Montgomery College highlights ESL enrollment gains, East County Education Center growth and plans for a new East County campus

Montgomery College officials on Sept. 18 briefed the Education and Culture Committee on post‑pandemic growth in ESL programming, rising student‑success metrics, and an ambitious plan to convert the East County Education Center into a full campus.

Sarah Campbell, vice president for liberal arts and education, told the committee that Montgomery College’s adult ESOL and basic‑skills programs grew from roughly 7,700 enrollments in FY21 to over 10,000 in FY25 — representing more than 5,000 individual students — and that strong outcomes continue: “In fiscal year 24... nearly 75 percent of our students advanced a level during the fiscal year in which they enrolled compared to a 66% advancement rate statewide,” Campbell said, adding that the FY25 advancement rate rose to 78 percent.

College leaders described three major ESOL streams (federally and state grant‑funded adult ESOL/basic skills; a noncredit ESL program supported by tuition and state funds; and an advanced English Language for Academic Purposes program supported by tuition and county/state funding) and noted many courses are offered in person, with modality choices to match learner needs.

The meeting also focused on the East County Education Center (ECEC), a 55,000‑square‑foot facility the college opened about 18 months ago. Deidre Price, senior vice president for academic affairs and college provost, said ECEC’s enrollment and use have outpaced initial projections: the college served more than 2,700 students at the site since opening and reported nearly 40% year‑over‑year fall enrollment growth between 2024 and 2025. ECEC now hosts dual‑enrollment cybersecurity courses, a new LPN program (two cohorts already graduated), expanded tutoring and food‑pantry services, and a “Raptor Central” one‑stop for enrollment and financial‑aid services.

On the question of expansion, the college has engaged Canon Design as master planner and laid out an aggressive timetable to identify and evaluate potential sites. Mr. Collette (Senior Vice President for Administrative and Fiscal Services) and planning staff said the process will consider state requirements (Maryland Higher Education Commission site criteria), accessibility and transportation, utilities and environmental impacts, program needs (wet labs, athletic/performance venues), public benefits, and financing options. The college is targeting a preferred site selection by February 2026 and is coordinating county, state and community engagement as the planning proceeds.

Council members asked about financial risks and federal funding. College presenters noted the adult ESOL and basic‑skills unit relies heavily on WIOA Title II funds and said they are monitoring a recent U.S. Department of Education rule about eligibility; Maryland has joined litigation that produced an injunction, and the college awaits state guidance on final impact. College leaders said noncredit programs are supported by tuition and other county and foundation resources and that the college is pursuing fundraising (a $50 million campaign that had raised about $40 million) to help support students and expansion.

What happens next: college staff will continue master‑planning work, advance public engagement and site studies, and report back to council as site selection and funding discussions proceed — with a stated target for site selection in early 2026.