Oct 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 Student Handbook

Services For Students



Academic Achievement Centers

The Academic Achievement Centers (AACs) located on each campus offer free faculty tutoring with no appointment needed. The AACs also provide DMACC students a supportive place to complete homework and study with peers.

Faculty provide support with the following areas:

  • College course work in English, math, writing, and sciences, with other subjects available depending on the DMACC location.
  • Study strategies and test taking
  • High school programs through HiSET or high school completion
  • Individualized learning goals and plans

Academic Advising

Academic Advisors are available to assist students in planning their educational programs, meeting graduation requirements, developing their academic skills and using resources of the College to meet student educational needs. Transfer planning assistance is available. Students should bring a photo ID with them. For detailed information on advising services, visit Academic Advising.

Bookstores

Campus Stores are located at Ankeny, Boone, and Urban campuses to serve students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Boone Campus Store serves course materials for the Boone Campus and Ames Center. The Urban Campus Store serves course materials for the Urban Campus and the Southridge Center. The Ankeny Campus Store serves course materials for the Ankeny Campus, the Carroll Campus, the Newton Campus, the West Campus, and online courses. Online orders can be placed for pick up at any Campus Store location or delivery. Please allow an additional two business days for pick up orders placed between campuses. Photo IDs are required for picking up online orders at all locations.

All major payment cards are accepted. Students with Financial Aid accounts may charge required course materials and general education supplies to their student accounts at the Campus Stores, or through the store websites; please contact Student Accounts or the Financial Aid Office for further information. Cash, store gift cards, and first party checks are also accepted. Photo ID is required for Financial Aid, third party accounts, and check transactions.

The Campus Stores operate Monday through Thursday 9:00AM to 4:00PM, and Friday 9:00AM to 3:00PM during regular terms. Please see the Campus Stores’ individual websites for Back to School hours.

A receipt is required for all refunds or exchanges. Financial Aid purchases must be returned to the Campus Store they were purchased from. Course materials can only be refunded by the last day to drop classes and must be in the same condition they were sold. Computers and technology can only be returned if unopened. All other products can be returned within thirty days of purchase.

For additional information, visit the DMACC Campus Stores.

Campus Health

The Boone Campus Health Specialist is located in Room 129 in the Boone Student Services Office. This service is available Monday- Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. pm and by appointment. Students must be currently enrolled in classes to utilize Campus Health Services. Limited medical care, immunizations, first aid and referrals are available. Contact the Boone Campus Health Specialist at 515-433-5030 to schedule an appointment (Appointments are strongly recommended and required for some services). Most health services are free or have a minimal charge. No health insurance required.

Disclaimer-Campus Health is not a substitute for, or replacement for, your primary care provider. Services provided here are given as a consultation to your primary care provider. If the question exists concerning availability of services, please contact the Campus Health Nurse prior to visit. Treatment is not guaranteed for pain management, chronic health concerns or occupational health-related events.

Campus Recreation

Intramural Sports, Club Sports and Outdoor Recreation opportunities are available for DMACC students.

All currently enrolled DMACC students, faculty/staff are eligible to participate in Campus Recreation Activities free of charge including: flag football, basketball, volleyball and other sports and activities.

DMACC Campus Recreation provides quality recreational and education programs fostering awareness about healthy lifestyles to serve the needs of students, staff, and faculty.

For more information, visit the Campus Recreation site.

Campus Security

Campus Security is provided on site at the DMACC Ankeny, Boone, Newton, Urban and West Campuses and the Southridge Center.  DMACC contracts with a third-party vendor for security services, Securitas, Inc. DMACC also works closely with local law enforcement to assist in providing a safe and secure environment at each of our locations. DMACC provides regular security officer coverage at the Ankeny, Urban, Boone, Newton and West Campuses and at the Southridge and Hunziker Centers. For security assistance at any location, please call 515-964-6500 or 5-6500 from a campus phone.

DMACC implements a variety of security measures including uniformed armed and unarmed security officers, video surveillance, building security and access control systems, exterior lighting, InformaCast emergency mass notification system with panic alarms, etc. DMACC also works closely with local law enforcement at each DMACC location to patrol DMACC property and assist in their respective jurisdictions. DMACC Security officers enforce parking regulations, help to ensure over-all safety and security, provide safety escorts to and from vehicles or buildings upon request, and generally aid the college community when needed.

Career Services

DMACC Career Services supports students and alumni with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to navigate their unique career journeys. Our mission is to foster holistic career development by providing personalized support, innovative programming, and meaningful connections to career opportunities on- and off-campus. Our services and resources include:

  • Career coaching services and assessments to help students and alumni navigate the career decision making process and identify college programs and occupations that may fit their unique interests, personalities, skills, and values
  • Job and internship search assistance, including resume and cover letter reviews and mock interviews
  • DMACC’s free online job and internship board for students and alumni, Handshake.
  • Recruiting events throughout the year to help students and alumni connect with employers
  • Job market information and DMACC graduate employment data

The DMACC Career Services office is located on the Ankeny campus and serves students and alumni of all DMACC locations and programs. Learn more about the Career Center. Other inquiries can be directed to the Career Center at careers@dmacc.edu or 515-964-6463.

Child Care

The DMACC Child Development Center on the Ankeny Campus provides child care for the children of students, faculty and staff. Children ages eight weeks to five years old are eligible for child care during normal college daytime business hours. Children must attend on a full- or part-time, regularly scheduled basis. The child development center is open year-round on student contact days only. There is generally a waiting list. To apply or request more information, call 515-964-6588 or visit DMACC’s Child Care page. For additional child care information on the other campuses, contact a DMACC Informational Specialist at 515-964-6200 or 800-362-2127. Children should not be brought to class or left unattended at clinical sites or attendance centers, in classrooms, or anywhere else on College property. See DMACC policy ES 4616 in the DMACC Policies and Procedures Catalog.

Counseling

The College provides professional counselors to support students in career and educational planning and to assist in addressing personal concerns and challenges. DMACC counselors provide mental health counseling, advocacy, and referral services that enhance a student’s well-being within a confidential, safe and culturally-honoring environment. Counselors are able to assist students in making decisions and planning for a successful future. Counselors are available to discuss concerns such as life direction and decisions, coping with academic difficulties and adjustments, interpersonal relationships, symptoms of a mental health concern, or anything else that impacts a student’s well-being or mental health.

When treatment needs indicate more intensive or long-term therapy or require resources and competencies beyond what the DMACC Counseling Department can provide, counselors will assist with a referral to an appropriate community mental health care provider or resource.

DMACC aslo offers up to six free counseling sessions through the Student Assistance Program (SAP), operated by Compass Clinical Associates in Urbandale. Students may contact Compass Clinical Associates directly at 515-412-5112, and identify themselves as a current DMACC student to arrange a confidential visit with a therapist.

For more information about DMACC Counseling services, please visit the Counseling website. 

Students experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis should contact 911 or 988 or go to their nearest hospital emergency room for help. 

 

Dental Services

Dental Hygiene students on the Ankeny Campus provide the following preventive dental services for DMACC students and the community at a reduced fee: oral health assessment, teeth cleaning, oral care, sealants, amalgam polishing, fluoride treatment, X-rays, nutritional counseling and oral cancer screenings. To schedule an appointment, call 515-964-6280.

Emergency Auto Service

DMACC Campus Security is available to assist students with a variety of vehicle issues such as jumpstarts, low tire pressure, or vehicle unlocks. Please Campus Security at 515-964-6500 or by campus phone at 5-6500. If DMACC Security is not available, students should call a vehicle repair shop or locksmith as needed. DMACC Security services are provided free of charge.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is any form of funding that helps you pay for college. All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To apply for financial aid, you will need to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is available beginning October 1 each year for the upcoming academic year. DMACC provides a step-by-step guide and a checklist to help you understand how to access financial aid.  

Financial aid is awarded based on full-time attendance. Any awards offered may be prorated or reduced if students are enrolled less than full-time. For example, your Federal Pell Grant will be prorated (reduced) if you are attending less than full-time. Most assistance is based on demonstrated financial need; however, some forms of assistance are based solely on merit (such as many scholarships).

There are four main types of financial aid. Students are usually offered a combination of aid (known as a package) from these four programs: grants, loans, scholarships and Work-Study. Students are encouraged to visit the DMACC Financial Aid website for more information about the different types of financial aid awards.

Financial Aid Requirements:

DMACC will receive your FAFSA from the federal government within 5-7 days after it is processed. DMACC will then reach out to you via your DMACC and personal email addresses. We will also text you if you provided your cell phone number on your Application for Admission. The Financial Aid Office will primarily use your DMACC email address to contact you, so check it often. Within the email or text you will be directed to Banner Self Service (accessible through myDMACC) to view your additional “requirements”. Students may view their financial aid requirements for the current year by logging into myDMACC and selecting Banner Self Service. All required information must be submitted before you can be offered a Financial Aid Award. DMACC provides instructions for viewing Financial Aid Requirements on Banner Self Service on the Financial Aid webpage.

Financial Aid Award:

Students will receive an email and/or text from the Financial Aid Office notifying them when they have a financial aid Award Offer ready to be reviewed. You will need to review the Award Offer carefully and follow the directions to log into myDMACC and select Banner Self Service to accept your Financial Aid Award. The Financial Aid Office offers instructions for accepting your Financial Aid Award on the department’s webpage. 

The ​”Financing Your Education at DMACC”​(PDF) booklet is a valuable resource you can use to learn more about the types of financial aid you may have been offered.

For questions, email the Financial Aid Office at finaid@dmacc.edu or call the office at 515-964-6282, or 800-362-2127, ext. 6282.

Food Services

Vending machines are available on each campus. Ankeny has restaurants available in Building 5, and Boone has food services prepared on-site. For formal dining, Culinary Arts students on the Ankeny Campus also operate the Bistro, located in Building 7.

Housing

For student housing options and area apartment information, visit DMACC Campus Housing. For more information about student housing at the Boone Campus/Borgen Square Apartments, contact the Housing Director Nic Mishler via phone at 515-298-4985 or email BooneCampus@dmacc.edu for information.

For more information about student housing at the Carroll Campus/Hope Hall, contact the Housing Director Julie Lueth via phone at 712-792-8332 or email jalueth@dmacc.edu for more information.

Libraries

Library services are provided at all six DMACC campus locations. Library collections include:

  • Books (electronic, audio and paper)
  • Journals, magazines and newspapers (electronic and paper)
  • Videos (hard copy and electronic)
  • Academic and leisure materials
  • Library of Things (calculators, hotspots, laptops, etc.)

The DMACC Libraries website provides students, faculty and staff access to a wide range of online resources, including numerous databases that provide 24/7 access to popular and scholarly articles, as well as citation software and supplemental resources/services to help you succeed with your academic work.

Our libraries are located at the Ankeny, Carroll, Boone, and Urban (Des Moines) campuses.

Lost & Found

Lost & Found is maintained in the Student Activities Office at the Ankeny Campus, the Business Office at the Boone and Carroll Campuses, the Front Desk at Newton Campus, the Information Desk at West Campus and the Security Office at Urban Campus.

Notary Public

Free notary public service is located in the business office in Building 1 on the Ankeny Campus, the main office at the Carroll Campus, the Business Office at the Boone Campus and the Provost’s Office at the Urban and West Campuses. Please check with local campus for dates and times of service.

Scholarship & Grant Programs

Scholarships:

Students seeking scholarship opportunities are encouraged to visit the Foundation Scholarship Program page to obtain information about scholarships and/or to submit a scholarship application electronically.

Financial Aid Grants:

Students seeking grants from federal and state sources should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 of each year. A description of the grant programs available to students who complete the FAFSA may be viewed on the Types of Financial Aid page.

Students With Disabilities

DMACC is committed to providing an accessible environment that supports students with disabilities in reaching their full potential. Accommodations are available to ensure equal access to educational opportunities. Specialized software, testing accommodations, classroom accommodations and sign language interpreting are examples of accommodations.

DMACC employs a Disability Services Coordinator to work with students to develop and coordinate services based on individual student need. Students start the process of requesting accommodations by completing the Application for Accommodation, and then submitting both the application and disability documentation to the Disability Services Coordinator. Please visit the Disability Services Office website for more information.

Testing Centers

The Testing Center on each campus provides admission testing, make-up testing, the proctoring of tests for courses taken at other institutions, and challenge tests for DMACC courses, along with certification and admission tests. Students must arrange with their instructors to have make-up tests sent to the Testing Center. When students arrive to take their exams, they are required to present photo identification, such as a valid government issued ID. For testing information visit the Testing Center website.

Tutoring

Peer tutors are available to assist students who need tutoring in a particular course or courses. Knowledgeable tutors help students review the course material, answer questions and review for exams. Students may be scheduled individually or with a group.

For more information, call the Tutoring Office on the Ankeny Campus at 515-965-7004 or stop by Bldg. 6, Rm 20. For information about tutoring services on the Boone, Carroll, Newton, Urban or West Campuses, contact the Academic Achievement Center at the campus attended. The College does not guarantee the availability of tutors in every subject.

DMACC hires students as peer tutors. Apply on campus at the Ankeny Tutoring Office or any of the Academic Achievement Centers to work in a fun, flexible environment and earn extra money while on campus.

Veterans’ Services

The DMACC Veterans’ Services Coordinator assists eligible students in receiving veterans’ education benefits, acts as a liaison between the students and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), coordinates with the State Approving Agency within the Iowa Department of Education and serves as a resource to other DMACC departments.

The Veterans’ Services Coordinator maintains a list of all programs approved by the VA for educational benefits. Monthly benefit rates are set by Congress and vary according to Chapter of GI Bill used, eligibility criteria and rate of pursuit.

Types of veterans’ education benefits through the VA:

  • Former Active Duty veterans-Ch. 30, Ch. 33-Post 9/11
  • Current Iowa Army/Air National Guard members-Ch. 1606, Ch. 33-Post 9/11
  • Current U.S. Military Reservists-Ch. 1606, Ch. 33-Post 9/11
  • Participants in the VA Vocational Rehabilitation program-Ch. 31
  • Surviving dependents/spouses of service-related disabled or deceased veterans-Ch. 35

Eligible students can receive educational benefits during Fall and Spring semesters and Summer terms at DMACC and may receive benefits enrolled at full-time, three-fourths time, half-time, or less than half-time.

Eligible students should complete the Veteran’s Online Application (VONAPP) at the VA Benefits Administrations’s Education and Training site prior to the beginning of the semester (Fall, Spring or Summer). This is a one-time application. It may take up to 90 days for the VA to process the application.

STUDENTS MUST notify the DMACC Veterans’ Services Coordinator that they are attending DMACC and that they wish to use their veterans’ education benefits. Failure to notify the Veterans’ Services Coordinator may delay payments from the VA.

Further details may be obtained at the Office of Student Financial Aid/Veterans Services, Ankeny Campus, 515-964-6278, or toll-free 800-362-2127 or on the DMACC Veterans Services website.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling

Through an agreement with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a vocational rehabilitation counselor is assigned to the College to provide rehabilitation services to eligible students with disabilities. Individualized services to help students achieve their vocational goals are identified in a jointly developed written rehabilitation plan. Vocational rehabilitation counseling is provided to eligible students by a professional counselor who has expertise in disability and vocational areas. For more information, please contact the Disability Services office in Ankeny at 515-964-6234.