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Colleges Support Students through Student Services

There are two important factors affecting community colleges today. Both are dependant upon each other. These factors are student services and students of diverse backgrounds. Both are influencing college campuses all over the country.

Although student services have become significant areas of community colleges today, it wasn’t until the 1970’s, when college enrollment dropped that schools began to really examine these services. In the beginning, student services served as a method in which colleges could regulate student activities. As time evolved, student services became a support system for students to meet their educational objectives.

There are six areas that student services play a role: recruitment/retention, counseling/guidance, orientation, extra curricular activities, financial aid, and articulation. As was stated earlier, there was a drop in student enrollment during the 70’s. This placed pressure on community colleges. Institutions decided to put forth additional effort into recruitment and retention services. Soon, colleges started working with neighboring high schools to encourage students to enroll. Some campuses began offering college level courses for high school students and passing out information on assessment testing. Catalogs were created and distributed to promote community college.

At the same time, institutions started looking for new students. These new students came from underrepresented groups or individuals from diverse backgrounds. With an increase of these students, campuses found that supplementary special services were needed to be built. This group of diverse backgrounds required their academic progress to be monitored frequently in order to boost success. Basic skills and needs assessments were also developed and implemented. All of these improvements to student services have benefited both the students and the community colleges.

The second area of student services has improved over time. The counseling and guidance section of student services works with students to strike a balance between academic abilities and student goals. Through career services, guidance, and counseling, students take an active part in their own educational growth and progression. Within this section, students with disabilities were also a focus. Studies show that these students were twice as likely to drop out of community college, compared to those without disabilities. This fact increased the need for opportunities to build self-esteem and study skills necessary for these students to succeed.

Student orientation is the third area of student services. Today, student orientation has become a crucial determining factor in the future success of a student. Guiding students through the transition from high school to community college is very important. Community colleges offer incoming students tours and classes to make this shift easier. Seminars during the school year have also proven to be beneficial in retaining students throughout the first year.

Extra curricular activities are the fourth and least common area of student services. Students with strong leadership aspirations, usually attend universities. However, community colleges do recognize the benefit of preparing students for future leadership career roles. There are student government organizations and clubs available. Faculty members who work with these groups are viewed more as consultants, rather than advisors.

The fifth area is financial aid. This part of student services grows each year. Most students attending community colleges benefit from financial aid. Shifts in aid result in fluctuation in college enrollment. The availability of grants, loans, and aid allow many students, who might have not thought of going to school, a chance to better themselves. With the percentage of community college students with full time jobs increasing, each year the need for financial aid resources at the college multiplies.

Articulation or the moving of students from one point to another is the sixth area of student services. Community colleges work with universities to match curriculum and course work. Students are then able to move from one school onto the next. However, this linear progression has seen changes in recent years. Students sometimes start in the university and then transfer to the community college or students might complete a degree at one school and then move to the other to earn another certification or degree. With today’s complex world, community colleges and universities must work together on articulation.

Evaluating the special programs of a college is part of the decision making process. When potential students choose a college, researching the types of student services available at the campus is significant.

Amy Chapman writes for college-search.us college-search.us, a tool designed to help students find the right college or school. She also writes for weblearner.com weblearner.com and distancelearner.com distancelearner.com, sites designed to help students select and succeed in a distance learning environment.