Student Life

Student life creates an environment that provides for the personal integration of educational, recreational, civic, and social experiences for all students. Our mission is to give students the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge and to strengthen their awareness of their role and responsibility in society. Every attempt is made to be responsive and satisfy the expressed interest of the student body by providing quality programming and increased levels of participation in clubs/organizations.

At MWCC, students choose their level of involvement in cocurricular activities. Through involvement in the Student Government Association (SGA), or any number of clubs and organizations, students can develop their leadership abilities, gain new friendships, and become more culturally enriched. If there's not a club that suits you, a group of students may form a club if it meets the SGA criteria.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with disabilities who may require accommodations in order to participate fully in student activities, programs, or events should contact the Coordinator of Disability Services to discuss their specific needs. When an American Sign Language interpreter is needed, reasonable notification is critical to ensure appropriate coverage. Students who require interpreting services are asked to notify the Coordinator at least 30 days in advance of the start of each academic semester or in advance of a meeting or event.

Programs and Events

The Student Life Office conducts a variety of programs and events throughout the year. These may all be found on the InvolveMOUNT portal where students may search for events that interest them, RSVP, and receive reminders of upcoming events. Students are encouraged to register for InvolveMOUNT to ensure that they receive the latest event and program information.

Clubs and Organizations

Students are encouraged to join one or more clubs or organizations depending upon interests and availability of time. All registered student organizations are accessible on InvolveMOUNT. Students may search for clubs that interest them, request to join clubs, and be notified of upcoming clubs meetings and events.

Clubs and organizations include:

• ALANA Club
• Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honors Society
• Art Club
• CATS (Campus Activities Team for Students)
• Cru Student Fellowship
• Cultural Engagement and International Service Club
• Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society
• Dental Hygienist Club
• Early Childhood and Elementary Education Club
• ESL Club
• Graphic and Interactive Design Club
• Green Society
• Hiking and Recreation Club
• Hobby Hub
• Human Service Club
• Intramurals
• iPublications
• Mount Observer Student Newspaper
• Musicians at the Mount
• Nutrition Club
• Parent Support Group
• Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
• SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance)
• Sigma Alpha Pi Leadership Society
• STEM Club
• Student Government Association (SGA)
• Student Nurses Association (SNA)
• Veterans and Allies Club

Mount Fitness

MWCC’s Mount Fitness is housed in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Physical Education Complex, built in 1977 to help students develop their bodies as well as their minds. This philosophy is extended to the public as well as to the college’s faculty, staff, and students. This multi-purpose Fitness & Wellness Center serves the educational, recreational, and physical needs of all who wish to join and use it.

The Facility

The MWCC Fitness & Wellness Center is a 65,000 square foot, air conditioned center that features state-of-the-art fitness equipment in a clean and friendly environment. The center is staffed with professional and certified personal trainers to assist in recreational and fitness activities and features the following equipment and facilities:

• Multi-purpose gymnasium with 2 full basketball courts

• Two extensive cardio areas featuring the newest in fitness equipment including: treadmills, elliptical trainers, Adaptive motion trainers, Arc trainers, steppers, octane lateral machine, step mills, and rowers

• Extensive weight and fitness areas

• Six-lane, 25-yard swimming pool
• Racquetball courts
• Outdoor basketball, tennis courts, and track
• Volleyball courts
• Men’s and women’s shower and locker facilities

Hours of Operation and Membership

The Fitness and Wellness Center is open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Rates

All students, staff, and members of the community should call the center at 978-630-9212 for the membership options available to them.

Honor Societies

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society guarantees you access to benefits that will recognize your outstanding academic accomplishments and provide you with the competitive edge that helps ensure future success.  These benefits are unmatched by any other collegiate honor society. For example, members have access to over $37 million in scholarships set aside for members only.

The guidelines that dictate eligibility for Phi Theta Kappa are derived from both the international membership guidelines and those set forth for the Phi Delta chapter at MWCC.  The guidelines include the following:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.3 in coursework completed in residency at MWCC
• Minimum of 12 credits earned (completed) in residency

Full and part-time students as well as continuing education, international and early college/dual enrollment students are eligible for membership under these guidelines. Currently, students are selected for this recognition during the months of October and February. Invitations to eligible students are emailed, and the invitation remains open for the duration of the academic semester. Students who wish to accept membership must pay a one-time fee for membership, which can be paid online. 

Students in our local chapter fundraise to support three scholarships each semester to cover the membership fee for students for whom this fee may create difficulty. If you wish to apply for a membership scholarship, please contact a PTK Advisor.

Students who meet these requirements and indicate their interest in membership to the Phi Theta Kappa advisor by the designated deadline will be recognized at commencement ceremonies and at the annual awards ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 2.5 million members and 1,275 chapters located in 50 United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, Germany, Peru, the British Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the United Arab Emirates. In 1929, the American Association of Community Colleges recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges.

Alpha Beta Gamma International Business Honor Society

To be eligible for membership in Alpha Beta Gamma International Business Honor Society, a student must:

• be enrolled in a business curriculum in a junior, community, or technical college, or a two-year accredited program within a college or university;
• have completed 15 credit hours with at least 12 hours of his/her work taken in courses leading to a degree recognized by his/her institution; and
• have demonstrated academic excellence by attaining a 3.0 GPA or its equivalent in business courses as well as a 3.0 overall average.

Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society

Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society is an academic honor society founded to recognize high-achieving students with disabilities who are attending colleges and universities as undergraduate or graduate students. The Delta Alpha Pi chapter at Mount Wachusett Community College is known as Epsilon Theta. It was established in 2017 to recognize students with disabilities for their academic achievements and leadership skills and to acknowledge their determination and perseverance. Epsilon Theta chapter members assist in promoting disability awareness and pride at MWCC by coordinating and participating in various on-campus and virtual activities.

To be eligible for membership in Delta Alpha Pi, a student must:

• Present with a documented disability and work with one of the staff members of the Disability Services team.
• Demonstrate an interest in disability issues.
• Complete a minimum of 24 college level credits.
• Earn an overall Grade Point Average of 3.10 or higher.

Leadership Society

Sigma Alpha PI is Mount Wachusett Community College’s online chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success.

The National Society of Leadership and Success is a nationwide community of college leaders dedicated to building leaders who make a better world. The Society is one of the largest honor organizations in America and includes programming events that positively impacts people's lives. Each term Mount Wachusett Community College students are invited to participate in the program who have obtained a minimum of 2.5 grade point average, successfully completed 15 credit hours, be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, and are in good standing with the college.

MWCC Student Center

The casual atmosphere of the new, 4,000 square foot student center makes it the perfect place for students to relax and to gather with fellow students before and after classes. Special events and programs will be sponsored in the center by the Student Life Office. We invite students to drop in and enjoy the amenities and welcoming environment that the facility offers.  Amenities include televisions, gaming stations, giant games, and ping pong & pool tables.

Room Use

Clubs or organizations wishing to meet during the community time or at any other time should complete the Facilities Room Reservation Form to request to book a space.

Student Actions

Students who wish to present issues to the student body relative to on- or off-campus questions or issues, whether as a means of collecting or registering opinions of support, or protest, or of simply collecting comments on topics of interest and concern to the student body, shall be afforded the opportunity to do so in the following manner:

• The students who are primarily involved in organizing the action must present a signed, written notice of their intent to the Dean of Students.
• The Dean of Students will provide a location for tables or picket lines in an appropriate location in the college buildings or on the college grounds.
• Students may not interfere with the normal operation of the college or its agencies. The activity must be set up in such a manner so as not to interfere with the right of members of the college community to use the facilities of the college without deviating from their normal traffic flow.
• Persons who are not members of the college community (students, faculty, and staff) are not entitled to participate in these activities on college property.
• All the normal rules and regulations governing the posting and distribution of printed or other graphic material, and prohibiting solicitation on campus, will apply.

Those persons, who are engaged in an activity which is in violation of the regulations set forth above, or which results in physical damage to the property of the college or its agencies, shall be held personally responsible and shall be referred to the proper college authorities for disciplinary action.

For purposes of definition relative to this statement, the following are considered to be agencies of the college: all recognized student organizations, the Alumni Association, the cafeteria, the bookstore, and all groups or organizations which are permitted use of the facilities (for the duration of their occupancy of such facilities).

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) fosters the recognition of student body rights. It acts as a unified body that represents and governs the students. The SGA endeavors to provide for student welfare, approves the existence of organizations on-campus, administers the budgets for student activities, and facilitates the necessary communications and understanding between the faculty, administration, and the student body. The constitution and by-laws governing the SGA are published online. Meeting dates are posted on the SGA announcement board and on InvolveMOUNT at the beginning of each semester. They are open to the college community and students are invited to attend. Students are further encouraged to take an active role in the SGA by running for office and voting during SGA elections. The SGA holds its elections in September and April.

Student Publications

The Mount Observer, a student-run newspaper, is available in print and on the web.  The Mount Observer also highlights stories on Facebook and Twitter.

Student Trustee

Each year during the spring election, a full-time¹ student is elected to serve a one-year term as student trustee. This individual is a voting representative who serves on the 11-member MWCC Board of Trustees. This board is the governing body of the college and makes major decisions about policies for the institution. The student trustee provides student representation on the board and presents the voice of the students about various campus concerns, as well as broader issues in public higher education.

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Students may request an accommodation to the policy determining what full-time status is for the purpose of serving as a student trustee.