February 2024
Upcoming Events
MCCC has a number of events coming up; check them all out at the links below.
A Statement from MCCC President Dr. Kojo A. Quartey on Restroom Access at Monroe County Community College
Monroe County Community College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive campus and maintaining a safe working and learning environment. In terms of restroom access, single use/gender-inclusive restrooms are available in numerous facilities across MCCC’s campus, including three in the Campbell Academic Center and two each in Founders Hall, the Life Sciences Building and the Warrick Student Center, and the college is exploring options with respect to converting certain gender-specific restrooms to single use/gender-inclusive in the remaining buildings. Many individuals benefit from the convenience of accessible and single use/gender-inclusive restrooms, such as those with disabilities and companions of a different gender, families with small children, and transgender individuals. The single use/gender-inclusive restrooms are for anyone who prefers to use them, and the college supports the option of individuals to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.
MCCC policies are consistent with state and federal law that transgender discrimination constitutes sex discrimination. MCCC’s Policy on Illegal Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (Policy 1.65) prohibits discrimination based on gender identity/expression.
In addition, the college’s Anti-Bullying Policy (Policy 1.72) protects transgender students/employees from bullying behavior by or against any member of the college community, whether student, employee or guest.
The college affirms that no one shall be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, marital status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, height, weight or veteran status. Any person experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the matter immediately in accordance with the college’s Procedures for Filing a Complaint of Illegal Discrimination or Sexual Harassment. No employee or student will be disciplined for making a good faith complaint regarding illegal discrimination or sexual harassment nor will any retaliation for making a good faith complaint be tolerated.
Individuals with questions, requests or concerns regarding restroom access or complaints of illegal discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the college’s Compliance Officer/Executive Director of Human Resources. The Office of Human Resources is located in the Student Services/Administration Building, phone (734) 384-4245
UT Transfer Specialist to Visit MCCC
Hala Abou-Dahech, senior transfer specialist for the University of Toledo, will visit MCCC on Feb. 26 from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. to meet with students planning on transferring to the University of Toledo. This is a great way to confirm what courses you should take at MCCC before transferring. To schedule an appointment with Hala, please go to https://connect.utoledo.edu/portal/counselor?cmd=Hala_Abou-Dahech and click on February 26 to select your appointment time. All appointments will take place in the Admissions Office located in the Warrick Student Center.
MCCC Offers Circles of Support for Diverse Groups
MCCC offers a Circles of Support program for students in diverse groups that are welcoming, supportive spaces to share experiences and tackle questions among peers. Circles are formed around a common thread, from the unique issues faced by students from different cultures to the concerns of students who are single parents or first-generation college students. These small discussion groups foster honest and open communication, help students broaden their social and professional networks, encourage discussion with fellow students that participants might not otherwise interact with on a regular basis and build connections and collaboration.
Circles of Support Meeting Days, Times and Location
All Circles meet in the Safe Space: A Multicultural Center in the Warrick Student Center (Building S) from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on the following schedule:
• Black Excellence Circle: Meets the first Wednesday of each month
• Latinos United: Meets the second Wednesday of each month
• Single-parent Scholars: Meets the third Wednesday of each month
• First-generation College Student Trailblazers: Meets the fourth Wednesday of each month
For more information, contact Nancy Lucero- Altamirano, assistant director of multicultural and community engagement, at (734) 384-4226 or nlucero@monroeccc.edu.
Need money for the 2024-25 academic year? Make sure to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid and the easy-to-use MCCC Scholarship Application right away!
To fill out the FAFSA, just go to studentaid.gov and click on “2024-25 FAFSA Form” under “FAFSA Form” in the top menu.
For scholarships, the general scholarship application period for 2024-25 is open, and the deadline to apply is March 1, 2024. Apply at monroeccc.edu/scholarships.
Join Us for the Library's Book Club!
The MCCC Book Club is open to all MCCC employees and students. The club was started by the Library Staff in Winter 2023, with a new book being selected to read each semester. This fun, lunchtime club meets twice per semester in the Library, encouraging thoughtful opinions and discussions. The best part of the club has been getting to know people from all across campus through the shared joy of reading.
Titles so far have included "Educated" by Tara Westover, "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig and "The Lost Girls of Paris" by Pam Jenoff. You can learn more about the club’s past and current reads through this Library Guide page.
For the Winter 2024 Semester, the Book Club will be reading not one, but two books -- "The Best Part of Us" by Sally Cole-Misch" and "The Firekeeper’s Daughter" by Angeline Boulley, which is the One Book One Community 2024 title. OBOC is bringing both authors to Monroe in March, and the MCCC Book Club is excited to read along with OBOC!
Students are welcome to join the Book Club, and we would also like to encourage them to consider joining the student-led book club run by the Student Library Advisory Club.
For February, the Library Book Club will be read "The Best Part of Us." Book info can be found 
at: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/53498113. The club will meet on Feb. 7 at 12:30 p.m. in the Library to discuss the book.
MCCC and OBOC will host an author talk with Sally Cole-Misch on March 12 at 6 pm. Please register here for the event with Sally Cole-Misch; those who register can pick up a free copy of the book while supplies last. If you have already received a copy of the book, please make sure to complete the registration form.
In March, the club will read "The Firekeeper’s Daughter":
https://www.monroeccc.edu/one-book-one-community/2024
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52346471
The Library Book Club will be meet on March 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the Library to discuss "The Firekeeper’s Daughter."
MCCC and OBOC will host an author talk with Angeline Boulley on March 19 at 7 p.m. For more information about either club, please stop by the Library or email Elizabeth Hartig (ehartig@monroeccc.edu) or Kayla Richards (krichards@monroeccc.edu).
Student Club: MCCC Christ-centered Community
Did you know the MCCC has a student club called the MCCC Christ-centered Community? It's mission is:
To create a loving, Christ-centered community that is active on the college campus.
To create an atmosphere where the message of Jesus can be shared at the college with gentleness and respect.
To celebrate, study and explore the biblical scriptures and apply them to our lives.
To be transformed to look, act and speak more like Jesus through events, Bible studies and acts of service to others on the college campus, to the greater Monroe community and beyond.
On Thursday, Feb. 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center Atrium, MCCC's Christ-centered community will host:
CONQUERING SHAME, SEEING YOURSELF
Have you ever felt like you were not enough? The power of shame destroys lives and relationships, and indiscriminately haunts us regardless of age, race, gender-identity, or religious belief. MC6 will define shame, and show how to despise it, and how to defeat it daily -- through teaching, stories, small groups and songs. All are welcome.
For more information on upcoming meetings or to in join, contact Tim Curry, advisor, at tscurry@monroeccc.edu.
Calling All Readers: One Book, One Community is Coming Soon!
One Book, One Community of Monroe County’s month of programs begins just after MCCC's Spring Break. This year’s book is "The Firekeeper’s Daughter" by Angeline Bouley.
An calendar of events can be found on the OBOC events page, and events continue to be added: https://www.monroeccc.edu/one-book-one-community/2024.
MCCC will be hosting the author, Angeline Boulley, at the college on March 19. She will speak at 7 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater, and a book signing will follow.
Another planned key event is the annual OBOC Kickoff on March 12 at 6 p.m., which will feature another author -- Sally Cole-Misch, author of "The Best Part of Us" -- who began writing fiction after a full career in environmental communication. The event, which is sponsored by the Library of the Great Lakes, will be held at the MCCC Library. You can already register for this event and reserve a copy of the book here:
Other highlights of March’s calendar will include a film screening of "Warrior Lawyers: Defenders of Sacred Justice" with the director, book club meetings on and off campus, professor topics talks on criminal justice and archeology, a genealogy workshop, and the Writing Fellows’ annual book chat. All events are free and open to the public, so bring your friends or family members with you!
Contact Liz Hartig or Michele Toll for more information:
Tae Kwon Do and Women’s Self- Defense Offered
Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art that translates into "the way of kicking and punching" with proper attitude and concentration. Individuals practice tae kwon do to learn mind and body control through unarmed self-defense techniques, discipline and concentration. Classes are taught by Instructor Master Mark Bergmooser, a certified 5th-degree black belt and Instructor Frank Stasa. They are open to those age 10 and older. The cost is $60 per section. Private lessons are available for $30 each. Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 11 - Feb. 1; Feb. 8 - 29; March 12 - April 4, and April 9 - 30.
MCCC is also offering a one-night Women's Self Defense Seminar, also taught by Bergmooser, on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Welch Health Education Building.
The class will cover simple self-defense strategies designed to help women protect themselves from potential attack, including how to recognize threatening situations, methods of responding to threatening situations and how to mentally and emotionally gather the confidence needed to survive an attack.
The cost is $29 per person with a senior fee of $14.50. Visit monroeccc.augusoft.net and enter "self defense" in the search bar to register, or contact the MCCC Office of Lifelong Learning at (734) 384-4127 for more information.
MCCC Support Staff Union Hosts Pet Supply Drive
In November the MCCC Support Staff Union hosted a Pet Supplies drive to benefit the Humane Society of Monroe County. Thanks to generous donations the union was able to contribute everything in the photo below and more. The MC3SSU thanks the MCCC community for its support and looks forward to more events to support others in the future.
Submit to MCCC Happenings
The "MCCC Happenings" newsletter was created in response to student requests to minimize the number of emails sent to students. The intent of the newsletter is to provide students a simple place to learn about important information they need and events on campus. Ensure articles are written in third person as much as possible and are edited. Send articles to jhollis@monroeccc.edu in Microsoft Word by the appropriate deadlines for the Winter Semester editions. An "Upcoming Events" section is included at the beginning of every "MCCC Happenings" newsletter. This section links to upcoming events that appear in the online calendar of MCCC's website. Event notices may be submitted at any time to bwaldvogel@monroeccc.edu for inclusion on the website. Events must have a date, time, location and a description.
The Office of the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success has sole discretion regarding what is published in MCCC Happenings.
The Office of Marketing and Communications edits and designs MCCC Happenings. Please contact Joe Verkennes, director of marketing and communications, with any questions at jverkennes@monroeccc.edu.
Remaining Winter Semester Publication Dates:
March 11, 2024 (Submission deadline: Feb. 26, 2024)
April 1, 2024 (Submission deadline: March 18, 2024)