ECEC and Accessibility

This semester, I’m taking MATH 117 at the East County Education Center (ECEC). I had never been to ECEC before this semester, but the building is fantastic with helpful staff around every corner. ECEC is located in White Oak/Silver Spring which is an underserved area of the county, giving access to both credit and non-credit classes to more Montgomery County residents.

The campus is within walking distance of grocery stores, fast food, and Metro bus stops which is a huge benefit. However, there is no Metro train stop there. Although there are bus stations that are not far, taking a bus to or from Takoma Park can be difficult because of traffic and the many stops which might cause students to be late to class or miss class altogether.

This past August, a new shuttle bus between TPSS and ECEC was initiated. Although there are no direct shuttles from ECEC to Germantown or Rockville, students can catch connecting shuttles from the Takoma Park campus to the Germantown and Rockville campuses. Furthermore, students can take advantage of the learning centers and other student services at TPSS in addition to the services at ECEC. Also, from downtown Silver Spring, students can easily access the Red Line.

This shuttle doesn’t mean just transportation. The vibrant shuttle is full of school spirit with students, traditional and non-traditional, chatting about classes and the opportunities opened up through the ECEC campus and the new shuttle. Students feel empowered, encouraged, and a sense of belonging knowing that MC has heard students’ voices. This shuttle is one small step in motivating students to their ultimate goal: a degree.