Frequently Asked Questions - Current Students
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Yes, DMACC provides many services to assist students in selecting a major. These services are detailed below and include the Career & Transfer Resource Center, advisors, counselors, and a career planning course.
The
Career Center is an excellent place to find information on careers, majors, and transfer schools. The CTRC is located on the Ankeny campus; other campuses provide similar resources through the Counseling and Advising Offices. The CTRC is open to all students on a walk-in basis, but appointments are encouraged. The CTRC also has information online regarding "Steps for Choosing a Major".
Students who have career and/or transfer goals in mind may wish to visit with an advisor. Advisors are available to help you determine the best major for your career or transfer goals, assist you in using CTRC resources, and help you gather more information.
Students who are undecided about their career goals should visit with a counselor. DMACC
counselors can assist you in identifying a career path that will fit with your skills, interests, and personality. Counselors may review your background and experience, talk with you about interests, offer career inventories, acquaint you with the CTRC, provide numerous resources, and assist you in setting goals.
DMACC also offers a one-credit Career Exploration course (SDV130). This is an elective course which provides more in-depth exploration of options.
DMACC welcomes students to attend
classes on a part-time basis, but there are many individual
circumstances you need to consider before changing your enrollment
status. Your financial aid, insurance coverage, and/or outside funding
could be affected if you drop below full-time status.
It is
important to verify how you will be affected before making the decision
to change your enrollment status. Students receiving financial aid
should check with the
Financial Aid Office.
Students covered under a parent's insurance plan should check with the
parent or insurance company. International students should check with
their International Advisor. Students who are being supported by outside
agencies or programs should verify enrollment requirements with the
agency providing funding. It is also a good idea to check with your
program advisor
or program chairperson to ensure the program can be completed on a
part-time basis. Dropping below full-time status will usually lengthen
the amount of time it takes you to complete your program of study.
Some courses offer a waitlist. The process is outlined on DMACC’s Waitlist webpage.
One resource that aids students in
determining what degree requirements have been met and what requirements
still need to be fulfilled is called a degree audit. An audit compares
the courses in your academic record to the courses required to graduate
from your program of study and students can generate a degree audit in
the myDMACC using the
DegreeWorks tool.
First, it is important to plan ahead.
Part of the planning process includes taking steps to ensure you
understand and meet all graduation requirements and deadlines. Students
who do not plan ahead often experience a delay in graduation because of
unmet degree requirements or missed deadlines. Therefore, you are
encouraged to meet with an advisor the semester before you intend to
graduate. An advisor can confirm which courses you need to earn your
degree and explain graduation processes and deadlines. All graduating
students must submit an
Application for Graduation by the specified deadline date. Please review the
Application for Graduation & Commencement web page for deadlines and additional information.
It is important to utilize all of the
resources that are available to you. DMACC is committed to student
success and provides many wonderful resources at no additional charge to
our students. Academic resources include: your instructor(s), the
Academic Achievement Center, and Tutoring.
If you are struggling
in class(es), a good first step is to visit with your instructor(s).
Instructors can provide feedback and offer guidance. They have direct
access to your work and may have insight into the specific concepts or
areas that are causing your struggles.
The
Academic Achievement Center
(AAC) is an excellent resource for students who need academic
assistance outside of the classroom. The AAC is staffed with instructors
who specialize in a variety of subject areas. AAC instructors can
assess your skill level and assist you in the learning process. AAC
instructors often conduct workshops on test anxiety, test taking skills,
note taking skills, study skills, gearing up for finite math, time
management, and other relevant topics. AAC instructors are also
available to assist students with these issues on an individual basis.
Tutoring
services are available to students who need additional assistance in a
particular class. Tutors can be scheduled on a one-on-one or group
basis.
If you believe your difficulties stem from personal issues, you are encouraged to meet with one of our
counselors. Symptoms
of personal issues might include difficulty concentrating, problems with
class attendance, lack of confidence, anxiety, etc.
Registration dates vary. Please check the
Registration webpage or the credit course schedule for specific dates. We also encourage students to meet with an
advisor prior to or during registration for classes. An advisor can check your progress and offer guidance on course selection.
To change your program of study, request a Program Change Form from the Admissions Office at 515-965-7337 or
admissions@dmacc.edu. The Admissions Office will process your request and notify you of your admission status.
If you are on academic probation it
means your cumulative GPA is below 2.0. In order to achieve good
academic standing at DMACC your cumulative GPA must be 2.0 or higher.
You are encouraged to meet with an advisor or counselor to discuss your
situation and to find strategies that will help you achieve good
academic status.
Students who have been placed on academic
probation must earn at least a 2.0 semester GPA to avoid being placed on
"conditional enrollment". A student who is placed on conditional
enrollment
must meet with a counselor before registering for future classes. You are encouraged to review our
Scholastic Standards for more detailed information about these academic policies.
Yes, it is possible to transfer
credits from another college. Before choosing to take a class at another
college it is important to contact our Credentials Office at
515-964-6644 or
credentials@dmacc.edu to
verify how the course will transfer to DMACC. The Credentials Office
will need to know where you plan to take the course as well as the
course number and the course title. Please plan ahead because the
Credentials Evaluator will likely need to research the course before
providing you with a definitive answer.
To transfer credit earned
at another college, students must request that a transcript bearing the
official seal and signature of the official in charge of the records be
sent directly to the DMACC Admissions Office by each college previously
attended. Upon receipt, the transcript will be forwarded to the
Credentials Office for evaluation.
Refer to our
Transfer Credit Policy for more information.