McHenry County CollegeStudent Guide

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

College in Crystal Lake, IL. Operating on a semester system.

Free for all McHenry County College students. No credit card required.

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College

Institution Type

Student guide · Fall Semester 2026

The semester, explained for McHenry County 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
Fall Semester 2026
Campus terms
10
Local details
14

Academic calendar

Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 13, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

16 entries
  1. Summer Semester 2026
  2. Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
  3. Fall 12-Week Classes 2026Fall 2026 12-Week ClassesFall Semester 2026 12-Week Classes
  4. Fall 2026 Second 8-Week ClassesFall Second 8-Week Classes 2026Fall Semester 2026 Second 8-Week Classes
  5. Winter Intersession 2026-2027
  6. Spring Semester 2027
  7. Spring 12-Week Classes 2027Spring 2027 12-Week ClassesSpring Semester 2027 12-Week Classes
  8. Spring 2027 Second 8-Week ClassesSpring Second 8-Week Classes 2027Spring Semester 2027 Second 8-Week Classes

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Campus language

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

10 terms

A

AAA
Asian American Appreciation, a student club focused on promoting and raising awareness of Asian cultures.

B

BSU
Black Student Union, an organization dedicated to educational and social empowerment for Black students.

L

Lock in
A term used by students meaning to concentrate or focus intensely on academic work.

M

MCC Café
The main campus cafeteria offering over 160 food items and self-service checkout kiosks.
MCCScots
The collective nickname for McHenry County College students and athletic teams.

R

Roary
The name of the college's lion mascot.

S

Scot Room
Room B178, the specific location within Building B that hosts the student-run Tartan Bistro.
SGA
Student Government Association, the primary body for student governance and leadership development on campus.

T

Tartan Bistro
The student-run fine dining restaurant on campus where culinary students prepare and serve gourmet meals.

U

UCLA
A humorous/derisive student nickname for the college, standing for 'University of Crystal Lake Area.'

Places and practicalities

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

14 details
Canvas
The online learning management system used by students to access course materials and grades.
Catalyst
The Catalyst Campus located in Woodstock, home to specialized learning centers and the University Center.
CATI
The Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, which houses skilled trades and technical programs.
Liebman
The Liebman Science Center, a LEED-certified facility dedicated to science and math education.
Luecht
The Luecht Conference Center, a major event and meeting space on the main campus.
mcc_caf
MCC Café
MCRide
A dial-a-ride transit service providing curb-to-curb transportation throughout McHenry County for students.
myMCC
The official student portal used for registration, financial aid, and accessing college records.
Pace
The regional bus service that serves the campus via fixed routes like 806, 807, and 808.
Silver Cord
A volunteer service award earned by students who complete a specific number of community service hours.
SRC
The Student Resource Center (Room A247), a hub for student life, IDs, and support services.
tartan_bistro
Tartan Bistro
University Center
A partnership hub at the Catalyst Campus where students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees from four Illinois universities.
Ventra
The payment system used for regional transit, including Pace buses and Metra trains.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 13, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
10 approved campus terms and 14 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 · McHenry County College

You just committed to McHenry County College.

The four months ahead don’t need to be one giant open tab. Sign up and we’ll only email you when McHenry County 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

  • Jun 20

    Complete Placement Testing

    Required · source

  • Jul 1

    Submit Final High School Transcripts

    Required · source

  • Jul 10

    Fall Tuition Payment Deadline

    Required · source

  • Jul 31

    Complete New Student Orientation (NSO)

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

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Assisted

Find a few communities to try at McHenry County College

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

Tell us what we missed

58 mapped items from 14 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

Men's and Women's Tennis

Intercollegiate men's and women's tennis teams competing in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Tryout required

Silver Cord Award Program

A volunteer service award program managed by Student Life that recognizes students for their community service efforts.

Open to all

Source: mchenry.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Easy to try first

Move Around Prepared (M.A.P.) Tours

Campus tours held before the start of the semester to help new and returning students get familiar with the campus layout and resources.

Drop in any time

Student Involvement Event

An event held at the beginning of the fall semester where students can chat with members and learn more about all student organizations.

Drop in any time

Source: mchenry.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Campus rituals

Silver Cord Award

A distinction awarded at graduation to students who have completed a significant number of volunteer service hours, promoting a tradition of community service.

Regular commitment

Source: mchenry.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

Resources & spaces

Access and Disability Services (ADS)

Provides reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, sign language interpreters, and academic support for students with disabilities.

Career Services

Offers career counseling, resume building, interview preparation, job search assistance, and resources for exploring majors and career paths.

Open to all

MCC Fitness Center

A state-of-the-art facility available to students for exercise and recreation, featuring a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff.

Source: mchenry.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

MCC Library

Provides access to books, databases, research assistance, study spaces, and other academic resources to support student learning.

Open to all

Using DormWay at McHenry County College

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

Upload any McHenry County College syllabus and get a complete semester breakdown in seconds

Workload planning

Balance your courseload with helpful workload distribution

Free student access

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McHenry County College on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

9

Active Students

DormWay integrates with McHenry County College's LMS

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Canvas

Supported

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Life in Crystal Lake for McHenry County College Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Crystal Lake.

Timezone

Central Time (CT)

Median Rent

$1,431

Cost of Living Index

105

Student Population

8,000

City Transportation

Walkability

55

Bikeability

55

Public Transit

Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line (Crystal Lake station), Pace suburban bus service

Nearest Airports

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (regional primary), Chicago Midway International Airport (regional), Local general aviation airports in McHenry County region

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

48°F

Avg Snowfall

35 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Lot B

surface_lot

Located near the auditorium and Building B entrance; includes EV charging stations.

Lot F

surface_lot

Located near the Liebman Science Center; includes EV charging stations.

Campus News

Latest updates from McHenry County College

MCC Announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni

McHenry County College and the Friends of MCC Foundation named Erin Boerman as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni award.

Aug 26, 2026

Read More

Petitions for MCC Trustee Election Available

The MCC Board of Trustees has two seats open for the April 2027 election; candidacy petitions became available in late August.

Aug 25, 2026

Read More

MCC Celebrates Opening of New Engagement Hall

The college officially opened its 5,200-square-foot Engagement Hall, a multi-functional space for events, student activities, and community gatherings.

Aug 13, 2026

Read More

MCC Names 2026 Education to Empowerment Scholarship Recipients

Ten students were awarded the prestigious Education to Empowerment scholarship, providing mentoring and financial support.

Aug 11, 2026

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at McHenry County College

Popcorn Pop-Up

September 9, 2026

Main Campus, Crystal Lake (Co/Lab A, A218)

Monthly stop for free popcorn and campus resources. Meet your Student Resource Coach and connect with student support services.

University of Wisconsin Parkside Transfer Visit

September 9, 2026

Main Campus, Crystal Lake

Learn about transfer opportunities at the University of Wisconsin Parkside.

MCC Campus Tour

September 10, 2026

Main Campus, Crystal Lake

A walking tour of the MCC campus for prospective students and families to learn about programs and student spaces.

Start of Fall Semester Twelve-Week Classes

September 14, 2026

Main Campus, Crystal Lake

The official start date for twelve-week courses in the Fall 2026 semester.

MCC Fiesta: Celebrate Latine Heritage Month

September 15, 2026

Engagement Hall, Main Campus

A celebration of Latine Heritage Month featuring cultural activities and community engagement.

University Center at MCC - Tour Tuesday

September 29, 2026

Catalyst Campus, Woodstock

Drop-in tours of the University Center to discuss advanced degree opportunities and next steps.

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@mchenrycountycollege.edu

Plan your semester at McHenry County College

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