Montgomery County Community College

Special Programs

First Year Initiatives Program

If this is your first experience with higher education, if you are a returning student or if you are making a career change, the First-Year Initiatives Program has a wide array of resources and services to assist you in your educational pursuits and in transitioning to college. We firmly believe that all students can succeed, and we are committed to that belief!

To best serve the unique needs of first year students, we will

• Facilitate new student transition to the college campus.
• Familiarize students with campus resources and how to use them.
• Provide high-quality instruction during the first year.
• Establish positive mentoring and advising relationships with beginning students.
• Foster the development of positive relationships between and among students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Support a vibrant college culture where students experience and express diverse world views.
• Offer a comprehensive range of activities and opportunities to enhance learning and personal growth.

We look forward to working with all of our students and will strive to continuously meet your academic, social, and professional needs.

Statement of Philosophy for the First Year of College

Montgomery County Community College strives to address the unique needs and concerns of first year college students in order to facilitate a successful transition from their high school or post secondary experience. This intentional comprehensive curricular and co-curricular initiative will promote an understanding and appreciation of a college education and will assist students with developing strategies and attitudes that will maximize academic success and prepare students to become life-long learners and responsible citizens and leaders.

ACT 101

ACT 101 Application

This is a program funded by the State of Pennsylvania to provide individualized academic and counseling support services to full-time or part-time students who have the potential and motivation for success, qualify financially, and meet at least one of the academic requirements.

Students qualify if they receive financial aid and their individual or family income is below a certain state mandated level; if they place in one or more developmental level courses, have below average high school grades, received a GED, or have been out of school five or more years.

Free services provided include

• Counseling
• Tutoring
• Social and cultural events
• Orientation
• Personal growth and study skills workshops

The ACT 101 program also runs an Academic Bridge summer program to prepare high school students for college-level course work.

KEYS

Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) is a collaborative program between the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. KEYS is specifically designed to help recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or food stamps Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Due to policy and funding limitations, SNAP recipients are on a waiting list for enrollment.

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is committed to helping KEYS students achieve their academic and career goals. The KEYS student facilitators are one of your most valuable resources through their advocacy efforts as a liaison between you, the County Assistance Office (CAO) and other community organizations. They will help you identify career goals in vocations that better ensures family-sustaining wages with benefits and opportunities for advancement.

To apply to KEYS, you must tell the CAO that you want to attend MCCC for referral consideration. If you are a current MCCC student, the referral process is the same.

Qualified students may receive assistance for the following services.

• Paid child care assistance.
• Paid books and school supplies assistance.
• Paid job related professional fees and uniforms cost assistance.
• Paid Vocational Work Experience (VWE), in relation to your course of study.
• Paid transportation assistance (transPass, mileage, car repair, license, registration, inspection, and more).
• Computer laptop loan to complete your assignments off campus.
• Workshops with attorneys specializing in policy advocacy for welfare benefits, child support, landlord tenant, expungement of criminal records and other topics.
• Referrals to community service agencies to support academic success and family stability.

Let KEYS open the door to a brighter future for you and your family. You do the work and KEYS will help support you. These services are offered because we recognize that not having them may be a barrier to your success as a college student. These services are not guaranteed entitlements but based on your eligibility and availability of resources.

For more information please contact

Perkins Career Program

The Perkins Career Program at Montgomery County Community College assists full- or part-time MCCC students enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) or Certificate Program of study in acquiring the specific academic, vocational, and personal skills needed to perform effectively on the job today. Each student's career knowledge of his/her chosen field and the opportunities available in that arena will be heightened. Part of this preparation may be an internship position to develop skills and experiences. Personalized services available to each Perkins Career Program student on the College's campuses focus on educational and employment success.

In addition to the vast array of services available to all students at Montgomery County Community College, the following specifically tailored supportive services are available free to A.A.S. and Certificate Program participants.

• Comprehensive personal career guidance and counseling
• Vocational assessment
• Career exploration and planning workshops
• Internship opportunities
• Tutoring services (academic and occupational), reserved for Perkins students, including the use of interactive computer software and technical equipment
• ESL (English as a Second Language) Perkins advising
• After class extra instruction for health career students
• Services for students with disabilities
• Services for economically disadvantaged, displaced homemakers and single parents, limited English speaking, non-traditional and educationally disadvantaged students
• Career and job search assistance

For more information contact

Title III

The Title III program provides support services, academic advising, supplemental instruction, and other resources to students in developmental classes. Title III also coordinates a peer mentor program and works collaboratively with College faculty in designing learning communities and other unique classes for developmental students.

Support services are also available for students on academic probation and suspension. For more information please call Elinore Leonards at 215-641-6556 or email eleonard@mc3.edu.

Next Step

Are you a Montgomery County resident, between the ages of 17 and 21, and need guidance in taking the next step toward your future? If so, the Next Step Program may be for you. The program, administered by Montgomery County Workforce Development, offers services to eligible young adults who would like to find and keep well paying jobs in high demand occupations but need:

• GED credential
• Career guidance
• Financial aid for short-term college programs
• Skill training
• Job placement

For more information please contact

Norristown and Pottstown
Jan Lord
Career Specialist
Phone: 610-278-1475
Email: jlord@montcopa.org

Power Program

The Partnership on Work Enrichment and Readiness—POWER—is a one semester class at Montgomery County Community College.

In the spirit of the mental health recovery model, the POWER program:

• introduces participating students to college campus life.
• helps to develop educational and career potential.
• assists in the exploration of career and educational paths.

The POWER program is open to any person who is in mental health recovery. This includes people who participate in services offered by the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health, as well as any person who has been diagnosed with a mental health issue. We recommend that participants are able to participate and complete college level work.

There is no financial cost to POWER students for the credit class, textbooks or materials. The program is generously funded by the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health, Montgomery County Community College and private foundations.

During the 14 week course, students will learn some of the following topics.

• career self-assessment
• presentation skills
• time management
• resumes and cover letters
• interviewing skills
• computer basics
• balancing school, work and life
• professionalism and first impressions
• team work
• goal-setting and decision-making
• ethics and boundary-setting
• success skills for college

In addition to the classes and education, the power student will have:

• an individual career and educational plan to help focus their activities in regards to career and college.
• a polished resume.
• information about their chosen career and/or educational path.
• completed financial aid applications, registration and course selection for those going on to college.

Graduates of the POWER program who decide to continue their education at the College may enroll in POWER Plus, an educational and supportive class that meets weekly.

Individuals who are interested in POWER can self-refer or ask their therapist, case manager, or support person to refer them. Print the form for applicants to complete. For more information you may contact