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Advising FAQ Academic AdvisingWhat services does the Academic Advising office provide? New Students
What is ED? Registration
How do I register for classes? General Student Information
Can I replace a low grade I earned? What services does the Academic Advising office provide?The Academic Advising office provides ACC students and potential students with an on-campus resource of academic advice and support, degree and course planning, and registration assistance. The Academic Advising department is also involved in student outreach and retention programs such as Learning Communities and the Early Alert program. What can I expect from an Academic Advising appointment?
What don’t Academic Advisors do?
What is ED?ED is the online system used by ACC and the Colorado Community College System. Accessing ED will allow you to register for classes, Add, Drop, or Withdraw from courses, check your tuition bill, check class times and availability, and update contact information, amongst many other functions. ED can be accessed at MyCommunity Education. How do I apply to ACC?The Admissions application can be found on ACC’s homepage through the “Apply and Register” link on ACC’s homepage. How will I know if I have been accepted into ACC?After completing an application on ACC’s homepage the student will be notified via e-mail that they have been accepted into ACC. This e-mail notification will also contain the student’s identification number, which will be used for registering for courses. A student’s identification number is NOT the students Social Security Number. When completing the online application form, please be sure to list a current, working e-mail address. Why should I attend New Student Orientation?New Student Orientation is an important step in achieving your educational and professional goals. ACC offers a wealth of student support services that many students are unaware of that can aid in accomplishing your goals. Attending a New Student Orientation gives you access to those services, it also provides an opportunity for you to work on course registration one-on-one with an Academic Advisor. How do I know if courses taken at another college will transfer to ACC?In order to receive credit at ACC for courses taken at previous colleges or universities students should contact each prior learning institution they have attended and have OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) submitted to ACC’s Admissions and Records Department. ACC defines an OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT as one that is given directly by a higher education institution to ACC and does not enter into the student’s possession. The OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT should be sent to the following address:
Do my grades from transfer credits count toward my ACC grade point average (GPA)? Do they count for honors at graduation?No, only grades received at ACC count in your GPA, and your GPA earned at ACC determines honors at graduation. Are there a required number of courses I must complete at ACC to earn a degree or certificate?To earn a degree or certificate at ACC you must complete a minimum number of credits applicable to that degree or certificate program at ACC. Associate degrees require that you complete a minimum of 15 semester credits after transferring any applicable credits towards your degree program from approved colleges or universities. Certificate programs require that you complete at least 50% of the courses required by your program at ACC. What is the ACCUPLACER (formerly CPT)?If you are a student wishing to enroll in a certificate or degree program, you may be required to complete the ACCUPLACER (formerly CPT) assessment in English, Reading, and Mathematics, The Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System (of which ACC is a member) has determined this policy. Assessment helps you and your advisor select courses appropriate for your educational background and in the long term will help you succeed in college. Please visit the ACC Testing Center Web page for further information about testing times, location, and cost. If you are unsure as to whether or not your program has a ACCUPLACER (formerly CPT) requirement, please consult an Academic Advisor. Students may satisfy the ACCUPLACER (formerly CPT) requirement by showing proficiency through ACT or SAT scores, as prior college learning. Please see an Academic Advisor for details. What do my ACCUPLACER (formerly CPT) scores mean?ACCUPLACER (formerly CPT) scores determine a student’s readiness for college level Math, Reading, and English work. Students who do not test directly into college level English or Math courses will be required to complete Developmental Studies coursework. For further information, visit the Developmental Studies Web page. What are Developmental Studies courses?Developmental Studies courses are designed to provide students with rapid skill development to help students be successful in college programs. Developmental Studies courses are designed for students who: have not been in school recently; want help with reading, writing, and math; want to build confidence; want to upgrade workforce skills. For further information, visit the Developmental Studies Web page. How do I choose a degree or certificate program?Degree and certificate programs can be chosen based on a personal or professional interest. ACC offers 130 degree and certificate programs. If you are not sure which degree or certificate program will suit your needs and goals, schedule and appointment with an Academic Advisor to review the requirements and components of particular degree or certificate programs. If you are planning to transfer to a four year college or university an Academic Advisor can assist you in choosing the degree program that will best serve your needs and goals. What can I do, professionally, with a certificate or degree program I’ve selected?The Career Center can assist students in setting career and professional goals. Resources are available in the career center to help students in determining possible careers with specific majors. Where can I find degree and certificate requirements, as well as course descriptions?Course descriptions, as well as degree and certificate requirements can be found in the printed College Catalog, which is available for free on ACC’s Main Campus This information can also be obtained from the ACC homepage, under “Schedules/Catalogs”. Easy-to-read Curriculum Advising guides can be downloaded from the “Departments/Programs” link on ACC homepage. What is the difference between the College Catalog and Schedule of Classes?The College Catalog is a detailed description of all important information, regulations, policies, program requirements, and course descriptions. It can be purchased at the ACC Bookstore or at the Cashier’s Office. The Schedule of Classes is a detailed listing of courses being offered each semester. It is distributed at various locations throughout the campus, such as in the lobby next to Information Central and the Academic Advising office. Both the College Catalog and Schedule of Classes can be downloaded from ACC’s homepage through the “Schedule/Catalogs” link. How can I apply for financial aid?To apply for financial aid, or to request information about financial aid options, please contact the Financial Aid Department. Where can I find information about scholarships, grants, and loans?Information about scholarships, grants, loans, and federal financial aid can be obtained at the Financial Aid Office. How do I register for classes?With the Colorado Community College System online registration system, ED, registering for classes can be quick and convenient. Starting from ACC’s homepage, students should click on the link to “MyCommunity EDucation”, select “Login”, and then enter their student ID (begins with “S”; this is NOT your Social Security Number), and follow the links to the Registration screen. Computers are available on campus to register for classes; students can use the computers in the lobby of the second floor of the main building as well as the Open Computer Lab (Room M1650). If you are a new student or need assistance navigating the registration process, please schedule and appointment to meet with an Academic Advisor. Registration is the Advising Department’s busiest time of the year, so schedule your appointments early! How do I declare my major?Declaring a major can be accomplished by completing the “Student Declaration of Major Form”, which is located at the Information Central Desk. A copy of this form can also be downloaded here. I am thinking about which degree or certificate program to choose, but don’t want to decide right now. What should I do?One of the advantages of attending ACC is that courses can be taken that are guaranteed to transfer to “4-year” public colleges and universities in the state of Colorado. If you are undecided as to which degree or certificate program will best suit your educational and professional goals, meet with an Academic Advisor to review the courses that are part of the statewide Guaranteed Transfer Program. Meeting with an Academic Advisor can help to prevent you from taking courses that will delay your graduation from ACC or delay your admission to a “4-year” college or university. If you are unsure as to how a degree or certificate program at ACC can apply to a profession goal, you may consider visiting the ACC Career Center. Do I need to meet with an Advisor every semester to register?No. However, meeting with an advisor can help to ensure that you achieve your educational and professional goals in a timely and cost-effective manner. Even if you schedule a short appointment to confirm that you are preparing to register for the correct courses your time will not be wasted. It is better to be safe than sorry! How many credit hours are considered “full time”?When a student registers for 12 or more credits in a semester he or she is considered a full time student. What is the maximum number of credit hours I may take in one semester?The maximum number of credits as student may register for is 18. If a student wishes to register for more than 18 hours in one semester they must petition for course overload. This form, titled “Petition for Course Overload”, can be picked up at Information Central. What do “pre-requisite” and “co-requisite” mean?A “pre-requisite” is a course you will need to complete before registering for a course. For example, either PSY 101 (General Psychology I) or PSY 102 (General Psychology II) is a pre-requisite for PSY 235 (Human Growth and Development). Course pre-requisites are identified in the Course Descriptions section of the College Catalog. A “co-requisite” is a course you must complete along with another course. For example, MAT 179 (Computer Applications for Statistical Procedures) is a required co-requisite to MAT 135 (Introduction to Statistics). You must sign up for both courses if a co-requisite is listed. Course co-requisites are identified in the Course Descriptions section of the College Catalog. What is a credit hour?A credit hour is a measure of completed college work. Usually colleges give one credit hour for each hour of class time during the week. For example, MAT 121 (College Algebra) is a 4 credit course. You can expect to spend roughly 4 hours per week in your MAT 121 course. The more credits a course is worth the more demanding you can expect the course to be. How many credits should I take per semester?Generally the answer to this question depends on how much time you have outside of class to devote to your schoolwork. For every 1 credit hour you are enrolled in you can expect to spend 1.5 – 2 hours outside of class working on material for that class. So, for a 3 credit course you should expect to commit 4.5 – 6 hours to that class in addition to the regularly schedule class time. If you are registered for 9 credits during a semester, expect to devote 13.5 – 18 hours to that class outside of the classroom. If you are working a full-time job and/or have children to care for it may be difficult to find an additional 18 hours per week to devote to your studies. If you are having difficulty deciding how many credit hours to take per semester, schedule an Advising appointment to discuss your options. What should I do if I am having academic problems?Always speak with your instructor first about the concerns or difficulties you are having with a course. If, after speaking with your instructor you feel that you further assistance is necessary, make an appointment with an Academic Advisor to discuss your situation. He or she may refer you to the Peer Tutoring Center or suggest other opportunities for academic support on campus. Will I automatically be dropped from a class if I stop attending?NO!!! Dropping a course must be executed before 15% of the class term has been completed. Dropping a class entitles you to a full tuition refund. If you make the decision to remove your name from the class roster after 15% of the class term has been completed and before 80% of the class term has passed you can Withdraw yourself from the course. You are not eligible for a refund if you Withdraw from a class. Both Dropping and Withdrawing from a course can be completed using ED. If you are unsure whether you are eligible to Drop or Withdraw from a course please speak with an Academic Advisor. What is “Add/Drop”?You may Add or Drop a course during the first 15% of the course term. Look for specific dates in the ACC schedule and on the Advising Department’s webpage. Schedule Adjustment Forms (Add/Drop Slips) are available at the Information Central Desk. If you are expecting a refund after Dropping a course please refer to ACC’s refund policy under the “Tuition and Fees” section of the College Catalog. What does it mean to “Withdraw” from a course?Withdrawing yourself from a course drops your name from the class roster, but does not entitle you to a refund. You can withdraw from a class after 15% of the class term has been completed and before 80% of the class term has passed. You can Withdraw from a course using ED or by submitting a Schedule Adjustment Form to Information Central prior to the deadline date for Withdrawals. A “W” grade will appear on your transcript for all OFFICIAL Withdrawals. Refunds are not given for Withdrawals. How will a “W” affect my transcript?A grade of “W” will not affect your credit or cumulative GPA. Instead of a grade for the course, a “W” will be listed on your ACC transcript. What is an “Incomplete”?A grade of “Incomplete” may be given to students who, because of illness or circumstances beyond their control, are unable to complete their coursework within the semester. An Incomplete is given only if you have completed at lease 75% of the term with a grade of “C” or better and have provided evidence to the course instructor that you are unable to continue. An Incomplete Grade Form must be filed by the instructor with the Office of Admissions and Records when submitting class grades. Please see the “Grading System” section of the College Catalog for further details regarding a grade of “Incomplete.” Can I replace a low grade I earned?You may repeat any course and have the newer grade replace an older grade. Please see the “Repeat Courses” section in the College Catalog for guidelines on grade replacement. To obtain a “Repeated Course – Exclude from GPA Request” form please see Information Central or follow the “Important Forms” link on the Advising Department’s webpage. What do “academic probation”, and “academic suspension” mean?A student who has completed at least 13 cumulative credit hours at ACC must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Transfer credits from other institutions will not be calculated in the your ACC GPA. A cumulative GPA lower than 2.0 will place a student on “academic probation.” The Registrar will provide notification to a student placed on academic probation. The probation process involves meeting with an Academic Advisor during each semester of the probation. Probation will remain in effect until the student’s ACC cumulative GPA reaches a minimum of 2.0. While on academic probation a student must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.0 based on hours completed for EACH semester of attendance. A student who falls below the 2.0 semester GPA for any semester while on academic probation will be placed on “academic suspension.” A student will be notified in writing by the Registrar. Suspension denies the student enrollment in credit courses at ACC for the next semester following the first suspension. How can I get tutoring?Free small group and one-on-one tutoring is available on an appointment basis though the Tutorial Services office in Room M2720. Click here for Tutorial Services contact information The Writing Center is available for students who wish to receive assistance with writing assignments. The Writing Center is located in Room M2720 and be reached at 303.797.5669 or e-mail at writingcenter@arapahoe.edu. Where can I print out a copy of my schedule, see my tuition bill, or change my contact information?Each of these tasks can be executed by logging into ED. What is the CLEP test?The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) provides students of any age with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. If you would like to CLEP out of a course please see your instructor or the department chairperson of the subject you would like to CLEP out of. How do I apply for graduation?Students must apply to graduate from their degree and/or certificate program(s). There are application deadlines preceding each semester and charges associated with applying. The process necessary to apply for graduation can be found at the Graduation and Commencement Web page. Graduation applications can be obtained from Information Central or downloaded here. After you submit your application for graduation you will receive a degree audit listing the courses you have remaining in order to complete your degree or certificate. This audit will show courses you are currently enrolled in as courses you need to complete in order to earn a degree or certificate from ACC. How do I prepare for transfer to another college?Your first step in transferring to another college should be to contact that school’s admissions department. There you will receive important dates and deadlines as well as application, degree, and academic program information. To order an OFFICIAL transcript from ACC to be sent to another college please visit the Transcript Requests and Evaluations Web page. |
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