Student Success Commons: FAQs

Check your email or official documents from YCCC, such as your course schedule. Look for emails related to course registration, or online learning access. Your ID number is often included in these communications. If you can't find it, please contact your SSC student success coach.

Every YCCC student has a student email address ending with "@mainecc.edu". It's important that you have activated this email and use it for all academic purposes, like communication, registration, and purchasing course materials. You can log in to your email via Microsoft Outlook.

For students who have taken class prior to the fall semester of 2025, if you have not yet activated your "@mainecc.edu" address, look in your previous "@yccc.edu" inbox for instructions for activating your email address.

For more details, visit the YCCC Email Migration Support page.

You can log into the self-service portal to view your academic information, receive personalized communication, and use our self-service tools: https://portal.yccc.mainecc.edu/cmcportal.

You can also contact your student success coach. Visit the student success coach page to see a list of coaches, organized by degree. Still not sure who your coach is? Just email Registration and ask.

Any textbooks, e-books, and other required materials depends on your course number and section. This information is listed on your course schedule. You can search for and purchase your course materials at the campus bookstore, in person or online. To ensure you order the correct materials, we recommend having your course schedule on hand when making your purchases, to ensure you use the correct course number and section. Download the illustrated guide to buying textbooks online for a full walkthrough.

Remember: always use your "@mainecc.edu" student email address when purchasing your textbooks and course materials.

You can purchase your course materials at the campus bookstore in person or online. To ensure you order the correct materials, we recommend having your course schedule on hand when making your purchases, to ensure you use the correct course # and section. Download the illustrated guide to buying textbooks online for a full walkthrough.

Remember: always use your "@mainecc.edu" student email address when purchasing your textbooks and course materials.

Please visit the SSC's accessing your e-text page for step-by-step instructions.

The learning management system used by YCCC is Brightspace. When you log in, your dashboard will show all of your active courses.

For more support using Brightspace, visit our Brightspace 101 page.

Your instructor's contact information should be printed on the first page of the class syllabus. You will usually use your student email to connect with your teachers, but always read the syllabus to be sure you know the professor's email, office hours, and additional contact methods if applicable.

Contact your student success coach for support altering your schedule or course load.

Visit the student success coach page to see a list of coaches, organized by degree. Still not sure who your coach is? Just email Registration and ask.

Reach out for support right away. Start by talking to your professor—send them an email or set up an appointment and explain your struggles. Keep in touch with your student success coach, as well; they will be able to put you in touch with helpful resources. And of course, you can visit the Student Success Commons and connect with the tutors or librarian for support.

Struggling is normal—asking for help is how you succeed.

York County Community College policies regarding academic misconduct, attendance, admissions, "The Drug Free Workplace Act", financial aid, nondiscrimination, tuition, fees, and refunds, and more can be found in the current college catalog.

For the MCCS policy regarding hazing visit the Safety and Security page.

Information about school delays or closures due to inclement weather can be found in your YCCC student email, on local news closure reports, and on the YCCC and SSC social media accounts.

School closings due to holidays can be found on the current academic calendar, on the Student Success Commons' calendar (at the bottom of each SSC web page), and on the YCCC and SSC social media accounts.

At York County Community College the minimum passing grade is a C (or a grade of 70 or above). For more details about grading, please review the current college catalog or student handbook. If you are planning to transfer or enroll in a program with specific prerequisites you can consult with your student success coach to determine what requirements you must meet.

The syllabus is your class roadmap! The syllabus tells you what the class covers, what’s expected of you, how your grade is calculated, and other vital things such as when assignments are due, your teacher's contact info, support resources, and more. Many of the questions above are answered in your syllabus. Reading it helps you stay organized, avoid surprises, and successfully take stay on top of your learning.

Visit YCCC's Financial Aid page for general information about financial aid, scholarships, filing your FAFSA, as well as the contact information for the financial aid department if you have additional questions.

The Hawk Café offers a wide variety of great food. You can eat in the dining hall on campus, in the Pratt & Whiteney common areas, and in the Student Success Commons, providing that you clean up after yourself. Please do not leave any kind of trash or bottles on tables, chairs, or the floor. Please also keep food and drinks away from sensitive equipment, such as computers, the Anatomage table, and the microscope in the SSC. Food is not permitted in the campus labs.

Whether you’re into sports, clubs, or just meeting new people, student life at YCCC is a great way to get involved, stay active, and make the most of your college experience. Visit YCCC's Student Life page for access to information about clubs, athletics, and e-sports.

The most up-to-date college hours are displayed here.

The Student Success Commons' hours of operation are located on our about page.

For full details about YCCC's safety and security services, as well as relevant contact information, please visit the Safety & Security page.

The Student Success Commons is an integrated, active space that includes the library, tutoring services, a writing center, the Office of Student Accessibility Services, student success coaches, and more. The SSC offers the resources and guidance students need to enhance learning outside of the classroom and support to reach academic and personal goals.The SSC is #YourPathToSuccess.

We offer tutoring for all math (MAT) classes, writing—for any class!—and sciences. We also have hundreds of free resources to help support you in your classes, learning online, managing your time, and more.

The library is located in the SSC and offers over 6,000 items including books, DVDs, and CDs, and a vast online collection of journals, magazines, videos, ebooks and much more.

Your student success coach, who can help you chart your academic course and handle any waves that may come up, can be contacted through the SSC.

The Student Success Commons also puts students in touch with counseling and mental health support, Student Accessibility Services, adult ed, and other departments at the college as needed.

Use the following links for more info about:

• tutoring
• online math support
• writing resources
• science notes
• student success coaches
• accessibility services
• library services
• skills for college success resources

The Student Success Commons is your hub for all things student success.

At the Student Success Commons, every student is welcome to take advantage of our on-campus and online resources. No matter your age, background, identity, or beliefs—if you come with a willingness to learn, respect the space, and treat others with kindness and respect, you’ll find support, encouragement, and a place to grow. The SSC is a safe space for all.

Tutoring, free for any current YCCC student in a relevant class, is available for any math (MAT) class, any and all writing assignments—from discussion posts to complete essays—and several science classes. Limited tutoring and support is also available for Microsoft Office and web development I (WEB131).

The Student Success Commons tutors promise a welcoming, judgement-free environment, designed to help you learn and increase your academic confidence. We uphold the College's policies on academic integrety, and therefore will not overstep and complete your work for you in part or in whole. However, we will offer the resources and support you need to succeed.

If you'd like to contact a tutor for more information about how they structure tutoring in their subject, please reach out using the contact info in the "Meet Your Tutors!" section on our tutoring page.

Every student at YCCC has a Student Success Coach. A success coach provides one-on-one meetings, either on campus or online, to help students outline their unique goals for their academic careers.

Any time you meet with your success coach, you can discuss your strengths challenges and goals. Together you will explore issues that can impact your academic success and identify strategies and resources that can support you.

Your student success coach will help get you started and keep you going, offering academic and student support services to help you continue toward your academic goals. Since your success coach works closely with admissions, financial aid, tutors, faculty and staff, and your faculty advisor they are the perfect person to reach out to when you have a question or need help! Your personal Student Success Coach is assigned based on your major here at YCCC. If you have any questions about who your coach is, email ycccssc@mainecc.edu.

If you have a documented disability that may or does interfere with your college education please contact Student Accessibility Services at YCCCAccessibilityServices@mainecc.edu and schedule an appointment. Click here fore more information about YCCC's Accessibility Services.

Click here for a full list of mental health and wellness resources available to students. In addition, keep an eye on email announcements, social media posts, and the informational screens around campus for informations about any upcoming wellness workshops or activities.

The library at YCCC ofers thousands of resources in a variety of formats. Our knowledgable and enthusiastic librarian is a wonderful resource, here to help you find what you need, whethere it be an article for a research paper, a video for a presentation, a novel that interests you, or anything in between. In addition, out library offers support when making citations and bibliographies. You can visit the library on campus in the Student Success Commons or online

If you experience technical issues in the Student Success Commons, please see one of our student liasons at the front desk, a success coach, or tutor. For issues with e-books or other purchases from the campus bookstore, please contact the bookstore. For general technical issues please contact YCCC tech support, including clear details about the issue. All departments at YCCC work together to resolve issues and make the student experience as smooth and functional as possible.

In general, a standard 3-credit class requires about 6 to 9 hours of studying per week. The actual amount of time you should spend studying each week will vary depending on the assignments, upcoming assessments, the amount of reading and writing required, your preexisting familiarity with the subject, and other such factors. The average full-time college student will spend approximately 40 hours per week, outside of classroom time, studying for all of their classes combined.

Effective studying involves learning and retaining information. Consider the following tips:

Use a Study Schedule
Break up your time each week and stick to a routine—small, regular sessions beat cramming every time.

Find Your Best Study Environment
Whether it's the library, a quiet room, or a coffee shop, choose a space where you can focus.

Avoid Multitasking
Focus on one subject or task at a time for deeper learning and better retention.

Use Active Study Methods
Quiz yourself, teach the material to someone else, or create flashcards—just rereading notes isn’t enough.

Take Breaks
Use the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes studying, 5-minute break) to stay fresh and avoid burnout.

Ask for Help Early
Reach out to your professors, classmates, or campus resources like tutoring or writing centers.

Stay Organized
Keep track of deadlines, test dates, and assignments with a planner, app, or calendar.

Prioritize Sleep and Self-Care
A rested brain learns better—don't sacrifice sleep to study!

For more study tips and resources visit the "Study Tips" and "Time Management" sections on our success skills page where you can find several downloadable resources.

The College promotes and maintains high ethical standards of academic conduct. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to: cheating or dishonesty of any kind in performing academic work; plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional; and receiving, or attempting to receive, academic credit under false pretenses; submitting the same work in more than one course, without prior permission of the instructor of the second course, or assisting anyone engaged in academic misconduct.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, students may receive support on homework and preparing for and reviewing quizzes and tests from SSC tutors, but no student may receive any kind of support, from tutors, friends, classmates, or AI, while taking an assessment.

Try out some of the following tips and suggestions:

• Use small, specific goals (e.g., “review 10 flashcards” instead of “study biology”).
• Break long tasks into short, manageable chunks.
• Use timers and structure
• Try the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes focused work, 5-minute break.
• Use visual timers or countdown clocks to stay on track.
• Reduce distractions before you start.
• Study in a clutter-free, quiet space.
• Use apps like Forest, Cold Turkey, or Freedom to block distractions.
• Keep only what you need in front of you.
• Try listening to instrumental music, white noise, or brown noise if it helps you personally.
• Use calendars, planners, or visual checklists
• Color-code tasks or use stickers to make it engaging.
• Talk out loud, teach the material to someone (or yourself!), or write on a whiteboard.
• Make learning physical—use flashcards, walk around while reviewing, or fidget with a small object.
• Take movement breaks: stretch, walk, dance—whatever works for you.

Prepare Early
Start studying in advance to avoid last-minute stress. Feeling prepared builds confidence.

Practice Under Test Conditions
Try timed quizzes or mock exams to get used to the pressure and format.

Use Positive Self-Talk
Replace thoughts like “I’m going to fail” with “I’ve prepared and I can do my best.”

Breathe and Reset
Deep breathing or grounding techniques (like 5-4-3-2-1) can calm your mind before and during a test.

Get Good Sleep
A well-rested brain works better than a sleep-deprived one—even if you don’t feel 100% ready.

Eat Before the Test
Fuel your brain with a light, balanced meal or snack to stay focused and alert.

Stay in the Moment
If you feel overwhelmed, pause, refocus, and tackle one question at a time.

Talk to Someone
If anxiety is really interfering, don’t hesitate to reach out to your advisor, a counselor, or support services.

You can also check out Dr. O's Test Anxiety Workshop video as well as other resources on our success skills page.

There are several resources available in the "Time Management" section of our success skills page. Check out the tips, tricks, and interactive materials available!

Balancing school, work, family, and life can be tough, but by putting effort into planning, communication, and giving yourself grace, you can succeed. Start by prioritizing what’s most important each day, and use a planner or calendar to stay organized. To help you prioritize, try using an Eisenhower Matrix. Create a weekly routine that includes time for classes, studying, work, and rest. You can use the SSC's "Where Does the Time Go?" interactive time management tool to help you schedule your time effectively. Be open with your professors, boss, and family about your schedule—honest communication can lead to more flexibility and support.

1. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Liftoff!
Instead of sitting on the launchpad with everything ready but never hitting ‘go', when you feel the urge to procrastinate, whether it's because you're dreading a task or just don't feel like it, start a countdown from 5 to 1. As you count down, mentally prepare yourself to initiate the task at "1". The moment you reach "1", you must immediately "launch" into the task, without overthinking or delaying. You’ve got the tools—you just need to press ignition and take off.

2. Start Small—Really Small
Using the aforementioned "5 Second Rule", start by picking the smallest possible task (open the doc, write one sentence, review one note). Just doing something is progress.

3. Make a To-Do List You Can Win At
Break tasks into tiny, check-off-able steps. Checking things off builds momentum.

4. Set a Timer and a Reward
Work for 20–25 minutes, then give yourself a break or treat—like a snack, a walk, or scrolling your favorite app guilt-free. Just don't lose track of time!

5. Change Your Environment
Go somewhere that signals “study mode”—library, quiet café, or a designated desk spot. A new space can reset your focus.

6. Remind Yourself Why It Matters
Even if the class feels boring or tough, connect it to your bigger goals (like graduating, getting a job you want, or just passing this semester).

7. Don't Wait for Motivation—Use Routine Instead
Motivation is unreliable. Routines are not. If you study at the same time each day, it becomes easier—even automatic.

8. Be Kind to Yourself
Perfection isn’t required. Showing up and trying—especially on tough days—is a win.

The Student Success Commons has several resources designed to help student understand and beat procrastination, all of which you can find on our college and career success resources page. Explore the videos, documents, and interactive tools.