Students: Tobacco products not allowed on MCC properties

Only 5 Days left to enroll - giddy up!

Students can still register for classes for the Fall semester! Register online through Wednesday, Aug. 24 or on any campus through Aug. 26.

Call Center Gets Name, Launch Date

Plans for a centralized call center at MCC have been under development since November 2010, and the center now has an official name and opening date.

The MCC Information Center, which will be housed on the Penn Valley campus, is scheduled to open in February 2012.

Described as a telephonic drive-through window of sorts, the Information Center is designed to provide quick, concise answers to student inquiries about everything from financial aid to advising to continuing education.

Members of the Information Center planning committee visited each campus in May to provide project updates and answer questions. Additional info sessions will be conducted in the fall; watch The MCC Insider for dates.

See below for the introductory PowerPoint presentation, which includes details about the primary student services that will be supported by the Information Center, how it will be staffed and other important information.

If you have questions, please contact your campus planning committee representative:
• MCC-Penn Valley: Mindy Johnson
• MCC-Maple Woods: Dusty Mills
• MCC-Business and Technology: Chris VanDell
• MCC-Blue River: Bob Florence
• MCC-Longview: Francine Roberts

Information Center Introduction

MCC Foundation Gives Surprise Gift to Students in Need

A generous donation from the MCC Foundation is sure to bring smiles to the faces of some very deserving students this fall.

The foundation’s board of directors approved a measure last week that would provide $500 scholarships to a group of almost 200 high-achieving students who are struggling to pay their college costs. Foundation board president, Anita Maltbia, presented a $100,000 check to MCC officials and student ambassadors during the college’s board of trustees meeting on Thursday.

MCC Foundation Board President Anita Maltbia, second from right, presented a check for $100,000 made out to "Metropolitan Community College Students" at the MCC board of trustees meeting on June 16. Pictured with Maltbia are (left to right) Mark James, MCC chancellor; Duc Nguyen, student leader at MCC-Penn Valley and MCC-Maple Woods; Mehrnaz Shahlari, student ambassador at MCC-Penn Valley; Maira Cuevas, student leader at MCC-Blue River and MCC-Maple Woods and student advisor for the MCC Foundation; and David Disney, president of the MCC board of trustees.   

Financial-need parameters have been established for the scholarships but specific students have not yet been selected to receive the awards, said Cindy Butler, MCC's district director of financial aid. The students, who will be identified by the financial aid office, will have completed at least half of the coursework for an associate's degree and be in good academic standing with the college.

“These are bright students who are poised to do well in school and in their careers,” said Maltbia, who is also director of the

Enroll Today – Pay Today begins April 11

Students
When students enroll for summer or fall classes beginning April 11, 2011, they will have to do one of three things:
1) Pay their tuition in full
2) Sign up for the MCC Payment Plan (a $35 non-refundable fee)
3) Have completed their financial aid process resulting in aid being applied to their account. (Special circumstances may apply to students in the A+ program, veterans, and those using third party payment methods.)

Benefit Eligible Employees
When employees enroll for summer or fall classes beginning April 11, 2011, they must complete their tuition waiver paperwork and submit within 7 days after enrolling for classes.

If an employee has not completed Prepare to Enroll prior to enrolling for classes, the system will automatically kick you to that page. Verify/complete this information before moving on to the enrollment process.

Once Prepare to Enroll is completed, select ‘Term’, select your classes, select ‘Enroll and Proceed to Pay’, select ‘Proceed to Pay’.

Employees will then select payment option 3: Pay by MCC Fee Waiver (Employee or Dependent).

Enter in the requested employee information and submit your completed and signed fee waiver to appropriate business office.

Classrooms without walls - Service learning creates opportunities

Kelsie Woodward was looking for some additional credits when an advisor suggested she try an English class with a service learning component. The freshman from Blue Springs had no idea what service learning was about - classrooms without borders.


Woodward’s group worked with Harvesters, Metro Lutheran Ministry and Kansas City Rescue Mission. The group raised funds, served at fundraisers and interacted with homeless people.

"It was a real eye-opener, talking with those who before were just faceless people who crossed your path," said Woodward. "I learned about myself in many ways and drew upon the values I was raised with. Optimism, caring and willingness to help. As Ghandi said, 'You must be the change you want to see in the world.'"

Service learning allows student to earn credit outside the walls of the classroom. With service-learning courses, students make learning an adventure, experience the real world, serve their community, help others and get credit. Check out the Service Learning facebook page to see students interact with their community.

To see what classes are available, click here.

Change in the enrollment process

MCC has made changes in the steps students take to enroll. Check out all the information here.

MCC-Maple Woods finds innovative ways to reach out to current, prospective students

The days of singular college fairs, large campus tours and broad discussions with admissions reps are quickly becoming outdated ways of keeping in touch with prospective students. A campaign of constant contact, guiding prospective students as they begin to prepare for college until the time they graduate or transfer is part of MCC-Maple Woods’ new campaign to reach out to students in more innovative and interactive ways.

Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have become the “hangout” for everyone aged 13 and up – students can get news and updates about everything. And we do mean everything. MCC-Maple Woods has stepped up its Facebook presence over the last year, filling Current Students and Prospective Students pages with information about campus activities, high school visits, testing dates,

Students - new payment options when you enroll

When you enroll at MCC, you must choose one of three payment options:

• apply financial aid that's been awarded
• sign up for the MCC payment plan
• pay in full.

If you don't, you'll be dropped from class.
Watch the video for more information.

Scholarship and Financial Aid deadlines are almost here!

April 1, 2011, is MCC's and Missouri's deadline for financial aid and scholarships. Students: fill out your FAFSA and apply! Faculty and Staff: encourage your students to get to the Financial Aid office!

MCC-Maple Woods' Financial Aid office is dedicating every Friday in March to helping students fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is mandatory for all students who wish to receive any kind of financial assistance for upcoming semesters. FAFSA Fridays are held on a first come-first served basis and the are FREE!

MCC-Maple Woods hosting A+ transition workshop - free college money!

Who doesn't like free money? If you are or know a student who is eligible to use A+ funding for college tuition, send them our way! The MCC-Maple Woods Admissions & Records department will be hosting a A+ Transition workshop from 6-8 p.m. March 22 in the Campus Center Arbor Room. This is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to learn about financial aid at MCC or other area two-year colleges.

FAFSA Fridays - Financial Aid forms made easy!

The MCC-Maple Woods Financial Aid office will be hosting FAFSA Fridays from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. every Friday in March. That means students can walk in and get help with the federal financial aid paperwork required for scholarships, grants and student loans.

Take advantage of the free help! Students, please bring the following things with you to expedite the process:

• Social Security Number and date of birth for your parents, if you are listed as a dependent
• Your driver's license number
• Your Alien Registration Card if you are not a US citizen
• 2010 federal income tax returns and W-2 forms for yourself, for your spouse if you are married and for your parents if you are a dependent
• Month and year your parents were married, separated, divorced or widowed
• Statement of any additional benefits received

For more information, call the financial aid office at 816.604.3066. First come - first served!

Prospective students 'Explore the Woods' at Spring Visit Day

MCC-Maple Woods once again hosted Spring Visit Day for prospective students and their parents - participants had the opportunity to tour the campus, eat in the cafeteria, sit in on a class, learn about financial aid and get a taste of college life from Dean of Student Development Shelli Allen.

Getting to know faculty and feeling comfortable with instructors is a big part of being successful in a college environment, so the MCC-Maple Woods Admissions & Records department would love to thank the faculty members who took time out to welcome potential students:

Kim Luken
Crystal Johnson
Sharon Brashears
Michele Allred
Jim Murray
Jim Moes
Ayanna Bridges
Perri Lampe
Diane Sager
John Stockmyer
Bob Packett
Julie Bishop
Lynnette Jachowicz
David Sharp
Kim Sides-Steiger

Want some info on the Woods? Come to Spring Visit Day!

Whether you want info on financial aid, career programs or even the MCC-Maple Woods student experience, you can find out everything there is to know about the Woods at the annual Spring Visit Day! HS juniors, seniors and other interested prospective students can attend the information session for free, from 8:30 a.m. - noon Feb. 21. Please sign up here or call 816.604.3263 to RSVP.

Transfer Week @ MCC-Maple Woods - What you need to know

It's Transfer Week at MCC-Maple Woods - do you know what to do?

A variety of events are planned for the week of Feb. 7-11 designed to help students get through the transfer process, if they're ready, or begin the process if they still have a semester or more to go.

A transfer workshop hosted in the Campus Life and Leadership office addressed student questions: counselor Terrell Tigner and graduation advisor Denise Westrem were on hand to tell students how to begin the transition to a four-year institution.

A Transfer Fair with representatives from several area colleges and universities is scheduled from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Feb. 10 to assist current students looking for the next step in their education, while and A+ Transition Workshop will take place Feb. 8 from 6-8 to help prospective students learn about their A+ benefits and how to apply them to MCC-Maple Woods or any other two-year school.

Although not officially a part of Transfer Week, financial aid is always a major concern, so MCC-Maple Woods will host a FAFSA Frenzy workshop from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Campus Center.