DACC Catalog - Dona Ana Community College - New Mexico State ...

2012-2013 Catalog 77course descriptions for credit programs begin on page 81Noncredit ProgramsAdult Basic EducationA winner of three national awards, two from the U.S. Secretary of Educationin 1985 and 1992, and one from the National Council for EducationalAdministrators in 2010, and recognized as the New Mexico Adult EducationAssociation Program of the Year in 1993, 2000 and 2006, the AdultBasic Education (ABE) Division offers adults the opportunity to begin and/orcomplete a basic education through the twelfth grade. ABE also provides avariety of educational programs and student support services that can helpindividuals achieve their goals and transition to college. A complete educationimproves one’s opportunities for obtaining or retaining employmentand going to college and can provide a person with a sense of accomplishment.ABE instructional programs and classes include basic literacy, English as asecond language (at various levels), EL/Civics, GED (high school equivalencydiploma), college preparation, U.S. citizenship, computer literacy, practicalliving skills, and work readiness. Practical living skills, employment andtraining, and student success principles are also emphasized throughout theABE curriculum. Student-support services include basic skills assessments,student orientations, self-paced studies, advising and referral services, studentsuccess skills, tutoring on an individual and small-group basis, andassistance with college transition.ABE does not charge for classes, services, or textbooks. Students may checkout textbooks at any learning center for home study.Free, Noncredit Instructional ProgramsGED-High School Equivalency. Those 16 years of age or older who donot have a high school diploma may attend GED classes or study at anyadult learning center in preparation to successfully pass the mathematics,reading, writing, social studies, and science high school equivalency tests.ABE offers GED instruction in either English or Spanish. Students who attendSpanish GED classes are required to concurrently enroll in and attend (an)ESL class(es). Students meeting program criteria are also eligible to enrollin our distance-education (Web-based) GED course. For additional study,student may receive free tutorial support at any adult education learningcenter. Sixteen-year-old students are accepted into the GED program withan official withdrawal notice from the public schools.Upon completion, GED graduates join the hundreds of adults in southernNew Mexico who receive a high school diploma each year through AdultBasic Education. Every May, ABE invites GED graduates to participate in theDACC commencement ceremony and can assist graduates transitioning tocollege through the Be Ready! college-transition program. Students meetingspecific criteria may also apply for the DACC Tuition Scholarship and theAdult Education College Success Scholarship offered each semester.ESL—English as a Second Language. This program helps improve Englishlanguage skills for non-native speakers. Students will be pre-tested andplaced at the appropriate level Students acquire academic English skills(reading, writing, and grammar), build their vocabulary, and increase conversation,listening comprehension and life skills. Students meeting programcriteria are also eligible to enroll in our distance-education (Web-based),hybrid ESL course. Small group instruction is available at each center tosupport learning. Workbooks for additional study may be checked out. AdvancedESL students who are ready to exit the program are assisted with theprocess of transitioning to college successfully. Students meeting specificcriteria may also apply for the Adult Education College Success Scholarshipoffered each semester.U.S. Citizenship Preparation. Those eligible to become U.S. citizens canreceive assistance in preparing to take the citizenship test. Knowledgeableinstructors teach U.S. history, government, citizens’ rights, duties and responsibilities,requirements for U.S. citizenship, civic participation, basicreading, writing, and conversational English. Instructors also provide practicewith testing and the interview process. At the centers, ABE providescitizenship workbooks, sample questions, and information about U.S. citizenship,as well as occasional citizenship application workshops. Classesalso are taught in Spanish for those who qualify to interview in Spanish.Students in the citizenship classes who meet specific criteria may apply fora scholarship to help with the cost of filing for U.S. Citizenship. Scholarshipsare awarded each January and July.Computer Literacy classes. Students must be enrolled in at least oneother ABE class, such as GED or ESL (levels 4-6) to be eligible to enroll incomputer literacy classes. These classes include basic keyboarding, how tocreate, save, edit, and retrieve documents, and much more. Students willgain confidence working with a computer in preparation for college or employment.Reading Improvement Program for AdultsIt is estimated that 30 percent of the adult residents of Doña Ana Countyhave less than a twelfth-grade education. Literacy Volunteers of Doña AnaCounty, in alliance with ABE and the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy,is a program that provides adults an opportunity to learn basic reading,writing, and numeracy through the sixth-grade level. Trained volunteers arematched with students most in need of one-to-one or small-group tutoring.The program also offers opportunities for free tutoring and/or tutor trainingat other locations.Those interested in volunteering to teach, or in referring someonefor help with reading, are encouraged to call 527-7544 or to log on toreadwritenow.org. Literacy volunteer tutors generally are available at alllearning center locations.Student RecordsAll student information and records are held strictly confidential.Enrolling in ClassesEach fall, spring and summer session, ABE offers classes in English as a SecondLanguage, General Education Development (GED) for a high school diplomain English and Spanish, U.S. Citizenship, Practical Living Skills, andComputer Literacy. Throughout the year, ABE offers a college-preparationcourse face to face or online for students who meet certain criteria. Bothintensive and regular classes meet at Doña Ana Community College andat several other locations throughout Doña Ana County. New or inactivestudents must be pre-tested and complete the new student orientation at thenearest Learning Center in order to be placed in classes according to learninglevel and need. No exceptions will be made. ABE offers classes at itsfour learning centers, the DACC Mesquite Neighborhood Learning Center,and in outlying communities throughout Doña Ana County.We strongly encourage students to pre-register two to three weeks priorto the beginning of each semester. Students in outlying communities canalso register in the classroom during the first three weeks of class, on a