Instructional Support

1. Student Success (STSC 0101) Course

The Student Success Course (STSC 0101) helps you make a successful transition to college. The course covers topics vital to college success: getting organized, time management, goal setting, test taking, note taking and personal communication. In addition, you are introduced to the wide variety of resources on campus.

2. Developmental Courses

You might need to enroll in developmental courses to build a strong academic foundation prior to enrolling in college-level courses.

It takes determination on your part to postpone career plans while doing developmental work in English, mathematics or reading. However, these academic enrichment courses will establish the needed preparations prior to enrolling in college-level work.

You should know that you pay tuition for these courses, the grades earned are reflected on your permanent transcript and, in most instances, these courses do not count toward a degree. However, through these classes, you develop good study habits, improve reading comprehension, increase ability to analyze and develop reasoning skills. This is what building an academic foundation is really all about.

Your developmental course needs might be met by non-semester length developmental education interventions, Non-Course Based Option (NCBO) rather than semester length developmental education coursework. Check with the Chairperson of the appropriate department to see if you are qualified to take an NCBO.

Students who enroll in developmental coursework may be required to co-enroll in the entry-level freshman course of the same subject matter in the same semester, as required by Texas state law.

For the 2020–2021 academic year, co-requisite enrollment is as follows:

• Students taking developmental coursework in Reading or English must also enroll in ENGL 1301, if those students (a) scored 345 or above in Reading (R) on the TSI and (b) scored an Essay of 3 and 354 or above for English (E) on the TSI.
• Students taking developmental coursework for Mathematics must enroll according to their degree plan in either MATH 1314, MATH 1332, or MATH 1342, if those students scored 336 or above for Math (M) on the TSI. Students who test into MATH 0371 or MATH 0373 may also be enrolled in a 1-hour lab, depending on their TSI scores.

3. Supplemental Instruction

If you are enrolled in a historically difficult academic course, Supplemental Instruction (SI) provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated study sessions led by trained SI Leaders. If you regularly attend SI sessions, you will learn study strategies and refine learning skills which can help you earn higher course grades, stay enrolled and graduate. Call (361) 698-2138 or visit the Supplemental Instruction section of the Del Mar College website (https://www.delmar.edu/offices/si/index.html).

4. Peer Tutoring

The Peer Tutoring Program is designed to provide one-on-one assistance and small group support to students. Tutoring is conducted in a constructive atmosphere of learning using a variety of tutoring techniques tailored to your individual learning style.

Online tutor is real-time interaction between the tutor and the student, so the responses are immediate and tutor and student view content at the same time. This allows the student one-on-one time with a tutor via the Internet.

The goals of tutoring are to inspire you to become a confident, independent learner prepared to meet academic and personal challenges. Tutoring is free and is provided in a number of academic areas such as:

• Math
• English
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Geology
• Government
• Reading
• Physics
• Psychology
• History
• Nursing
• Sciences
• High School Equivalency Program (GED, HiSET and TASC)
• Preparation -- HESI Exam
• Placement Testing

Peer Tutoring Program strives to create a win-win environment for Del Mar College students. The benefits of tutoring often go beyond those of a typical part-time job. Added benefits to the tutor include strengthening communication and problem-solving skills, enhance learning skills and promotes a sense of accomplishment that comes from helping others. To become a peer tutor a student must have an overall GPA of 3.0 to 4.0, are currently enrolled and have earned a grade of an "A" or a "B" in the subject area. Peer Tutors are certified through the College Reading and Learning Association Certification Program. For more information about tutoring or becoming a Peer Tutor, call (361) 698-2267.

Student Success Center (Heritage Campus)
St. Clair Building
Room 111
(361) 698-2259