Dragon Country! Welcome to this edition of the president’s update! As the campus moves towards full compliance with Title II Americans with Disabilities Act standards, we are moving away from our historic PDF distribution and archiving in favor of a version that is easy to read and access across various device types and for varying levels of vision or hearing for those using screen readers.
Digital Accessibility: What You Need to Know
Beginning on April 24, 2026, the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II web accessibility rule requires all public colleges and universities to ensure that their digital content meets the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard. This means that everything we put online, from our website and student portals to the PDFs, forms, videos, and documents we use every day, must be usable by people with varying abilities.
That includes individuals who navigate with a keyboard instead of a mouse, use screen readers to access content, or need captions to engage with video.
One in four adults in the United States has a disability. When our digital content is not accessible, we create barriers that prevent students, employees, and community members from fully participating in the programs and services we offer. Accessible design also improves the experience for anyone using a phone, dealing with a slow Internet connection, or simply trying to find information quickly.
Over the past six months, many HCC faculty and staff have proactively refined your digital materials to better serve our diverse student body. We see that work, and this federal mandate, is an opportunity to scale those individual successes across the entire college.
There are steps we can all take right now to support this effort.
• Add meaningful alternative text to every image you upload.
• Use heading styles in your documents instead of just bolding text.
• Rethink how you share content. Before creating a PDF, ask whether the information could be made accessible as a web page instead. When a PDF is necessary, ensure it is text-based, properly tagged, and structured with a correct reading order rather than a scanned image.
• Add captions to videos.
• Check that your forms have clear labels on every field.
• Use sufficient color contrast so that the text is easy to read.
We have formed a campus-wide HCC Title II Compliance task force to coordinate our compliance efforts, and we will share more guidance in the coming weeks. While April 24 is a significant federal milestone, our commitment to digital equity is an ongoing journey. We are building a culture of accessibility that will continue to evolve as we create new ways to support our students’ success.
Thank you for helping us showcase our college and individual values.
Spring 2026 Job & Internship Fair – Huge Success
The Spring Job & Internship Fair on March 19, 2026, was a great success, bringing together 74 companies across a wide range of industries recruiting for internships, part-time, and full-time opportunities. Hosted in the Burrill Galleria, the fair welcomed over 600 participants. At a time when many colleges are experiencing a decline in employer participation due to market shifts, Howard Community College was especially grateful to welcome employers who invested in our students, alumni, and community members. Their presence reflects the value of meaningful partnerships that support career exploration and access to opportunity. This signature event reinforces our commitment to workforce development by connecting students directly with employers while showcasing HCC’s talented, career-ready candidates.
Special thanks to the career services team, including Carlton Allen, Amy Crawford, Jerri Harris, Paul Martin, Keyara Stevenson, and La’Quiesha White for coordinating this impactful event. Career Services extends gratitude to the teams from the Academic Center for Excellence, the administrative information systems, the audio-visual services, disability support services, the development, the facilities, the finance, the public relations & marketing, the president’s office, the public safety, and the student life for their invaluable support.
Additional appreciation goes to Stephen Cherry Photography for providing professional headshots for attendees and to our faculty and staff for promoting the event to students. The career services team would also like to thank the following staff for volunteering: Renee Bracy, De’Asia Clark, Cierrah Dixon-Styles, Belinda Green, Raymond Harrod, Detra Hooper, Ashley Howard, Danielle Johnson, Princess King, Bethany Malone, Jean Melvin, Aya Multer, Mary O’Rourke, Marlyn Oatts, Susan Pazornick, Wiona Porath, Renee Richardson, Irma Rosado, Mirvat Said, Naseem Skaarenborg, Matthew Stewart, Ellen Wolf. Thank you also to our student volunteers: Helen Abioye, Niya Basha, Ana Brandao, Thusanani Cassetta-Frey, Tyler Gadsden, Aphiwe Hlekwayo, Mahnoor Humayoun, Aminah Kamarah, Ephrem Mesele, Jonsaba Sillah, and Bao Tran.
The Spring Job & Internship Fair remains a valuable opportunity to connect talent with opportunity, and we look forward to building on this momentum at the Fall Job & Internship Fair, tentatively scheduled for October 2026!
Volunteer for GreenFest
HCC is pleased to once again be the site of GreenFest, Howard County’s largest annual Earth Day celebration, on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Volunteers are needed throughout the day. Please consider offering a couple hours of your time and also taking the opportunity to enjoy all the displays and activities the event has to offer. Volunteers are asked to wear school colors or apparel. If you’re interested in volunteering at GreenFest, please email Belinda Green for more information.
Presence, Power & Professionalism: Etiquette Dinner on April 15
In partnership with the Center for Civic & Community Engagement, Center for Hospitality and Culinary Studies, Career Services, Silas Craft Collegians Program, and Student Life, join us for Presence, Power & Professionalism: Etiquette Dinner on April 15, 2026 from 4:30–6:00 p.m. Facilitated by Hal Kenny, Hospitality Expert, this interactive experience will help HCC students build confidence navigating professional dinners, networking events, and formal settings.
Dinner will be served as part of the experience. Open to all HCC students. Seating is limited and RSVP is required. RSVP opens April 6 via Campus Groups.
Admin Week 2026
Please mark your calendars for HCC’s upcoming Admin Week 2026 event, presented by HCC’s Executive Support Committee. Admin Week is meant to recognize and celebrate the dedicated administrative professionals who work to ensure the college always runs at top form.
Receptionists, office aides, service representatives, and executive assistants are the face of the college, and their contributions to campus operations cannot be overstated. Admin Week is a long-standing tradition that goes beyond just showing appreciation. This year, the college will offer free in-person courses designed to elevate employees’ professional and personal journeys – all for PD credit. With courses that appeal to skill development, wellness, networking, and recreation, there is a fulfilling opportunity for everyone.
This event will run on campus from April 20 through April 24, during the observance of National Administrative Professionals Week. Stay tuned as we will soon share the full course catalogue and detailed event schedule. If you have any questions, please contact the ESC chair, Belinda Green, at bgreen@howardcc.edu.
Join Us at Vino Scholastico!
Vino Scholastico is BACK! The exciting event is taking place on Friday, May 1, 2026. Join us for an elegant evening of fine wine, beer, and spirits, as well as tasty selections from area restaurants and delectable desserts - all to support student scholarships.
Employee and retiree tickets for the general tasting are available at a discounted price of $50 each!
Raffle Tickets
Your raffle ticket comes with two insulated wine tumblers and a shot at some great prizes, including Baltimore Orioles tickets, a KitchenAid wine fridge, a Connoisseurs Collection packed with wine, spirits, and dining experiences, a VIP GameOn party, a Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland getaway, wellness and culinary gift packages, and a round of golf at Turf Valley. Even more prizes will be added.
Please visit https://onecau.se/_f4a3p1 for more information, event tickets, or to purchase raffle tickets.
Volunteer at Vino Scholastico!
A number of volunteers are needed to ensure that the VIP Reception and General Tasting run smoothly. To sign up, please click here. If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Jess Grim at jgrim@howardcc.edu. Volunteers are welcome to arrive early or stay after their shift to enjoy the event. We particularly need volunteers for the later shift.
Seeking Volunteers for Battle of the Books
I am proud that HCC is again the Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Battle of the Books! We need volunteers to help the Howard County Library System and Howard County Public School System host an event for local kids on Friday, April 24, at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Make a real difference in our community by signing up now to volunteer for a shift at the Battle of the Books Sign-Up Genius!
Event details, including parking and food, will be e-mailed to you. For more information, please visit: HCLibrary.org/BOB, call 410-313-7792 or e-mail Winifred LaFrance Chambers: winifred.lafrancechambers@hclibrary.org
This Week on the Campus Drive Podcast
Welcome to Campus Drive, Your One-Way Street to All Things HCC! Join Marquis Lupton, Assistant Manager of Dragon Podcasts, as he highlights campus culture, college stories, and higher education programs, all at Howard Community College
Bill Gillett, Department Head of Performing Arts at Howard Community College, discusses how the college’s music, dance, and theatre programs nurture emerging talent and build community. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how HCC prepares students for professional stages and a lifetime of artistic expression.
Performing Arts: The importance of why we need the arts | Campus Drive
Tune in on your favorite Podcast Platform!
Sustainability at HCC
A highly impactful daily sustainability habit is to shop your own kitchen before buying more food.
About one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. In the U.S. alone, the average family of four loses roughly $1,500 to $3,000 annually on food that goes uneaten. By making a habit of checking your pantry and fridge before every grocery trip, you can reduce your household food waste by up to 25%.