WELCOME TO THE MWCC FAMILY Let me be one of the first to welcome you to the Mount. We’re a diverse community of learners of all ages and stages of life where every individual matters and becomes a part of something greater than themselves. The Mount is a special place where you’ll find preparing for your future career can be an integral part of your college experience. Our students can get internships and service-learning opportunities where they gain handson experience and learn practical, real-life skills. What makes me most proud is watching students succeed who may never have seen themselves as college graduates before this moment. The truth is, going to college is a challenge. But it’s well worth your effort. Most Mount students are balancing jobs and family responsibilities in addition to their academics. Successful students find a work, life and study balance by reading and following their syllabus, by going to every class, and scheduling homework time on their phones. And if you can, stay on campus and get involved. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. Once again, welcome to the Mount. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, so I’ll know you when I shake your hand at graduation.
Jim Vander Hooven, Ed.D. President MWCC
SCHEDULE A TOUR / INFO SESSION Get to know us and where you will be taking classes! Come for a tour, academic preview day, or enrollment event mwcc.edu/tour GARDNER CAMPUS Monday–Friday 10am & 3pm 444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440 978-630-9447
Don’t forget the swag! Stop by Admissions during your visit and ask for your 20% discount to the MWCC bookstore!
DO IT
Activate Your iConnect & Email Accounts Download MWCC iConnect app
ebConnect Your connection to: n Email*, Blackboard, WebConnect, etc. n Academic resources n Announcements & events n Job listings
Your connection to: n Schedule & grades n Course registration n Bills & payments n Financial aid
Visit: iconnect.mwcc.edu *Once accepted, all MWCC correspondence is via your MWCC email address
DO IT ’ A ‘MUST DO to prepare for course n! registratio
New students are required to complete Mount 101 (located on iConnect), then you’re ready to register for classes! Mount 101 is your introduction to all things MWCC. From academic advising and student clubs to support and community resources, you’ll be on the path to a successful first semester. Log into iConnect to complete Mount 101. Students enrolled in a Dual Enrollment or Early College program should complete DualEnroll101, available on iConnect.
OH NO! Be sure to complete Mount 101 until the very last page or you’ll miss out on scheduling your academic advising and course registration appointment!
SUBMIT IT Records & Placement Send us what you have! Forward your high school transcript, HiSET/GED or SAT/ ACT scores, and/or prior college transcripts to get started. Final high school transcript/diploma or test scores: MWCC - Office of Admissions 444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440
College transcripts: MWCC - Records Office 444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440
Apply For Financial Aid You should apply for financial aid—even if you don’t think you qualify.
Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Visit studentaid.gov and follow online instructions n Questions? Call the Student Financial Services Office at 978-630-9169 or visit mwcc.edu/financial n Need help? Call the Educational Opportunity Center at 978-630-9823 (¡Se habla español!) n FAFSA Fridays Our FAFSA experts are here to help! Get assistance completing your FAFSA from our staff! Registration is required, visit mwcc.edu/fafsa-fridays to register.
Submit Immunization & Medical History Forms Full time students (12 credits or more) and all healthcare program students (part-time and full-time) must complete and submit the immunization and medical history forms included in this packet with your physician’s signature. For a complete list of required immunizations please visit mwcc.edu/immunization-form-info n Completed forms can be faxed to 978-630-9528, dropped off in RM 141 at the Gardner campus, or sent to: MWCC - Health Services 444 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440 nQ uestions? Call the Student Services Office at 978-630-9855
PLAN IT
Career Services It’s never too early to align your college experience with your intended career. We call that the MWCC College & Career Alignment! As an MWCC student we’ll help you connect to internships and careers with employers specifically seeking MWCC students and grads! And to prepare you for those connections our services include resume development, interview techniques, mock interviews, and more! Career Assessment Tools Connect your career dreams with reality by matching your professional goals with our degrees and certificates. mwcc.edu/career Handshake Jump-start your career and connect with thousands of local and international employers looking to hire you! Join free today! mwcc.joinhandshake.com Career Fairs & Events Connect with employers through on-campus events throughout the year. Check your MWCC email for upcoming event dates. For more information: n Email: careerservices@mwcc.mass.edu n Call: 978-630-9325 n mwcc.edu/career
PLAN IT
Transferring to Complete Your Bachelor’s? We’re Here to Help! Once you have earned your associate degree from MWCC, we encourage you to consider transferring to earn your bachelor’s degree. If you are not sure of your transfer options, admissions counselors from four-year schools meet MWCC students virtually and on-campus each week! Check your MWCC email for on-campus and virtual events and downloadable resources.
QUICK TIP Course Type........... Length Full Semester.......................14 weeks Quick Semester....................7 weeks Intersession/Maymester.......2–3 weeks Summer Quick Semester .....4 weeks Summer Full.........................8 weeks
Be sure to let your advisor know you are interested in eventually transferring on for your bachelor’s degree so we can ensure you are on the best path for transferring. For more information: n Email: transferadvisor@mwcc.mass.edu n Call: 978-630-9109 n mwcc.edu/transfer
KNOW IT
Get Involved and Stay Connected MWCC makes it easy for you to stay connected. Among the many clubs and leadership opportunities, there are plenty of ways for you to be part of the MWCC family. Check out
on iConnect!
Stay connected on social media by sharing your stories, photos and videos. Become part of the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube & LinkedIn.
For weather updates & closings, follow us at: facebook.com/MWCCAlerts
The Students Serving Our Students (SOS) program is a peer-mentoring program that helps connect students to resources oncampus and in the community such as childcare, transportation, food insecurity, housing, etc. SOS is located on the Gardner campus in the Brewer Center, Room 152.
The Campus Pantry provides a set number of items per month per student who need assistance. Items include personal hygiene products, canned goods, dry goods, school supplies, snacks and microwavable meals. Students can access the pantry on the Gardner campus in Room 192 and also on the Leominster campus.
Know Your Resources RESOURCE
DESCRIPTION
CONTACT
Academic Calendar
Important dates throughout the year
mwcc.edu/academics/academic-calendar
Academic Support Center
FREE tutoring in person and online
ASC@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9333
Admissions
Apply for general admissions and selective health programs
admissions@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9447
Advising, Career & Transfer (ACT)
Schedule a virtual or in-person advising meeting to check your academic progress, learn about transfer or register for classes mwcc.edu/academics/advising
advisor@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9109
CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents In School)
Childcare assistance and subsidies
areynolds1@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9190
Counseling Services
FREE personal counseling by licensed professionals
mmanzi@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9178
Disability Services
Support for qualified students with disabilities
alabarge@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9330
transferadvisor@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9325 careerservices@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9325
Early College & Dual Enrollment Helping high school juniors and seniors earn college credits
earlycollege@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9248
Library
Research help, study spaces, online and in-person resources
library@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9125
Campus-life / Student-Life
Have fun, join clubs, and find opportunities
studentlife@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9148
SOS & Food Pantry
978-630-9358 foodpantry@mwcc.mass.edu
Student Financial Services
Expert advice and personalized support applying for financial aid and paying for college
sfs@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9169
Student Services
Support services for students
studentservices@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9855
Testing
Offering a wide variety of testing services, including ATI TEAS and ESL placement
testingservices@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9244
TRiO Student Support Services (Visions & Rx)
Personal support for students from first generation and low income backgrounds and with disabilities
visions@mwcc.mass.edu rx@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9297
THRIVE Center
A space for private and group discussions, peer mentoring and academic planning
THRIVE@mwcc.mass.edu 978-630-9327
Veteran Services
Assistance for veterans and eligible dependents
978-630-9408
For more info, visit: mwcc.edu/support
The Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA) 2022–2023 Guidelines For Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA) is a requirement that governs the privacy of student education records, and access to those records as well as disclosure of information from them. FERPA is sometimes referred to as the Buckley Amendment.
Who is protected under FERPA?
Students who are currently enrolled or formerly enrolled in educational institutions that receive federal funds regardless of their age or parental dependency status are protected under FERPA. Federal funds can include grants and financial aid. FERPA does not apply to deceased students or persons who have applied but have not attended.
Who may receive information on a student without the student’s consent?
• MWCC school officials determined to have a legitimate educational interest, (which means a justifiable need to view an education record in order to complete his/her job responsibilities, as defined by the College); • Persons or organizations providing to the students financial aid, or determining financial aid decisions; • Officials of other institutions in which the student seeks to enroll; • Accrediting organizations carrying out their accrediting functions;
What are the Students’ Rights?
• Parents of a student who have established the student’s status as a dependent according to the IRS Code of 1986, Section 152
• Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access;
• Persons in compliance with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena;
Students have the right to:
• Request the amendment of student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA; • Provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent; • Be notified annually by the College of what student record information the College designates as “directory information,” and the right to request that no student information be designated as directory information; • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20202-5901
What are education records?
With certain exceptions, an education record is any record from which a student can be personally identified and is routinely maintained by the institution.
What are not education records?
• Sole possession records or private notes held by school officials that are not accessible or released to other personnel. Notes made in the presence of others are not sole possession notes and are thus considered an education records; • Law enforcement or campus security records that are solely for law enforcement purposes and maintained solely by the law enforcement unit; • Records relating to individuals who are employed by the institution (unless employment is contingent upon being a student); • Records relating to treatment provided by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional and disclosed only to individuals providing such treatment; • Records of an institution that contain information about an individual obtained after that person is no longer a student at that institution, i.e., alumni records.
What information does FERPA permit institutions to release?
MWCC may disclose information on a student without violating FERPA if it is designated “directory information.” MWCC identifies the following student information as directory information: • The student’s first and last name and middle initial • The student’s billing address
• Persons in an emergency, if the knowledge of information, in fact, is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons. • Section 952 of the 1998 Higher Education Amendments, authorizes institutions of higher education to disclose to parents and guardians of students under age twentyone, violations of institutional policies or rules, as well as local, state, and federal laws governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance. Parents or legal guardians of students under twenty-one years of age will be notified when the student has violated the MWCC alcohol or drug policies. Students may request that their records be coded as confidential at any time by completing the request form at the MWCC Records office or download it online at: mwcc.edu/ PDFs/ConfidentialityRequest.pdf The College Catalog details the types of records available for inspection and the procedure to access these records.
How Can a Parent Access a Student’s Records?
Student records may be released to a parent (custodial or non-custodial) without the student’s prior approval only when the MWCC Parent Information Request Form (available in the MWCC Records office or online at: mwcc.edu/PDFs/ ParentInfoRequest.pdf) has been completed. This form requires the requesting party to attach documentation that verifies the student was claimed as a dependent on the most recently filed IRS tax return. Once this form and documentation is received, the student will be notified of the request prior to the release of the requested information 10 days hence. Student information is subject to the guidelines of FERPA even if the student is below the age of 18. Students may choose to have their records provided to parents or other third parties on a one-time or one-year basis by completing the MWCC Student Record Information Waiver Form available from the MWCC Records office or online at: mwcc.edu/PDFs/StudentRecordInfoWaiver.pdf
Directory Requests:
Requests for the entire student directory, requests from any military sources under the Solomon Amendment, or requests for a “class” of students, such as all students in any one major, should be directed to the MWCC Records office, or call 978- 630-9106.
Questions about the release of any student records should be directed to the MWCC Records office, or call 978-630-9106 The release of information contained in MWCC student records, especially grades, transcripts, and financial information is strictly controlled and regulated by federal law, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• MWCC sponsored e-mail address • The student’s declared program(s) of study at the college • The student’s enrollment status (full-or part-time) • Degree or certificate earned and academic honors
Records Office: 978-630-9106 • mwcc.edu
Sustainability at MWCC isn’t something we do; it’s a core part of who we are and how we live. We boast solar arrays, wind energy and biomass heating to save on energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint, and of course, a curriculum in which sustainability is a central theme. This book is made of post-consumer fiber paper and is manufactured under sustainable practices.
AA/EEO Institution | MC001-02 Rev:May22
Welcome to the Mount!
mwcc.edu 444 Green St, Gardner Ma 01440 856-485-9110 | admissions@mwcc.edu
#myMWCC