Student Support Services

Academic Advisement

Academic advisors are generally the first point of contact for a new student. Advisors also assist students with identifying and developing an educational plan to support their academic, career, and personal life goals. They help connect students to valuable resources and information about MCC's programs, services, policies, and procedures and work collaboratively with students, program faculty members, and other College officials.

Academic Counseling

Academic counselors assist students who need to strengthen their basic skills in reading, writing, and/or math and students who are English language learners. Academic counselors are available at the Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha and South Omaha campuses and the Sarpy Center. Academic counselors and faculty teaching basic skills courses establish partnerships to help students succeed. Academic counselors provide intervention or professional community referrals to students experiencing personal problems and/or crisis situations. All MCC students are encouraged to contact an academic counselor for assistance with various needs including academic advising, career counseling, study skills, and general resource information.

Assessment Services

A basic skills assessment test is available at each MCC Testing Services location. Students participate in basic skills assessments in reading, writing, English, science, and mathematics. Academic Resource Centers (ARCs), Math Centers, and Writing Centers provide assistance and preparation for placement tests. Assessment results are needed for new students so that they can be placed in courses properly. An assessment test is needed prior to registering for classes.

Career Services

A wide range of career, employment, and support services are available at the Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha and South Omaha campuses through Career Services. These friendly, individually tailored services provide assistance to students in making career decisions, obtaining employment information, and understanding the skills needed to retain employment.

Career Services provides no-cost services to MCC students seeking help with development needs. Services offered include career-based presentations; online assessment tools that suggest career options based on interests, skills, and values; career exploration; résumé tools and resources; job search resources; and career counseling.

Career Connection

Career Connection is an online center allowing MCC students and alumni to connect with local, regional, and national job opportunities and providing employers with a user-friendly means to connect with MCC students. Visit www.mccneb.edu/careercenter/careerconnection.asp.

The center provides:

• Electronic job management with online profiles, résumés, and resources
• A database of employers interested in hiring MCC students and alums
• Listings of internship hosts and volunteer opportunities

Disability Support Services

MCC is committed to providing appropriate services and accommodations for any student with a documented disability through Disability Support Services (DSS). To be eligible for services, students must identify themselves to DSS and provide documentation of their disability. Once appropriate documentation is received, DSS will determine the appropriate accommodations for the student. These accommodations may not always be the same as the student received in high school or at another college or university. DSS counselors are available to assist students with disabilities on an appointment-based system. Appointments may be made by contacting any Student Services office.

TRIO

The TRIO Student Support Services program furthers the MCC mission of educational excellence and equal access by providing first-generation college students with limited income and/or disabilities and homeless students a multiplicity of academic and personal support services: study skills development to achieve academic success, tutoring and supplemental instruction to master course content, and intensive academic and personal advisement to build confidence and promote student success. TRIO also provides mentors and a summer bridge program to first-year students, financial literacy education, and scholarship and grant opportunities. These interconnected services increase persistence and encouragement for a seamless transition. The TRIO Student Support Services program also includes the Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker program serving single or pregnant parents as they strive to meet their educational goals. Students must apply for program services; space is limited.

Single Parent Displaced Homemaker Program
Single Parent/Homemaker Services (SPHS) provides a wide range of workshops and personal assistance to single parents, single pregnant women, and displaced homemakers. Referral to other College offices and relevant outside community agencies is also available. SPHS staff assist students at the Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha and South Omaha campuses.

Academic Resource Centers

The College's Academic Resource Centers provide resources, technologies, and services to support the learning needs of students in various areas of the College's curriculum. Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment, microcomputers, and specialized software. The Academic Resource Centers are located at the Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha and South Omaha campuses and the Fremont Area and Sarpy centers. Services are provided free to currently enrolled students.

Math Centers

Math Centers are located at all locations and provide drop-in assistance to students with homework and test preparation for all MCC math courses. Assistance is available for COMPASS Test review, math topics in other courses, and general math review. Textbooks, solution manuals, computer tutorial software, videos, and group study are also available.

Writing Centers

Writing Centers, staffed by experienced English teachers and writing consultants, provide professional assistance, writing workshops, Teacher Talk sessions, and assignment design feedback to help students and faculty with written communication across academic disciplines and beyond. Simply stated, it is a place where writers invite other writers to dialogue about writing. Writing Centers are available at all College locations. For more information, visit www.mccneb.edu/writingcenter.

Tutoring

Tutoring is available to students enrolled in credit courses for select subjects. A student experiencing academic difficulty may request assistance through Tutor Services located in the Academic Resource Centers. Other eligibility requirements may apply. For more information, contact Tutor Services at (402) 457-2677 or visit www.mccneb.edu/tutorservices.

Learning Communities

Learning communities comprise a cohort — a group of students who share interests and take classes together. The goal of these communities is to provide student and course connections that make classes and learning more interesting and students more successful. Benefits include:

• learning in a cooperative environment
• integrated curriculum
• individual advising/counseling
• direct contact with quality instructors
• making new friends
• small class sizes
• a better chance for academic success, increasing the likelihood of staying in college

Current learning community opportunities include:

AIM for Success

AIM (Academic Improvement) for Success is a learning community program designed for students who need to develop their reading and writing skills to achieve proficiency at the college level. AIM is offered in a block schedule and requires students to enroll in reading and writing courses for completion of 10.5 credits during the one-quarter program.

For more information about the AIM program, visit www.mccneb.edu/learningcommunities/aimforsuccess.asp. To register, students should contact Student Services.

Passport Program

The Passport program is a learning community for students interested in starting their degrees at MCC and then transferring to a four-year institution. The learning communities consist of groups of up to 25 students who complete their first academic year of college together. Students attend full-time during the day, taking three courses each quarter, completing a total of 40.5 quarter credits (27.0 semester) that will transfer to a four-year institution.

An academic advisor is assigned to the Passport group to help ensure student success. For more information, visit www.mccneb.edu/passport.

Paired Learning

Paired learning courses emphasize the relationship between two subject areas by providing students with the opportunity to learn about common topics from different points of reference. Instructors organize curriculum around projects and problem-based instruction.

TE@M

The Teacher Education @ Metro (TE@M) learning community gives students the opportunity to explore teaching as a profession. Through a partnership with the University of Nebraska–Omaha, MCC offers three transferable professional core requirement education courses. These courses, completed over two or three quarters, start students toward their Bachelor's Degree in Education and provide an economical way to determine if teaching is the career path for them. Additional information and the TE@M application can be found at www.mccneb.edu/team.

Campus Services

Bookstores

The College contracts with Follett Higher Education Group to manage and operate the bookstores. The bookstores located at the Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha, and South Omaha campuses and the Sarpy Center are open throughout the quarter. Hours, which vary during peak times, are prominently posted at each store or online at www.mccneb.edu/bookstore.asp.

The Fremont Area Center has temporary bookstore services available on site at the start of each quarter. Off-campus course and online textbooks must be purchased at the South Omaha Campus.

The Washington County Technology Center does not have bookstore services. For INCT courses, textbooks must be purchased at the South Omaha Campus. All other textbooks can be purchased at the Fort Omaha Campus.

The Applied Technology Center also has a temporary bookstore available on site at the start of each quarter. Questions regarding the ATC Bookstore can be directed to the Fort Omaha Campus Bookstore.

For further information, contact any bookstore:

• Elkhorn Valley Campus, (402) 289-1208
• Fort Omaha Campus, Bldg. 10, (402) 457-2308
• Sarpy Center, (402) 537-3850
• South Omaha Campus, Connector, (402) 738-4508

Campus Dining

Campus dining is available, while classes are in session, at the Fort Omaha Campus (Bldg. 10), the Elkhorn Valley Campus, and the Sarpy Center. The South Omaha Campus offers daily vendors for peak-time dining options. Hours of operation and variety of beverages, snacks, sandwiches, and hot items may vary by location.

The Sage Student Bistro is located at the Fort Omaha Campus in the Institute for the Culinary Arts (Bldg. 22) and offers a teaching and learning experience for Culinary Arts students. Eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Monday–Thursday when classes are in session. For more information, visit www.mccneb.edu/bistro.

Libraries

The MCC libraries provide research materials and instruction in support of the College's curriculum. Staff members are available to assist students with their research assignments and other reference questions. Libraries are located at the Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha, and South Omaha campuses. Current students, faculty, and staff are also welcome to use the City of La Vista Public Library at the Sarpy Center.

Each campus library houses a collection of print and audiovisual materials including books, journals, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, videos, CD-ROMs, and audiobooks. The library's website includes links to more than 50 databases providing access to online books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and reference sources. Off-campus access to the databases is available for current students, faculty, and staff.

Other resources available to students include:

• Library orientations/instruction
• Computers equipped with Internet access as well as Microsoft Office products (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)
• Interlibrary loan to obtain materials not available through MCC's libraries
• Photocopiers and microform reader/printers
• Reciprocal borrowing agreements with the Omaha Public Libraries, the City of La Vista Public Library, and other college libraries in Nebraska

In addition to serving MCC's students, faculty, and staff, the three campus libraries also provide library service to the residents of the College's four-county service area (Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties).

For more information about library resources and services including hours, locations, phone numbers, and policies, visit the library's website at www.mccneb.edu/library or contact a campus library:

• Elkhorn Valley Campus, (402) 289-1206
• Fort Omaha Campus, (402) 457-2306
• South Omaha Campus, (402) 738-4506

Public Safety/Police Department

The primary objective of the Public Safety/Police Department is to provide a safe environment that enhances the learning environment and the College's educational mission. The department is responsible for providing security, responding to emergencies and traffic accidents, enforcement of state and local laws, enforcement of campus rules and regulations, and various other services.

Some of these services include:

• Patrolling and providing police and security services and assistance on MCC property
• Assisting students, staff, and the general public with information and directions
• Assisting students and staff with automotive problems such as jumpstarting and opening vehicles when keys are locked inside
• Providing escorts for staff, students, and visitors as requested

To reach Public Safety, call (402) 457-2222.

Annual Security Report

The Public Safety/Police Department prepares the Annual Security Report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Act. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by MCC, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from MCC campus locations. The report also includes policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning reporting sexual assault and other matters. The full text of the report is online at www.mccneb.edu/police/pdf/ASFR2011.pdf.

Distribution Of Literature

Student groups, staff members, or organizations may not distribute written material on campus or on vehicles without prior approval of the campus dean/executive director.

Specialized Technology Areas

To enhance the student learning experience, MCC provides state-of-the-art equipment and up-to-date software at numerous locations throughout the College. A dedicated IBM lab is located at the Fort Omaha Campus, and networking labs are located at the Fort Omaha Campus and Sarpy Center. Visual Arts Technology and AutoCAD labs can be found at the Elkhorn Valley and Fort Omaha campuses. Remote access is available to all students learning Information Technology. Examples include Windows, Linux, AIX, security, and database management technologies.

Parking And Traffic

All motor vehicles used by students and staff should be registered with the College. Each campus has parking lots and traffic signs that are prominently displayed. Parking is not reserved and is available on a first-come, firstserved basis. There is no charge for parking permits at the College, but all rules and regulations must be observed. Parking permits are issued through Student Services.

Student Identification Cards

Picture student identification cards are available for all students and can be obtained at Student Services.