Are You Unemployed?

State Funding for Training

You may be eligible for training-to-work funds to use toward enrollment if you are unemployed. Determination of eligibility is made by the Department of Labor/Workforce Development and not by Middlesex County College.

Getting Started – How Do I Know if I am Eligible?
To get started, for further information and to determine if you may be eligible for training grants, contact or visit one of New Jersey’s CareerConnections (formerly One-Stop Career Centers) Office of Training and Employment Services. Accepted participants may train in one approved credit or noncredit certificate program for one year (up to $4,000 in cost) in order to prepare for a demand occupation in Middlesex County (as defined by the Department of Labor). Participants also undergo employment skills training. Visit the NJ CareerConnections Center to learn more.

Other Useful Links

• Department of Labor’s NJ CareerConnections Job Seeker Services
• Department of Labor and Workforce Development Training Grants information

Tuition Waiver Information

Unemployed County residents who had been in the workforce for at least two (2) years and are now unemployed may be eligible for tuition waiver. As with all training monies, eligibility is determined by your NJ CareerConnections Center. Note: tuition waiver CANNOT be used for Nursing fees.

• ATTENTION: NJ residents who are receiving unemployment benefits from another state: Are you planning to enroll at Middlesex County College using TUITION WAIVER? Even if you are collecting unemployment benefits from out of state (the state you worked in), you MUST also visit a New Jersey CareerConnections Center in order to be considered for the unemployment tuition waiver program.

Tuition waiver individuals can register for classes on a space-available basis no more than two (2) business days prior to the start of the class (1 business day for non-credit) and only for classes that are listed as OPEN. NOTE: because there are multiple start dates in the Summer, you must be sure of the start date of the class you have been authorized to take, and arrive at MCC to register no more than 2 business days before that start date. Students attending via tuition waiver must pay for their own books, supplies & course fees.

To register with tuition waiver, students must complete the FAFSA financial aid application and bring an approved Tuition Waiver Form & EDP from your NJ CareerConnections Center counselor (with the courses your CareerConnections counselor is approving you to take filled out on the back of the form) to MCC’s Enrollment Center in West Hall. If you are not a Middlesex County resident, you must show proof that you first attempted to enroll at your home county college.

Tuition waiver registrants are not required to meet with anyone at MCC prior to registration however, we encourage candidates to visit the Academic Advising Center before going to your NJ CareerConnections counselor so you can inform the counselor about which course(s) to list on your form. Forms without courses listed will not be accepted. IMPORTANT! As per NJ State Statute, neither the student nor Middlesex County College can alter the form by changing, substituting or adding classes.

Please also check MCC’s academic calendar to see when each semester starts

Did you receive a letter about Pell Grants?

Read here for some information that may not have been included in your letter:

1. Pell Grant Eligibility: If you already have an undergraduate degree, you cannot receive a Pell Grant to obtain another degree … but you can apply for other types of financial aid (e.g. student loans).
2. How to apply for a Pell Grant? You must apply online at the federal site: www.fafsa.ed.gov
3. If you receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, you MUST start at your CareerConnections Center before exploring any training options. You must maintain compliance with all guidelines when you pursue training so you can continue to receive UI benefits (e.g. any requirement to maintain availability for work).
4. What is a Pell Grant? Pell is a federal program and the federal government determines the amount of your Grant (if any). Even though MCC’s Financial Aid dept DOES NOT determine Pell, we may be able to answer questions for you.

Non-Credit Career Training

1. What training programs are offered by Continuing Education Professional and Community Education?
2. What is the link to the Career Training Center’s page?
3. Who should I contact for more information? I have paperwork from my NJ CareerConnections Center counselor that I must have completed before I can be approved for a training grant to enroll in a non-credit program. Where do I go? For Programs offered by MCC’s Career Training Center, contact Tracey Montani, Director at 732-906-4231 or tmontani@middlesexcc.edu. For Programs offered by The Institute, contact Michelle DelVecchio at 732-906-4681 or stop by Crabiel Hall room 110.
4. Where is Middlesex County College’s Career Training Center located? on MCC’s Edison campus in West Hall Annex, 2nd floor.

Degree and Certificate Programs

1. If you will be attending MCC using a training grant, you CANNOT register for classes until a signed Authorization to Start Training has arrived at MCC from your NJ CareerConnections counselor otherwise your classes will be canceled that evening for non-payment. It is your responsibility to verify that your signed Authorization to Start Training arrives in the Office of Student Account Services before you register for classes. Enrolled MCC students can verify that your contract has been received by checking your Web Advisor account in the Financial Profile/Make A Payment section.
2. How do I apply to become a student at MCC? How do I get a letter of acceptance? Click here for Admissions Information. The Admissions Department will issue an acceptance letter once you have satisfied all application requirements.
3. What programs can I study at MCC? View our degree and certificate programs. NEW! Use Career Coach within each degree to see actual employment information for that career within our local area.
4. Do I need to take the college’s placement test before I have my NJ CareerConnections paperwork completed? If you have not attended college before this, you most likely do need to take it. Until you test, there is no way to know if you need to take developmental classes first in order to prepare you to be successful in college-level classes. While we at MCC prefer that you have your placement test results prior to completing your program estimate paperwork, some NJ CareerConnections counselors advise that you wait to take the placement test until after the paperwork is completed. Please check with your NJ CareerConnections counselor but remember: program estimate completed prior to placement testing is subject to change (in terms of cost and length of program) once you receive your test results. Learn more about the placement test here.
5. Admission to our health programs is competitive; you cannot simply enroll in any of the health technology programs. Please read about the requirements and the application deadlines & testing process here.
6. Where can I find out about Financial Aid?
7. What is MCC’s academic calendar? When do classes start? end?
8. I have training grant paperwork from my NJ CareerConnections Center counselor that I must have completed before I can be approved for a training grant. Who do I contact at MCC for information about credit programs? Contact Charlotte Quigley in Career & Transfer Services at 732-906-2595 to schedule an appointment. Note: the Department of Career & Transfer Services works by appointment, so you must call and schedule an appointment. Please be on time for your appointment – the paperwork takes an hour or more. Please bring all paperwork from your NJ CareerConnections counselor with you to the appointment.
9. I have been approved to attend classes via Tuition Waiver. Do I need to make an appointment with anyone? No, after applying for financial aid, come to the Enrollment Center in West Hall with your completed Tuition Waiver form no sooner than two (2) business days before the start of the semester to register in classes that are still open. You can only register for the courses listed on your form by your NJ CareerConnections counselor.
10. Where is MCC’s Career & Transfer Services office located? On MCC’s Edison campus (2600 Woodbridge Ave, Edison NJ) in West Hall, 2nd Floor. Please park in Student Parking Lot 1 or Lot 2. (Cars parked in staff parking lots without a staff sticker will be ticketed).

Other Programs at MCC

New Pathways to Teaching Tuition waivers are not accepted but unemployment training grants can be used. All training grant paperwork provided by your NJ CareerConnections  counselor for a New Pathways to Teaching candidate should be submitted to Robert Sullivan, Coordinator, Department of K-12 Partnerships in Billy Johnson Hall room 200 for completion, including program estimates of cost and duration.

Child Care Center The Middlesex County College Child Care Center is a full day educational program available to the local community as well as the College community. Hourly care is not available. The Child Care Center accepts children ages 2 years – 5 years of age. Reduced rates are available to qualified applicants. Applicants for reduced fees must be full-time students, employed full-time, or participating in a job training program.