Cainon Leeds
Editor-in-Chief
DMACC’s introductory class, the College Experience, is back again this spring.
The College Experience, also known as SDV 108, is a one credit course that covers subjects like time management, program of study, study skills, DMACC policy and procedures, career planning and more.
In the fall 2012 semester, new full-time students were required to take the College Experience class as part of DMACC’s efforts to inform students about DMACC and its services and encourage them to graduate with an Associate’s degree. Now incoming part-time students are required to take the class.
Rita Davenport, a counselor and instructor of the College Experience at DMACC Boone, said, “There are two sides of the class: information about DMACC and student development.”
Editor-in-Chief
DMACC’s introductory class, the College Experience, is back again this spring.
The College Experience, also known as SDV 108, is a one credit course that covers subjects like time management, program of study, study skills, DMACC policy and procedures, career planning and more.
In the fall 2012 semester, new full-time students were required to take the College Experience class as part of DMACC’s efforts to inform students about DMACC and its services and encourage them to graduate with an Associate’s degree. Now incoming part-time students are required to take the class.
Rita Davenport, a counselor and instructor of the College Experience at DMACC Boone, said, “There are two sides of the class: information about DMACC and student development.”
Davenport added, “Every topic mentioned in the class, students wouldn’t have learned about otherwise.”
To some students, the one credit course is not a burden. For example, Tighe Butterfield, a new part time student at DMACC, said that having to take the College Experience “doesn’t really bother” him.
DMACC student Jacob Oren said that the class taught him things about DMACC policy that he otherwise wouldn’t have learned, like suspension from DMACC if his GPA drops below 2.0 for more than one semester. DMACC student Steve Donohue said that the class helped him become acquainted with Blackboard.
“I probably would have failed some of my classes if they hadn’t taught me about Blackboard,” Donohue said.
However, other students think SDV 108 isn’t as helpful and necessary as is claimed. DMACC student Sophia Andersen said, “Maybe they could teach us things that are relevant to college.”
DMACC student Steven Donohue suggested, “You could make the class shorter, like the half semester introductory class at Iowa State.”
In terms of the popularity of the new requirement for the class, Davenport said, “People generally don’t like being told what to do.”
She added that, over time, students will become accustomed to having the College Experience required and resistance will go down.
Also, with the number of students from Iowa State University that attend DMACC as a less expensive alternative for certain classes may turn away with the new requirement on part time students. For example, if a student attending ISU decided to take a class at DMACC in order to save some money, she would have to take the College Experience as well, costing an additional $159.00 for tuition and the textbook and an hour of extra class time each week. That’s not including time for homework and studying.
When such a scenario was brought up to Tom Lee, provost of DMACC Boone, he said, “We’re continuing to look into that.”
To some students, the one credit course is not a burden. For example, Tighe Butterfield, a new part time student at DMACC, said that having to take the College Experience “doesn’t really bother” him.
DMACC student Jacob Oren said that the class taught him things about DMACC policy that he otherwise wouldn’t have learned, like suspension from DMACC if his GPA drops below 2.0 for more than one semester. DMACC student Steve Donohue said that the class helped him become acquainted with Blackboard.
“I probably would have failed some of my classes if they hadn’t taught me about Blackboard,” Donohue said.
However, other students think SDV 108 isn’t as helpful and necessary as is claimed. DMACC student Sophia Andersen said, “Maybe they could teach us things that are relevant to college.”
DMACC student Steven Donohue suggested, “You could make the class shorter, like the half semester introductory class at Iowa State.”
In terms of the popularity of the new requirement for the class, Davenport said, “People generally don’t like being told what to do.”
She added that, over time, students will become accustomed to having the College Experience required and resistance will go down.
Also, with the number of students from Iowa State University that attend DMACC as a less expensive alternative for certain classes may turn away with the new requirement on part time students. For example, if a student attending ISU decided to take a class at DMACC in order to save some money, she would have to take the College Experience as well, costing an additional $159.00 for tuition and the textbook and an hour of extra class time each week. That’s not including time for homework and studying.
When such a scenario was brought up to Tom Lee, provost of DMACC Boone, he said, “We’re continuing to look into that.”