Academic Support

The Learning Commons

The Learning Commons provides academic resources to students that promotes deep engagement with learning materials and fosters an appreciation for curiosity, discovery, exploration and growth. The Learning Commons includes: Office of Accommodative Services, Center for Academic Achievement, CSTEP, Math and Science Center, Ritz Library, Testing Services and Writing Center. Below is information about some of these services.

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 with disabilities, 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 medical or mental health condition that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning, writing, reading, concentrating or performing manual tasks. This may include Long Covid and pregnancy related complications/ temporary disability.

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 the staff may be scheduled through video or telephone conferencing if needed.

OAS provides a wide range of technology training, academic support and professional tutoring in select subjects to students registered with the OAS office.

Students requesting housing accommodations for Conklin Hall are asked to confirm acceptance to academic housing, then make accommodation requests as soon as possible. Requests made with less than 60 days notice prior to move-in date might not be possible to accommodate by move in day, depending upon the request and capacity in Conklin Hall.

• There is no deadline for requesting new accommodative services, or review of current plans based upon changes in condition or course requirements, however please provide DCC with sufficient time to respond to the request prior to need.
• 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 method 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 on our Accommodative Services web page.

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. Students may appeal decisions made by OAS staff by contacting the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator to request review of the request and decision rendered. In addition, faculty may wish to appeal decisions rendered by OAS staff by contacting their Academic Dean or the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources.

Students who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the DCC appeal process, 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.

Center for Academic Achievement

The Center for Academic Achievement (CAA) promotes student academic success by offering free personalized and group tutoring support with course-specific learning skills and study strategies. Located in Hudson Hall 315, CAA professional tutors will assist students through various subject based coursework, as well as specialized Reading and Literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Direct Support Professional (DSP) programs, by using tutoring techniques that encourage independent critical thinking. CAA peer tutors are DCC students who have excelled in relevant coursework, been recommended by faculty members, and are well-equipped to foster participation and engagement with their fellow students. Furthermore, the CAA’s scope of tutoring varies from test preparation, time management, notetaking skills, project preparation, and content-based strategies for developing research papers.

The CAA boasts a significant tutoring area, ideal for workshops and events, such as ‘Study at Night,’ group tutoring, as well as a conference room, three offices, computers and laptops to facilitate and foster deep learning. For more information about the Center for Academic Achievement, please visit their web page, email at caa@sunydutchess.edu, or call 845-431-8090.

Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)

The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) at Dutchess Community College is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Education. Established in 1987, CSTEP’s purpose is to assist underrepresented minority and/or economically disadvantaged students in completing education programs leading to STEM, health-related careers, and/or any field leading to professional licensure by New York state. The services provided to CSTEP students include Supplemental Financial Assistance (SFA), Summer-Tuition Remission (STR), a lending library of textbooks, laptop computers, and graphing calculators; undergraduate research experience, summer internships, academic, career and transfer advisement; professional tutoring in the areas of Science, Mathematics, Nursing and other fields; special workshops; field trips to senior colleges as well as educational activities. For further information about the program and its eligibility requirements, contact the CSTEP office at (845) 431-8059 or CSTEP@sunydutchess.edu.

The Math & Science Center

The Math and Science Center provides places for math and science learning and beyond. Students may work on assignments, with other students, or with guidance from peer and professional staff. The Center offers drop-in and appointment tutoring from both peer and professional tutors in biology, chemistry, computer information systems, computer science, mathematics, accounting, economics, nursing, engineering and physics. Tutorials using graphing calculators, MS Excel, and Desmos are also available.

The Math & Science Center is located on three floors in the Allyn J. Washington Center for Science and Art. The first-floor study space, where study sessions, faculty office hours and workshops happen, is in W126. The Math & Science Center on the second floor is located in W224. This is a large space that offers faculty office hours, workshops and drop-in tutoring by peer and professional tutors in chemistry, computer information systems, computer science, mathematics, accounting, economics, nursing, engineering, and physics. The third floor is located in W324 and has drop-in tutoring for biology with a professional tutor. In addition, the Math & Science Center provides professional tutors for nursing in the Center for Business and Industry building.

Computers, printers, dry erase boards and tables are available in each location. Calculators may be signed out for quizzes and exams from W224. The second floor also has a scanner and textbooks for most math and science courses. For more information, call (845) 431-8538 or visit www.sunydutchess.edu/masc.

Textbooks and calculators are available for use while in the Center in Washington, and a limited supply of calculators may be taken out for quizzes and tests. For more information, call (845) 431-8538 or visit our website.

The Francis U. and Mary F. Ritz Library

The DCC Library is a vital educational resource center for the College community. Located on the 3rd floor of Hudson Hall, the Ritz Library contains a diverse collection of print and electronic books, media, journals, periodicals, and newspapers. Our collections cover general subject areas as well as specialized topics for all programs taught at DCC. All electronic resources are available on campus and off campus, as long as an internet connection is available. Students can also use study rooms, computers, laptops, media equipment, and reserve textbooks while in the library.

DCC’s knowledgeable reference staff provides assistance with locating, evaluating, and effectively using information. Students and faculty have reciprocal access to other SUNY libraries through the SUNY Open Access program. Interlibrary loan allows our campus community to borrow from other libraries, especially if a title is unavailable through our purchase on-demand e-reader program. The library also offers general and customized information literacy presentations upon faculty request.

The Ritz Library creates online research guides to support the curriculum at DCC. These guides help students choose appropriate resources within a particular class or discipline, and are easily translatable into multiple Mobile library applications are also available so students can explore academic resources while on the go.

Students have 24/7 access to the library’s chat service, AskUs24/7. This service allows patrons to connect with an academic librarian for research assistance. For more information about library services, please call (845) 431-8630 or access the library website through the library link on the student tab of myDCC.

Testing Services

The Testing Centers in the Student Services Center, Room 104 and at DCC @ Fishkill provide proctoring services for DCC students. Test proctoring services include: testing accommodations and make-up tests, placement testing, proficiency and CLEP testing, high stakes certification testing and proctoring for students from other colleges taking online courses. Proctoring fees do apply for some exams; please see the College’s fee schedule page for more information. Appointments are required and can be made through the Testing Center’s webpage at www.sunydutchess.edu/testing. For further information, please contact the (845) 790-3733.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center has two locations: Hudson Hall, Room 503 in Poughkeepsie, and Room 206A in Fishkill. In Poughkeepsie, the Writing Center is home to tutoring services and a full computer lab. The Writing Center offers a friendly, informal atmosphere where students work one-on-one with professional and peer tutors on any writing assignment or task. Students visit during various stages of their writing process to clarify assignments, brainstorm, outline, review rough drafts, plan revisions, or consider final editing. In addition, the Writing Center provides a resource library of reference books and handouts, a space for readings and other special events like “Poetry Slams,” and a quiet place to write. Online tutoring is available through the Writing Center’s website. Throughout the semester, the Writing Center conducts workshops for students on assorted topics, such as writing scholarship and college application essays and MLA/APA formatting guidelines. The Writing Center hosts class workshops in collaboration with educators, either in the Hudson 503 space or in their classroom.

The Center’s computer lab offers computers, printers, a scanner, a variety of word processing programs, course-related software, and Internet access for research purposes. A teaching lab assistant and student aides orient students to computer operations and demonstrate programs for word processing, spreadsheets and computer-based research. For more information about the Writing Center, visit their web page or call (845) 431-8095.

Online Tutoring

On myDCC and Brightspace, you’ll find access to free online tutoring that connects students to tutors in a variety of subjects, including math, science, writing, world languages, economics, and more. Tutors are available during the day, evenings, and weekends, with select subjects offered 24/7. This tutoring is offered through our on-campus tutoring centers and through online services.

MyDCC

MyDCC is the college web portal. It provides online access to library databases, campus email, student grades and student schedules. Online registration and online learning systems also are accessible through myDCC. MyDCC is the place to find out about activities on campus, important dates and class cancellations.

Dr. Mary Louise Van Winkle Professional Staff Teaching Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC serves to promote active teaching and learning by making current instructional technologies available and accessible to the faculty and professional staff at Dutchess Community College. The TLC provides a resource and support center where faculty and professional staff can obtain technical assistance and training on the use of various technologies that can enhance, augment, organize and manage online and on-campus course content. Training and materials to support faculty use of administrative educational software also is provided. The TLC is on the lower level of the Francis U. and Mary F. Ritz Library in Hudson Hall.