Navigating the College Central Network at Montgomery College: A Comprehensive Guide to Services and Resources

Montgomery College is dedicated to providing a comprehensive support system for its students, encompassing academic, career, and personal development. A crucial component of this support system is the College Central Network (CCN), a robust platform designed to connect students and alumni with employment opportunities and career development resources. This article explores the various services and resources available through Montgomery College, with a particular focus on how the College Central Network facilitates career exploration and job searching.

Academic Support Services

Montgomery College offers a wide array of academic support services to help students succeed in their studies. These services include:

Academic Skills Workshops: These workshops focus on improving essential skills such as studying, test-taking, time management, and overcoming math anxiety.
Counseling and Advising: Counselors and advisors provide guidance to students in establishing goals, overcoming barriers, and developing self-sufficiency. They assist with educational, transfer, and career decisions, as well as planning for certificates, degrees, and transfer to four-year institutions.
Tutoring: Tutoring services are available to help students in various subjects, providing personalized support to enhance understanding and academic performance.

Placement and Assessment

Upon admission, students must demonstrate their skills in English, reading, and mathematics to enroll in courses that match their academic skill levels. Students may be exempt from assessment if they provide documentation of completed college coursework or sufficiently high scores on standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL. If such documentation is unavailable, students may utilize alternate placement measures, such as high school GPA or the college's placement process.

Student Success Courses

Student Success courses are designed to meet the diverse academic needs and interests of students. Courses to help with the transition to college include First Year Seminar (STSU 100) and Seminar for International Students (STSU 101). These two courses in particular are an important component of the First Year Experience activities, and all first-time college students are strongly encouraged to take one of these courses. Courses in Study Habits Development (STSU 110) and Building Math Confidence (STSU 112) focus on building skills, and Memory Development (STSU 114) teaches students how to learn and practice steps to develop a healthy memory. Career Development: Dynamics and Application (STSU 120) covers how to choose, plan, establish, or change career fields. Principles of Academic Success (STSU 122) helps students who have a history of academic and personal issues develop behavioral strategies to improve overall success. Introduction to Student Leadership (STSU 200) is an experiential course that provides an overview of leadership fundamentals and theory with an emphasis on peer leadership. Happiness and Wellbeing (STSU 124) will offer students practical and researched strategies and activities for tapping into and nurturing their own happiness and wellbeing.

Resources for Students with Disabilities

Montgomery College is committed to creating learning environments that are accessible and inclusive for all students, including those with disabilities. The Disability Support Services (DSS) leads the effort to promote full participation and equal access to educational opportunities, programs, and campus activities. DSS provides accommodations and support services for students with disabilities and educates the larger College community on disability-related issues. DSS counselors advise students and provide academic, career, and short-term personal counseling.

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and may include extended time on tests, note-taking assistance, sign language interpreting services, and alternative formats for printed materials. New students complete an online intake form, meet with a designated DSS counselor for an initial intake, and submit documentation to determine accommodations and services. New and returning students requesting support services and/or accommodations need to submit a Request for Services Form to a DSS counselor at the campus they plan to attend at least two weeks before the beginning of each semester to ensure timely services.

Campus Stores and Resources

The Follett Higher Education Group operates Montgomery College Campus Stores on all three campuses. These stores offer a variety of resources, including:

Textbooks: New and used textbooks, rentals, and eBooks are available.
Reference Materials: Reference books and study guides.
School Supplies: Art materials, medical and laboratory supplies, and calculators.
College Merchandise: Montgomery College clothing and memorabilia, gifts, health & beauty items, technology and Apple products, and snacks.

Career Exploration with Career Coach

Career Coach is an online search tool that allows students to explore potential careers and job possibilities in Maryland and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Career Coach provides a brief employment analysis of the selected job, including the number of people employed in the area, the estimated number of annual job openings, and a breakdown of worker demographics by age. The job listings and information are specific to Montgomery County and the surrounding localities.

Center for Early Education (CEE) Lab School

The Center for Early Education (CEE) Lab School is a learning community designed to engage and inspire young children aged three to five. It provides innovative play-based classroom experiences to equip young learners in social-emotional development and academic enrichment. The CEE Lab School program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a participant in Maryland Excels, and a member of the International Association of Lab Schools. Enrollment is open for MC students, MC employees, and the community. Childcare tuition scholarships are available for MC students each year.

Student Life and Engagement

The Student Life Office provides a place for students to take advantage of a variety of programs and opportunities to get involved at the College. These opportunities are an integral part of the co-curricular experience and enhance the academic experience at the College. Programs provide students with skills and abilities in such areas as leadership, communication, program planning, budget and financial management, collaboration, social and civic engagement, and multicultural understanding.

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The Office of Student Life offers leadership training to provide students with the necessary skills to participate effectively in clubs and organizations. Students have the opportunity to run for office in student government, participate in the planning and approving of budget expenditures, and can contribute to the development of campus life and culture. Available clubs and organizations vary by campus but generally include cultural, ethnic, religious, political, mentoring, tutorial, recreational, academic, and service clubs; other organizations include the campus newspapers and the campus Student Senates. Students can also form new clubs to add to the rich environment of each campus.

Montgomery College Athletics

Montgomery College Athletics offers intramural sports and 9 intercollegiate varsity teams as a Division I (Men and Women’s Soccer and Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field) and Division II (Baseball, Men and Women’s Basketball, Softball, Women’s Volleyball) member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Region XX, and the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MDJUCO).

Library Resources

The Montgomery College Library provides quality resources and services to support the programs of the College and to meet the learning and information needs of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Library employees are available to assist users with research, technology, and access to the library’s resources. Librarians can help users develop a research topic, find relevant sources, evaluate sources, and cite sources. This support is available via text message, 24/7 online chat, phone, walk-ins at the library service desk, and by appointment, either online or on Zoom.

The library maintains numerous computer workstations for College and community users. In addition, the library offers laptops and tablets for students to check out and use in the library. Students and employees may use the library One Button Studios for easy video creation and Collaborative Workstations for connecting multiple devices to a single screen. The library offers textbooks, e-textbooks, and other course materials required for many MC courses through the course reserves program. The library provides 24/7 access to hundreds of thousands of e-books, e-journals, and streaming media covering all subject areas and over 190 academic databases to assist with coursework, many containing full-text articles.

Support for Military and Veteran Students

Montgomery College is a military- and veteran-friendly institution, recognizing and supporting the contributions that students make as active-duty service members, guardsmen, reservists, veterans, and dependents. Combat2College is a nationally recognized program that offers opportunities and services to veterans and service members attending Montgomery College. The Veterans Affairs/Military Office assists students applying for Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) educational benefits, active-duty members of the military, and military spouses.

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Campus Safety and Security

Montgomery College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment at all times. The Department of Public Safety is responsible for the protection and well-being of the College community, first aid, law enforcement and security functions, emergency assistance, 24-hour escort service (upon request), maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), enforcement of campus parking regulations, and the lost and found service. Officers on each campus are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All visitors and members of the College are expected to take reasonable precautions that include an awareness of their surroundings, the phone number for Public Safety (240-567-3333) for assistance or an escort, and locations in which a visitor may hide or shelter-in-place.

Student Employment Services

Connecting Students and Employers through College Central Network

The Student Employment Services (SES) at Montgomery College plays a vital role in helping students and alumni achieve their career goals. SES serves as a free referral source for jobs, internships, and other opportunities for off-campus employment.

The primary tool used by SES is the College Central Network (CCN), a comprehensive online platform that connects students and alumni with potential employers. CCN provides a range of services, including:

Job Postings: Employers can post job and internship opportunities specifically for Montgomery College students and alumni.
Resume Database: Students and alumni can upload their resumes to be viewed by potential employers.
Career Resources: CCN offers a variety of career-related resources, such as resume-building tools, interview tips, and career advice articles.
Event Calendar: Students can find information about career fairs, workshops, and other events hosted by Montgomery College and local employers.

Navigating the College Central Network: A Step-by-Step Guide

To access and utilize the College Central Network, follow these steps:

Registration: New users can create an account using their MyMC username.
Profile Creation: Complete your profile with relevant information, including your major, skills, and work experience.
Resume Upload: Build a resume using the Resume Builder tool or upload an existing resume.
Job Search: Search for jobs and internships posted exclusively to Montgomery College, or explore the Jobs Central national job board.
Application: Apply directly to jobs and internships through the platform.
Job Search History: Review your job search history to track your progress.

Employer Policies and Guidelines

Montgomery College has established policies to ensure that all job opportunities posted on the College Central Network are legitimate and beneficial for students. These policies include:

Prohibition of Fees: Employers cannot require students to purchase or rent materials, sales kits, or pay fees for training or placement.
No Home-Based Businesses: Employers based in private homes will not be approved.
Accurate Job Announcements: Job announcements must be accurate and not misleading.
Compliance with Labor Laws: Positions must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and minimum wage requirements.
Restrictions on Commission-Based and Multi-Level Marketing Positions: Positions that are solely commission-based or involve multi-level marketing are prohibited.
No Marijuana-Related Positions: Positions related to the cultivation, production, sale, or distribution of marijuana or THC-infused products are prohibited.

FLSA Guidelines for Unpaid Internships

For unpaid internships at for-profit organizations to be compliant with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the following criteria must be met:

The internship is similar to training provided in an educational environment.
The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern.
The intern does not displace regular employees but works under close supervision.
The employer derives no immediate advantage from the intern's activities.
The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.
The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

Disclaimer

The Student Employment Services office at Montgomery College serves as a free referral source for jobs, internships, and other opportunities for off-campus employment. The College makes no representations, recommendations, or guarantees about employers or positions posted on College Central Network or shared via electronic media with students/alumni, nor is the College responsible for the safety, wages, working conditions, or other aspects of off-campus employment. All hiring and compensation for work performed is handled directly between students/alumni and the employer. Students/alumni should take necessary precautions to protect against employment scams/identity theft when reviewing job opportunities, responding to postings, interviewing, and accepting positions. The Student Employment Services office strongly advises students/alumni to not disclose social security numbers, credit card numbers, or bank account numbers to unknown employers.

Additional Resources

College Central Podcast: College Central podcasts provide clear, concise tips and advice for job search and career-related issues.
Résumé Search: Employers can search résumés of Montgomery College students and alumni.
Employer Policies: Employers should review the Employer Policies (PDF) before posting jobs and internships.

Additional Resources and Partnerships

Montgomery College collaborates with various organizations to provide additional resources and opportunities for students:

University of Maryland (UMD): UMD welcomes organizations to engage with their talented students virtually.
Universities at Shady Grove (USG): USG offers nearly 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs from nine Maryland public universities on one convenient campus in Montgomery County, preparing students for careers in high-demand fields.
Maryland Women’s Business Center: The Maryland Women’s Business Center supports women-owned businesses with seminars, workshops, counseling, and access to resources.

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