student population.
Courses and student services are provided year-round for day, evening, and weekend students.
College Philosophy
The College is an open-access, public education institution dedicated to academic excellence and committed to student success. The College offers a wide range of post-secondary academic programs, career training, and lifelong learning opportunities at moderate cost to residents, businesses, and other organizations within Montgomery County.
The College provides an enriching and comprehensive learning experience for students, faculty, staff, and community members who enhance the College with a diversity of ethnicities, cultures, ages, and experiences. This diversity offers opportunities for students to appreciate individual differences and to communicate ideas. As an educational resource center, the College acknowledges its responsibility and participates actively with public and private agencies to search for solutions to community problems.
College Program Commitments
The vision of academics at Montgomery College is a natural expansion of our student- centered mission of caring, commitment to quality, and service to community that holds us accountable for key results centered on learning. This vision incorporates clear priorities and the challenges of the future: continued access, retention, achievement, and collaborative learning. These priorities are achieved within a framework of service to the community and continued learning and professional development.
In keeping with its philosophy, policies, and purposes, the College offers the following high-quality educational opportunities:
- transfer curricula for students wishing to transfer to upper-division degree studies at four-year colleges and universities;
- technical curricula for students wishing to prepare for immediate employment;
- a broad-based general education curriculum upon which students with undecided objectives can build;
- credit and noncredit courses that may be used for employment, re-employment, retraining, and for exploring interests in professional and technical fields;
- a continuing education program that extends the resources of the College into the community;
- forums, lectures, short courses, concerts, dramatic productions, art exhibits, athletics, and other activities meant to add balance to the total instructional program of the College;
- academically, vocationally, and personally-oriented counseling services;
- a program designed to identify and help remedy students’ academic deficiencies;
- an early placement program for qualified high school seniors wishing to supplement their secondary school courses and/or accelerate their college studies;
- an honors program for students of outstanding ability; and
- an extensive summer program for current students, undergraduates from other institutions, and high school graduates who wish to begin their college studies.
Degrees, Certificates, and Letters of Recognition
The Maryland Higher Education Commission has authorized the College to confer the associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied science, associate of arts in teaching, and associate of fine arts degrees upon its graduates. The College awards diplomas, certificates, and letters of recognition. Specific requirements are listed in the Curricula Information section.
Academic Recognition and Memberships
As a public institution, the College is legally accountable to the state of Maryland and Montgomery County. At the state level, the College reports to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). MHEC establishes minimum requirements for associate degree-granting institutions and establishes general policies for the operation of community colleges.
Middle States Association Accreditation
The College was first accredited on April 28, 1950, after an evaluation by a committee representing the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association (an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation). It has remained on the accredited list ever since.
For more information on accreditation, contact:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
267-284-5000
www.msche.org
Other Accreditation
The College holds accreditation from the State of Maryland and numerous academic and professional organizations. Examples of accrediting organizations for specific curricula are as follows:
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Early Childhood Education
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Health Information Management
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Interior Design
National Kitchen and Bath Association
Music
National Association of Schools of Music
Nursing
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Personal Fitness Trainer
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Physical Therapist Assistant
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Polysomnography Technology
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Radiologic Technology
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
Surgical Technology
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Alumni
The Montgomery College Alumni Association is a free membership organization of former students, graduates, and College retirees committed to enriching lives and producing meaningful opportunities for alumni, students, and the community.
The Association serves alumni of MC’s legacy institutions: the Bliss Electrical School, Carver Junior College, and the Maryland College of Art and Design. Any group of 10 alumni may form a special-interest chapter; email alumni@montgomerycollege.edu for more information.
The Association awards annual scholarships, including two for the child or parent of a College alumnus/alumna; the Socrates and Anne Koutsoutis Statue of Liberty Scholarship for a first-year student; partial or full scholarships for Summer Dinner Theatre students; and the Louis D. Bliss Memorial Scholarship for electrical engineering or computer science majors.
The Association also locates volunteer mentors to help students accomplish their academic and professional endeavors. Alumni mentors are matched with students based on curriculum and other criteria at the start of the academic year.
The Alumni Association regularly honors outstanding and high-achieving alumni. The Milton F. Clogg Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award and the Rising Star Young Alumni Recognition Award are presented at the Alumni Awards Ceremony, where former athletes are inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominations are accepted from current and former students, faculty, and staff. For scholarship applications, award nominations, and information on membership benefits, email alumni@montgomerycollege.edu, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/alumni, or follow www.facebook.com/mcalumniassociation.
College Policies
All official College policies and procedures are posted on our website at www.montgomerycollege.edu/pnp. Excerpts from key policies including 42001: Student Code of Conduct, 75003: Restrictions on Smoking, and 58005: Closing of the College, are below. For other pertinent policies including 53001: Academic Regulations and Standards, 31005: Drug and Alcohol Prevention, 31001: Hate/Violence Activity, 41002: Equal Education Opportunity and Non-Discrimination, and 31001: Sexual Misconduct, please refer to the Policies and Procedures website.
Student Code of Conduct
The College believes in the premise that students are responsible for their own actions and should be free to pursue their educational objectives in an environment that promotes learning, protects the integrity of the academic process, and protects the College community.
The Student Code of Conduct outlines the policies, regulations, and procedures of the College regarding academic honesty and student behavior, including penalties and appeals. The code can be viewed on the web at www.montgomerycollege.edu/pnp.
Restrictions on Smoking
Smoking and tobacco use, including e-cigarettes, are prohibited in all indoor and outdoor College-owned property and are not permitted within leased College office and classroom space. Tobacco and smoking products will not be sold in College facilities. Details of the smoking and tobacco use policy, as well as enforcement protocol, can be viewed at www.montgomerycollege.edu/pnp.
Closing, Delayed Opening, or Emergency
Montgomery College will always operate on its regular schedule unless otherwise announced. Depending on the nature of the incident, notifications of emergencies and changes to the College’s operational status will be communicated through one or more of the following means:
- College emergency responders: Security Officers, Campus Response and/or Support Teams
- Montgomery College ALERT. Registered users receive text and e-mail messages. Registration information at www.montgomerycollege.edu/emergency
- Montgomery College Emergency Desktop Notification. Scrolling messages are broadcast on College computers
- Montgomery College closures and delays page at www.montgomerycollege.edu
- MyMC website at mymc.montgomerycollege.edu
- Social media: Twitter, Facebook Stories, and Instagram Stories
- Montgomery College student e-mail system
- Montgomery College employee voice mail. From off-site, dial 240-567-1701
- Montgomery College employee e-mail. From off-site, http://mail.montgomerycollege.edu
- Montgomery College main phone number at 240-567-5000
- Montgomery College cable channel 10 in Montgomery County
- Commercial radio and TV stations including:
| Television |
Radio |
| Channel 4 WRC |
WTOP (103.5 FM) |
| Channel 5 WTTG |
WFRE (99.5 FM) - Frederick |
| Channel 7 WJLA |
WAMU (88.5 FM) |
| Channel 9 WUSA |
WFMD (930 AM) - Frederick |
| News Channel 8 |
WMAL (630 AM) |
If the College opens late or closes early for any reason, the following rule will be used to determine if a class will meet. If a class can meet for at least half of its scheduled time or if the class can meet for 50 minutes or more, then the class will meet. Reasonable efforts will be made to open and make buildings accessible at least 30 minutes prior to any delayed opening.
Evening and Weekend Classes/Activities
When MC is closed due to inclement weather, all evening and weekend classes, programs, athletic events, and activities are canceled or postponed.
Operational Status and Color Codes
The information below provides an overview of the four operational status levels or color codes that will indicate the College’s operating status.
Montgomery College’s operating status is based on current or forecasted conditions and will be displayed at the top of the College’s homepage. Based on the circumstances, the aforementioned alert notifications will be sent when necessary.
Students, please note: Always refer to the course syllabus and/or communicate directly with your instructors for guidance related to classes and assignments.
Additionally, all supervisors, department chairs, and administrators should work closely with their departments and teams to plan and prepare for their operations under codes yellow and orange in advance.
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
Code/Level: GREEN
Conditions (Examples): Normal
Operating Status: The College is open and all campuses/locations are open.
Faculty/Staff/Student Actions: Operations/instruction/services as usual, both for on-site and remote/online activities.
Code/Level: YELLOW
Conditions (Examples): Anticipated or minor events that do not affect the overall operations of a campus/location (weather watch or advisory due to snow, hail, heavy rain). Isolated campus/location or operations emergency or issue (small scale power failure).
Operating Status: The College is open and all campuses/locations are open. Some on-site operations/instruction/services may be limited or impacted.
Faculty/Staff/Student Actions: All classes and events continue as scheduled. Liberal use of leave and situational telework for employees at the discretion of the supervisor/administrator.
Code/Level: ORANGE
Conditions (Examples): Events that will impact the physical or on-site operations of a campus/location (weather warning due to snow, hurricane, tornado). A regional area warning due to emergency or risk (regional travel warning). Localized College emergency or risk (MC network disruption, area power failure).
Operating Status: The College is open for operations, but all campuses and locations (i.e., physical locations) are closed. Operations/instruction/services are limited to remote only.
Faculty/Staff/Student Actions: All on-site campus/location classes, services, events, and activities are cancelled. All online, remote, and hybrid classes continue as scheduled. Students should refer to their course syllabus and/or communicate directly with their instructor for guidance. Only essential personnel directed by supervisor report to work on-site.* All telework eligible employees are required to telework or use leave. Regular staff in positions ineligible for telework are granted administrative leave.
Code/Level: RED
Conditions (Examples): Events and situations that may involve an extreme local/regional/national emergency or risk (severe weather, state of emergency, civil or health crisis). Major infrastructure issues (large-scale network disruption, power failure)
Operating Status: The College is closed. All on-site and remote operations/instruction/services are suspended.
Faculty/Staff/Student Actions: All classes, services, events, and activities are cancelled, including online and remote classes. Only essential personnel directed by the supervisor report to work on-site.* Teleworking is not required. All regular staff will be granted administrative leave.
*Note: Employees required to report to work on-site during code Orange or Red status will be compensated in accordance with the AFSCME collective bargaining agreement or the College’s policies and procedures as appropriate.
For additional information and guidance, please contact the relevant departments below.
Operational status system (color codes) and notifications: PublicSafety@montgomerycollege.edu
Employee teleworking, work schedules, administrative leave, essential personnel: HRSTM@montgomerycollege.edu.
All inquiries from the news media regarding an emergency event should be directed to the College’s Office of Communications.
College Schedule
The College operates on a semester/term basis, fall and spring. Within each credit class term are four different parts. Each part of the term has an associated date range. Credit classes are offered within each of the four parts of the term, ranging from seven weeks to 15 weeks long. In addition, the College offers two summer sessions and two winter sessions. All three campuses offer classes and services days, evenings, and weekends, although hours vary. Noncredit courses run year-round, and classes begin weekly. Detailed schedules of the College’s credit classes can be reviewed during registration at www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions-registration/search-the-class-schedule.html. Students must be logged in to MyMC to register for classes.
