The faculty and staff at Dutchess regard stu-dent 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, Student Advocacy and Accountability, The Academic, Career and Transfer (ACT) Center, The Center for College Access and Educational Opportunities, Veteran Services, Accommodative Services, Counseling Services, Health Services, Student Activities, Academic Housing and Athletics. They are coordinated and directed by the Dean of Student Services.

Orientation for New Students

To acquaint new full-time and part-time students with the college’s educational philosophy and standards, the College expects 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. A club fair is held early in the semester to encourage involvement in extracurricular activities.

The goals of orientation are:

• To acquaint new students with the College, its academic programs, facilities, resources, services, activities, policies and organizations.

• To assist them in taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the College.

• To provide students with important information about issues and problems frequently encountered by college students as well as the resources and approaches for effective decision making.

Academic, Career and Transfer (ACT) Center

Academic Advisement

The ACT Center provides holistic academic advisement for students including career and transfer planning. ACT coaches teach students the skills needed to choose a major and design an achievable academic plan. As students continue their studies at Dutchess, they can rely on ACT coaches to deliver academic and transfer programming that will expose them to a variety of occupational and scholastic opportunities. All students may utilize the ACT center. Students are urged to take the initiative in meeting early and regularly with their coach and to take full advantage of the advisement services that are available. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain that graduation requirements are met. 

Career Coaching

The ACT Center provides career coaching to all students at any stage in their academic journey, as well as to community members not currently enrolled at Dutchess Community College. Students and community members are provided an opportunity to explore their career options through self assessments and coaching sessions. It is also encouraged and promoted to apply for internships and volunteer opportunities for further career exploration. The academic coaches provide guidance with choosing a major and ensuring it aligns with a student’s career goals. Coaches also provide assistance with job searches, writing cover letters and resumes, and honing job hunting and interviewing skills. Career coaching sessions are tailored to the student’s individual needs and questions. 

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 and who meet the SUNY application requirements. It should be noted, however, that this policy does not guarantee a student admission to the campus or program of his/her choice. Application fee is waived for graduates with an A.A. or A.S. degree for up to seven SUNY schools.

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 attend a Transfer 101 Workshop and then consult with a transfer advisor in the ACT Center (Student Services Center, Room 301 (845) 431-8600). Students are encouraged to attend transfer fairs and transfer events held throughout the year.

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.

Center for College Access & Educational Opportunities

Educational Opportunity Program

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) was established in 1968 by New York state to assist students who show promise of academic success at the college level but may have encountered both academic and financial disadvantages. EOP is designed to provide eligible students with the academic and financial means necessary to ensure success at the college level. To aid its students EOP provides tutoring, academic advisement, career planning, personal counseling, seminars and workshops throughout the year and financial support. Interested and eligible students should  inquire as early as possible; program enrollment is limited. For more information contact the Educational Opportunity Program office at (845) 431-8037.

TRiO

TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded Student Support Services program, sponsored by the U.S Department of Education. TRiO provides comprehensive academic and personal guidance to program students. TRiO staff works with students to assist them with overcoming obstacles in higher education, such as:  limited income, first generation college status, academic need, and or learning differences. TRiO SSS provides a support network, leadership and mentoring opportunities, career exploration and transfer options. The TRiO staff encourages students to pursue their education regardless of socioeconomic, cultural or ethnic backgrounds. The office number is (845) 431-8509. 

Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program

Dutchess Community College has provided a Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) since 1987. Funded by a grant from The New York State Department of Education, the purpose of CSTEP is to assist underrepresented minority or economically disadvantaged students in completing pre-professional or professional education leading to STEM or health-related careers or any field leading to professional licensure by New York state. The services provided to students include undergraduate research experience; summer internships; academic, career and transfer counseling; professional tutoring in areas of science, mathematics, nursing and other fields; special workshops; field trips to other colleges as well as educational activities. For further information about the program and its eligibility requirements, contact the CSTEP office at (845) 431-8089 or CSTEP@sunydutchess.edu.

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program

The  National Science Foundation provides DCC with grant funds to support the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program. The program’s goal is to increase the quality and quantity of students successfully completing STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics associate degree programs and transferring to four-year colleges. LSAMP supports sustained and comprehensive approaches that facilitate achievement of the long-term goal of increasing the number of students who pursue higher education in STEM fields, particularly those from populations underrepresented in STEM fields. LSAMP provides local, national and international research opportunities, summer national and international internships, mentoring, STEM tutoring, developmental workshops, exposure to research conferences and tours to national laboratories. For further information about the program and its eligibility requirements, contact the office at (845) 431-8089. 

Office of Accommodative Services (OAS)

Located in the Orcutt Student Services Center, Room 103, the Office of Accommodative Services is committed to providing equal access for all qualified individuals to its programs and educational opportunities. The purpose of laws for post-secondary Disability Services Offices is to eliminate barriers that would deny students with disabilities equal access, so that students with disabilities have the same access to programs and services as students without disabilities. 

A person with a disability is any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, walking, seeing, breathing, learning, concentrating or performing manual tasks. Academic adjustments are made, on an individual basis, to requirements for students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to fully participate in program or course activities, as well as nonacademic program or activity requirements such as clubs, residence life and athletics.

Academic adjustments may include, but are not limited to, testing or classroom accommodations and use of auxiliary aids or services. Faculty are not expected to alter their standards for evaluation or substantially alter an essential element of a course or program. To receive academic adjustments, students must identify a disability that impacts their ability to access the academic environment, provide documentation of the disability (2 – 4 weeks prior to need for accommodations), and meet with OAS staff to develop and implement an appropriate plan for access. Accommodations are determined through an interactive process between the student OAS staff and DCC personnel according to the specific course or college activity.   

Meetings with our staff may be scheduled through video or telephone conferencing if needed. 

There is no deadline for requesting new accommodative services, or review of current plans based upon changes in condition or course requirements.

Accommodations do not automatically transfer from other institutions.

Accommodations are not retroactive and are effective only after the student completes an intake with OAS and discloses their access plan to faculty/staff. During this intake meeting, students are assisted to identify their point of impact, understand the course delivery and potential barriers to participation. Academic support plans such as referrals to tutors, technology training, and success strategies are developed as well.

All specific information provided concerning a disability is confidential and is released only with the student’s consent. 

Students are advised to maintain a copy of their documentation for future use; files will be purged after seven years of inactivity with OAS services.

Additional information is available at https://www.sunydutchess.edu/academics/accommodative/.

We are a National Voter Registration Act Site: https://system.suny.edu/university-life/voter-registration/.

Students who believe they are experiencing disability-related discrimination on campus may contact the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the grievance procedures, or wish to pursue an alternative to using these procedures, you may file a complaint against the school with the Office of Civil Rights: (http://www.ed.gov/ocr/docs/howto.html).

Counseling Services

The Counseling Center, located in the Student Services Center, Room 303, provides campus-wide programs and services for students to enhance wellness, personal development and growth. There are many challenges that people confront during their college years. Navigating these conflicts is integral to succeeding. 

Counseling services are available through DutchessCounseling, which provides students access to free, confidential 24/7/365 mental health telecounseling from anywhere in the United States. Whether feeling anxious or overwhelmed, students can talk to a licensed provider from a smartphone or any web-enabled device.

Students should register at dutchesscounseling.com to have these services available when needed. DCC email is used to register. There are two ways to access mental health services:

•  TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand access to a mental health professional to talk about anything at any time.

•  Scheduled Counseling: set up an appointment to speak to a licensed counselor.

For additional information or for updates on programming, call (845) 431-8040 or visit the website at www.sunydutchess.edu/dutchesscounseling.

Veterans Services

A comprehensive program at Dutchess Community College that provides services to active military service, veterans, spouses and dependent children (students) receiving VA Educational benefits. A Veteran’s Resource Center, located in Hudson Hall, room 212 was established in the Fall 2015 term. The VRC includes an administrative office for the Coordinator and lounge for students to study, meet, socialize and congregate for programming based on the wellness wheel model.