Parent & Guardian Resource
What types of degrees does OCCC offer?
Oklahoma City Community College gives you the choice between two types of associate degrees:
Associate in science degree (A.S.) / Associate in arts degree (A.A): Students most often earn this kind of associate degree with a plan to transfer to a college or university, where they’ll earn a bachelor’s degree and beyond.
Associate in applied science degree (A.A.S): Students who choose this option intend to go straight into the job market.
Certification: A non-degree credential that proves knowledge or skill in a specific area. Valued credentials vary by industry and job title.
FERPA
FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate and misleading data through informal and formal hearings. It is enforced by the Family Policy Compliance Office at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
FERPA rights begin when a student is admitted, enrolled, and begins attending or participating in classes. FERPA rights end with the death of the student.
AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE FORM
At OCCC, parents need to have an “Authorization to Release” on file authorizing their parents to access their education records. Without an Authorization to Release form parents are only allowed to have Directory Information.
An Authorization to release must be filled out by the student through Self-Service. The student has the right to revoke this authorization at any time the student desires.
At OCCC directory information is restricted to:
- Student’s name
- Address (City, State, and/or Country Only)
- Phone number
- College email address
- Major field of study and degree program
- Semesters or terms of enrollment
- Enrollment status (Full/Part-time)
- Degrees, honors, and awards received
- Previous education institution attended prior to OCCC
Financial Aid
The major types of financial aid from Federal and State sources are :
1. Grants – a form of financial aid that does not usually get repaid. They cover a variety of education-related expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, and books and supplies.
2. Federal Work-Study Program – provides financial aid as wages that do not have to be repaid, from working part-time on campus, tutoring, or community service positions.
3. Student Loans – Federal Direct Stafford loans are low-interest educational loans available to college students who are enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours required for your OCCC degree), are pursuing a degree, are making Satisfactory Academic Progress, and meet other basic eligibility requirements.
Applying for Financial Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
To apply for financial aid- complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://www.fafsa.gov
- A new FAFSA opens every year on October 1st, and one must be completed each year to be considered for financial aid.
- Submitting the 2022-2023 FAFSA application includes Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters.
- Submit the FAFSA by May 31st for the fall semester and by October 30th for the spring semester to ensure that the file is complete before classes begin.
- The OCCC Financial Aid office has a priority deadline to have all documents completed and submitted by July 1st to ensure a student’s file is reviewed before the fall semester. OCCC Financial Aid processes FAFSAs throughout the year.
Have your student check their OCCC email regularly for important notifications!
Login to MyOCCC Portal Link under Student Self-Service you can review your financial aid. Submit all required documents listed to complete your file.
Types of Courses
Traditional Lecture Courses- This class has required meetings on campus. Online work outside of class may be required. Internet access is available on campus.
Hybrid- Hybrid courses mix in-person and remote participation. Hybrid courses set the expectation that all students will engage in some parts of the course in person and in other parts of the course through remote, fully online participation. OCCC offers different types of hybrid.
- Hybrid Courses that meet one day on campus and one over Zoom. Some have both A and B sections, on rotation.
- 1 and 2 Day Hybrids where there is an expectation for one or two on-campus meetings per week as well as significant online work. There are due dates for assignments. Access to reliable internet is required.
- Zoom- This class is 100% online with specific scheduled virtual meeting times via zoom.
100% Online- 100% online without scheduled meeting times. Access to reliable internet is required. There are established deadlines and expectations.
Offices to Know
College Terms
Add/drop period– Time frame when students can drop or add courses to their course load without consequences, including incomplete marks on their transcript.
College vs. University– Colleges and universities primarily differ in program offerings and degree types. “University” refers to larger institutions offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. “College” refers to community colleges, technical schools, and liberal arts colleges.
Core course- Courses that provide the foundation of the degree program and are required of all students seeking that degree.
Course– Regularly scheduled class sessions of one to five hours (or more) per week during a term. A degree program is made up of a specified number of required and elective courses and varies from institution to institution.
Credits- Units that most colleges and universities use to record the completion of courses (with passing grades) that are required for an academic degree.
Full-time student– One who is enrolled in an institution taking a full load of courses; the number of courses and hours is specified by the institution. At OCCC 12 credit hours is full-time.
Federal grants vs. State grants– Grants are need-based forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. Federal grants are awarded through the FASFA. State grants are awarded through the student’s home state and usually have different eligibility requirements than that of the FASFA.
Fees- An amount charged by universities, in addition to tuition, to cover the costs of institutional services.
First-generation student- A college student who is the first in their family to go to college.
General education courses- Curriculum that creates the foundation of an undergraduate degree. It generally includes courses in English, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Major– The student’s field of concentration. Major courses represent 25-50% of the total number of courses required to complete a degree.
Part-time student- One who is enrolled in an institution taking a less than full load of courses; the number of courses and hours is specified by the institution. At OCCC anything under 12 credit hours is part-time.
Parent PLUS Loans– These are federal loans that parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay for college or career school.
Prerequisites- Programs or courses that a student is required to complete before being permitted to enroll in a more advanced program or course.
Registration- Process of reserving a spot in specific classes for enrolled students.
Scholarships- An award given by a college, university, or outside institution to help a student pay for tuition or day-to-day expenses. Criteria vary depending on individual scholarships.
Subsidized Student Loans- loans for undergraduate students with financial need, as determined by your cost of attendance minus expected family contribution and other financial aid (such as grants or scholarships). Subsidized Loans do not accrue interest while you are in school at least half-time or during deferment periods.
Syllabus– An outline of topics covered in an academic course.
Terms vs. Semesters- The academic year is often divided into terms—most commonly in the form of semesters or quarters. Semesters typically include a fall and spring semester and summer session that may be shorter. Quarters divide the year into four terms—each usually 10 or 11 weeks. At OCCC we have three semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer) but within each semester we have two terms (Early Fall, Late Fall, Early Spring, and Late Spring).
Transcript– A certified copy of a student’s educational record.
Tuition– The money an institution charges for instruction and training (does not include the cost of books). The core price for college classes.
Unsubsidized Student Loans- loans for both undergraduate and graduate students that are not based on financial need. Eligibility is determined by your cost of attendance minus other financial aid (such as grants or scholarships). Interest is charged during in-school, deferment, and grace periods.
Withdraw– To drop a class after the add/drop grace period. Withdrawing often means receiving a W on your transcript.
OCCC Terms
Bursar– the Office that manages the financial affairs of a college.
CAN- a comprehensive alert notification system for all of our students and employees. This system is designed to quickly communicate information regarding emergency situations on campus and any campus closures that may be necessary. more info
Day One Access Textbooks– a service provided to students that makes your course materials available to you digitally, within your class on Moodle, on the first day of class. more info
Diversified Studies– This program is designed for students planning to continue their education at a four-year college or university.
Division (Office)– There are five academic divisions on OCCC’s campus. Each division has a Dean (someone that is the head of a college’s faculty or department).
- Arts, English, & Humanities
- Business & Information Technology
- Health Professions
- Science, Engineering & Mathematics
- Social Sciences
Financial Responsibility Agreement– A form filled out each semester (when registering for the first time for the next semester’s set of courses). Outlines your financial obligation to OCCC and what happens if you do not pay.
Moodle- It is an online educational platform that provides custom learning environments for students.
Navigate- a student-success free app that allows for better communication between students, their advisors, and faculty, helps students stay on track in their college education, and serves as a one-stop-shop for resources.
Portal/Self-Service- the gateway to OCCC’s student information resources. Portal is a single sign-on, web-based interface which allows a student access to resources you will use daily. It allows you to take care of business 24/7.
Shield– a free safety app that will enable students to reach OCCC Campus Police almost immediately from their smartphones. more info
Student Planning– the online software used by students to track their degree completion progress, plan future semesters, and register for courses.
