Dual Enrollment News & Announcements
Important Student Information
- Want to be successful in your classes?
- Do you need help setting up your POD account?
- Do you know where to find your courses in the POD?
- What is FERPA?
- What is CLEP testing?
- Do you know your major?
- Do you need accommodations?
Tips for Success:
- Check your Alvin College email - email is the official form of communication. Check your Alvin College email daily. If you need help finding your email, view this short POD video.
- Log into Blackboard Daily - Students should log into Blackboard daily to review any announcements or assignments. Students needing assistance with Blackboard should email their instructor or contact Blackboard using the link within the system.
- Stay Connected - Read and send emails! Email your instructor if you have questions or concerns. Email your DE Advisor for support or if you need assistance.
- Dual Enrollment students receive FREE tutorials through the Learning Lab.
Set up your Alvin College POD account:
Your POD account is your online portal with Alvin College. Inside the POD students can access their college email, Blackboard and much more! Students log into the POD with their Alvin College email address and the password they create.
When their application to Alvin College is processed, students receive an email containing their student ID number, Access ID, and Alvin college email address. There will also be a link to set up a password.
For assistance, contact the IT Help Desk at 281.756.3544.
Alvin College Email - The Alvin College email inbox is located in the POD and or students can also sign in through Office 365. Email is Alvin College's official form of communication.
Blackboard - Students access their courses in Blackboard through the POD. The courses will not show in Blackboard until the first day of class.
How to set up your POD account handout.
Help with Blackboard - Blackboard learn for students.
View Courses in the POD:
Log into the POD and on the right under WebAccess > select Students > select Self Service > select Student Planning.
If your schedule does not look accurate, contact your DE Advisor. Remember you will only be registered for one semester at a time.
FERPA
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides that all records pertaining to a student that are maintained may not be made available to any other person without authorization from the student.
If a student wants their parents to speak to their professor or the college on their behalf, the student will need to set up a FERPA Student Records Release in the POD.
Here are instructions on how to set it up.
CLEP Testing
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams test mastery of college-level material. Students can receive college credit for subjects in which they already have proficiency. This is most commonly used for DE Spanish.
For information and test registration, visit the CLEP website. Testers should contact the Alvin College Testing Center directly at 281.756.3526 to schedule their testing appointment. A proctoring fee of $20 must be paid prior to testing. View ID requirements. Your school ID will not be acceptable.
Once test is completed, students can follow up with their DE advisor about submitting a PLA application to get the credits put on their student record. View the Alvin College CLEP score chart here.
Textbook Information:
Alvin College utilizes both electronic (Redshelf/eBooks) and hard copy textbooks.
- Hard copy textbooks - The following video will explain how to purchase textbooks from the bookstore.
- Electronic textbooks (RedShelf/eBooks) - Many courses have eBooks included in the price of the course. If you have an textbook fee on your fee statement/bill, it is related to an electronic
textbook associated with one of your courses.
- Learn how to access RedShelf ebook through Blackboard here
- Learn how to opt-out of RedShelf eBooks here
For more information, students can contact the Alvin College Store at 281.756.3681. - If your not able to log into an eBook because you need an access code, you need to contact your professor so they can give you the code or allow access.
Career Coach
All students in the Alvin College Dual Enrollment Program are in the Associates of Arts Degree in General Studies but if you are not sure what you want to major in when you go to a university try Career Coach.
Career Coach is a web-based tool that is used for career based research using labor market data to make career decisions easy. The options in Career Coach are endless – from building a resumé, discovering programs to pursue to exploring the local job market.
Brainfuse Tutoring
Brainfuse is our new live online tutoring service!
How to Access:
- Log in to your Blackboard account
- Select your course
- Click on Books & Tools (At the bottom of the menu on the right side of the content page)
- Click on the Brainfuse link
Do you need ADA accommodations?
Students that require accommodations in their courses must meet with the Alvin College Student Accessibility Services prior to the start of school. View the Dual Enrollment Information Sheet to review what is needed for your visit.
