The faculty and staff at Dutchess regard student services as an integral part of the total college experience. A conscientious effort is made to know students as individuals and to serve them as such. The Department of Student Services includes the following offices: admissions, registrar, counseling and career services, accommodative services, financial aid, health services, and student activities. They are coordinated and directed by the dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management.
Academic Advisement and Orientation
Academic Advisement
Each full-time student at the College is assigned an advisor who assists in the selection of courses and meeting curriculum requirements. Advisement for part-time students is provided day and evening hours at the Academic Advising Center adjacent to the Registrar’s Office. Students are urged to take the initiative in meeting early and regularly with their advisors and to take full advantage of the advisement services that are available. It is the students’ responsibility to make certain that graduation requirements are met.
Orientation For New Students
To acquaint new full-time and part-time students with its educational philosophy, programs, and standards, the College encourages them to participate in an orientation program prior to their first semester at Dutchess. Orientation each semester consists of a comprehensive program for full- and part-time students in the week prior to classes. A Club Fair is held early in the semester to encourage involvement in extracurricular activities.
The goals of orientation are:
1. To acquaint new students with the College, its academic programs, facilities, resources, services, activities, policies, and organization.
2. To assist them in taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the College.
3. To help them in developing effective approaches to the problems frequently encountered by beginning college students.
A Fall Parents Night is an additional component of the Freshman Orientation Program. Parents have the opportunity to find out what programs, services, and academic options are available to their sons and daughters.
Counseling and Career Services
The Office of Counseling and Career Services provides campus-wide programs and services to enhance, as well as stimulate, student development. Counseling services are available to students by appointment, or during walk-in hours. Counselors are on staff to address a variety of issues and concerns. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, call (845) 431-8040.
Career Planning
Career Counseling assists students with identifying and implementing education and career goals. Career assessment and information about occupations are available. Services include career counseling, workshops, resume and job search assistance.
A discovery lab houses a career and transfer library, which is available for students desiring to research career options and four-year colleges and universities. A web-based computerized career guidance system is available to give students an opportunity to explore career and transfer options. It facilitates a self-paced analysis of the student’s skills, abilities, and interests to enable them to better select employment opportunities, a major or curriculum of interest, a geographic location for future transfer or employment options, and much more.
Personal Counseling
Confidential counseling is provided for students whose personal or emotional difficulties are interfering with their ability to be successful. Any student experiencing a crisis or any personal difficulties is encouraged to seek the help of a counselor. Services are available to help students address a variety of issues, including: college adjustment, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, family concerns, alcohol, and other drug issues. In addition to individual counseling, workshops and seminars are offered on topics such as test anxiety, communications skills, self-esteem, wellness and assertiveness. Referrals to other community resources may be made.
Employment Services
Employment services are available to students who are seeking full- or part-time employment on campus or in the community, to earn money while they are enrolled in school or when they enter their career upon graduation. These services include assistance with employment, résumés (including an online résumé bank), mock interviews, and networking. DCC students can utilize Falcon Career Network, DCC’s web-based job board. For information concerning placement, contact the Office of Counseling and Career Services, Orcutt Student Services Center, Room 301, (845) 431-8040.
Transfer to Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Dutchess Community College graduates transfer to a variety of colleges and universities across the country, both public and private. Students planning to transfer should matriculate, in general, in an associate in arts (A.A.) or an associate in science (A.S.) degree program. These programs are designed as university-parallel programs and offer the student the greatest opportunity to transfer with junior status, with the expectation of completing the baccalaureate degree in an additional two years of full-time study.
The College has a number of articulation, or transfer, agreements which facilitate the transfer of A.A. and A.S. graduates to four-year institutions. In addition, an opportunity to continue full-time study at a four-year state university or college is guaranteed to all New York residents who transfer directly from a SUNY two-year college with an A.A. or A.S. degree. It should be noted, however, that this policy does not guarantee a student admission to the campus or program of his/her choice.
Students planning to seek immediate employment upon graduation usually matriculate in an associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree program. Many A.A.S. graduates, however, transfer to senior institutions. Dutchess Community College has transfer agreements with some senior institutions that facilitate the transfer of students from career programs. In general, however, graduates of career programs should anticipate needing more than two years of full-time study to complete the baccalaureate degree.
Students considering transfer are advised to consult with their academic advisor and a transfer advisor (Orcutt Student Services Center, Room 301 (845) 431-8040) for advice in selecting their courses at DCC. College catalogs, articulation agreements, brochures and reference books are available to assist students in their planning.
DCC graduates have transferred to all SUNY colleges and universities, as well as to other fine institutions such as Bard College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Fordham University, Marist College, Mount Saint Mary College, New York University, Pace University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vassar College, Yale University, Tulane University, Smith College and many others.
Disability Services
The Office of Accommodative Services provides support services for students to accommodate for physical, emotional, visual, hearing, and learning disabilities. The coordinator acts as a liaison with faculty and administrative offices as well as numerous outside agencies serving students with disabilities.
Students who have a disability are encouraged to identify themselves in person at the Office of Accommodative Services. Documentation of the disability is required. Once documentation is received, arrangements may be made for support services, classroom accommodations, testing accommodations, advisement, registration, and use of adaptive equipment.
The campus buildings are all physically accessible with walkways clearly marked. There are medical and handicapped parking spaces available throughout the campus. A state issued handicapped parking hangtag is required to park in the designated spaces. Students with special needs should contact the Office of Accommodative Services.
For further information concerning services for disabled students, contact the coordinator of disability services located in Orcutt Student Services Center, Room 303, (845) 431-8037.