Suspended Programs - Updated Guidance

 A currently enrolled student (for the last three years) asked to change their major to a suspended major.

 I have investigated this question and the college’s current interpretation of suspended programs is that only students that were registered in the computer system for a suspended major, at the time the degree or certificate was suspended, may continue on to earn this degree or certificate.

The current catalog language is:

THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUSPENDED EFFECTIVE FALL 2022. NEW STUDENTS MAY NOT BE ADMITTED TO SUSPENDED CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. STUDENTS ADMITTED PRIOR TO FALL 2022 WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GRADUATE WITH THIS CERTIFICATE AFTER SPRING 2025.

The current definition of “new students” is anyone (new to Montgomery College or currently enrolled at Montgomery College) not registered for a major code at the time of suspension.

Students not enrolled in suspended programs at the time the degree or certificate program was suspended, may not change their major to the suspended  degree or certificate.

Anthony Solano, MA, LCPC (pronouns: he, him, his)

 

Terrapin Commitment

 

Dear Maryland community,

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of the Terrapin Commitment, an investment that will provide up to $20 million annually for need-based financial aid for Maryland students. This is the largest single-year investment in need-based scholarships in our university's history.

The Terrapin Commitment is designed to ensure that a University of Maryland education is affordable to all residents of our state.

The program will begin in January 2023 and ensures that tuition and fees are fully covered for Pell eligible, in-state students, who are enrolled full time and have unmet financial need. Together, we aim to dramatically reduce the financial barriers to obtaining a higher education for low-income Marylanders. Specifically, the Terrapin Commitment provides funding to reduce the gap between the cost of a UMD education and families' ability to cover those costs.

The Terrapin Commitment supports a key pillar of our Fearlessly Forward strategic plan—investing in people and communities—by creating equal opportunity for Maryland students to attend a top 20 public institution at their home state's flagship campus. Offering students the support and resources they need to reach their full potential here at UMD is one more way we proudly serve our state.

We hope you will join us in celebrating this new investment, and you will help us spread the word to students and families who want to join our Terrapin family. Share the news of the Terrapin Commitment with friends and neighbors, and find more information, including eligibility details and how to apply.

The Terrapin Commitment will help recruit the best and brightest students, build upon our strong graduation rates, reduce student debt, and provide pathways for promising students within the state of Maryland. We are thrilled to share this news with our community today.

DACA Faces Challenge

The recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is illegal. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, to which the College belongs, is working to push for Congressional action protecting Dreamers and those who may have been unjustly locked out of DACA. The Alliance issued a statement calling on Congress to protect the over 600,000 people currently with DACA status. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provides a frequently asked questions list, containing additional information that can guide anyone who finds themselves with questions about how this ruling may impact their current status and options. 

Montgomery College currently has over 80 DACA students enrolled. Those with DACA status can keep it for the moment, but new applications are not being processed. 

Cybersecurity Transfer Advising Pages & UM Computer-Related Majors

 These two MC Transfer Advising Pages that have been recently updated:

1. Cybersecurity & Related Majors (PDF)  This page shows all MC Transfer Agreements for our Cybersecurity AAS, and it explains the transfer requirements for Cybersecurity-related majors at nearby Maryland, DC, VA and WV four-year institutions.   Alerts students to the fact that many transfer schools offer Cybersecurity as a concentration within a traditional Computer Science major and shows MATH and CMSC course requirements for cybersecurity-related majors..
2. Computer-Related Majors at UM (PDF)    For students interested in transferring specifically to UM College Park as Cybersecurity majors – there is an option besides majoring in Computer Science.  Shows details of the Information Science major and also provides an overview of every UM major related to computing.  For example, did you know that UM has a BA in Technology and Information Design? 

---

Find the most recent versions of these and other transfer advising pages always on the “Transfer Resources for Counselors and Program Advisors” page here:  https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/counseling-and-advising/transferresourcesforcounselors.html

Guidance on Stratford University Closure

From ORR (last updated October 13, 2022)

Stratford University was not regionally accredited, and MC never accepted coursework taken at this institution for transfer credit. At this time, there have been no conversations here at MC regarding accepting credits from Stratford. 

Chamberlain University will accept credits from their Nursing program and the Stratford website states that the University of the Potomac will accept credits for Information Technology, Business, and ESL students.  Anne Arundel CC has a statement that they are accepting Stratford students/credits. 

 _______________

As Stratford University Announces Closure, Questions Left Unanswered - The Washington Informer

As Stratford University Announces Closure, Questions Left Unanswered As of Sept. 27, the University of the Potomac, a District-based for-profit college, and Chamberlain University, a for-profit healthcare college located in Vienna, Virginia, count among the institutions that reportedly have made arrangements with Stratford University to transfer credits. www.washingtoninformer.com

_________________

Anne Arundel Community College put together a really helpful page for students who were effected by Stratford, provided information sessions and created a special email address to funnel questions.  Hopefully, MC will follow suit given the size of our college and community need.

https://www.aacc.edu/stratford/ 

Best,

Erin

Transfer Advising for Nursing Majors

 Hello Everyone,

Following up on Maureen Mirowski’s message yesterday about the MC Nursing Program and the amazing fact that MC now admits 192 students per semester, this is a good time to send out the new attached “MC Paths to Nursing with Transfer Options” document that shows three different ways to become a nurse.

Maureen mentioned the great news that RN’s with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) are in demand, even in hospital settings.  The State of MD previously said that starting in 2020, to work in a Maryland hospital, students would need a BSN; however, the current critical shortage of nurses shows that some hospitals are hiring RN’s with an Associate’s in Nursing with the expectation that they must be actively engaged in working on a BSN within the first 12 months of being hired.  ADN/RN’s continue to find employment in private practices and other medical settings.  BSN’s will typically have more employment opportunities,  may be eligible for more promotions, and over time they generally will earn more money than an ADN/RN – this MC Transfer Nursing Paths document has a link to an article comparing ADN and BSN career information.

The focus of the MC Transfer Paths to Nursing document is TRANSFER - this does not replace information that students need to seek directly from the MC Nursing Department to enter MC Nursing, and the Paths document emphasizes the need for students to attend a Nursing Information Session at both MC and at BSN schools early in their planning to plot out a path.

Other advising points include

·        Estimated time frames to finish programs – this is UNOFFICIAL and every student will be different, but the idea is to show that it can takes two or more semesters to finish prerequisite courses in a sequence BEFORE students can apply to a Nursing Program. 

·       Did you know?  MC has MANY transfer agreements in place for MC Nursing students, not just UMB-School of Nursing – see Page 4.

·       A few RN-to-BSN completion programs do not require CHEM 131 (example, UMGC).

·       This Paths document urges students to start preparing for the TEAS test early – working on Reading Comprehension and Math skills in the first several semesters at MC before later studying science topics.

·       GPA Calculation explained - most BSN Nursing programs calculate an admissions GPA based on all grades including those showing from repeated courses, this is important to note if you see a student who has repeated several courses.  MC Nursing calculates the GPA on the most recent 24 credits earned.  Details in the doc! 

Things may change (feel free to suggest edits), so an updated copy of this MC Transfer Paths to Nursing doc can always be found in the shared One Drive that Julie set up for us.

Directions to get to One Drive for Advising Documents:  [as “Julie’s Warehouse of Important Doc’s!”]

1.    Log into MyMC on the web (not your regular Outlook log-in),

2.    Then click on the E-Mail Icon right next to the Blackboard Icon at the top of the page. 

3.    This brings you to Montgomery College Office Online Page (it has a black banner across the top).

4.    In the top left corner, right next to the MC logo, click on the square of 9 white dots to bring up Apps, then click on One Drive. 

5.    Then click the words “Advising Doc’s”, then click on the word “Transfer” – and click on the word “Nursing”

There is also an updated MC Transfer Advising to UMB School of Nursing Traditional Nursing BSN page available on the MC Transfer Resources for Counselors and Program Advisors Page -  the Traditional Nursing page is for students who plan to apply directly to UMB SON.  The big change on that page is that UMB has two deadlines now in Summer, July 15 Priority and a Sept. 1 Regular deadline for a Spring Admission to UMB Nursing.  It is also linked in the attached Paths to Nursing document.  A quick trip to the UMB School of Nursing page reveals that they are still accepting applications for Spring 2023 despite the Sept. 1 deadline!

Always need to take good care of our future nurses – more than one of us has been cared for by a nurse who was a former MC student!

Anne 

Anne Schleicher, Counselor (Part-time)
Montgomery College Online Advising Services

 

From: Mirowski, Maureen A <maureen.mirowski@montgomerycollege.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2022 3:39 PM
To: Counseling & Advising (CW) Discipline <counselingcw@montgomerycollege0.onmicrosoft.com>
Subject: Nursing

Greetings teammates,

Some good news which began Fall, 2022:  Nursing now accepts 192 students per semester!

384 students each year.

The point system didn’t even come into play with more spots than students.

Amazing!

In addition, students with their RN ( also known as ADN ) will have no trouble getting hired in this current climate.

It won’t last forever, so still advising students also take the recommended BSN transfer courses while at MC, if it works out to do so, less expensive.

As there is a drug/alcohol test 1x per year within all programs ( except Medical Coder/Biller Certificate which is for one year ):

Medical cannabis is not allowed for these programs per the clinical sites.

FYI,

Maureen

 

PTA - BIOL 5 Year Rule

 From: Glenn, Anniet M <anniet.glenn@montgomerycollege.edu>

Sent: Friday, September 16, 2022 5:22 PM
To: Mirowski, Maureen A <maureen.mirowski@montgomerycollege.edu>
Subject: RE: PTA

 

Yes, we can continue the 5 year.

Anniet

From: Mirowski, Maureen A <maureen.mirowski@montgomerycollege.edu>
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2022 3:57 PM
To: Glenn, Anniet M <anniet.glenn@montgomerycollege.edu>
Subject: PTA

 

Hi Anniet,

Nancy Greenawald used to waive the 5 year rule re:  BIOL 212, if students possess a prior degree.

Is this something you want to continue?

Otherwise, they have to take BIOL 228, a 3 credit review of AP, no lab, in lieu of re-taking the course.

Or if they really wanted to, they can re-take the course for 4 credits.

Stay well and sane in my absence,

Maureen

Grade of 'D' & Transfer - Clarification

The answer is – it depends.  To graduate from MC, students must earn a C or higher for the English Foundation (ENGL 102 or 103), but all other grades in any other Gen Ed areas including Math can be a D as long as the overall GPA is a 2.0 or higher as you have noted.  Ditto for electives.

Grades of D in General Education Program courses can transfer and be accepted to fulfill Gen Ed Area requirements at a Maryland State public four-year institutions… as long as the student’s major does not specifically require the course with the grade of D for the major.

For example, if the student is planning to transfer and major in Elementary Education where BIOL 101 is required, the grade must be a C or higher.   But that same D in BIOL 101 can be accepted if the major doesn’t specifically require BIOL 101 as a Lab Science.  If a student has a D in a Gen Ed course but that course is not specifically required for the student’s major, then the D can be accepted in transfer to fill the Gen Ed category.  Not all MD public schools are always aware of this – some may need a gentle reminder.   For example, UMGC says “Transfer credits from approved two- and four-year colleges and universities for courses in which you earned a grade of at least C (2.0) may be accepted for courses that apply to your undergraduate program…”  which implies that all grades of D are just not accepted; but UMGC advisors have informed MC students that if they complete an AA degree prior to transfer, then grades of D in a Gen Ed courses or in electives not specifically required for the major can be accepted.  Advise students who seem to have transferable grades of D based on this information to come back to you if their MD public transfer schools do not accept credits, or refer to a Transfer Resource Counselor on your campus. 

Reference:  The MHEC Student Guide to Transfer, https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/stuguide.aspx#:~:text=Credit%20earned%20in%20or%20transferred,%E2%80%8B Scroll way down to “Commonly Asked Questions” and look for

Q: Will grades of "D" be accepted in transfer?

A: "D" grades will be accepted in transfer if the college to which you are applying also accepts a "D" for native students. A "D" grade earned in a general education course that meets a general education requirement at a sending institution, which has designated that course as meeting a general education requirement, will transfer and meet a general education requirement at the receiving institution.

Rule of thumb, if a course is specifically required for a major, then the grade must be a minimum C or higher for the course to transfer.  Some schools may even have a minimum grade above a C, if so, it will be mentioned in the ARTSYS RTP with the note “minimum grade B” – examples are some of UM’s LEP majors https://lep.umd.edu/  or UMBC’s majors with Gateway Requirements which may specifically require a B or higher for competitive majors.  Not all competitive majors require B’s – so encouraging students to read the fine print themselves is important.

If uncertain, for the student with a D who is interested in UM specifically,  just as you have done, refer the student to UM’s Pretransfer Advising, either with a Starfish referral or direct them to the webpage https://pretransferadvising.umd.edu/ .

And while on the topic of D’s (and let’s throw in F’s, too), this is also a good time to remind students that most professional schools (ex. nursing, dental, medical, law, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician’s assistant, and veterinary schools) will not follow the MC policy of using only the most recent grades and excluding previous lower grades to calculate an overall GPA, so if you notice multiple D’s and F’s with repeats on an MC transcript, it can be a good idea to ask about the student’s intended career goal – while the student may be able to transfer to a university to finish a bachelor’s degree based on the GPA that excludes repeated grades, those repeated grades may come back into play when a professional school reviews their transcripts to determine an overall GPA for admission.

Anne Schleicher, Counselor (Part-time)
Montgomery College Online Advising Services