Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
College to host Spring Open House events
BLUE BELL/POTTSTOWN >> The spring season is the perfect time to make plans for the summer and fall by attending a Spring Open House at Montgomery County Community College.
MCCC invites prospective students and their families, as well as the community as a whole, to its three Spring Open House events in person at the Blue Bell Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Pottstown Campus, 101 College Drive, and online.
“This spring, we’re celebrating open house season at Montgomery County Community College,” said Michael Harcum, director of admissions and recruitment. “As part of our plan to build a strong future, we invite everyone — prospective students, families, and the community — to explore our beautiful, renovated campuses and online programs. We’re excited to showcase our amazing faculty, diverse programs, and the support services that make Montco such a valuable resource.”
Pottstown Open House April 13
The Spring Open House series kicks off on the first floor of South Hall at Pottstown Campus, Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendees will meet with faculty, administrators, and students to learn about financial aid, support services, academic programs, workforce development, and transfer partnerships. Campus tours will also be available. To register, visit https:// www.mc3.edu/admissions/ visit-us/open-house.
MCCC also welcomes employers and employees to the open houses to learn more about its 100+ programs, flexible schedules and online courses. Through MCCC’s Prior Learning Assessment, working students and veterans may qualify for credits or waiver of courses, depending on experience and training, allowing them to get a head start on earning an associate’s degree.
“Kick off your Spring Open House experience at the newly renovated South
Hall Student Commons,” said Katherine Browna, associate director of admissions and recruitment. “This modern space is designed for flexible learning, and it’s just the beginning. You can also explore nearby facilities like the Mustangs eSports arena, game room, fitness center, and the Science on a Sphere exhibit. Plus, all these amenities are conveniently located close to classrooms and labs in the building.”
In nearby North Hall, attendees can tour the Wellness Center, which features an array of holistic support services to help students succeed academically and personally; the machine shop, student theater and Sound Recording and Music Technology studios.
Blue Bell Open House April 27
The Blue Bell Campus Open House will be held in the Health Sciences Center on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to noon. In addition to learning about MCCC and touring the campus, the information fair will be held in the Health Sciences Center atrium, where attendees can connect with faculty and administrators from academic units, support services and student life. Guests can take self-guided tours through the Health Sciences Center’s labs and clinical spaces and see how these state-of-the-art facilities
prepare students for exciting careers.
Visitors will also be able to view the progress of the new Hospitality Institute, which is currently under construction and slated to open in the fall of 2024 for students in the Baking and Pastry, Culinary Arts and Tourism and Hospitality Management programs. Faculty will be hosting cooking demonstrations and available for questions.
The Science Center will also be available for visitors to explore labs and classrooms. The Advanced Technology Center will feature the recording studio, The Mix Room at Montco, Montco Radio and the TV studio. Attendees can immerse themselves in creativity at the Fine Arts Center, where they can visit the gallery and peek into studio art classrooms.
Online Open House May 2
In addition to the on-campus events, MCCC will hold an online open house on Thursday, May 2 from 6-7 p.m. During the online open house, guests will have the opportunity to learn about flexible programs, discover affordable ways to pay for college, listen to informative presentations and ask questions during Q&A sessions and more.
The hour-long presentation will remain published online throughout the year after the event ends for those unable to attend.
“Whether you’re a prospective student thinking about college in the future or maybe you’re looking to decide right now,” Harcom said, “the fall semester registration opens March 21 (March 20 for veterans). We would love to have you join our Montco family.”
At the open houses, students and families can learn how MCCC makes college education affordable and accessible for everyone. Students who earn their associate degrees at a community college and transfer to a fouryear school can see substantial tuition savings. Beyond lower tuition rates, MCCC also awards over 500 scholarships a year.
In addition to other financial aid and scholarships, a new finance resource, Project Re-Connect, is now available for students seeking to re-enroll and continue their education. The program is available for Pennsylvania residents with a specific focus in Chester, Berks and Montgomery counties. Harcum says its an opportunity for students to start fresh at the college.
“Re-enrolling can be challenging for students, especially if they need to step away due to financial restraints,” he said. “Project Re-Connect can put you in touch with experts, who can help provide a pathway back to Montco and back to accomplishing your goal of a college education.”
Also, through MCCC’s Two for One Tuition Program, Montgomery County employees, their spouses, domestic partners and dependents up to 26 years of age, are eligible to receive a tuition waiver for one free course for every course they take, both in-person or online, paid in full.
For more information about paying for college, visit https://www.mc3. edu/paying-for-college. For more information about the Spring Open House events, visit https://www.mc3.edu/ admissions/visit-us/openhouse or contact the Admissions office.