Catalog 2010-2011 - South Texas College

STUDENT SUPPORTServices PROGRAMSThe office of Student Support Services reflectsSouth Texas College’s commitment to provideaccess to higher education and support theeducational goals of students from diversebackgrounds. The staff at the office of StudentSupport Services help achieve academicsuccess through the following services: academicadvisement, career and personal counseling,special services for students with disabilities, andassistance to special populations.COUNSELING SERVICESLife situations at times require professionalassistance. At South Texas College, counselorsprovide many services designed to help studentsattain educational, career, and personal goals.Individual and Group CounselingAcademic Counseling4 One-on-one attention4 Assessment, goal-setting and orientation4 Study skills assessment and training4 Referrals to appropriate services4 Academic Probation/SuspensionCareer Counseling and Transfer Assistance4 Assistance in choosing a career that iscompatible with the student’s interests,personality traits, work values, and abilities.4 Vocational assessment is available throughthe online program called Career Cruising,as well as other instruments.4 Assistance in selecting courses and gaininginformation about transferring to otherinstitutions.4 Through the Transfer Track Program,representatives from other institutions visitSTC and meet with students.Personal CounselingAssistance in resolving crisis or personal issuesinterfering with educational success such as:4 Becoming comfortable in a college setting;4 Making personal, educational, and careerchoices;4 Taking control of one’s life;4 Reducing stress;4 Time-Management;4 Setting goals;4 Eliminating self-defeating behavior;4 Esteeming oneself and others;4 Asserting oneself;4 Coping with crisis;4 Dealing with loss;4 Managing anger;4 Dealing with eating disorders;4 Surviving past physical, emotional, andsexual abuse;4 Coping with alcohol and drug abuse;4 Enhancing relationships;4 Adjusting to cultural diversities;4 Enhancing social skills.4 Fiscal responsibility (Credit Smart)Special topic Presentations, Workshops andNational Mental Health Screenings4 Academic Study Skills Workshops4 Life Skills Workshops4 Career Planning Workshops4 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Awareness Day4 Safe Spring Break Campaign4 National Depression Screening Day4 National Alcohol Screening Day4 National Eating Disorders screening DayThe Counseling Center offers students and thecampus community a variety of professionalservices including those listed above. Mostservices are pre-paid through your student servicefee. These services are offered in a confidentialatmosphere where the student may discussconcerns that are important to their educationaland personal success.Counselors are available during the day on a walkinor appointment basis; however, appointmentsare preferred. Services for evening hours areby appointment only. Counselors are availableat the Pecan Campus, Nursing and AlliedHealth Campus, Technology Campus, Mid-ValleyCampus, and Starr County Campus locations.Schedules vary at each location so students shouldcall (956) 872-8372 or 1-800-742-7822 to inquireabout office hours and appointments.Providing Academic Support to Students(PASS)PASS began in 1993 as Project HOPE with thegoal of assisting single mothers complete apostsecondary education by helping them payfor childcare. As the program grew it becameapparent that our participants had a variety ofneeds ranging from financial to academic andemotional. The program grew to accommodatethose needs and became known as the togetherIn Achievement (TIA) and Striving towards A NontraditionalDegree (STAND) programs. Demandfor the services that TIA and STAND providedgrew to such an extent that in the fall of 2000 itwas expanded to include all Technical/Vocationalmajors and was re-named PASS.Today, the PASS Program which is fundedby a grant from the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board with funds from the Carl D.Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of2006 focuses on the following:4 Career and Technical Education programs4 Retention and Transfer4 Elimination of barriers to special populationstudents (single parents, displacedhomemakers, non-traditional students,economically disadvantage, and an individualwith a disability).4 GraduationPASS provides specialized case managementservices for students with career and technicaleducation majors, Associate of Applied Sciencemajors, or Certificate majors. CTE are evaluatedupon entering the program and placed into oneof three risk categories based on their THEA orAccu-placer status. The PASS program is ableto assist eligible students in the following areas:49