Course Catalog (2009-2010)

2009-2010 Course Catalog: Student Services

TMCC's programs and services assist students and community residents in achieving their educational, career and life goals. These services enhance the educational process and assist students in overcoming the financial, personal and learning obstacles that may prevent educational and career success.

Developing Academic Skills

TMCC offers a number of programs, courses and services to help students acquire the academic skills that lead to success in college. None of the programs, courses and services outlined in this section are offered for transfer credit to the Nevada System of Higher Education universities. They will, however, provide students with the skills that could lead to a successful experience in the college's occupational and liberal arts programs. Students perceiving themselves as needing additional preparation for college are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities. If you are not sure whether you are prepared, find out by participating in the orientation program.

Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language

TMCC, under the auspices of the Nevada State Plan for Adult Education, provides basic literacy education for adults 18 years old or older. Instruction in basic reading, writing and mathematics is offered. Competency and curriculum levels of instruction range from elementary through high school for adults. Individualized and group instruction is provided, all at no cost.

TMCC also offers English as a Second Language courses to assist speakers of other languages to adapt as quickly as possible to an English-language environment. Depending on their level of proficiency, students are placed in beginning, intermediate or advanced classes. For information on Adult Basic Education or English as a Second Language, call 775-829-9044.

ABE Program

The college offers noncredit courses in Adult Basic Education for adults who need to improve their skills in basic reading, writing and math. The students are tested to assess their skills before placement in the program. An individualized curriculum is provided and students receive one-on-one or small group tutoring. An eighth-grade level of reading achievement is the program goal. Call 775-829-9033 for information.

ESL Program (Basic Level)

The college offers noncredit courses in English as a Second Language for adults who need training in listening, speaking, reading and writing English. Instruction is geared towards working adults. Consequently, the program uses a workplace literacy approach through the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS). TMCC's ESL program is a nationally-renowned model. There are 19 levels among the Community ESL program. Students are grouped according to ability based on CASAS entrance and periodic testing scores. For details, call 775-829-9044.

ESL Program (College Level)

English instruction for both transferable and nontransferable college credit is available to students enrolled in college courses. These ESL courses are designed for students whose native language is not English but who have acquired some proficiency in speaking, reading and writing. For more information, call 775-673-7139.

ESL Testing

Nonnative English speakers are strongly encouraged to have their language skills assessed prior to registering for college courses at TMCC. For assessment information, call 775-673-8241.

English Literacy / Civics Preparation

Two civics preparation courses are available for permanent residents who have a good command of English. Topics covered are United States history, contributions of early Americans, United States government, how democracy works in the American system and naturalization requirements. These classes are open to all permanent residents, 18 years of age or older, who have resided in the U.S. for five or more years or who qualify under the new immigration reform law. Students must be able to read and write English. For additional information, visit the Meadowood Center, room S220, or call 775-829-9044.

GED Program

TMCC's general education development (GED) preparation courses prepare students 18 years and older to pass the GED examination. Courses cover the five GED sub-sections.

  1. Language arts and reading
  2. Language arts and writing
  3. Science
  4. Social studies
  5. Mathematics

Orientation for the GED preparation classes is held several times throughout the semester at TMCC's Meadowood Center. For more information, call 775-829-9055.

Assessments are administered prior to enrollment and throughout the training program. TMCC uses the assessments to gauge what is needed so that the instructors can target specific areas of study. Students are eligible to enroll in the GED preparation courses upon completion of the preliminary skills analysis assessment. Call for class and individual advisement times.

At no charge, TMCC provides the following services in an informal classroom environment.

  • Pre-testing
  • Books and materials
  • Practice GED tests
  • Instruction in all subjects covered by the GED exam
  • GED test appointments
  • Post-GED guidance

For details on GED preparation courses, call 775-829-9055. To take the GED exam, call 775-673-8241.

Tutoring and Learning Center

TMCC's Tutoring and Learning Center provides free tutoring to TMCC students in several subject areas, including biology, chemistry, economics, French, math, physics, Spanish, college study skills, and writing. In the center, students can also attend workshops in academic success, use computers with Internet access, print papers for free and rent graphing calculators.

For more information, contact the Tutoring and Learning Center in person at the TMCC Dandini Campus, VSTA B106, call us at 775-674-7517 or visit us online at tutoring.tmcc.edu.

The Certification Testing and Online Training Center at TMCC

The TMCC Certification Center is authorized by ACT to deliver national computer-delivered licensing examinations in areas such as social work, automotive excellence, and WorkKeys employment skills verification.

For more information, call 775-824-3838 or visit us online at www.tmcc.edu/wdce/certificationtesting/.

Advisement Center

Academic Advisors are available to help students plan their educational programs, provide the most accurate information about TMCC, its educational offerings, and on transfer to other institutions. Call 775-673-7062 to schedule an appointment or for drop in times, go to our Web site for online advisement, or visit the advisement centers at the Dandini Campus, Red Mountain Building, room 111. For answers to the most frequently asked questions, visit us online at www.tmcc.edu/advisement/.

Advisement is also available at the IGT Applied Technology Center and the TMCC Redfield Center. For details, call 775-857-4974 for the IGT Applied Technology Center and 775-850-4042 for the TMCC Redfield Center.

Career Exploration/Career Center

If a student is undecided about a career choice, seeking a career change or needing to choose a major, the career center is here to help. Friendly staff are available to assist students in researching and connecting to the world of work through Internet connection and up-to-date computerized software. Students are also welcome to use the career center to research majors and gather college transfer information.

The career center offers a variety of tests to aid in identifying and exploring a student's occupational interests and personal characteristics. The results of the assessment can be useful in career planning, educational planning and self-understanding. A counselor is available on an appointment basis to discuss the meaning of scores.

In addition to the career center's many resources, students are encouraged to utilize individual counseling appointments with professional counselors and enroll in career development classes and workshops to enhance their career decisions.

The career center is located in the Red Mountain Building, room 111 and may be contacted by phoning 775-673-7063. Students may connect online to the career center at www.tmcc.edu/careercenter/ for more information.

Counseling Center

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the counseling services. The counseling program assists in establishing and achieving educational, career and life goals. Counselors are available in the counseling center to help students find self-understanding and resolve problems and concerns that might interfere with learning. Regular contact with a counselor can make progress through college smooth and successful. During each semester, the counseling center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, please call 775-673-7060 or go online to the counseling center at www.tmcc.edu/counseling. Counseling appointments can also be scheduled for the TMCC Meadowood Center. Call 775-824-8617 for details.

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

TMCC provides free services and appropriate accommodations to qualified students and program participants with self-identified, documented disabilities who register at the Disability Resource Center. A two week written request is required for most services to be implemented. Alternate print materials formats, interpreting and transcription services should be requested with a minimum 60 day advance notice in order to provide timely services.

Services and accommodations will be determined on a case- by- case basis upon an individual review of supporting documentation and may include one or more of the following: note taking, test accommodations, tutoring referrals, alternate print material formats, assistive computer software, specialized equipment, interpreters, transcriptioning, and other specialized services designed to provide equal access to participants in curricular and co-curricular activities

For more information about services and registration, please call 775-673-7277 (TTY: 775-673-7888); come to the DRC at the Dandini Campus–Red Mountain Building, room 315; or visit the DRC website at www.tmcc.edu/drc.

ESL Students

In order to foster success for students who speak English as a second language, TMCC provides testing for appropriate class placement. It is strongly recommended that all students who speak English as a second language be tested with ACCUPLACER and advised for correct placement in classes.

International Students

Students who are not U.S. citizens or immigrants and are interested in attending classes at TMCC other than English as a Second Language (ESL) or Bridge and whose native language is other than English, must take and pass the international TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based test or 173 on the computer-based test. An exception to the TOEFL is a recommendation from the IELC (Intensive English Language Center) at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Students who are not U.S. citizens or immigrants must also meet the college placement requirements prior to registering for classes. See page A-5 for specific information. The ACCUPLACER test is available for non-native speakers so that they may enroll in English classes.

Each semester before registering for classes, all international students on TMCC I-20s must meet with the international student advisor to determine their academic schedule and enroll in 12 credits. Students who are not U.S. citizens or immigrants who are interested in attending TMCC on an F-1 visa must follow special application procedures as outlined in Appendix A, part B, section 3.

New international students must attend an orientation prior to their first semester at TMCC. This session will provide academic advisement, international student rules, regulations and responsibilities and information about services and programs at TMCC. New international students must bring their passport with a valid visa and their I-94 to the admissions and records office. International students on an F-1 visa from another school must also show proof of being enrolled in 12 credits at their parent institution. For more information, please call 775-674-7627.

Job Placement/Internship Services

Need help with the process of preparing to meet job and career challenges" Receive assistance in your job search through the job placement center. A specialist is available to help you look sharp and get hired.

A TMCC career development professional is located in the Red Mountain Building, room 111, and is available to help simplify the job search process, identify potential needs and prepare job seekers for future challenges. The placement specialist also works with students to locate suitable positions for internships. Call 775-673-7063.

Re-Entry Center

The Re-Entry Center offers assistance to special populations who are returning to school and/or the workplace. The center, which is primarily funded by the college and grant programs, is dedicated to helping these individuals become economically self-sufficient through education, vocational training and enhanced job search skills. Assistance is offered through the following programs.

Perkins Educational Partnership Program: Special populations served by this program include single parents, displaced homemakers, individuals pursuing training in nontraditional occupations, economically disadvantaged, disabled and/or individuals with substantial barriers to education/employment. Those admitted to the program must be pursuing vocational education which leads to a high-skill, high-wage occupation or employment in a nontraditional field. Supporting occupational training in nontraditional fields (less than 25 percent of the workers in that field are of the student's gender) is a strong focus of this program. Services offered are academic advising, vocational assessment, counseling (personal, career, group), work experience, job placement assistance and referrals for instructional assistance and community resources. Program participants may also request financial assistance for the following: tuition, books, child care, instructional supplies and transportation costs. To qualify, candidates must present appropriate documentation of special population status.

Displaced Homemaker Program of Washoe County: Displaced homemakers of any economic level may receive support services to assist them in job search and placement. Services offered by this program include: vocational assessment, personal and career counseling, support groups, referrals for community assistance, job search skills workshops, job development and placement assistance and referrals for vocational training. The program is open to any displaced homemaker. A displaced homemaker is defined as a person whose primary job was caring for the family but now through death, divorce or disability of his or her partner must become the primary wage earner. The person may have been either unemployed or underemployed during the time he or she was a homemaker, as long as the homemaker was dependent upon another person for financial support. Persons dependent upon government programs such as TANF may also qualify as displaced homemakers.

The Re-Entry Center provides a wide variety of services for special population students. For more information regarding services, eligibility standards or application procedures, please contact the office at 775-829-9041.

Services for Adults Re-Entering School

A high proportion of students at TMCC are men and women who have been out of school for a number of years and now want to explore new directions and interests in their lives. Students considering returning to school to update or acquire new skills will find an individual appointment with a counselor helpful. Support groups, classes and personal counseling are available. Self-exploration, educational planning, self-concept development, job search skills and family adjustment are emphasized. More information can be obtained from the counseling center. Call 775-673-7060.

Starting Point

The Starting Point/admissions is the first point of contact for students with the college. Located in the student services center lobby in the Red Mountain Building, the Starting Point/admissions can assist you by accepting admission applications, issuing unofficial transcripts, requesting official transcripts, processing student IDs, accepting grade audit cards and major changes, and processing graduation applications. For additional information, go to http://startingpoint.tmcc.edu or call 775-673-7111.

Transfer Services

Transfer services provide information about how classes at TMCC transfer to other schools in the Nevada System of Higher Education and elsewhere. The academic advisement staff will assist students in understanding transfer policies and any other difficulties concerning the transfer of credits to another NSHE school.

Students planning to transfer should make an appointment with an academic advisor to review degree requirements that will facilitate the transfer process to UNR and UNLV. Call 775-673-7062 to set up an appointment or to get drop in times, or drop by room 111 in the Red Mountain Building.

Transfer agreements between UNLV and UNR and Nevada's community colleges can be found at www.tmcc.edu/advisement/transfer/agreements/.

Veterans Educational Assistance

The veterans certifying official is available to assist all those who are eligible for Montgomery G.I. Bill (MGIB) educational benefits. Veterans who are eligible for MGIB benefits and have been separated under honorable conditions have 10 years from the date of separation from active duty in which to use educational benefits. State of Nevada National Guard members and surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans or spouses and children of 100 percent disabled veterans should also contact the veterans benefits office in admissions and records to use the MGIB educational benefits.

All previous educational records, both military and civilian, must be evaluated and reported to the Veterans Administration within the first two semesters of attendance at TMCC. Forms to order both military and civilian transcripts are available in the admissions and records office.

TMCC's counseling staff is available to assist veterans in planning educational programs and choosing career options.

Veterans should contact their previously attended schools for copies of their educational records when transferring to TMCC.

Advanced payment is available to veterans in some instances. The appropriate documents and forms must be submitted to the admissions and records office at least 60 days in advance of the payment date.

Members of the National Guard and Reserve who want to use their educational benefits should bring their notice of basic eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) to the admissions and records office.

Veterans Upward Bound Program

The Veterans Upward Bound Program is an educational program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to assist veterans in preparing for success in college and other post-secondary training.

Veterans Upward Bound provides a comprehensive program of support services to improve both academic and motivational skills. Services are available for college preparation and GED completion. Specific services include developmental courses to improve basic skills, tutoring, career counseling and advisement, college orientation, assistance with admissions, financial aid and referrals to other agencies. Veterans must meet program eligibility requirements.

For more information, visit the Veterans Upward Bound office at the TMCC Meadowood Center, room S303, or call 775-829-9007.