Frederick Community College is committed to the academic success and personal growth of our students. We recognize that the college experience presents students with new challenges in terms of decision-making, independence, and responsibility. These challenges are not easy for the student or for you as the parent. Students may struggle, they may not always make a decision with which you agree, and they may not always share with you as much as you expect these transitions are part of their attempt to become their own person. However, college presents students with the opportunity to become better decision makers, accept responsibility, and become more independent. We encourage you to allow your student to use the opportunity that their college experience presents them to develop skills necessary for transitioning into adulthood.
We also recognize that college represents a time of transition for you as a parent. As a parent, you have been very invested in your student's academic, personal, and social development. You have been encouraged by school systems to be an active participant in your child?s education by participating in PTA, attending parent teacher conferences, even checking your student?s grades on the school system web site. As a parent, you may be torn seeing your child struggle, you may be tempted to run interference for them when they face a difficult situation or you may be used to managing their needs such as filling out forms or deciding what classes they should take. However, when parents continue to make decisions or manage students? responsibilities for them, they may unwittingly send a message that says,I'm acting for you because I don't think you are competent to do so.? But just as college presents students with the opportunity to become more independent it is also an opportunity for parents to move from the role ofmanagerto consultant allowing students the opportunity to work out problems for themselves with the reassurance that you as their parent will be available to give advice as needed.
Allowing students to manage their own education does not mean that they will no longer need you. Indeed, despite their quest for independence, students will still need your continued support as they attempt to manage the academic and personal decisions involved in their college experience. They will need your advice and encouragement as they struggle with difficult situations, they will need your love and support as they face disappointments. But they will also need your encouragement to allow them to take steps on their own to manage the variety of challenges awaiting them. This will mean allowing your student to work through difficult situations with the faculty and staff at the college rather than relying on you to intervene on their behalf. And because we expect this, the college offers services and resources designed to help students develop the skills necessary to manage the demands and challenges associated with college life. Students should attend our New Student Advising Sessions; read our College Catalog, Student Handbook, and the information on our web site; and talk with counselors and faculty members (encourage your student to make use of their office hours) to learn about college requirements, policies and procedures, and the wide array of learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom that the college offers.
At FCC, students learn, grow, and change to become knowledgeable, mature, responsible adults, capable of managing the complex issues that the world presents them. By providing them guidance and allowing them to achieve greater levels of independence and self-reliance, students develop self confidence and the skills necessary to ensure the attainment of their educational and personal goals as they transition into adulthood your ultimate goal for them.
| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| 1. |
Why is the first year of college the most important year for most students? |
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Statistically students who successfully complete the first year of college are the students who are most likely to obtain a degree. This first year, however, includes the most challenge....Time management and learning how to learn independently are the biggest challenges. First year seminar learning communities provide excellent opportunities to adjust to college learning and social demands.
During this first year, it is important that students begin to establish career goals based on interests and abilities. The career center can help.
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| 2. |
How many credits should a student take each semester? |
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Traditionally, because a four-year college degree consists of about 120 credits, students were expected to complete 30 credits per year, or 15 credits per semester to be able to complete the degree in four years. However, the amount of time it takes a student to complete a college degree is increasing. In 1999-2000, the average student completing a bachelor?s degree required 4.58 years to do so.
Part of this increase is due to the fact that today most college students are working while they attend college. While each student?s situation will dictate how many classes they can reasonably accomplish each semester, during a student?s first semester, the college will often recommend a course load of no more than 12 credits for those students who intend to be full-time. This is to allow the student to become acclimated to the demands of college.
Enrollment in Jan term and summer semesters provides an opportunity for students tocatch up? on credits if their goal is to complete the traditionalfreshmen 30? credits during their first year. The following chart is intended to offer some guidelines about balancing work and course load.
| Number of Hours Worked per Week |
Suggested Course Load |
| 40 |
6 credits |
| 30 |
9 credits |
| 20 |
12 credits |
| 10 or less |
13-15 credits |
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| 3. |
How much time should students spend studying outside of class? |
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A general rule is for every hour spent in class, two hours of study time outside of class are required. However, this can vary depending on the specific requirements of a course. More important than how MUCH should someone study is HOW should someone study. Have you ever heard of the 6 hour D? I spent 6 hours studying and I still got a D. Studying is a skill and if a student has not developed that skill they may still struggle regardless of how much time they study.
FCC has a 2 credit course called Learning Strategies that teaches students how to study at a college level.
More information about study skills, including time management techniques, test-taking and note taking strategies can be found at
http://www.howtostudy.org
http://www.uni.edu/walsh/linda7.html |
| 4. |
How can I help my son or daughter get organized? |
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Workshops on organization and time management are offered to students thru the office of Student Life. All students should use an academic planner, all students have access to our interactive schedule tool.
Click here touse the interactive tool that studentscan
use to map out work, classes, study time,and other activities so that youcan see if a proposed schedule is workable.
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| 5. |
How do I know if my son or daughteris strugglingacademically? |
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The best resource for a parent to determine how theirson or daughteris doing in school is their son or daughter. Unlike high school, colleges do not send report cards to student?s parents. Students are expected to take responsibility for their academic progress including sharing that progress with their parents. Students do receive feedback from their instructors in a variety of ways including quizzes, papers, lab assignments, journals, and in-class assignments. At FCC, instructors are asked to provide feedback to students about their progress by the 6th week of the semester. This allows students to ascertain their progress early enough in the semester to make anymid-course corrections?.
Tutorial services and counseling services are available to all students if needed.
Restrictions from the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevent instructors from providing parents with information about a student?s progress without the student?s written permission. Therefore, parents are encouraged to maintain an open dialogue with theirson or daughterabout their academic performance. |
| 6. |
How many classes can a student miss? |
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At FCC, the attendance policy for each course is set by the faculty members teaching the course. Students will likely experience a range of attendance policies some faculty may not take attendance; others may have policies which limit the number of absences a student may have before their grade is affected.The attendance policy for each course can be found on the course syllabus - students should make themselves aware of the attendance policy for each course on the first day of class.
Some general considerations:
- Do NOT presume that missing the first class or the first week of class is OK. If a student registered for the class they are expected to be there; if they are not, they are absent.
- Do NOT schedule vacations during the semester.The beginning and end dates for each semester are known well in advance, A family vacation that was planned last year is NOT an excuse to miss a class do not expect that an instructor will grant you an exception.
- While illnesses cannot be predicted, routine medical and dental appointments should NOT be scheduled during class time. Routine medical appointments are not considered an excused absence.
- The number one predictor that students will succeed in college is not intellegence, not placement scores....it is the student's willingness to show up to class!
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| 7. |
Who is considered a full-time student? |
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Students enrolled in 12 or more credits during the fall or spring semester are considered full time. There are several reasons why students are required to maintain full-time status. Often, students over age 18 must be enrolled in college on a full-time basis in order to remain covered under a parent?s health insurance plan.
Students who are a member of a college athletic team are required to be enrolled full-time. Additionally, some scholarships require full-time enrollment. When a student withdraws from a course or switches their registration status to audit for a course, that course is no longer counted in their course load and they may drop below 12 credits. In this case, they are no longer considered a full-time student.
Students needing to reach a goal in a certain amount of time.....Full time student indicates full time commitment to being in college....a full time job....Students with full time jobs should not also be full time students |
| 8. |
Sample syllabus. |
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Click here to view a sample English 101 syllabus (pdf) |
| 9. |
What Service Learning or Civic Engagement opportunities are available? |
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The Student Life Office includes Service Learning and Civic Engagement Placement. This is great for students who are interested in volunteering in the community or would like to gain experience in their field of study by helping others. It?s also the place to learn about the needs of the community and volunteer opportunities should a particular course require a service project or service hours.
In addition, campus clubs and organizations that are required to do service projects each semester can visit the Student Life Office to match their project to the mission of their group. Stop by the Student Life Office in F102 (in the Arts & Student Center) or call 301-846-2540.
Many courses at FCC include opportunities/requirements of service learning and civic engagement for the purpose of enhancing students' understanding of the relationship of college to their role in the world....gives learning a purpose and meaning. |
| 10. |
What is the best way to prepare for transfer to a 4 year institution? |
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Transfer programs will bestprepare yourson ordaughterto transfer to a baccalaureate-granting institution. If he or she completes the described program they ordinarily transfer as a junior. The associate in arts (A.A.) or associate in science (A.S.) degree are awarded when students complete all transfer programs. For more detailed information and a list of our Transfer Programs click here.
It?s a good idea for your son or daughter to contact an academic advisor. The advisor can help yourson or daughterfind a degree program that will allow him or her to continue their education. In addition, the advisor can assist the student in selecting the right courses at FCC to ensure that your credits transfer to the school of his or her choice.
College visits are very important and should be done, whenever possible, at least 1, preferably 2 semesters before the student actually transfers. This is particularly important if the student plans to attend a private school or out-of-state school, as the articulation agreements may not be a solidified as they are with the U of MD system schools or near by private institutions. (Hood, MSM)
FCC also has a Transfer Center web site with a variety of resources and tools to help you and yourson or daughterthrough the process.
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| 11. |
What extracurricular opportunities are available to FCC students? |
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Our student life program offers exciting opportunities to interact with other students and cultivate leadership skills in a variety of ways. Students have the opportunity to join a student club or organization that are as diverse as their interests. Write for the Commuter student newspaper, or run for office in the Student Government Association are just two of the possibilities. Contact Jeanni Winston-Muir Director, Student Life & Alumni Services at 301.846.2489 or Kristi Mills at 301.846.2488 for more information or stop by the Student Life Office located in F120.
At FCC students have both extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities. We understand that learning happens inside and outside the classroom and make every attempt to link these experiences. Co-curricular experience directly relate to the objectives of the course, some might even be required.
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| 12. |
What is the Honors College |
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The Honors College at FCC is for students who want to increase the intellectual rigor and enrich learning throughsmall classes (10-15 students), close interaction with superb faculty, and academic activities (e.g., research projects, field trips, and guest speakers) inside and outside the classroom create such opportunities. Click here to visit the Honors College web page for more information. |
| 13. |
How can I get an enrollment verification for my health provider? |
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Enrollment verifications are available on line. Students should access their web account and print it out for the insurance. this service is also available upon request at the Welcome and Registration Center. |
| 14. |
What other information is available to students using their web account? |
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Students can access their grades, unofficial transcript, class schedule, and degree progress reports. |
| 15. |
How can a student contact a faculty member? |
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Email addresses and contact information are included on every syllabus. |
| 16. |
Do students need their own computer? |
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The answer is a qualified "No". Students can use the public access machines in the library, the open computer lab (C208) and the Writing Center (L106) to complete their assignments. Online classes require off campus Internet access with an Internet browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Netscape, FireFox, etc) and an email address. Many courses require students to use computers and the Internet. For all developmental reading and writing classes and for as many EN101 courses as we can put into computer labs each semester, students are required to work on computers in the classroom, work on those files out of the classroom, and bring the files back to class to work on them again. Students must have floppy disks with protective covers or pen drives to transport these files".
If your student does not have access to a computer at home then he/she must plan time to come on campus to use public machines to complete assignments.
Click here to view the technology resources available at FCC |
| 17. |
When can we apply for spring scholarship? |
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September 1, deadline to apply is December 1. For more information, see our web site. |
| 18. |
How safe is the campus, especially at night? |
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Security officers are available 24x7. Located in Administration Hall, A-101, the security office may be contacted at 301-846-2453, by dialing "0" on any campus phone or by using any call box located around campus. They will escort students if asked. There are night classes until 10:45 p.m. Activity on campus slows down after 7:00 p.m. Security personnel have new uniforms which are light blue.
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| 19. |
Is public transportation available from the AppleGate apartments to campus? |
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Yes. You can pick up a schedule from the Student Life office. There are discounts available for students.
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| 20. |
Are meal cards available in the cafeteria? |
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You can purchase a meal card for any amount starting at five dollars. The meal cards are valid at all three locations (the Cougar Grille, the Sara Lee Sandwich Shoppe or Smooth Joe's). See cashiers at any of the three locations to purchase a meal card. Purchases made with meal cards receive a 5% discount. |
| 21. |
Is there a student ID card? |
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Students get their ID cards in the Welcome and Registration Center. ID cards are used by dining services and the library.
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| 22. |
Is there a charge for parking? |
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No. But please be sure to park in the right lots. All parking is clearly marked: staff, students and visitors.
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| 23. |
Is there wireless access on campus? |
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Yes wireless is available across campus. Click here for more detailed information. |
