Donors Recognized For Generosity And Impact On MCCC Students‏

PHOTO: A new plaque outside of the Presidential Reading Room in the Brendlinger Library at Montgomery County Community College’s Central Campus recognizes Richard Montalbano and Deborah Cross for their contributions to the Foundation’s Futures Rising campaign. Photo by Sandi Yanisko

Blue Bell, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) celebrated the naming of its Presidential Reading Room on June 13 in Blue Bell, thanks to the generosity of Richard Montalbano and Deborah Cross, of Dresher. Their generous pledge to the Student Success Endowed Scholarship as part of the MCCC Foundation’s Futures Rising campaign was commemorated with a plaque.

“The College wholeheartedly thanks Rich and Deb for their generous contribution to the Futures Rising campaign and for their commitment to the success of our students,” shared MCCC President Dr. Kevin Pollock. “For many of our students, a Foundation scholarship is the reason they are able to stay in school and complete their education. By supporting scholarships, Rich and Deb are making a significant and positive impact on the lives of our students.”

Montalbano is a member of MCCC’s Board of Trustees, for which he chairs the Personnel Committee. He also chaired the College’s recent Presidential search.

“I have been involved with MCCC for about a dozen years now, and I am captivated by the unique needs of the student body and the non-traditional students we serve,” said Montalbano. “We are thrilled to provide resources for the students of MCCC to bootstrap themselves into a better future.”

Montalbano has been a hospital administrator for over 40 years, most recently serving as the vice president and project executive for Einstein Healthcare Network. In that capacity, he was part of the leadership team that helped build the new Einstein greenfield hospital and campus in East Norriton.

Cross is an Adult Certified Nurse Practitioner who currently works for Abington Medical Plaza. She previously taught at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing for 17 years.

Montalbano and Cross have been involved in multiple charitable endeavors, including Impact 100, Habitat for Humanity and healthcare mission trips to Haiti.

Futures Rising, the MCCC Foundation’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, exceeded its $9 million goal to raise a total of $10,526,000 over two years. In addition to establishing 82 new student scholarships, the campaign provided support for key student success initiatives and arts programming, among other areas of need.

To learn more giving opportunities at MCCC, visit http://www.mc3.edu/giving.

MCCC Celebrates Student Success At 2016 Commencement Ceremony

PROCESSION: Associate Professor of Sociology Lee Wood leads to the procession of graduates at Montgomery County Community College’s 49th Commencement ceremony. Photo by John Welsh

Blue Bell, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) celebrated the success of 1,555 graduates during its 2016 Commencement ceremony on May 19 in Blue Bell.

Ranging in age from 18-70, from 11 countries throughout the world, graduating with 1,597 degrees and certificates in more than 30 areas of study—the class of 2016 reflects the diversity of MCCC’s student body.

Among the members of the class of 2016 are 34 military veterans, 17 international students, 32 student athletes, 294 members of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, 30 graduates from MCCC’s Culinary Arts Institute, 62 graduates from the MCCC Municipal Police Academy, and 45 Virtual Campus students who completed their degrees entirely online. In addition, 133 graduates started their education as dual enrollment students from 30 different high schools.

“You are a remarkably diverse, committed group of students. All of you share an unquenchable determination and hunger for learning,” MCCC President Dr. Kevin Pollock told the graduates during his welcome.

Dr. Pollock also shared a statistic of which he is particularly proud.

“This year, our student body, including many graduates here tonight, logged over 20,000 hours of community service, making a difference on our campuses and in the community,” he said. “Don’t ever lose your drive to improve the world. You will make a difference.”

The theme of opening doors and seizing opportunities carried throughout the evening’s speeches.

“Tonight, I will share three important lessons with you: look for opportunity in every situation; don’t give up; and make a difference,” said PECO President and CEO Craig L. Adams, who provided the keynote address. “There is always a way.”

Adams shared his own educational journey, which, like MCCC’s graduates, started at a community college.

“When I was young, I didn’t think I’d have the change to go to college—but there was a way,” he said. “You will encounter many barriers. Don’t let then stop you from doing what you want to do.”

JACQUELINE RAMOS: Jacqueline Ramos, Hatfield, provided the student address at Montgomery County Community College’s 49th Commencement ceremony on May 19, 2016. She graduated with an A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry Arts and a Certificate in Culinary Arts. Photo by John Welsh

A highlight of the evening was the student address, given by 2016 MCCC Culinary Arts Institute graduate Jacqueline Ramos, of Hatfield.

Ramos passionately shared her experiences as a student, drawing laughter when she recalled Lecturer and Chef Julia Quay creating a ServSafe version of Justin Timberlake’s song “Suit and Tie” to teach the students about foodborne illnesses.

“Never did I feel such a part of my school as I do here. Thanks to Montco and the Culinary Arts Institute, I became part of a family,” she said.

Ramos, who graduated with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) in Baking and Pastry Arts and a Certificate in Culinary Arts, also encouraged graduates to be open to new opportunities.

“Regardless of why we enrolled in that first class at Montgomery County Community College, we opened a door! I encourage you to walk through [that door] ready to conquer the world!” she said. “Be open to opportunities and take advantage of them when they come to you. They will open even more doors and new adventures.”

In addition to serving as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Victoria Bastecki-Perez presented several awards for teaching excellence to MCCC faculty based on nominations by their colleagues and students.

The late Dr. Lee Bender, who passed away recently after serving MCCC for 48 years as a Professor of Economics and Dean of Business and Computer Science, was posthumously honored with the Pearlstine Award for Teaching Excellence, presented bi-annually to a full-time faculty member.

“Dr. Bender’s unparalleled 48-year tenure at the College, coupled with his commitment to lifelong learning, academic excellence and student success, were cited as clear reasons for his nomination for this award—or as one nominator called it, ‘the College’s first lifetime achievement award for excellence in teaching and excellence in administration.”

Bender’s wife, Carol Shilling, accepted the award on his behalf.

Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards, sponsored by Barnes & Noble and presented for only the second time, were awarded to Senior Psychology Lecturer Mary Brenna Burch and Senior Biology Lecturer Ricardo Lopez.

Following the conferring of degrees, Dr. Bastecki-Perez ended the evening with words of inspiration to the class of 2016.

“Ghandhi is famously quote as saying, ‘You must be the change you want to see in the world.’ Graduates, each one of you has taken a step toward being that change by investing in your education and in your future. Your vision, hard work, and perseverance will serve as an example for generations to come. I wish each and every one of you a bright future filled with happiness and success. Congratulations to the class of 2016!”

MCCC Ranked Top ‘Tech Savvy’ Community College In Nation‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.—Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is ranked as the top community college in the country for its use of technology according to a recent Digital Community Colleges Survey issued by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education (CDE). The 250 data-point survey analyzes how community colleges use digital technologies to improve services to students, faculty, staff and the community at large.

MCCC, with campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, Pa., has ranked among the survey’s top 10 large community colleges since CDE introduced it 11 years ago. This is the fourth time MCCC has ranked first.

“Earning the top spot in CDE’s annual survey is an impressive honor. Earning it four times in the past 11 years is extraordinary. I am extremely proud of Montgomery County Community College’s faculty and staff for embracing technology and using it in creative ways to build student access and success and to improve student retention and completion,” shared MCCC President Dr. Kevin Pollock.

A key reason for MCCC’s success over the last decade is its holistic approach to using technology.

“IT innovation is no longer about the technology itself. However, when that technology is combined with vision, creativity and leadership, it has the power to revolutionize teaching and learning,” said Dr. Celeste Schwartz, vice president for information technology and research at MCCC.

At MCCC, Schwartz and her team of IT professionals play an integral role in college-wide initiatives and planning.

“It’s important for my team to see the connections between their work and the work of other areas—to understand, for example, how IT can support initiatives in Academic Affairs or Student Affairs,” said Schwartz.

Empowerment is key. MCCC’s IT team works with faculty and staff to help them leverage technology so they can make informed decisions that lead to improved student access and success. The technology can, in turn, empower students to take charge of their education.

Blackboard Analytics

Analytics through MCCC’s learning management system Blackboard provides an excellent opportunity. By using analytics, faculty can follow student behavior trends and can personalize the student learning environment, identify potential learning concerns and adjust the course content flow as needed.

To illustrate, MCCC Political Science Assistant Professor Jodi Empol-Schwartz worked with

Instructional Designer Mary-Kathleen Najarian to redesign course assessment based on student retention throughout the semester.

“Throughout the semester, student retention would fluctuate based on the due date of the assignment. I tried to adjust the dates, introduce rough drafts and instituted a number of failed reforms, but retention and the level of critical thinking did not change,” explained Empol-Schwartz.

She worked with Najarian to change the assignment. Instead of one large research project, she divided it into two parts—one research and one analytics. She also divided her exams into two parts—multiple choice and essay—and gave students an entire class period to complete each.

“After using Blackboard Analytics, student retention not only increased, but the students were actively engaging in critical thinking. The quality of the students’ work increased dramatically,” she said.

MCCC faculty also use predictive analytics to help students stay on the path to success.

“Analytics might not tell you the whole story, but it does give you talking points to start the conversation with a student and provide early intervention if he or she continues on the current path,” said Najarian.

The students, themselves, can also access analytics tools in Blackboard so they can see, in real time, how they are doing compared to their classmates.

“Don’t be left behind by your fear of data. You can use data to lead the pack,” said Empol-Schwartz.

Advising and Student Planning

The College’s redesigned advising process is another example of how MCCC uses technology to improve student success and completion. A grant from the Gates Foundation enabled MCCC to launch an Integrated Planning and Advising Services (IPAS) initiative as part of its Student Success Network.

Phase one of MCCC’s Student Success Network was comprised of three parts: an early alert system that enables faculty and advisors to monitor progress and identify at-risk behaviors; an educational planning tool that allows students to map out their entire degree or certificate program; and a student dashboard system that provides a single source for information about their financial aid, Blackboard engagement, early alert and education planning.

“We have seen a number of positive results. There has been an increase in student persistence as students gain greater access to planning resources and as they receive greater feedback on their progress. We have also seen increases in full- and part-time persistence rates from 2011 through 2015 for all new and returning students,” explained Assistant Professor and Academic Advisor Stefanie Crouse.

Work on phase two is underway and includes building out career exploration and financial planning components of MCCC’s Student Success Network, as well as adding additional analytics.

“This work will complement our ‘Student Success Matters’ resource: an online, open-source, interactive series of free courses we developed to educate students in the areas of financial, civic, and digital literacies,” explained Crouse.

Virtual Campus

Earlier this year, MCCC’s Virtual Campus received its first-ever “Learning! 100” award from Elearning! magazine. The award recognized the comprehensive process through which MCCC faculty design and refresh their online courses.

According to Kelly Trahan, director of MCCC’s Virtual Campus, that process is two-fold. New faculty learn how to teach online and build academic courses by participating in a collaborative course of their own—e-Learning 101 (EL 101), facilitated by an instructional designer. Meanwhile, existing online faculty engage in a “refresh” process any time curricular modifications are made.

“Our faculty are dedicated to creating a high-quality learning experience for students, regardless of location,” shared Trahan. “We also have a very strong information technology team that supports faculty and students and is always looking for the best products and tech to improve students’ experiences.”

MCCC’s Virtual Campus also offers support services to online students. Examples include online advising, access to live tutors, support discussion boards and online readiness resources.

“We have a tutorial that teaches students how to navigate Blackboard, time management and technical literacy. It’s free once they register for an online course,” said Trahan.

About the Center for Digital Education

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute specializing in K-12 and higher education technology trends, policy, and funding. CDE provides education and industry leaders with decision support and actionable insight to help effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.

CDE is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education. To learn more, visit centerdigitaled.com.

Dr. Kevin Pollock Named Next President Of Montgomery County Community College

PHOTO: Dr. Kevin Pollock has been selected as Montgomery County Community College’s fifth president. He will begin his tenure on April 1, 2016.

Blue Bell, PA —After an extensive, eight-month national search, Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin Pollock has been selected to serve as the institution’s fifth president. He will begin his tenure at MCCC on April 1, 2016.

Pollock, currently of Port Huron, Mich., has served as president of St. Clair County Community College (SC4) since April 2009. He has more than 30 years of education experience in diverse roles that include college administration, strategic planning, leadership and teaching.

“Dr. Pollock’s breadth of experience in higher education will be a tremendous asset to Montgomery County Community College as we build on our outstanding reputation as a premiere community college in the nation,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Michael J. D’Aniello.

That reputation was built, in large part, by the leadership of Dr. Karen A. Stout, who assumed the role of president and CEO of Achieving the Dream, Inc. on July 1, 2015 after serving as MCCC president for more than 14 years.

“It is an honor to have been selected as the next president at Montgomery County Community College.  It is my sincere hope that we can work together to build upon the foundation set by the faculty, staff, and Dr. Stout and advance the college even more so in the future to the benefit of the students and the community,” said Pollock.

During Pollock’s seven-year tenure as president at SC4, the institution experienced record enrollment, embarked on new student success initiatives, increased its grant funding, became a leader in green initiatives, and strengthened its connections with the community. The institution also adopted a new vision, mission and strategic plan that is tied to national best practices and is based on data.

In addition to his presidential responsibilities, Pollock is a frequent national speaker on topics that include student success, leadership, strategic planning and college transformation, and he has authored 18 book chapters and articles. Pollock holds a Ph.D. in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in Education and Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University.

Dr. Pollock will begin his tenure at MCCC on April 1, 2016. Dr. James J. Linksz will continue to serve in the capacity of interim president until Dr. Pollock begins his tenure.