MCCC Invites All to Open House/Report to the Community Nov. 15

Mercer County Community College’s Board of Trustees invites the community to its annual Open House and Report to the Community, set for Thursday, Nov. 15 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Conference Center on the West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.  Attendees will learn about the college’s credit and noncredit programs in a festive setting that will include interactive displays, entertainment and refreshments.  The college will honor three community leaders for their support of education and community at a presentation starting at 5:30 p.m.

Prospective students of all ages, parents, alumni, community partners, teachers, guidance counselors, government representatives, and all who are interested in educational opportunities are invited.  The festivities will include refreshments prepared by culinary students, entertainment by the college jazz band, and numerous interactive displays including Nursing students conducting blood pressure screenings. The event will also offer academic counseling and on-site registration for the coming Winter Session, both online and on campus, that starts in December and the Spring semester starting January 22.

Visitors will learn about Mercer’s 70 associate degree programs designed for transfer or career preparation, including the new Fashion/Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising programs offered at the Trenton campus, the Sustainability program, and the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.  Other popular majors include Funeral Services, Horticulture, Radio and Television, Criminal Justice, Solar Energy Technology, Education, Liberal Arts, and an array of programs in the health professions, culinary, and information technology.  In addition to many individual courses, three Mercer degrees are now available fully online: Liberal Arts, Criminal Justice (Corrections) and Business Studies.

Future students will also learn about the University Center at Mercer, which enables associate degree graduates to earn bachelor’s degree on campus, as well as dual admission and transfer opportunities, the Honors Program, NJ STARS scholarships, financial aid and career services. 

Numerous noncredit courses and programs will also be featured, including those offered by the Center for Continuing Studies, the Center for Training and Development, and the Career Training Institute. Families can also learn about MCCC’s summer day camps for children and teens.

MCCC’s Trustees instituted the Open House as a way to make the college’s services, successes and accomplishments better known, and to recognize community partners with special awards.  Beginning at 5:30 p.m. the trustees will present the 2012 awards.

Receiving the Alumni Leader Award will be Ayo Johnson, executive director at Westminster Community Life Center in Trenton. She is being recognized for her outstanding contributions as an early childhood educator and administrator.

Receiving the Partner in Learning Award will be the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) Office of Education, whose mission includes the reduction of recidivism among incarcerated youth. The commission began partnering with MCCC three years ago to provide training and education to a small group of juveniles in a Medical Billing and Coding certificate program. Since then, the program has grown to a statewide career preparation in EKG, ServSafe, OSHA 10 Safety Training with Carpentry Pre-Apprenticeship Training, Game Design, and other courses. The emphasis this year is to increase overall test scores, high school graduation rates, and pre-college courses.

The Distinguished Corporate Partner Award will be presented to the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) – Mercer Chapter. A long-standing client of the MCCC Conference Center dating back to 2004, the organization hosts its annual tax seminar there along with many other meetings throughout the year.  The NJSCPA has also been a generous donor to the college’s accounting students, this year awarding scholarships to five continuing students.

The Open House and Report to the Community coincides with the publication of MCCC's 2011-12 Annual Report and Foundation Annual Report, which detail the successes of the year.

The MCCC Conference Center is located on the West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.  Pre-registration is requested but not required.  To register online, visit www.mccc.edu/nov15.  For more information or to register by phone, call 609-570-3613.