Academic Advisor/Counselor – One who advises you on the academic requirements to complete a certificate and or degree as well as the requirements in transferring to another college. Full-time students (12+ credit hours) must register with a counselor/advisor.

Academic Support Services – Services provided to students to help them succeed academically. Examples include tutoring, the Writer's Room, etc.

Application/Admission – Application is the process by which a prospective student submits the required forms and credentials to his/her chosen institution. Admission is the status granted to an applicant who meets the prescribed entrance requirements of the institution

Associate Degree – A degree obtained by completing 60+ credit hours. This degree may be transfer oriented (if your goal is to get a bachelor's degree) or career-oriented (if your goal is to get a job immediately).

Audit – A student who does not want to receive credit or a grade in a course may, with approval of the institution, audit the course as a "visitor." The student usually must pay the tuition for the course. A student who audits a course usually cannot ask or petition the institution at a later date to obtain college credit for the audited course.

Bachelor's Degree – A degree obtained by completing 120+ credit hours. The first 60 hours are usually made up of general education classes and the final 60+ hours consist of major-specific coursework.

Bookstore – The Bookstore, located in the Lincoln Hall, is provided for students to purchase textbooks and supplementary instructional supplies as required by the instructors of each course. Each student is required to purchase textbooks and supplies, and the student is urged to acquire these materials in advance and bring them to the first class meeting. Paperbacks and novelties are available in the Bookstore.

Career Services – The Career Services Center, located in Lincoln Hall, Room 104, assists students in making career and life planning choices. Students wishing assistance in their career choice or in identifying skills which will aid them in the job hunting process may visit the Career Center. A variety of career information is available, including several computerized career guidance programs. Personnel are available to assist students in the decision-making process through individual counseling and testing as well as career planning seminar

Catalog – The college catalog provides all types of information parents and students need to know about a school. It lists, for example: the institution’s history and philosophy, policies and procedures, its accreditation status, courses of study, degrees and certificates offered, physical facilities, admission and enrollment procedures, financial aid, student life activities, etc. They are considered the student’s contract with the institution.

Certificate Programs – Certificate programs are designed to provide specific job skills.

Child Development Center – The Child Development Center is a licensed day care facility with a professional staff. It offers a high quality pre-school program and toddler program (15-24 months). It also serves as a laboratory observation center for DACC classes in related fields. The Center is open from 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is closed on college holidays. The center is open 51 weeks per year, Monday-Friday. The center is open to ANY child in the community. Child registration information is available at 217-443-8833.

College – A College is an institution of higher education that grants degrees and certificates. The term is also used to designate the organizational units of a university such as the College of Education or the College of Engineering.

Concurrent Enrollment – A student can enroll and attend two educational institutions at the same time provided that certain criteria are met.

Course Numbers – All courses are identified by numbers usually containing 3 or 4 digits, for example, at DACC English courses are designated as ENGL101, ENG 121, etc.. The first digit indicates the class year in which the subject is usually taken, and the other 2 digits identify the course within the subject field. A course number beginning with a "0" indicates that it does not carry credit hours applicable to a certificate or degree.

Credit Hour – The basic unit of measurement colleges use to define courses. A typical course is 3 credit hours. Tuition is also based on the amount of credit hours you are enrolled in.

Curriculum – A curriculum is composed of those classes prescribed or outlined by an institution for completion of a program of study leading to a degree or certificate.

Degree Requirements – Requirements prescribed by an institution for completion of a program of study are generally termed degree requirements. Requirements may include a minimum number of hours, required GPA, prerequisite and elective courses within the specified major and/or minor areas of study.

Degrees – Degrees are rewards for the successful completion of a prescribed program of study. DACC offers Associate's Degrees.

Department – A department is the basic organizational unit in a higher education institution, and is responsible for the academic functions in a field of study. It may also be used in the broader sense to indicate an administrative or service unit of an institution.

Division – A division represents a number of different units of a college or university: (1) an administrative division of an institution usually consisting of more than one department (2) and a service division of an institution that is composed of a number of service departments, such as the Student Services Division.

Dropping a Course – Students have the option to "drop" a course within the first two weeks of a class that meets 12 weeks or longer and during the first week of a class that meets less than 12 weeks. If a student drops a course within this timeframe they will receive a full refund of monies paid or payable to the college. Students may drop a course through the Admissions Office.

Enrollment – This is the procedure by which students choose classes each semester. It also includes the assessment and the collection of fees.

Financial Aid – Financial assistance based upon student need, discovered through the completion of various forms and processes. Students might be eligible for monetary gifts, work study programs, student loans, etc., to help them pay for educational expenses.

Full-time Student – Student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours per semester.

Information Office – The Information Office, located in the main entrance of Vermilion Hall, provides student identification cards, lost and found, maintains the college switchboard, and answers general student inquiries. The Information Office may be reached by calling 443-DACC (3222).

Interactive Video Course – A course delivered through a two-way interactive television where the students and instructor are at different sites. Communication is possible by talking and sight.

Health Services – The Health Services Office is staffed by a Nurse and is located in the Lincoln Hall. Students may utilize any or all of the following services: Blood pressure and weight check, urinalysis, hemoglobin, and blood glucose monitoring. First aid treatment is also provided and a place to rest if a student feels ill.

Library – The Library circulates books, periodicals, videos, and sound recordings through LINC, the shared catalog of the Lincoln Trail Libraries System. Materials not available at DACC can be requested via interlibrary loan from regional, statewide, and national library networks or consortia.

Online Course – A course delivered through the Internet and web-based software. Students interact with the instructor and other students via email. This class format is very flexible for busy schedules due to the fact that you can log on to the course at any time of the day (or night). However, certain computer skills and a degree of determination (no procrastination) are necessary to be successful.

Part-time Student – Student enrolled in 1 to 11 credit hours per semester.

Semester – A part of the academic year; DACC has 4 different semesters: Spring (Jan - May); Summer (June - July); Fall (Aug. - Dec.); and Winter (Dec. - Jan.).

Student Support Services – The Student Support Services Center (SSSC) provides services and resources to a wide variety of students in both transfer and technical programs. The SSSC provides comprehensive tutoring services for DACC students. Students who experience academic difficulty in one or more of their courses may request a tutor. Tutoring, which is provided by professional as well as peer tutors, is available for almost every course. Students with disabilities may request academic accommodations through the SSSC. Resources and services include counseling, assistive technology, taped and/or large-print textbooks, adaptive equipment, interpreters, notetakers, and alternative testing arrangements. The SSSC also sponsors a variety of activities to foster student success. Workshops and seminars are offered including Assertiveness Skills, Portfolio Development, Stress Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Time Management, Transferring to a Four-Year Institution, and other topics as identified by students.

Video Telecourses – Telecourses are classes offered on videotape. Students watch the tapes at home at their convenience and work at their own pace with the support of an instructor. There are deadlines throughout the semester and some on-campus meetings are required. Students may tape at home via cable network, lease from DACC or checkout from local libraries.

Withdrawing from a Course – If a student drops a course after the refund period (stated above), the student will be "withdrawn" from a course. This means that the course will remain on their academic transcript with a "W" grade and no refund will be given. A "W" grade does not affect your grade point average, but it could affect your financial aid. A student can "withdraw" from a course in the Admissions Office.