Howard Community CollegeStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Howard Community College. Free for students.

Public Trade School in Columbia, MD. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Howard Community College students. No credit card required.

19K+

Total Enrollment

Trade School

Institution Type

11

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Summer 10-week Session 2026

The semester, explained for Howard Community College

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Summer 10-week Session 2026
Campus terms
28
Local details
30

Academic calendar

Summer 10-week Session 2026 runs Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

13 entries
  1. Summer 10-week Session 2026Relevant now
  2. Summer 2026 (7-week session)Summer 7-week Session 2026
  3. Fall First 7-week Session (FA1) 2026
  4. Fall 15-week Semester 2026
  5. Fall Second 7-week Session (FA2) 2026
  6. Winter Intersession 2027
  7. Spring First 7-week Session (SP1) 2027
  8. Spring 15-week Semester 2027
  9. Spring Second 7-week Session (SP2) 2027
  10. Summer 7-week Session 2027
  11. Summer 10-week SessionSummer 10-week Session 2027

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

28 terms

A

AMBICIONES
A specialized academic cohort and student organization focused on Latino student success.
AMSA
American Medical Student Association (HCC Chapter)

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led organization responsible for planning campus events.
Café on the Quad
The primary dining facility located centrally on campus near the main lawn.
Commuter
The standard term for the student body, as the college does not have on-campus housing.

D

Dragon Commons
A student lounge and gathering space located in the Academic Commons.
Dragon Country
A collective term used by students and administration to refer to the HCC campus and community.
Dragons
The official mascot and collective name for HCC's athletic teams.

E

Eckler Café
The official name of the primary cafeteria service located in the RCF building.

H

HCC Times
The student-run news site and newspaper covering campus events and issues.
Howard
The name of the college's mascot, Howard the Dragon.

J

JumpStart
A term used to refer to the dual-enrollment program for Howard County high school students taking college credits.

N

NSLS
National Society of Leadership and Success

P

PTK
Phi Theta Kappa (International Honor Society)

S

SAB
Student Activities Board
SAO
Student Activities Office, the administrative hub for all student clubs and organizations.
SGA
Student Government Association; the official representative body for the student population.
SPB
Student Program Board; the student-led group responsible for planning campus events and activities.
Starbucks
The campus coffee shop located on the ground floor of the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall (RCF).

T

The Bistro
A dining option within the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA).
The Cafe
The main dining area located in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Center (RCF).
The Dining Room
The 200-seat main eating area located on the ground floor of the Student Services Hall.
The Dragon
The college mascot and a term used to refer to the student body.
The Galleria
The Dwight A. Burrill Galleria, a large open collaborative and event space inside the Academic Commons.
The HCC Times
The student-run online news publication for the college community.
The Horowitz
Common student shorthand for the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center.
The Quad
The central landscaped outdoor area surrounded by the main academic and student service buildings.
The Rouse
Shorthand for the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

30 details
AC
Academic Commons; houses the Liberal Studies Division, Student Life, and the Galleria.
Canvas
The Learning Management System (LMS) used for all course syllabi, assignments, and grades.
CL
Clark Library Hall; the main campus library building.
DH
Duncan Hall; the building for English, Languages, and Business programs.
Dragon Card
The official student ID card used for library access, printing, and campus identification.
Dragon Digital
The student-run media and radio station on campus.
East/West Garage
The two primary multi-level parking structures available for student and staff parking.
East/West Garages
The two primary multi-level parking structures available for student and visitor parking.
eckler_cafe_on_the_quad
Eckler Cafe on the Quad
EL
English Language Center
Flexible Online
A specific course format at HCC that allows students to complete work entirely online without scheduled meeting times.
Howard Hub
The centralized service desk in the RCF building for admissions and registration assistance.
HR
Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center
HV
Health Sciences Building
HVPA
Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center; the campus venue for theater, dance, and art galleries.
KHH
Kathleen Hetherington Hall; the health sciences building housing nursing and dental hygiene labs.
Late Start
Courses that begin several weeks into the traditional semester, often in a compressed format.
myHCC
The central student portal used for email, registration, and accessing college resources.
Public Safety
The office located in RCF where students obtain their ID cards and parking hang tags.
RCF
Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall; the main hub for admissions, registration, and financial aid.
RTA
Regional Transportation Agency; students are eligible for free bus passes to ride local routes.
SA
Student Activities Building; houses the game room, wellness center, and student organization offices.
Self-Service
The online portal for course registration, financial aid, and viewing grades.
ST
Science and Technology Building
TCH
Thomas P. Clement Hall; a major academic building housing various classrooms and labs.
Test Center
The Testing and Assessment Center in RCF where students take placement tests and proctored exams.
Testing Center
The proctored facility in the RCF building where students take placement and course exams.
The Quad
The central outdoor grassy area on the main campus where students congregate and events are held.
Transit App
The mobile application required to activate and display the digital student bus pass.
TWH
T&W Foundation Hall; academic building primarily used for mathematics and science.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Summer 10-week Session 2026 runs Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
28 approved campus terms and 30 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · Howard Community College

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The four months ahead don’t need to be one giant open tab. Sign up and we’ll only email you when Howard Community College actually needs you to do something this summer — orientation, housing, course registration, immunization. That’s the whole product.

What we’ll email you about

  • Aug 7

    Fall Tuition Payment Deadline

    Required · source

  • Aug 25

    On-Time Registration Deadline

    Required · source

  • Aug 26

    Dragon Card Photo Upload

    Recommended · source

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Find a few communities to try at Howard Community College

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

26 mapped items from 6 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

Esports

Co-ed varsity esports team competing in various titles within the NJCAA.

Tryout required

Source: howardccdragons.com · Verified 9 days ago

Roster

Men's Basketball

Varsity men's basketball team competing as a Division II team in the NJCAA.

Tryout required

Source: howardccdragons.com · Verified 9 days ago

Roster

Men's Cross Country and Track & Field

Varsity men's cross country and track & field teams competing in the NJCAA.

Tryout required

Source: howardccdragons.com · Verified 9 days ago

Roster

Men's Lacrosse

Varsity men's lacrosse team competing as a Division I team in the NJCAA.

Tryout required

Source: howardccdragons.com · Verified 9 days ago

Roster

Men's Soccer

Varsity men's soccer team competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 20.

Tryout required

Source: howardccdragons.com · Verified 9 days ago

Roster

New Student Orientation

A required program for new students to prepare for their transition to college life, learn about resources, meet other students, and register for classes.

Regular commitment

Source: howardcc.edu · Verified 9 days ago

Learn More

Easy to try first

Dragon Days

An in-person supplement to the online New Student Orientation, where new students have the opportunity to meet faculty and staff, engage with fellow students, and get a feel for the campus atmosphere.

Drop in any time

Source: howardcc.edu · Verified 9 days ago

Learn More

Resources & spaces

Career Services

Provides career counseling, internship assistance, and job search assistance to students and alumni.

Open to all

Counseling Services

Offers free and confidential personal counseling to help students manage stress, navigate challenges, and succeed academically.

Open to all

Disability Support Services

Provides accommodations and support for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to academic programs and activities.

Library

Provides access to books, databases, research help, and study spaces for students and faculty.

Open to all

The Wellness Center

Empowers students to make informed decisions about their health, focusing on stress management, nutrition, fitness, sexual health, and more.

Open to all

Source: howardcc.edu · Verified 9 days ago

Learn More

Using DormWay at Howard Community College

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

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Howard Community College on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

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Active Students

DormWay integrates with Howard Community College's LMS

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Canvas

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Life in Columbia for Howard Community College Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Columbia.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$1,998

Cost of Living Index

131

Student Population

6,000

City Transportation

Walkability

40

Bikeability

55

Public Transit

RTA of Central Maryland bus system

Nearest Airports

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

55°F

Avg Snowfall

20 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

East Parking Garage

garage

Located on the east side of campus.

West Parking Garage

garage

Includes Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Howard Community College

HCC Day of Learning - College Closed for Students

Fall 15-week Semester Begins

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Howard Community College

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

11 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Axis at Howard

Capacity: 176

Bethune Annex

Capacity: 550

Charles Drew Hall

Capacity: 330

College Hall North

Capacity: 495

Room types: double

College Hall South

Capacity: 894

Room types: double, single

George Cook Hall

Capacity: 200

Harriet Tubman Quad

Capacity: 650

Room types: double, single

Howard Plaza Towers East

Capacity: 910

Howard Plaza Towers West

Capacity: 890

Room types: double, single

Mazza GrandMarc

WISH Woodley Park

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@howardcommunitycolle.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

Plan your semester at Howard Community College

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