DMACC Concurrent Enrollment Instructor Handbook

Title	Position Description	Phone Number
Director, Career Advantage	Oversees Career Advantage programming, partnerships, and strategic initiatives across all regions and delivery formats.	515-965-7309 515-965-7086
Executive Campus Dean, Newton Career Academy	Provides executive-level leadership and oversight for operations, staff, and programs specific to Newton Career Academy.	641-791-1721
Director, Perry Career Academy	Leads the Perry Career Academy, coordinating Career Advantage activities and community engagement at the Perry site.	515-428-8120
Director, Work-Based Learning	Manages Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities.	515-965-7347
District Coordinator, CCTC Services	Provides leadership and coordination for all Career and College Transition Counselors (CCTC); supports district alignment and strategic outreach.	515-965-7094

Coordinators

DMACC Application for Employment and Other Forms Required

Concurrent Enrollment (CE) instructors are required to complete a DMACC Application for Employment, which will be submitted to the Human Resources Department. Along with the application, instructors must provide official transcripts, a current resume, and any additional documentation necessary to establish college credentials and system access, including an email account.

Background Check Requirement

CE instructors teaching in a high school are required to complete the background check required by the partnering school district before providing instruction.

Following approval to teach Concurrent Enrollment, instructors will complete the required DMACC Human Resources onboarding documents, including an acknowledgment confirming completion of the required school district background check.

Instruction may not begin until all onboarding requirements have been satisfied.

Expectations

All CE instructors are expected to fulfill the following duties and responsibilities. Compliance will be monitored through participation, adherence to deadlines, and site visits conducted by Faculty Liaisons. If it is determined that these expectations are not being met, a meeting will be held between the instructor and a Director of Career Advantage. Instructors will be provided with resources, tools, and guidance to support improvement on any unmet expectations.

DMACC will document these discussions as part of the administrative visit. If, after reasonable opportunity for improvement, instructors remain unable or unwilling to meet expectations, DMACC will notify high school administrators. At that point, based on our established compliance tiers, the instructor may face dismissal from concurrent enrollment duties and may be ineligible for future CE opportunities.

• Use the same course competencies and assessment methods as those used for the on-campus course.
• Establish and maintain accurate records of student progress in each class.
• Verify class rosters and submit grades promptly according to deadlines set by DMACC’s Registrar’s Office.
• Submit syllabi, to DMACC each term.
• Permit DMACC personnel including enrollment services staff and Faculty Liaisons to visit
• classrooms for student registration and instructional observation.
• Participate in professional development and networking events in collaboration with Faculty Liaisons and academic departments.
• Maintain attendance at all scheduled concurrent enrollment class sessions. In cases of serious illness or emergency, instructors should notify both the high school and the Director of Career Advantage immediately.

Professional Development Opportunities

DMACC is dedicated to offering high-quality professional development for CE instructors. Collaboration with Faculty Liaisons provides valuable support related to course content and instructional methods. Professional development networking events create opportunities for CE instructors from various districts and disciplines to connect and share best practices. Attendance at these events is required. If scheduling conflicts prevent attendance and a pattern of absences emerges, the instructor will be asked to meet with the Director of Career Advantage to discuss the situation and develop a plan for continued engagement. Failure to comply with professional development requirements may result in decertification.

Additionally, CE instructors receive training on using DMACC’s community learning management system, Canvas Community. This platform offers access to instructional resources, curriculum updates, and ongoing professional development activities.

Student Eligibility Requirements

Students must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in Iowa Code under Senior Year Plus, including the following:

• Demonstrate proficiency through standardized test scores or alternative measures approved by the Iowa Department of Education and the local school board.
• Fulfill all prerequisite requirements, including placement test scores and course prerequisites as specified in the DMACC Course Catalog.

Course Competencies and Syllabus

Instructors at DMACC agree to use course competencies to ensure consistency and rigor across disciplines. Course competencies are formally adopted by the College’s Curriculum Commission and are reviewed by faculty on a regular basis. Course competencies outline course content. CE instructors will cover course competencies and course syllabus as part of their orientation with Career Advantage Directors and Faculty Liaison. Concurrent enrollment faculty members are required to submit a course syllabus for each course section they teach at the start of each term using Simple Syllabus, accessible through myDMACC. 

• The college-wide syllabus submission process uses a program called Simple Syllabus. To access it, log into your myDMACC account and select the Simple Syllabus button from the center menu. The template will guide you in entering all the required syllabus information into the appropriate sections and submitting it electronically to the system repository. If you don't start teaching until the spring semester, you may not have access until October or November, when your course is created and active.
• Key elements are included in the template as required by accreditation: the college’s name, course title, course number, course description, information on expectations of level of rigor and the most updated learning objectives/course competencies are reflected in this syllabus.  Link for reference: Course Descriptions & Competencies - Des Moines Area Community College - Acalog ACMS™ (dmacc.edu)
• We update our concurrent enrollment schedules in the college student information system, Banner, using the information provided by your school. You will gain access to Simple Syllabus and complete your syllabus once assigned to your section (CRN).
• If you need to contact tech support to get your password reset or support. 
  • 515-965-7300
  • techsupport@dmacc.edu  
  • *It is required to have your DMACC “900” ID number and date of birth to verify your identity.

Textbooks

CE courses must use DMACC approved textbooks, which is generally the same text being used by on campus instructors.

DMACC Activities

DMACC instructors can attend most on-campus extra-curricular activities at a discounted price or free of charge. These activities include music concerts, plays, and athletic events. Information on upcoming events may be obtained from the in-house newsletters, or by accessing DMACC’s website.

Course Enrollment Caps

Courses not held on a DMACC campus are expected to adhere to the same cap as all other courses as defined by their local education agency.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

This act, as amended (also sometimes referred to as the Buckley Amendment), is a federal law regarding the privacy of student records and the obligations of the institution, primarily regarding the release of the records and access provided to these records. Any educational institution that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education is bound by FERPA requirements. Institutions that fail to comply with FERPA may have funds administered by the Secretary of Education withheld.

Confidential education records include student registration forms, graded papers, student information displayed on a computer screen and social security numbers linked to names. Employees who work around education records need to keep this information secure and protect the rights of students.

The essence of this act is that:

• Students upon reaching age 18 or students attending postsecondary institutions, regardless of age, must be permitted to inspect and review their own education records (any records from which the student can be individually identified), to the exclusion of third parties. There are no rights guaranteed under FERPA for parents of students attending a postsecondary institution.
• Institutions may not disclose information about students, nor permit inspection of their records, without the student’s written permission unless such action is covered by certain exceptions as stipulated in the Act. 

DMACC will only release allowable information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

DMACC Registration

A DMACC Career Advantage Advisor will visit your classroom at the start of each semester to register students for their college courses. Instructors will be notified via email of the date the Advisor will register your courses. Registration should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes.

Career Advantage Advisor Classroom Visits

Your DMACC Career Advantage Advisor may request to visit your classroom and speak to your students at certain times throughout the year. Arrangements will be made with advance notice. DMACC Advisors will also visit your classroom at your request. 

myDMACC

myDMACC gives you one-click access to DMACC email, Microsoft Office 365, Canvas, and Web Info System where you view your class roster and report final grades. New DMACC instructors are mailed their username and password. Returning instructors can contact their DMACC Career Advantage Advisor or DMACC Tech Support to get their information. 

• Username - The default username is your first initial, middle initial and last name. In case of duplicate usernames, a number is added after last name (i.e., efhutton23). 
• Password - For security reasons, we require that the password be changed after initial login myDMACC. Your new password must be a minimum of 8 characters and it must contain:
  • An upper-case letter (A-Z)
  • A lower-case letter (a-z)
  • A number (0-9)
  • A special character (! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ + < > ? | { } - ~ = / \)

myDMACC Resources

• All concurrent enrollment faculty have a DMACC Outlook email account which can be accessed through the myDMACC portal by clicking on the Webmail button. You can access your email from any computer with an internet connection or your smartphone.
• Office 365 gives you access to Microsoft Office.
• Canvas is a tool for online courses and content. We also offer professional development opportunities and information about district-wide assessments.
• Banner Self Service gives you access to:  
  • View/update your contact information
  • View your DMACC course rosters
  • Verify attendance
  • Enter final grades

Multifactor Authentication

DMACC IT has implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all DMACC email accounts. Visit the Multifactor Authentication Help website for instructions on the sign-up process or you can watch the Microsoft MFA Set Up - MS Authenticator App video. Contact Tech Support at 515-965-7300 or techsupport@dmacc.edu for any questions.

DMACC Email

Although communication will be primarily communicated to concurrent enrollment faculty through their high school email address, it is strongly encouraged that you check your DMACC email periodically. Important information is communicated from the college related to the discipline area you teach in. We understand the challenge of managing multiple email inboxes, so we have provided instructions below that will allow your DMACC emails to be forwarded to the email address you check most frequently. 

How to set up automatic email forwarding:

• Log into myDMACC and select the Webmail button to launch your DMACC email account
• Select the gear button at the top right of the page 
• In the search box under “Setting” type in Forwarding, then select the word Forwarding.
• Then select the “Start forwarding” or “Enable Forwarding” button and enter the email address you wish to forward to in the indicated box, then select “Save”. 
• You should begin receiving your forwarded emails. 

Canvas Community

Canvas is a tool for online courses and content delivery. We are actively expanding its use to include professional development opportunities and information about district-wide assessments, creating a centralized platform to support CE instructors’ teaching and growth.

Notes on accessing your community:

• You will access DMACC community in Canvas by logging in myDMACC, clicking on the faculty tab and clicking on the Canvas button to launch Canvas. You will land on the Canvas Dashboard where you’ll see the community associated with the class you teach.
• This community will display as a tile on your Dashboard similar to any course you’re teaching, the course will be titled to match our pathway names. Don’t see it right away? Try clicking “Courses > All Courses” on your lefthand menu.
• You will be put into in the appropriate community and should not have to enroll yourself. Once in, you will be able to access several resources which may include assignments, discussion boards, assessments, simple syllabi, and more relating to your subject.

Attendance and Grade Reporting

Timely and accurate attendance reporting will ensure the accuracy of the student’s record that will be reflected on their college credit transcript.  Enrollment records are reported to a National Student Clearinghouse four times a term. This is accessed by many institutions as students may be applying for colleges during and after High School and for Financial Aid. Inaccurate reporting may cause issues in the future for your students. 

Attendance Reporting

Requested early in the term for instructors to check their class rosters and mark students either AT for attending and actively participating in the class or NA if they have never attended the class. This is a good time to clean up the rosters and also catch anyone that may be in the class but is not showing on the official roster and needs to be registered.  The instructor should notify the DMACC Advisor for assistance so that the student will get the credits for the course.

Web Instructions for Checking Attendance

• Access the DMACC homepage (www.dmacc.edu).
• Click on link or open a browser window and type in my.dmacc.edu.
• On the Sign In page, enter your DMACC Username and Password. Click Login.
  • Your username - your DMACC email address
  • Your password - Your initial password is the last four digits of your DMACC ID. You will have to reset it the first time you log in. 
  • If the password provided is not successful, call DMACC Tech Support at 515-965-7300 to have it reset.
• Click on the faculty button on the top of the screen. 
• Click “Faculty Entry Of Attendance” 
• Click “Term Selection” 
• Report any changes that need to take place to your DMACC Advisor immediately.

If you are experiencing difficulties logging in, call Tech Support @ 515-965-7300 for assistance. For site navigation inquires, you can contact Tech Support or your high school Career Advantage advisor. THE WEB INFO SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM 2:30 a.m. TO 5:30 a.m.

Drops/Adds

If a student adds or drops your class after you have checked your rosters, please make sure the following occurs:

Adding a Student: Contact high school counselor if a student needs to be added to a course. The high school counselor will communicate that information with the Career Advantage Advisor. 

Dropping a Student: Please inform your high school counselor about any drops by the listed drop date. They will follow up with the Career Advantage Advisor. 

See Resources at the end of the handbook for links to add/drop forms. 

Midterm/ Progress Reporting

Midway through a term instructors are asked to report QA’s for any student that initially attended the course but has stopped attending and participating in the class.  Instructors are also asked to report Progress grades based on academic performance in the class.  This is a good opportunity to identify students that may not be doing well to seek additional assistance or make the decision to withdraw from the course with a W, rather than receiving a negative grade before the drop deadline. 

Final Grade Reporting

After the above reporting all class rosters should be complete and accurate.  There should be no need for any changes at this time.  Reminder when reporting a failing grade that a last date of attendance will need to be reported along with the grade.  This would be for a student that was earning the grade and had been attending.  If they had not been attending, they should have been reported and dropped at one of the reporting periods listed above.

Classroom Visits

Faculty Liaison Site Visit

Every three years, a site visit takes place in the CE instructor’s school building on a regular secondary school day. The visit is defined as the time spent observing a class and conferring time with the teacher. The DMACC Faculty Liaison is responsible for scheduling the site visit. In an observation site visit, the Faculty Liaison observes the class period. During the conference, the Faculty Liaison and CE teacher discuss topics related to what was observed in the visit.

Site Visit Guidelines:

To ensure continuity of contact with the high school teachers and students, the site visit should be made within the first half of the term/semester as schedules warrant.

Observations should be made during the class period to gain insight on how the instructor starts, teaches, and concludes a lesson.

Faculty Liaisons will be asked to use the “DMACC Faculty Liaison Site Visit” form to document their visit and conference. Both the CE instructor and Faculty Liaison will be required to sign and date the form at the conclusion of the conference after the site visit occurs.  A copy will be provided to the CE instructor.

Information for Students

Student Handbook 

Students are provided access to both DMACC’s Student Handbook and the Career Advantage Student Handbook.

Academic Integrity  

Academic Integrity is a fundamental principle of institutions of higher learning.  DMACC is committed to helping students understand their ethical obligation to do their own work and give appropriate credit when they reference another person's work. Read the policy in full detail at the DMACC Policies and Procedures website.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher and a completion rate of 67% or higher in order to maintain good academic standing.  Students falling below these levels will be subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Read the policy in full detail at the Satisfactory Academic Progress website.

DMACC Visit Opportunities 

DMACC Work Based Learning- Connecting Today’s Students to Tomorrow’s Careers!

DMACC’s Work-Based Learning (WBL) provides activities and resources for students, educators, and businesses across central Iowa. We connect education and business by providing students with opportunities to increase awareness of career options, explore careers and workplaces virtually and in person, and get a head-start in their careers with earn-and-learn programs. Through work-based learning events, courses, and special programs, DMACC WBL helps students find their next step toward a rewarding career!

Career Exploration Events: Upcoming DMACC Career Discovery Events & Registration

• Career Exploration Days: Hosted at a DMACC location, these events allow 9-12th grade students, parents, and educators to explore a career pathway by attending hands-on activity sessions and demonstrations. They will learn about DMACC educational programs and connect to future careers and professionals.
• Worksite Industry Tours: These events are hosted by a business and open to 11th and 12th graders. Students will meet with professionals to learn about the company and specific careers. These events are designed for students, and transportation is the student’s responsibility.
• Virtual Sessions: These events provide a virtual option for students to learn about businesses, specific careers, and professional skills that are significant for today’s job market.

Career Discovery Video Library: Check out DMACC's on-demand library of recorded professionals talking about their industry, careers, and career path! Explore various local careers through short 20-minute presentations. DMACC Career Discovery Video Library | Work-Based Learning

Visit our website for Career Exploration opportunities, courses and resources!

Individual DMACC Campus Visits

Request an individual appointments/tours by contacting: campustours@dmacc.edu.  

Resources

If you have questions, you may contact: