Student Life NewsBlast

Message from the Provost on the Mask Requirement for Classrooms and Instructional Spaces

A message from Dr. Tony D. Hawkins, FCC Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Continuing Education, and Workforce Development:

As COVID cases start to rise again due in part to the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, we will continue the indoor mask requirement in all Frederick Community College classrooms and instructional spaces through the end of the Spring 2022 semester. BA.2 is now the dominant strain in the United States. While recent studies show that BA.2 does not cause more severe illness than the initial Omicron variant, they also show that BA.2 is even more transmissible.

These circumstances present a challenge, but we have learned to adjust our mitigation measures to respond to changing conditions throughout the pandemic. We strongly recommend wearing a properly-fitting, high-quality mask, which are available for free at the Welcome Center on main campus or the Security Desk at the Monroe Center.

We will continue to monitor College case numbers and positivity rates, COVID-19 community levels, and global developments relating to the pandemic, which will inform our decision of when to no longer require mask wearing in classrooms.

Thank you for your continued support, adaptation and feedback as we try to return to normal.

On-Site Rapid COVID-19 Testing

Frederick Community College will offers on-site rapid COVID-19 testing for students and employees. This testing is available every Wednesday from 8am-9:3o am at FCC main campus and 5-6:30pm at Monroe Center. Testing is by appointment only.  Appointment sign-up links will be distributed via email each Monday. 

Effective March 1, 2022: masks will no longer be required in indoor spaces on the FCC main campus and Monroe Center, with the exception of classrooms, including shared laboratory and other instructional spaces.

Masks should still be worn by individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, who have tested positive for COVID-19, or who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Disposable masks, N95s, and KN95s (when available) are available at the Security Office, located in the lobby of the Student Center.  More information can be viewed here.

Click here for FCC's current COVID-19 guidelines. 

Downtown Frederick Partnership is looking for FCC students to model in their photo shoot on Friday May 13. If you are interested, please contact Christine Van Bloem, Marketing Manager at christine@downtownfrederick.org.

The Learning Centers are staff by a trained team of peer, professional, and faculty learning assistants/tutors. Current positions available are:

The Tutoring & Writing Center is now accepting applications for the following position(s):

https://jobs.frederick.edu/postings/3862

The STEM Learning Center is now accepting applications for the following position(s):

https://jobs.frederick.edu/postings/3930 

Download the Navigate App!

Log in to Navigate to know what’s ahead this semester.

Navigate is a free mobile app designed to help you thrive at FCC. This mobile advisor will remind you of important dates and to-dos, prompt you to register for classes and pay your tuition, connect you to campus resources, and allow you to easily schedule appointments with advisors and support staff.

Learn more

New FEMA Credit Conversion Process

Students are now working with Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management & Public Safety (MACEM&PS) at Frederick Community College directly to convert their FEMA Independent Study courses into academic credit.

Please click here or scan the QR code to get started!

Questions? Contact MACEM&PS at emergmgt@frederick.edu or 301.624.2854

The Fall 2022 Scholarship Application opens on April 1^st – June 30^th. Students will need an FCC student ID number, FCC email address, and password to apply. Complete and submit the General Application. Completing the General Application may qualify students for multiple scholarships. Students can also click on and complete any Special Scholarship Applications not covered by the General Application.

Summer 2022 Scholarships

The FCC Foundation has a limited number of scholarships available for the Summer Session at Fredrick Community College. Summer Scholarships will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Summer scholarships are only available to students with unmet financial need (determined by FAFSA) and typically only to students who do not have a summer Pell Grant sufficient to fund summer tuition and fees. The application opens on April 1^st and will remain open until the funds are gone.

Scholarship Applications can be found here: https://apps.frederick.edu/foundation/wheretogive/fccfoundationscholarships.aspx

If you have questions, please contact Michael Thornton at mthornton@frederick.edu.

Greetings FCC and Chem students! Want to know more about the Chemistry Corner and the Supplemental Instruction programs we have for you this semester? Check out this video from me, PJ Mitchell, your SI specialist.

https://youtu.be/YEmHfFqdwDg

Hope to see more of you in the Chem Corner!

On Campus Learning Centers NOW OPEN! 

• Tutoring & Writing Center (Linganore Hall, 226): Professional tutors and academic coaches help students with writing, research, and study skills across the curriculum. Drop in.

  • Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 

• STEM Learning Center (Braddock Hall, 212): Peer and professional tutors help students in introductory science, technology, engineering, math, accounting, or economics courses, as well as offer STEM-focused academic coaching and study skills advice. Drop-in.

  • Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm  

Online  
Learning Centers are open now!

• Synchronous Online Tutoring: Now Open in Blackboard: Our online tutors and coaches can assist with many introductory courses over Zoom. Day, evening, Friday, and Saturday appointments available, depending on the course. Click "Tutoring" in Bb to connect. 

• Asynchronous Online Assistance: Writing and Study Skills 

  • In-House Online Writing Center: Students upload writing assignments from any course, and our professional writing tutors provide feedback (organization, thesis, grammar, formatting). Drafts with comments emailed back within 24-48 hours.  Click "Tutoring" in Bb to connect. 

  • Study Skills Workshops: Self-paced, interactive tutorials available 24/7 under "Tutoring" in Blackboard. Students can enter your email to send a certificate of completion.

    • Give Test Anxiety the Axe (20-30 minutes) 

    • Slaying the Procrastination Monster (20-30 minutes) 

    • Close Encounters of the Math Kind: Dealing with Math Anxiety (20-30 minutes) 

    • Read Faster, Note-Take Smarter (45-50 minutes) 

    • All Learning Center and Library Tutorials - More to help master studying, researching, citing, and more. 

• ThinkingStorm® Online Tutoring  

  • Current students are allotted 15 total hours of online tutoring per semester from this national company. Sessions conducted over chat on-demand 24/7, or by appointment, depending on the subject. Access through Blackboard. Learn more in this 1-minute video.

For convenience and reference, information about the learning centers, and access to online tutoring and workshops, is embedded in Blackboard, under "Tutoring." 

Vending
Vending machines are available on both the FCC main campus and at the Monroe Center. Cold beverages and snacks are available in Linganore Hall, Jefferson Hall, Gambrill Hall, and at the Monroe Center.

Meal Cards

Click here to purchase a Cougar Grille meal card online.  Meal cards are also available for purchase in-person at the Cougar Grille.

The FCC Bookstore website has a new look. If you purchased an eBook for Spring semester, please follow these instructions for access:

Navigate to https://frederick.redshelf.com/



• Login or create an account using the email address associated with your Bookstore account.

• Click your name in the top right corner of the page, and a dropdown list will appear.

• Select "My Shelf"

• Your eBook is available to click and read.

FCC's Behavioral Health and Wellness services assist students in managing personal problems which may impact their ability to meet their academic and career goals. We provide short-term solution-focused counseling, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals to mental health resources.

Behavioral Health and Wellness appointments can address issues related to:

• Stress and anxiety

• Depression

• Grief and loss

• Relationship difficulties

• Abuse and violence

• Gender and cultural identity

• Rape and sexual assault

• Substance use

• Balancing family life, work, and academics

Click here to schedule an appointment 

Are you a student 25 years or younger who is also a parent? Apply for this generous scholarship and support opportunity through Generation Hope, a non-profit organization that helps student parents graduate from college. The deadline is May 2nd. If you have any questions or need help with any part of the application, including the letter of recommendation, please contact Professor Anne Hofmann at ahofmann@frederick.edu. Click here to apply and to find out more about the scholarship program: https://www.generationhope.org/scholar-program

The Take a Class on Us Scholarship opportunity is open to new students taking at least six credit hours. The FCC Foundation will pay for one three-credit-hour class at the in-county rate of $475.02 for students who meet the scholarship criteria and register for at least six credit hours for the spring 2022 semester.

 Criteria:

• Be a new FCC student. Students must not have earned any credits at FCC

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program

• Be enrolled in at least six credits for the semester

• Dual-Enrolled and Open Campus students are not eligible for this offer

APPLY NOW!!: https://frederick.academicworks.com/opportunities/7422

Click here for more Financial Aid information

• The 2022-2023 Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship application is now available! This scholarship program supports students who are pursuing an education in programs that have been identified by the Secretary of Higher Education as being directly relevant to cybersecurity.

To apply for this scholarship:

1. Complete the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship application online by visiting https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/MDCAPS/login.aspx; and
2. Submit all required documents which include the:  

• Official college transcript from a public or private non-profit institution; and
• Institutional verification form confirming enrollment in an approved Cybersecurity program, and completion of the program within two years.  

The 2022-2023 Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship application and all supporting documentation must be submitted no later than July 1, 2022.  

For more information on the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship or any other scholarships and grants offered through the State of Maryland, please visit www.mhec.maryland.gov.

• The 2022-2023 Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG) Program application is available!

To apply, you will need to create an account within the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS).  To create or log into your existing MDCAPS account (if applicable), please visit https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/MDCAPS/login.aspx. Once you log into your MDCAPS account, you will see the "Apply" link where you may submit your application.

Once an application has been submitted, students may select the "Check Your Application Status" link (within their MDCAPS account) to view the list of documents required for consideration of the 2022-2023 WSSAG program.

Students must complete the WSSAG application and submit ALL supporting documentation no later than July 1, 2022.

For more information on this scholarship program or any other scholarships and grants offered through the state of Maryland, please visit www.mhec.maryland.gov.