Advisement/Assessment

Counseling

The contact office for planning your program of college study is the Student Development Office. You are encouraged to make an appointment with an academic counselor even before you enroll in order to discuss a plan of study. The services are available to students at no cost.

The Student Development Office provides assistance in academic and career counseling.

Selecting a major and choosing a career are difficult decisions likely to affect you for many years. For assistance in the selection process, you may call upon the Career Services Center for personal interviews and help sessions. The Student Development Office maintains a job information service and also provides courses in career planning. Students are encouraged to see the dean, program coordinator, department chair, or faculty for further advising in their major pathways of study. Various types of assessment instruments are available to help students understand themselves better and to help them set realistic goals.

Personal Counseling: SCC has contracted with Bridgeway Counseling Services to provide mental health counseling for SCC students. Confidential appointments can be scheduled by calling 636-288-6533. You may meet with the counselor on campus in Administration Building Room 1204 or at the St. Charles location of Bridgeway Counseling Services. The counselor will provide short-term counseling services and will make referrals to community providers if necessary.

Advisement - A Dual Responsibility

Advising is a joint responsibility of counselors and students. It is the student's responsibility to set goals, choose courses, and make decisions regarding educational choices. The counselor's task is to guide the student toward accepting responsibility for mature academic decision making. For more information, call 636-922-8241.

Student's Responsibilities

• Be knowledgeable about general education requirements, program requirements, and college policies and procedures. This information is available in the college catalog.
• Transfer students need to choose a major field of study at their transfer institution as soon as possible. They should become familiar with the requirements needed for their major at the institution to which they plan to transfer.
• Schedule appointments early during registration periods and be prepared for the appointment. Students should have a copy of the class schedule, have an idea of courses they plan to take, and be able to discuss their interests and goals with the advisor.
• Promptly keep appointments. If this is impossible due to an unexpected emergency, call to reschedule.
• Consult with an academic counselor when experiencing academic difficulty.
• Accept responsibility for decisions that need to be made.
• Follow through with appropriate action after meeting with an academic counselor.
• Fulfill all educational requirements.
• Complete all necessary paperwork.

Academic Counselor's Responsibilities

• Provide accurate information about educational options, requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Help students develop an educational plan consistent with the student's interests and abilities.
• Help students meet special educational needs through referrals to other resources of the college.
• Help students understand the nature and purpose of higher education.
• Help students learn to accept responsibility for their own actions and decisions.
• Help students to clarify their values and goals.

Career-Technical Programs

Students should contact the Student Development Office at 636-922-8246 or 636-922-8241 or visit Administration Building Room 1204 if they are interested in these career-technical programs: Nursing, Health Information Technology, Medical Transcription, Business Administrative Systems, Child Care, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Computer-Aided Drafting, General Technology, Global Studies, and Early Education, Graphic Design, Computer Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant, or the Skilled Trades.  It is required that students interested in these programs see a career-technical program counselor before enrolling, because many of these programs require special applications and/or admission requirements. 

Assessment and Placement

An assessment series in basic academic skills such as writing, reading comprehension, and mathematics is administered to entering students. Results are used in placing the students in appropriate courses. Any student taking an English or math course or any 6 or more credit hours must take the assessment tests before enrolling.

Outcomes Assessment

St. Charles Community College is committed to maintaining the quality of its educational programs. Studies are being implemented to assess the outcomes of college education. Students are required to participate in such studies should they be so requested.

Students will be assessed on their general education knowledge upon completion of selected course work. In addition, students completing a career/technical program of study may be evaluated on field specific knowledge and competencies.

Schedule Guides

Suggested curriculum guides are available for college programs. These guides indicate how you may complete your course of studies within a particular time frame.

Plan Ahead

Students who wish to graduate from SCC and transfer with junior standing should carefully plan a program of study to meet the requirements needed for the major at the transfer institution. Contact the Student Development Office concerning academic advising and the transfer process.

COL 101 Orientation to College

It is important to start a college experience with a strong understanding of its demands and rewards. This course, for freshman students, helps them understand aspects of college life, including resources and procedures, interacting with instructors, instructor expectations, critical thinking, goal setting and commitment, learning styles, identification of student interests and needs, and study skills. It is required of all first-time freshman students taking 9 or more credit hours (6 hours or more in the summer semester).