Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) at DMACC

Des Moines Area Community College strongly supports the state of Iowa's Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act. DMACC is an eligible institution and encourages high school students to take advantage of this opportunity to enroll in college courses, while still in high school.

Please be aware that enrollment in a college course through PSEO means you are enrolled as a college student. You are required to adhere to all DMACC policies. In addition, your classroom performance will be reflected on your college transcripts.

Student Eligibility

Students attending a public or accredited nonpublic school who are in the 11th or 12th grade are eligible to participate. Also, 9th or 10th grade students who have been identified as gifted and talented are eligible to participate. Students need to consult with the PSEO official at their high school to determine other eligibility requirements.

Eligible Courses

Students may enroll in a course only if a comparable course is not available at their high school.

Students may enroll in credit courses that lead to an educational degree. Courses must be nonsectarian (not confined to or affiliated with any specific religion).

Students must successfully complete (grade of C or higher) any prerequisite coursework assigned to a class.

Students may enroll in the following disciplines:

Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Computer Science and Math, Economics, Foreign Languages, Geography, Literature, Philosophy and History (including art and music with a history component), Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Vocational Technical courses.

Students may enroll in one or more courses, but must remain part-time students. Part-time enrollment at DMACC is 11 credits or less during the fall and spring semesters.

Costs

Tuition, fees and required textbooks in most cases are FREE for participating students. However, students may be required to purchase equipment or supplies that become the property of the student. Students should discuss costs with their high school counselor. Students who withdraw or drop a course, or fail a course, may be responsible to the local school district for the cost of the course. Even when dropping a course, a portion of the cost of the course may be owed depending on what date the course was dropped.

Credit

Courses must be taken for college credit. The course may not be audited or challenge tested.

The local school district will determine the number of high school credits to be granted, if any, for successful completion of the course. The credit given may count toward applicable graduation requirements of the local school district; if so, the credits will be included on the students’ high school transcripts.

Grades earned will impact the students’ high school and college grade point averages, class ranks, and applicable eligibility requirements for extra-curricular activities.

Confidentiality of Student Records

DMACC complies with the Family Educational Right & Privacy Act (20 U.S.C., 1232g.; 34 CFR Part 99). Any student (regardless of age) enrolled in postsecondary institutions such as DMACC, must provide the College with written permission, before student records such as grades, attendance history, or academic progress can be shared with any third party (including parents). For more information, please contact DMACC’s Registration Office, (515) 964-6800.