First-Generation Student Success
Contact information
Academic, 2333-2334 (Around corner from Art Gallery)
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional daytime and evening hours available by appointment.
Phone: 610-359-5325
Email: firstgen@dccc.edu
Follow us on Instagram: @DCCCFIRSTGEN
What is a first-generation student?
A first-generation student is any student whose parents/guardians have not completed a four-year college (Bachelor’s) degree.
Did you know?
- Almost half of DCCC students identify as First-Generation (meaning that neither parent completed a Bachelor’s degree)
- First-Generation students are more racially diverse than the continuing generation student population and are more likely to be adult learners (46% are adult learners).
Did you know you’re in good company? Many of our faculty and staff, including the president, identify as first-generation (FG). Click here to check out our DCCC First-Generation Faculty and Staff database to see fellow first-generation (former) students!
We love to celebrate our FG community
See how the College does this below:
- National First-Generation College Celebration: DCCC enthusiastically celebrates National First-Generation College Celebration Day (FGCC). In previous years we have hosted First in My Family Week from November 4 to November 8. For more information about DCCC’s celebration go to National First-Generation College Celebration and www.dccc.edu/firstgenspotlights. For more information about FGCC visit the official FGCC webpage.
- First-Gen Graduation cords: We provide graduating first-gen students with graduation cords (braided rope, worn around your neck with a graduation gown). Information on when and how to pick up a graduation cord will be sent out prior to commencement. Any questions about cords can be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity or call
.610-723-1282
The Importance of Finding Your Person/Team on Campus
Having a support system on campus is an essential component in your success. Your person (or team) can be a faculty member, advisor, or any staff member on campus. Create relationships and feel free to go to them with questions or if you need help navigating resources.
- Hidden Curriculum
- Coined by Philip W. Jackson the “Hidden Curriculum” often refers to the unwritten, unexplained, or unofficial terms, lessons, behaviors, and/or social norms of college life that are not explicitly taught. As a result, while navigating college life you may come across terms, departments, and rules that you are unfamiliar with. This is why finding your person (or team) on campus is crucial. Your on campus support system can help you to learn the hidden curriculum to achieve academic success.
- Academic Advisor
- You can find the name of your academic advisor listed in DegreeWorks. You can make an appointment online or call to make an appointment with your advisor at Career and Counseling.
- Disability Services
- The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is committed to providing students with disabilities reasonable accommodations and the necessary support to reach their educational goals. The Office works closely with students and faculty to foster success.
New & Prospective Students: Getting Started
New Student
- Enrollment Steps – Once you apply, you should get an email with the enrollment steps. You can click on this link for detailed information.
- Course Placement – To determine which English and Math Course you should take, the College has a few ways to assess which course will set you up for success.
- Placement Waivers – Depending on your scores, you can sometimes determine course placement using SAT, ACT or PSAT scores or AP test scores. For more information you can reach out to Assessment Services at
610-359-5322.
- Taken a college level English or Math course? If you have taken and passed a college level English or Math course at another College or University, you can bring unofficial transcripts to meet with an advisor or send Official transcripts to DCCC to waive placement. Click here for more information or contact Assessment Services at
610-359-5322.
- Placement Testing – To determine which English and/or Math class will set you up for success, you can take a placement test at the Testing Center.
- Prepare for your test: You can find study materials to prepare for the test at accuplacer.collegeboard.org.
- Results: After you complete your placement test, reach out to Career and Counseling to schedule an appointment.
- If you take the test and you feel that the results are not reflective of your abilities or placement, you have the option to retake the test up to 2 times. If you are going to retake the test, we encourage you to go to accuplacer.collegeboard.org to utilize the study materials before retaking.
- If you earn a 4 on the Essay, note that a 5 will place you in college-level English. Often students who choose to retake the Essay portion of the test will get that extra point by carefully proofreading, checking for grammar and punctuation, and fully responding to the prompt.
- Test scores are valid for 3 years.
- Placement Waivers – Depending on your scores, you can sometimes determine course placement using SAT, ACT or PSAT scores or AP test scores. For more information you can reach out to Assessment Services at
Visiting Students
- Do I need to take the placement test? For more information about what documentation you need to provide as a visiting student, click here and refer to “Step 1: Gather Documentation & Class Information.” If you have further questions, please reach out to Career and Counselingto schedule an appointment or call 610-359-5324.
- Can I use Financial Aid at multiple institutions? For general information click here and refer to Step 4: Create a Plan to Fund Your Class(es). There is information under “Please Note:” that addresses this. If you have further questions, please contact Enrollment Central at one of the windows at each campus, or you can email Financial Aid at finaid@dccc.edu for more personalized information.
- I’m getting a pre-requisite error when I’m trying to schedule classes. For more information about what documentation you need to provide as a visiting student, click here and refer to “Step 1: Gather Documentation & Class Information.” If you have further questions, please reach out to Career and Counselingto schedule an appointment or call 610-359-5324.
Coming Back to DCCC
Coming back to DCCC?
- Do I need to retake the Placement Test?
- Taken a college level English or Math course at DCCC? If you have completed a College level English or Math course at DCCC you do not need to retake the placement test.
- Taken a college level English or Math course at another institution? If you have taken and passed a college level English or Math course at another College or University, you can bring unofficial transcripts to meet with an advisor or send Official transcripts to DCCC to waive placement. Click here for more information or contact Assessment Servicesat 610-359-5322.
-
-
-
- Transcript Evaluation – Once you’ve sent your transcripts in, you need to check your DegreeWorks or follow-up with Assessment Servicesat 610-359-5322. No one will call you to tell you your transcript has been evaluated but you can check the results by logging into DegreeWorks through yourDelaGATE Student Portal.
- Placement test scores are valid for 3 years.
-
-
- How do I change my major? If you want to change your major or have questions about other majors, you can reach out to Career and Counseling to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Current Students: Navigating College Life
How do I find my classes? (Online and in-person)
- Canvas
- Finding your classroom
- Your classroom should be listed on your syllabus for each in-person class. Note that some online classes may have in-person labs.
- You can also find information about your class by logging onto delaGATE, clicking the “Students” tab and scrolling down to “View your class schedule.”
- Marple Campus http://dccc.edu/campus/marple-campus/ * Can we add “How to find your Class worksheet” to this webpage
- Branch Campuses – info desk
- Digital Learning
The Digital Learning team provides students with support for online courses, Canvas and other digital learning resources. For help in an online course or with Canvas or any digital learning resources contact Digital Learning.
I have questions about money
- Financial aid
- One of the keys to success in college is having a plan to pay for it. Applying for financial aid should be part of your plan because of the various options available to you. FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is how you apply for financial aid including Grants and loans. The Financial Aid office can help you complete the application and understand what types of financial aid are available. For more information visit Financial Aid.
- Student Accounts/Enrollment Central
- The Student Accounts/Enrollment Central office handles tuition and fees, and policies. In addition, the office can answer questions related to billing and payments, books store credits, third party billing, and refunds. The Student Accounts/Enrollment Central team is available at all Enrollment Central campus locations.
- To learn more about tuition and fees visit the tuition and fees webpage.
- Did you know that there are payment plan options available to help with paying your tuition? Visit the payment plan webpage and contact Student Accounts/Enrollment Central to learn more.
- Scholarships
The College awards a certain amount of scholarships to students each year. Visit the Scholarships webpage to learn more or contact Financial Aid.
Where do I buy my books?
- Learning Commons
- Located on the fourth floor of Founders Hall, the Learning Commons serves as a center for students, faculty and staff in a dynamic space that supports the College’s commitment to student success. Academic support services found in the Learning Commons include Library Services, Writing and Tutoring Services. The Learning Commons also offers a wide variety of technology including portable and assistive technologies. Students can also use quiet and collaborative study spaces (with whiteboards and computer display screens) and purchase items at a coffee bar.
- Bookstore
- The campus bookstore sells more than textbooks. They drive student success and savings by providing convenient access to a wide selection of school supplies, trade books, technology, fan gear and of course, cost-saving textbook options.
- Essential Student Resource Center
- The purpose of the Student Resource Center is to enhance student wellness, engagement, success, retention and completion by supporting our students comprehensively from the initial day of enrollment through degree completion and beyond.
I need academic help
- Tutoring
- Professional tutors with advanced degrees and practical teaching experiences and peer tutors selected based on grades and faculty recommendation offer assistance campus-wide in a variety of subjects including English, reading, mathematics, social sciences, business, languages, sciences and English as Second Language classes. Assistance can be received by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Tutoring can be scheduled through your delaGATE and your Connect2Success account. Click here for more information.
- You can also find information about tutoring services through the Learning Commons.
- Disability Services
- The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is committed to providing students with disabilities reasonable accommodations and the necessary support to reach their educational goals. The Office works closely with students and faculty to foster success.
- Career and Counseling
- Career and Counseling provides a variety of services including Academic Advising and Registration, Personal Counseling, Career Counseling, Transfer Advising, Disability Services, Workshops and Events, Safe Space Training and the Suicide Prevention Committee. For more information or to schedule an appointment contact the Career and Counseling Center
- Academic Advising: Academic advising is a dynamic process to assist students in choosing a class or two, setting up a full-time semester, or mapping out an entire academic plan for a certificate or associate degree. Whatever our students need, our academic advisors can provide for our individual students. Advisors are available to assist with registration and course planning, career counseling, transfer advising and personal counseling. For more information contact Career and Counseling.
- Personal Counseling
- We recognize that there may be times when you need to talk to someone, especially if your personal issues or responsibilities are interfering with your studies. We’re here to help. The Career and Counseling Center has counselors available to meet with students to help them work through any difficulties. We can also refer you to outside resources if you’re seeking long-term counseling or support; the Center maintains a list of community resources for this purpose.
- Digital Learning
- Career and Counseling provides a variety of services including Academic Advising and Registration, Personal Counseling, Career Counseling, Transfer Advising, Disability Services, Workshops and Events, Safe Space Training and the Suicide Prevention Committee. For more information or to schedule an appointment contact the Career and Counseling Center
The Digital Learning team provides students with support for online courses, Canvas and other digital learning resources. For help in an online course or with Canvas or any digital learning resources contact Digital Learning.
I need support for my life, not just my studies
- Veterans Resource Center
- Veterans Resource Center can help students using military benefits complete required forms and documentation for military benefits as well as priority registration for veterans.
- KEYS (Keystone Education Yields Success)
- KEYS (Keystone Education Yields Success) is a Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare program designed to help recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) succeed in community college by providing resources for success. KEYS provides a Student Facilitator at Delaware County Community College to help students achieve career goals by:
- Providing career counseling, tutoring and academic support, including help with financial aid
- Facilitating supportive services available through the County Assistance Office or the College
- Connecting students to other community service agencies
- KEYS (Keystone Education Yields Success) is a Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare program designed to help recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) succeed in community college by providing resources for success. KEYS provides a Student Facilitator at Delaware County Community College to help students achieve career goals by:
- Essential Student Resource Center
- The purpose of the Student Resource Center is to enhance student wellness, engagement, success, retention and completion by supporting our students comprehensively from the initial day of enrollment through degree completion and beyond. The Learning Commons also offers a wide variety of technology including portable and assistive technologies.
- Personal Counseling
- We recognize that there may be times when you need to talk to someone, especially if your personal issues or responsibilities are interfering with your studies. We’re here to help. The Career and Counseling Center has counselors available to meet with students to help them work through any difficulties. We can also refer you to outside resources if you’re seeking long-term counseling or support; the Center maintains a list of community resources for this purpose.
- Family Advocacy Center
- Provides free legal support, advocacy, and referrals to the entire DCCC community.
- Laptop Loan Program
- Located on the fourth floor of Founders Hall, the Learning Commons serves as a center for students, faculty and staff in a dynamic space that supports the College’s commitment to student success. Academic support services found in the Learning Commons include Library Services, Writing and Tutoring Services. The Learning Commons also offers a wide variety of technology including portable and assistive technologies. Students can also use quiet and collaborative study spaces (with whiteboards and computer display screens) and purchase items at a coffee bar
I want to get involved
- Athletics & Campus Engagement
- The Athletics & Campus Engagement office coordinates campus life activities. This includes most student activities such as Athletic and recreational activities from intercollegiate teams and intramural sports, Student Clubs and organizations, a campus art gallery, student theatre, Student Government Association, Events and cultural programs and special programs for off-campus students. For more information contact Athletics & Campus Engagement.
- DCCC Engage
You can log into DCCC Engage found in delaGATE by clicking on the “Apps” button. DCCC Engage is a centralized location where you can find out information regarding most campus activities.
I want an on-campus job
- Student Employment
- Student Employment Services & Co-op Center staff continues to provide job search assistance for our students and alumni using a variety of tools. Available by appointment for individual job search coaching and resume review by phone or personalized zoom meetings.
Work Study: The Student Employment office can help you with Work Study positions. Work Study is a part-time job that is conveniently located on campus or in your community. Work Study is a financial aid program that provides funding for eligible students to work on campus or at local non-profit organizations. Students work up to 10-15 hours a week for more information contact Student Employment.
I need to transfer my credits to DCCC
- If you have taken and passed a college level English or Math course at another College or University, you can bring unofficial transcripts to meet with an advisor or send Official transcripts to DCCC to waive placement. Click here for more information or contact Assessment Services at 610-359-5322.
-
- Official transcripts
- Official transcripts are certified, unopened academic records sent directly to your desired institution. Official transcripts allow you to receive official credit for courses taken.
- Unofficial transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts are uncertified and can be typically downloaded by the student. Unofficial transcripts can be used for academic planning or preliminary assessment.
- Official transcripts
- Assessment Services
Assessment Services provides services including Testing (including placement testing), Transfer of Credit into the College, Credit for Prior Learning, Academic Advisement and other services that support students’ progress towards their academic goals. For more information contact the Assessment Services Office.
I want to transfer to a four-year institution
-
- Transfer Information
- Make an appointment with your transfer advisor in your first semester at DCCC (before you get 30 credits). You can choose up to 3 schools for each appointment.
- Among the many benefits of attending the College is the range of transfer agreements to four-year institutions to continue the pursuit of higher learning. Visit the Transfer Agreements page to learn about the specific types of agreements available.
- In addition to the range of transfer agreements between the College and four-year institutions, the Transfer Office works with four-year institutions to provide scholarships that assist with the cost of college.
- Transfer Information
- The Student Records Office (sometimes called Registrar’s Office) is responsible for the development and enhancement of systems involved in the processing and maintenance of the student’s academic record. Additionally, this office services student requests for academic transcripts and verification of either enrollment or graduation to external agencies consistent with currently mandated privacy practices.
Check out our DCCC First-Generation Faculty and Staff database to see fellow first-generation (former) students! Connect with our office at firstgen@dccc.edu to be connected with a first-gen mentor, peer and/or professional.
National First-Generation College Celebration
The office of First-Generation Student Success (FGSS) at Delaware County Community College (DCCC) enthusiastically celebrates National First-Generation College Celebration Day (FGCC), by hosting First in My Family Week from November 4 to November 8. This is our fourth year in joining many other colleges and universities across the nation to celebrate FGCC. For more information about DCCC’s celebration go to National First-Generation College Celebration and www.dccc.edu/firstgenspotlights.
Vision Statement
Our vision is for all first-generation students to find a welcoming environment and establish positive relationships that help students find success. We hope to provide services and programs that empower students to utilize services to help students reduce barriers to success and achieve their goals.
College Resources
The College has a variety of departments and resources that are here to help you. If you have any questions, contact us at 610-359-5325 or email us at firstgen@dccc.edu.
Student Support Services
Online Learning Support
Admissions
Veterans services
Financial Aid
Assessment Services
Campus Life
Student Accounts
Academic Support Resources
Helpful Glossary of College Terms
Learning at the College level is different from high school. Visit the Glossary of College Terms page to learn the range of ways certain offices, departments and other areas are referred to at the College academic level.