Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is proud to announce that it has been recognized nationally for its welcoming, inclusive and supportive workplace and learning environments for the eighth time.

The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and "Diverse: Issues In Higher Education" have named MCCC as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges across the country. With a focus on workplace diversity, staffing practices and work environment, the NISOD and Diverse research team uses a web-based survey approach to examine categories such as family friendliness, salary/benefits and professional development opportunities, among others, in its selection process.

This year, MCCC was one of only 18 community and technical colleges in the United States selected for this highly regarded award, and one of only two community and technical colleges in Pennsylvania.

“At Montgomery County Community College, our longstanding dedication to equity, diversity and belonging is woven into the fabric of everything we do,” said Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “Being honored with this national recognition for the eighth time reaffirms our identity as an institution that fosters an inclusive environment where every individual is valued, respected and heard. This achievement is a testament to the ongoing collaborative efforts of our employees and Board of Trustees in cultivating a culture of belonging.”

MCCC’s commitment to equity, diversity and belonging is included in all aspects of the College’s strategic employee workforce planning, including the intentional development and implementation of its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Montco for All – Building Our Future Together.” Throughout the plan, equity is elevated as a key core value and incorporated into all of the components.

While creating the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, MCCC revised and expanded its Equity Statement, which illustrates MCCC’s focus “to ensure all students, employees and community members are successful by the intentional design of college experiences and celebrates the intersection of race, ethnicity, gender identity, language, (dis)ability, sexual orientation, economic status, and/or religion in its community.”

For MCCC, an integral part of cultivating a culture of belonging is ensuring its campuses are safe, welcoming spaces for all students, employees and visitors with inclusive spaces. The College’s goal is to make its spaces feel like home, where everyone can be their authentic selves, express their true identities and feel valued and appreciated.

As a part of MCCC’s Strategic Employee Workforce Plan, modernization initiatives benefitting all employees have been implemented during the past three years. Some of these initiatives during the current academic year continued to focus on work-life integration including an increase in the number of free counseling sessions provided through the College’s employee assistance program; and expansion to the “no meeting block” initiative where meetings are not scheduled in specific timeframes to allow employees to think, focus, and prepare for the week ahead. Prior workforce modernization initiatives included summer modified work schedules, flexible work program, and expansion of parental leave benefits, to name a few.

In 2021, MCCC was one of only 10 colleges in the country selected to participate in the Achieving the Dream and the University of Southern California Race and Equity Center Racial Equity Leadership Academy (RELA). Through participation in RELA, the College has developed and employed a standard syllabus template that is rooted in equity and accessibility for all students.

MCCC also offers a Faculty Diversity Fellowship program, a one-year program that provides each faculty fellow with opportunities for teaching or non-teaching opportunities for advisors and librarians, and student engagement, peer mentoring and professional development as educators and scholars.

In addition to MCCC, other colleges honored include Arapahoe Community College, Bergen Community College, Chemeketa Community College, College of the Mainland, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Garden City Community College, Gateway Community College (AZ), HACC - Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, Hudson County Community College, Malcolm X College, McLennan Community College, Northeast Lakeview College, Olive-Harvey College, Palo Alto College, Prince George’s Community College, San Antonio College and St. Phillip’s College.