Student Handbook - Student Success

ACT 101

Act 101 is a program for Pennsylvania residents who are educationally under-prepared and who need financial assistance in order to become ready for college-level courses.

The Program is designed to provide educational support services that strengthen students’ academic skills and increase their confidence in their own ability to achieve. Students participating in Act 101 have the unique opportunity to improve skills in English, reading and mathematics before starting the regular college experience.

An intense seven-week summer bridge program gives eligible students an opportunity to improve reading, math and English skills. There is no tuition cost for this program but students must purchase their textbooks. Learn More >>

Online Tutoring

BrainFuse is an online tutoring service offering writing help, math tutoring 24/7 and tutoring in accounting, economics, chemistry, physics, statistics and anatomy and physiology from any internet connected computer. Tutors are all professionals and trained by BrainFuse.

Enrollment Central

Enrollment Central, located in Founders Hall lobby on the Marple Campus, is the College’s one-stop center. Students and visitors check in at the concierge desk, where they are directed to the appropriate area for help. The five walk-up stations provide basic admissions, financial aid, student records, cashiering services as well as where students may obtain their official photo identification cards. Students requiring more intensive or confidential assistance can be helped in the Enrollment Services suite, Room 3500, where International Student Services is also housed. A queuing system alerts students to any wait times they might experience, particularly in peak periods, allowing them the option of staying in the area or going elsewhere until they are notified of their turn.

Change of Address

Students should inform the College of all changes of address by completing a change of address form at Enrollment Central, Marple Campus Room 3535, at an off-campus center Student Services Office. Proof of residency may be required.

Enrollment Certification

Verification and certification of student status, dates of attendance and degrees conferred are performed by Enrollment Central. College policy and the provisions set forth in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 are followed. Letters verifying enrollment for lenders, insurance companies, employers, and others may be requested in person at Enrollment Central located in the Lobby of Founders Hall, on the Marple Campus, or by written request to:

Student Records
Delaware County Community College
901 S. Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063
Fax: 610-723-1530 or email: records@dccc.edu

Forms requiring certification or verification of enrollment by Enrollment Central may be submitted in person or through the mail or online. Please be specific as to the information required, sign the request and provide an address and phone number where you can be reached during business hours (Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) should questions arise concerning your certification request.

Transcript

The transcript is a record of all courses and grades for each semester and includes the overall GPA as well as the term GPA. Students planning to transfer to another college who need to have a transcript sent should complete a request for transcript form online or at Enrollment Central, Marple Campus or an off-campus center Student Services Office. Identification may be required. There is no charge for transcript requests.

Alumni Association

The Alumni Association, incorporated in 1979, offers a variety of services and activities designed to promote interest in the College, raise funds for scholarships and other special projects, and bring alumni back to the College. No dues are charged for membership, which is automatic upon graduation. If you have 16 plus credits at the College and your entering class has graduated, you are also eligible for membership.

The Alumni Office, located on the Marple Campus in Founders Hall, Room 3536, is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. The phone number is 610-359-7399. Students are always welcome to make appointments by emailing alumni@dccc.edu.

Assessment Services

Students will find a variety of testing and related services at the Assessment Services (Marple Campus, Room 4260, 610-359-5322) including placement tests, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), American College Testing (ACT) and General Education Development (GED) exam. The Assessment Services also handles transfer of credit from other colleges, credit for prior college-level learning, change of curriculum, and change of advisor.

Bookstore

The Bookstore, located in Founders Hall, Marple Campus, Room 2545, operated by Follett Higher Education Group (FHEG) and is open while classes are in session Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. When classes are not in session, the hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. In addition to textbooks and school supplies, it also stocks College clothing, candy and other items. Bookstore services are also available during at the beginning and end of each semester at our off-campus centers as well as 24-hours a day through our online bookstore.

Career & Counseling Center

The Career and Counseling Center, Marple Campus, room 1325, 610-359-5324, offers a full range of services for all students. The Center has an extensive library of career and educational resources to help students meet their educational goals.

Counseling is offered for educational, career and personal development. Specifically, counselors can assist with academic problems, selection of an academic major, career direction and personal concerns that may interfere with academic progress. Counseling is a walk-in service for students and appointments are not always necessary.

Career, informational and personal counseling, and academic advising are available to students at the Downingtown Center, Upper Darby Center, Southeast Center, Pennocks Bridge Center and Marple Campus.

Office of Disability Services

The College’s policies and procedures are designed to ensure all qualified students with disabilities have equal access to its educational programs, services and activities. Students with disabilities seeking accommodations must provide current and comprehensive documentation to the Office of Disability Services. Students must then meet with Simone Richardson, Director of Disability Services, to arrange reasonable accommodations. To begin the accommodations process, please complete the Student Accommodations Request Form and submit your accompanying documentation to accommodations@dccc.edu .

If you are a student attending courses at one of our branch campuses, you will meet with the Assistant Director of Disability Services. Additional information may be found on the Disability Services Webpage.

Once you are approved for accommodations, The Office of Disability Services will need your permission to send out your accommodations letters each term. Please reach out to our office via email, phone, or stop by our office via the Marple Campus, Academic Building (Room 1335).

Keep in mind, good communication is key to success! Professors are not required to provide accommodations prior to or retroactive from the date a letter is presented. Students with disabilities are held to the same academic standards as any other student. If students have concerns about the implementation of their accommodations, it is their responsibility to contact the director as soon as possible. Students who feel they have been denied reasonable accommodations may appeal this decision by following the student complaint procedure in the handbook.

Students with mobility impairments needing evacuation assistance in the event of an emergency should contact the director to discuss the evacuation procedures. Students who require Temporary Medical Parking can make parking arrangements by submitting an application.

Emergency Messages

Emergency messages will be delivered to students during class in the case of accidents, missing or ill children, death or serious illness, robbery, fire, or an emergency involving an unattended small child. Calls should be directed to the Career and Counseling Center, (Marple Campus, Room 1325, 610-359-5324) or the main office of an off-campus center. The College has no public address system to locate students outside of class.

Office of Information Technology (OIT)

The mission of the Office of Information Technology is to provide technical innovation and quality support for computer, network and telecommunication services for the College community. The OIT website is located at www.dccc.edu/oit.

DCCCid account
All admitted students are provided a DCCCid account. This account is used to access systems at the College.

Wireless
Registered students can bring their wireless devices and connect to the College wireless network to get access to the Internet.

Open Computer Lab
The College has computers and iMACs available for students to access in various open areas on campus.

Support Center
The OIT Support Center is available for students to report any technical problems. This office will assist with any connectivity issues using student owned equipment. This office is located at the Marple Campus, room 4274, accessible at support.dccc.edu, or by phone at 610-359-5211.

Our support site contains OIT’s Knowledgebase. Knowledgebase lists Q&A (Question & Answer) articles that you can search that may pertain to common questions that students may have and assists on getting familiar with various tools, setups, and valuable information associated with areas within the Office of Information Technology.

delaGATE
The College portal is the College's central source of information for students. The portal is also used for access to systems (financial aid, student records, email, WebStudy, etc.). Students should check their delaGATE accounts frequently.

Email
The College provides all admitted students with email which is the preferred method for all College communications.

Financial Aid Office

The Financial Aid Office, located in Enrollment Central on the Marple Campus, 610-359-5330, is where financial aid application processing is done. Financial aid assistance is available on the Marple Campus at Enrollment Central in Founders Hall Lobby. Financial aid help is also available at the College’s other locations during designated hours. The College participates in the Federal Pell Grant Program, the Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA), Federal SEOG Program, Federal Stafford Loan Programs and the Federal Work/Study Program (we have both on- and off-campus jobs).

The College offers a limited number of grants and scholarships, and many of our students, through their own initiatives and talents have been awarded scholarships from private individuals and organizations. Many of our students also receive funding for their education from agencies such as Veterans Affairs and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Initiating these applications must begin in those agencies.

The easiest way to contact the staff of the Financial Aid Office is by email at finaid@dccc.edu. Students may check their financial aid status in delaGATE. The Financial Aid tab in delaGATE provides a wealth of information and assistance and has links to other relevant sites.

Food Service

Food service is offered in three locations on the Marple Campus: the Cafeteria operated by Canteen Corp.

The Cafeteria, located on the second floor of Founders Hall, is open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are vending machines in the Marple Campus Cafeteria and at all off-campus centers.

International Student Services

The Office of International Student Services supports and coordinates services for international students attending the College. Services include orientation, housing assistance, personal and academic advising.

The office coordinates with other College personnel and services concerning admission, English language classes, finances, and cultural programming. The office also serves as a liaison with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assisting with issuance of appropriate government forms for F-1 students.

The Office of International Student Services is located in the Enrollment Services Suite on the Marple Campus in Founders Hall, 610-359-7322.

Learning Commons

The Learning Commons offers a student-centered environment that provides access to many academic resources and encourages opportunities for collaborative learning. Academic support services found in the Learning Commons include Library and Writing Services, Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring Services. The Learning Commons also offers a wide variety of technology including portable and assistive technologies.

Learning Commons website

Photo ID Cards

The photo ID card is required for a number of student services on campus. The free ID card can be obtained at Enrollment Central at the Marple Campus or at the Learning Commons at the Downingtown Center, Southeast Center and Pennocks Bridge Center. Students are required to show a copy of their current schedule and a valid photo ID to obtain a card. Replacement IDs are $5.

Security / Safety

Delaware County Community College is committed to providing a safe, secure campus for our students, faculty and community. Safety is maintained through the promotion of basic respect for individual rights and personal property at all campuses. The College complies with federal, state and local laws including, but not limited to, those which regulate the possession, use and sale of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs and weapons, sexual assault, destruction of College equipment and buildings, theft, gambling and disorderly conduct.

Based at the Marple Campus, the Department of Safety and Security coordinates all security activities. It provides security services 24 hours per day, seven days per week. A security officer is on duty at the Southeast Center in Sharon Hill, the Downingtown Center and the Pennocks Bridge Center in West Grove during operational hours.

Important Telephone Numbers
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
POLICE EMERGENCY (all locations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIAL 911
Marple Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 610-359-5111
Southeast Center, Sharon Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 610-957-5733
Downingtown Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484-237-6222
Pennocks Bridge Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 610-869-5100
Upper Darby Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 610-723-1240

Emergency Telephones

Emergency telephones are located on campus and in all elevators.

Crime Statistics

Crime statistics information is provided by Delaware County Community College in accordance with the Federal Higher Education Act 20 U.S.C.1092(f) and the College and University Security Information Act of Pennsylvania. These laws require the College to publish crime statistics of certain offensives. To obtain a hard copy of the report visit or contact any of the Colleges security offices. You can also visit the Right to Know page of the website.

Student Employment Services / Co-op Center

The Student Employment Services & Co-op Center, located in room 1305 on the Marple Campus, 610-359-5304, prepares students and graduates for the workforce by teaching job search skills, furnishing current employment information and resources, and providing experiential learning opportunities. The Center offers a variety of services including in-class workshops, resume assistance, mock interviewing, job postings, on-campus employer recruiting, job fairs, on and off campus work study placements, employer career panels and Internet access for job searches. The College's Online Job Board allows students 24/7 access to jobs and the ability to post resumes.

Reference File
The Student Employment Services & Co-op Center will open and maintain a file of faculty references for any student who requests one. Students should contact the Center to open their file.

Cooperative Education
Co-op and internship experiences are structured to explore career options and/or prepare for a specific occupation. Students participating in these activities are advised and assisted in securing appropriate work/learning experiences, gain college credit and are graded for their experience by faculty. Students are placed in paid or non-paid work/learning positions that are directly related to their major field of study and designed to introduce them to a particular career in an actual work environment. Placement is not guaranteed.

Work Study
Work Study is a Financial Aid program that allows students who qualify to work in part-time positions, conveniently located on campus or in a nearby community. Work Study jobs provide students with valuable experience to complement their coursework and build their resume. Currently, there are positions available at all the College's campuses and in many communities around Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties.

Student “Right-To-Know” Information

Federal law requires colleges and universities to make available information on campus crime rates and security policies and procedures. Copies of this report are available through the campus Security Office. Colleges and universities must also make available information on graduation, transfer, persistence and attrition rates for full-time, first-time, degree-seeking students. (For community colleges this is based on the fall 2022 status of students who enrolled in fall 2019.)

Total students: 853
Graduated (degree or certificate): 24% (204 students)
Not graduated, transfer verified: 19% (160 students)
Not graduated, did not transfer, but still enrolled at the College:
14% (118 students)
Total positive outcomes; graduated, transferred, still enrolled: 57%

Transfer Office

The Transfer Office, located in the Career and Counseling Center, Marple Campus, Room 1325, 610-359-5060, www.dccc.edu/transfer, offers valuable resources to students who plan to transfer to a four year college or university. Transfer advisors are available to assist students on an individual basis. Students can also access College catalogs, transfer agreements, course equivalency guides plus additional resources such as scholarship information and college searches. Students planning to transfer are encouraged to utilize the Transfer Office early, preferably within their first semester. Appointments are necessary.

Transfer advising is also available at the Southeast Center, 610-957-5700, Downingtown Center, 484-237-6210 and Pennocks Bridge Center, 610-869-5100.

Veterans Services

The College’s Veteran services include information and referral services, assistance with financial aid application and veterans benefits, and evaluation of military transcripts for college credit. The College seeks to address the challenges returning veterans experience in seeking college level education and training. For information about veterans benefits for financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office at 610-359-5346. For more information regarding the evaluation of military transcripts and referral services, please contact Graf Eggers at 610-359-5347.

Workforce Entry Center

Home of PA CareerLink®, the Workforce Entry Center located in the Academic Building on the Marple Campus provides members of the community an array of career-related services to assist in professional development of re-entry into the workforce. All services are available to our students as well.