North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC)

Student Access Center

Some of what you can expect from NIACC’s Student Access Center:

An early alert system for students who appear to be struggling in the classroom.

A mentoring program to help students transition from high school to college.

Tutoring Services (housed under NIACC’s Learning Support and Student Services Offices)

Student Learning Center

Student Support Services

Supplemental Instruction

Written policies and procedures regarding disability services

Faculty and staff awareness training

Academic Advising with a Disability Services Counselor

Monitoring of student progress

Transition Workshop designed for students with disabilities who are entering their junior or senior years in high school, incoming college Freshman, along with parents, high school counselors, teachers, administrators, etc. who are involved with students with disabilities.

North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is a comprehensive public, open-door, two-year degree-granting institution located in Mason City, Iowa. Operating since 1918, it is the primary higher educational institution in North Iowa. Educational offerings include pre-baccalaureate degrees for transfer to four-year institutions and preparation for immediate employment.

NIACC houses the Student Access Center dedicated to providing college resources to promote student success. Our purpose is to ensure that entering students assimilate into college, become engaged in the social and academic communities of the College, are prepared for and succeed in college-level courses, have a plan in place to reach their goal, and are guided and supported as they acquire skills and knowledge to become more successful.

Three primary components of the Student Access Center:

Academic Placement and Support – NIACC provides built-in activities that support students’ academic
success from the time they enter college.

a. Students with disabilities receive one-on-one counseling and support from the Counselor for Disability Services. NIACC provides comprehensive support services, utilizing assistive technology, to help overcome obstacles to educational success.

b. Supplemental Instruction (SI) – An academic program that is offered for courses that are traditionally considered difficult due to low pass rates, but that are common classes students choose to take to fulfill their academic programs at NIACC. SI discussion sessions are facilitated by trained student SI Leaders who have been successful in the classes being referred to and are overseen by NIACC’s Supplemental Instruction Coordinator.

These sessions are designed to supplement, not replace, class lectures. SI sessions are interactive, providing students another opportunity to participate in the learning process and promote academic success. These sessions are generally held twice a week for 1 hour each.

Student Engagement

c. Freshman students participate in a Mentoring Program that will help them make immediate connections with NIACC staff and faculty. This involves participation of NIACC employees who are trained as mentors and will help ease incoming students’ transition and adjustment to the college environment.

d. Learning Communities - Teaching teams facilitate cross-curricular courses involving several academic divisions. The paired courses help students make connections between one subject and another and between themselves and the material they are studying.

Educational Goal Setting and Intervention

e. NIACC students work with individuals at NIACC to create an educational plan. In order to capture students’ educational goals and monitor their progress, a tracking system is in place. The Student Education Plan will serve as each student’s customized road map to educational success.

f. Early Alert System – This system will trigger interventions at critical points in time during the educational process. At the first sign of trouble, including attendance problems and academic struggle, a variety of proactive interventions will occur to provide the student an opportunity for increased success at NIACC.

Enrich Program - for students who may not be ready for college level demands based on college placement scores, knowledge of own skills, and/or a low high school grade point average.

If you have questions regarding the Student Access Center or any of its programs you may visit us on the NIACC Campus in AB106, give us a call at 888.GO NIACC, ext. 4413, or send us an email at devriang@niacc.edu.

Disability Services

North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401
641-423-1264 or 1-888-GO NIACC
www.niacc.edu