Skip to main content

MCC Daily Tribune Archive

New Program Connects Students to Community Resources, Removes Barriers to Education


Life’s challenges can derail a college education. Monroe Community College students can now find assistance in overcoming those challenges at Single Stop at MCC.

Beginning on Sept. 6, 2016, the Single Stop at MCC program connects students and their families to a range of free and low-cost community resources and wraparound services, including assistance with food benefits, transportation, child care subsidies, medical care and tax preparation. As its name implies, Single Stop at MCC allows for access to an array of social, financial and legal services through a single office, ensuring that students become aware of the many resources available throughout Greater Rochester to support them.

The MCC program aims to remove financial and personal barriers that may prevent students from staying in school and graduating from MCC.

MCC launched this initiative in collaboration with Single Stop, a national nonprofit, to further support students in achieving their educational goals by taking a holistic approach. MCC is one of only two colleges in Upstate New York to house a Single Stop program. Across the country, there are over 125 Single Stop locations within colleges and community organizations.

Since Single Stop’s community college initiative was launched in 2009, more than 188,000 students and their families have received benefits and services totaling over $336 million through Single Stop programs.

All Single Stop services at MCC are personalized, confidential and free to MCC students and their immediate family members. Here’s how the program helps them:

-- Using a web-based, multilingual tool, students complete a form to begin the process of determining their program eligibility and to receive information about which community resources may be available to them and their immediate family members. Students can access the tool anywhere and anytime.
-- MCC program staff review students’ applications to assess students’ eligibility for benefits, assist in the application of benefits, and follow up with individuals to make sure they receive the benefits.
-- Eligible students meet in person with MCC program staff and, in some cases, with community resource professionals to access community services. Single Stop at MCC is housed at MCC’s Damon City Campus and serves all eligible MCC students. The office, located in Room 5001, is open from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and accepts walk-ins and appointments. Appointments can be made by calling (585) 262-1796.

Led by program director Peggy Harvey-Lee, the Single Stop at MCC program is supported by a growing network of local community-based entities. The program seeks to develop and expand partnerships with organizations focused on addressing economic challenges of our local community.

Students, faculty and staff interested in learning more about the program may contact Peggy in the Single Stop at MCC office via email <mailto:pharvey-lee@monroecc.edu> or phone (262-1796).

Lloyd A. Holmes, Vice President
Student Services
08/30/2016