FAQs

How are students rewarded for their academic accomplishments?

Full-time student and part-time students who complete a minimum of six semester credit hours and earn a 3.50-3.99 grade point average in any term are honored by being named to the Dean's List. Full-time and part-time students who complete a minimum of six semester credit hours and earn a 4.0 grade point average in any term are honored by being named to the President's List. Candidates for graduation who earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 in course work applicable to their study will graduate with program honors. Phi Theta Kappa is a national scholastic honor society for students of two-year colleges. Membership may be offered to students who have competed at least 12 semester hours of course work with a 3.50 grade point average in courses that apply toward a two-year associate degree program.

DMACC awards eligible Iowa high school valedictorians full tuition for four semesters plus a $500 annual book stipend. In addition, full-time students who are accepted into the Honors Program at DMACC are eligible to receive the Honors Program Tuition Award, an award that pays for up to 20 credits of Honors coursework at DMACC. Students may apply for the Valedictorian Scholarship and for admission into the Honors Program.

How does DMACC help students transfer to a 4-year college/university?

It is never too early for students to start planning their transfer to a four-year college. Planning in advance will increase success in transferring credits. Students should meet with a DMACC counselor or advisor each semester to make sure they are on track and for assistance with planning their schedules. If they are not certain as to where they will transfer after DMACC, they should begin by researching and visiting four-year colleges as soon as possible. Please visit the DMACC transfer website or TransferInIowa.org.

How does DMACC help graduates find jobs?

According to the Graduation Status report, 91% of DMACC gradates looking for work found employment. Services provided by the Career Center office include full-time and part-time job listings, internships and seasonal listings, work-study information, and on-campus recruiting. Students can also receive help with resume writing, application letters, and interviewing techniques.

Does DMACC have a student health service, gym/wellness center?

A nurse is available at Ankeny Campus Health on days when classes are in session. They are open on regular student contact days and hours may vary. All current DMACC students are eligible to participate in Campus Recreation activities at no extra fee. At the Ankeny Campus, students paying for 6 credits or more have free access to Trail Point Aquatics & Wellness.

Where do students eat? Are there meal plans?

Ankeny, Boone, Urban/Des Moines, and West Des Moines campuses have food services where food is prepared on-site. There are no meal plans; students pay at each meal. For formal dining, the Culinary Arts students on the Ankeny Campus operate the Bistro, located in Building 7.

How does DMACC provide safety for its students? Are there late night escorts? Is there a campus security team?

At the Ankeny campus, DMACC provides 24-hour/day security officer patrol. The Urban/Des Moines campus provides security officer patrol Monday through Friday from 7 am - 10:30 pm during student contact days. In addition, the Ankeny, Des Moines, Boone, Carroll, Newton, and West Des Moines Police Departments patrol and assist the college in their respective jurisdictions. Security can escort students to their vehicles, as well as assist students with a flat tire, dead battery, locked car, or low fuel.

Campus Safety

What options are there for student parking? Is there a fee?

Stickers and parking regulations are available at no charge from the Information Center at Ankeny in Building 1 and from the Business Office at the other campuses. Parking regulations apply at all six campuses. Parking lots are marked with signs designating areas for students, disabled, and staff/faculty parking. Violating parking regulations will result in fines. At the Ankeny, Boone, Newton, and Carroll campuses parking permits are required for all vehicles driven by daytime students. At the Urban/Des Moines campus, parking permits are required for all vehicles, day/evening/weekend.

Can students get medical insurance through college?

While DMACC does not provide medical insurance, the campus nurse can provide information regarding medical and dental insurance options for students.

What scholarships are specific to DMACC?

The DMACC Foundation funds scholarships for selected DMACC students. Foundation money comes from private sources, including individual donations, business and industry support and a variety of fundraising activities. These awards are competitive and are awarded through an application process. A full listing of Foundation scholarship awards and deadlines can be found on the website.

Are computer labs available for student use?

DMACC provides its students with the latest equipment in all labs and classrooms. There are over 2,000 computers at the six campuses for students to use on regular student contact days. Students need to contact the campus they plan to attend for computer lab hours.

What are the housing options?

Student housing apartments are conveniently located on the Ankeny and Boone campuses. Information is available from the College Information Center, Building 1, Ankeny campus, and in the Student Services Office at the Boone campus. Information about housing near the Carroll, Newton, Urban/Des Moines, and West campuses is available from Student Services at those campuses.

Housing Information

How Diverse is DMACC?

DMACC's student body is very similar to that of Iowa's overall population and also a variety of students from other countries and cultures.

How many credits should students take to be consider full-time?

Fall Semester 12 credits or more
Spring Semester 12 credits or more
Summer Term 8 credits or more

How is student enrollment verified? Who has access to student grades?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 applies to student educational records and prohibits the release of personally identifiable information from those records without the written release of the student. The only information that is permissible to release is information considered to be directory information (name, address, phone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, previous institutions attended, activity/sports participation, wt/ht of athletic team members). Parents do not automatically have access to their child's information without his/her permission, even when the student is under 18. If your student is interested, he/she may see an advisor or counselor to complete a permission form.

DMACC FERPA website

What services are available if students are having personal problems or are uncertain about career choices?

DMACC provides all students with free and confidential counseling as they work toward their educational, career, and personal goals.

What factors should student consider before dropping a class?

Students are strongly encouraged to visit with advising, counseling and the financial aid office before deciding to drop or withdraw from a course. Dropping below full-time status may impact students' financial aid and/or health insurance eligibility. DMACC students have free access to DMACC tutoring and the Academic Achievement Center services, which are available at all six campuses.

Where can students go for help with their coursework?

Students are encouraged to meet with their instructors during office hours and to form study groups with classmates. DMACC students also have free access to the Academic Achievement Center and tutoring services, which are available on all six campuses. Academic Achievement Centers are staffed with instructors who help with a wide range of college course work, especially in the areas of math, science, English, reading and study skills. Trained peer tutors provide scheduled one-on-one sessions in many subject areas.

What if a student cannot complete the semester?

Students should meet with a counselor to find out what options they may have for withdrawing from school. Students can complete paperwork requesting a waiver for dropping a course after the drop deadline. These waivers are granted only for extenuating circumstances (i.e., illness, accident, death of a family member). Students may also wish to consult their instructors about the option of requesting a grade of "Incomplete."

FAQs

Parents & Families