Dallas County Community College District Catalog General Information

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1998-1999 Catalog

GENERAL INFORMATION

History of the Dallas County Community College District

The Dallas County Community College District is comprised of seven colleges located strategically throughout Dallas County. Together the colleges enroll approximately 50,000 credit and 45,000 non-credit students per long semester and employ over 2,000 full-time faculty and staff members.

The growth of the District into an educational system with such impact was not by chance. In May, 1965, voters created the Dallas County Junior College District and approved a $41.5 million bond issue to finance it. The next year the District's first college, El Centro, began operation in downtown Dallas. Eastfield and Mountain View Colleges enrolled their first students in 1970, and the plans for a multi-campus district became a reality. Richland College became the District's fourth college in 1972.

The voters of Dallas County approved the sale of an additional $85 million in bonds in September, 1972. This step provided for expansion of the four existing colleges and the construction of three more colleges. A key part of the expansion program was the remodeling and enlarging of El Centro College, a project completed in 1979. Construction of new facilities resulted in the opening of Cedar Valley College and North Lake College in 1977. Brookhaven College, the final campus in the seven college master plan, opened in 1978.

In 1989, the Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development opened south of downtown Dallas. Named for the DCCCD's founding chancellor, the BJPIED serves the community through the Business and Professional Institute, Edmund J. Kahn Job Training Center, Small Business Development Center, Center for Government Contracting, Business Incubation Center and International Trade Resource Center.

Mission of the Dallas County Community College District

The mission of the DCCCD is to equip students for successful living and responsible citizenship in a rapidly-changing local, national and world community. We do this by providing accessible, accredited, affordable, cost-effective, quality educational opportunities for development of intellectual skills, job skills, personal growth and/or transfer to a baccalaureate program. In fulfilling our purpose, we further cultural, economic and workforce development in the communities we serve.

District Philosophy and Goals

Since 1972, the District has been known as the Dallas County Community College District. The name shows that the District has outgrown the term "junior college." The name also reflects the District's philosophy. The colleges truly are community institutions, meeting the varied educational needs of the growing Dallas County region. The primary goal of the District and its colleges is to help students of all ages achieve effective living and responsible citizenship in a fast-changing region, state, nation and world. Each college is therefore committed to providing a broad range of educational programs for the people it serves.

The needs, abilities and goals of each student are considered important. The focus is on creating an educational program for the individual rather than squeezing or stretching the individual to fit an "educational mold."

The Dallas County Community Colleges and the Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development are teaching, learning, community-building institutions. To fulfill the public trust the DCCCD:

offers a student guarantee to the institutions and employers receiving its graduates;

measures its collective and individual behaviors against a code of ethics and a statement of organizational values;

makes decisions through a line organizational structure which receives input from those most affected by the decisions;

strives to provide its services with revenues of -no more than 20% from student tuition -no more than 30% from local taxes; and -a minimum of 50% from the State;

seeks to maintain the highest possible credit ratings;

views itself as a team player in the local community of educators business people

elected officials and other community leaders; and

sees its role as a weaver of a seamless fabric of educational opportunity for the people of Dallas County.

As a major employer the DCCCD:

follows open search procedures which solicit the best available candidates for positions and which will provide a balanced workforce which reflects the ethnic composition of the adult workforce in Dallas County;

involves those most directly affected by hiring decisions in the candidate review process; and

seeks to assure that competent performers do not lose real compensation through inflation.

In its organizational culture the DCCCD:

places ultimate value on student success;

applies the principles of continuous quality improvement to achieve student success; and

uses technology not only to teach distant learners, but also to educate, train and retool both its students and its employees.

How do the colleges meet the educational needs of such a varied family? The answer is found in four categories of programs:

For the student working toward a bachelor's or higher degree the colleges offer a wide range of first-year and second-year courses which transfer to senior colleges and universities.
For the student seeking a meaningful job the colleges offer one-year and two-year programs in technical and occupational fields.
For the employed person wishing to improve job skills or to move into a new job the colleges offer credit and non-credit adult educational courses.
For the person who simply wants to make life a little more interesting the colleges offer continuing education programs on cultural civic and other topics.

Additional programs are available for the high school student, dropouts and others with special needs. The colleges help each student design the educational program that best meets individual needs. Every student is offered advisement to define goals and identify abilities. Continued guidance is available throughout the student's college career in case goals and plans change. This emphasis on advisement, rare for some institutions, is routine at all District colleges.

District Responsibilities

To carry out the District philosophy, the colleges obviously must offer a wide range of programs and courses, including guidance services. These programs and courses must help each individual attain a high level of technical competence and a high level of cultural, intellectual and social development. In addition, high professional standards for the academic staff must be maintained within a framework prescribed by the Board of Trustees. At the same time, the program and organization of each college must make maximum use of faculty and facilities.

The colleges have a basic responsibility to provide educational and cultural leadership to the community. They must be sensitive to changing community needs and adapt readily to those needs. Individuals capable of continuing their educational development should be given the opportunity to improve their skills. Finally, to continue to meet its responsibilities in changing times, the college system must guard against stagnation. Creativity and flexibility are therefore fostered at the District level and at each college.

League for Innovation

The Dallas County Community College District is a member of the League for Innovation in the Community College. The League is composed of 19 outstanding community college districts throughout the nation. Its purpose is to encourage innovative experimentation and the continuing development of the community college movement in America. Membership commits the District to research, evaluation and cooperation with other community college districts. The goal is to serve the community with the best educational program and the fullest use of resources.

Equal Educational And Employment Opportunity Policy

The Dallas County Community College District is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, color, religion, age, national origin or disability. The District provides equal opportunity in accord with federal and state laws. Equal educational opportunity includes admission recruitment, extra-curricular programs and activities, access to course offerings, counseling and testing, financial aid, employment, health and insurance services and athletics. Existing administrative procedures of the College are used to handle student grievances. When a student believes a condition of the College is unfair or discriminatory, the student can appeal to the administrator in charge of that area. Appeals to a higher administrative authority are considered on the merits of the case.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Of 1974

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the College may release information classified as "directory information" to the general public without the written consent of the student. Directory information includes: (1) student name, (2) student address, (3) telephone number, (4) date and place of birth, (5) weight and height of members of athletic teams, (6) participation in officially recognized activities and sports (7) dates of attendance, (8) educational institution most recently attended and (9) other similar information, including major field of study and degrees and awards received.

A student may request that all or any part of the directory information be withheld from the public by giving written notice to the Registrar's Office during the first 12 class days of a fall or spring semester or the first four class days of a summer session. If no request is filed, directory information is released upon written inquiry. No telephone inquiries are acknowledged; all requests must be made in person. No transcript or academic record is released without written consent from the student, except as specified by law.

Student Consumer Information Services

Pursuant to the Educational Amendment of 1980, Public Law 96-374, the College provides all students with information about its academic programs and financial aid available to students.

Standard Of Conduct

The college student is considered a responsible adult. The student's enrollment indicates acceptance of the standards of conduct published in this catalog.

If students are unable to complete the course (or courses) for which they have registered, it is their responsibility to withdraw formally from the course (or courses)for which they have registered. Failure to do so will result in their receiving a performance grade, usually an "F."

Accreditation

Details and procedures relating to the review of accreditation, approval, and various licensing documents are available through the administrative offices located on each campus.

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