Academic Support

Academic & Career Enhancement (ACE) Center

The ACE Center provides a variety of learning support services to help students improve basic skills, prepare for college work, and be successful in their college courses. It is open to all students registered for college credit classes as well as students who are working on the GED. An academic computer lab is available for word processing and computer software (including PLATO) is available to improve basic skills and support course work in a number of areas. Some assistance is available on a walk-in basis. Other services are available by appointment.

The ACE Center offers materials and resources related to a variety of subject areas.

Ace Materials

Faculty who wish to provide materials for use in the ACE Center should forward them to the Associate Dean for ACE Services. Materials used by a variety of courses typically are purchased by ACE Center funds. Those used for specific classes are charged to individual departments or programs.

First Alert

The First Alert Program is designed to help students who lack the essential prerequisites to succeed in their current course work, and who need more time and attention than their teachers can devote to them to solve their problems. Students who lack these skills may be referred to First Alert and receive tutoring to help them review and thereby enable them to actively and correctly participate in their current classes. The tutoring time may only involve a few sessions but more help is available if necessary. Teachers wishing to refer students for First Alert help should first obtain the student's permission to do so, and then may complete a First Alert Referral Form, available through the division secretaries. Students may also self-refer. For further information, call 636-922-8549.

Accessibility Services

The involvement and cooperation of the faculty in assisting students to overcome barriers is extremely important. A handbook for students with disabilities is available to acquaint students with their rights, support services available, study skill guidelines and suggestions to assist the students to learn to become autonomous with the help that is provided. See the "Students with Special Needs" Handbook available in the Accessibility Services Office.

The College will make reasonable modifications to its academic requirements, if necessary to comply with legal requirements ensuring that such requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating, on the basis of a student's known and adequately documented disability, unless the requested modification would require alteration of essential elements of the program or essential elements of directly related licensing requirements or would result in undue financial or administrative burdens. Each classroom is equipped with a desk for wheelchair access.

The faculty in cooperation with the Accessibility Counselor will determine the appropriate modification or substitute.

Audio-Visual Equipment

Equipment that is not already available in the classroom and is stored in a division office must be scheduled through the Division Secretary. Transportation of the equipment is the faculty member's responsibility. Equipment must be returned at the end of class. Any audio-visual equipment needing repairs should be reported to the Division Secretary.

The Instructional Media Center is located in Room 209 of the Learning Resource Center. It contains various specialized audio-visual equipment, including music and sound systems, laptop and multimedia computers, video/data projectors, scanner, CD-ROM recorder, digital and 35mm cameras, and camcorders. This equipment is available for use by all College personnel.

Intructional Media

Instructional Media personnel are available to assist faculty members with planning, preparing and using various forms of instructional media, including photography, video, audio, computer multimedia and the Internet. They can consult with you to determine what types of media are appropriate and effective for your course material and can help you prepare materials for classroom use. Call either extension 8449 or 8445 for assistance.

Mailbox and Message Center

Each Division has an assigned office area in one of the office suites of the Administration (ADM) building, Academic (ACA) building, Fine Arts (FAB) building, Technology (TECH) building or College Center (CC) building. A mailbox/message center is provided in your respective Division area. Interoffice mail is to be used for College business only. It should not be used for commercial solicitation or personal business. US Postal mail service is provided to division offices daily.

Office & Classroom Supplies

Office and classroom supplies (e.g. pencils, whiteboard markers) are available in the division office. If you have questions or specific needs, please check with the Division Secretary.

Publicity and Printed Material

For materials other than class handouts or syllabi, the request for printed materials and publicity must be made through the Dean to the Marketing and Communications office. This also includes items for the Chaz, Outlook, College Calendar, etc. Guidelines for all external publications and internal postings must be followed. Guidelines can be found on the college intranet or from the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Purchasing Instructional Materials

Audio Visual Equipment Purchases

All audio visual equipment purchases must be sent through the Instructional Media office. The IM office will check the bid to ensure that the Department is ordering equipment according to the minimum college specifications. The Purchasing department receives the equipment and inventory tags it, if necessary. The IM office checks the equipment to make certain that it is in working order and inventories the equipment.

Software Purchases

Installation of software on faculty computers is done by IT personnel. "Sacrificial" computers are available in each building to install software on a trial basis to check for network and Microsoft compatibility.

Books and Other Reference Materials

All books and reference materials purchased by Departments should be catalogued in the Library and checked out to the Department, even those that are purchased with Department funds. This will ensure that all College-owned materials are available to faculty, staff, and students.

Secretarial Services

Secretarial services are available through the Division Secretary or Office Assistant in each Division office. Duplicating service is provided through the College copy center. Contact the Division Secretary for routing information. Instructors are expected to comply with the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S. Code), a copy of which is available in the Learning Resource Center.

Teleconferences

The College can downlink teleconferences and show them live or tape them for later use. The requestor will be responsible for publicizing and hosting the teleconference. Some teleconferences of general interest to the College may be licensed and paid for by the Learning Resource Division; others should be licensed and paid for with Division/Department funds. Contact the Instructional Media department to schedule the use of the satellite dish and reserve the room.

Web Site

The College Web site provides information about the College, its mission and services, and its events and programs. In addition, Web pages may be used to provide access to educational resources, informational tools, navigational aids, and further the professional growth and development of the faculty and staff. Full-time and part-time faculty are encouraged to develop home pages to provide materials they believe will be of interest to people within and outside the College. To develop a personal Web page, review the policies and procedures on the Web publishing information page of this Web site.