Services
Student services are often as important as the educational programs. Student services prepare students to be successful and provide assistance throughout the student's experience at your institution. Student services vary from institution to institution. You already know about placement assistance and career services, but this is only one component of student services. Locate the catalog, policies and procedures and/or operations manuals and other materials to learn who staffs the Student Services Department and where it is located.
I AGREE although they are great because they can assist them as well
Debra,
You bring an important point to the forum. Student Services can only direct students to outside resources. We cannot provide them full transportation. They need to assume responsibility.
Our student services department offers a wide variety of assistance ranging from transportation vouchers to assistance with housing, electric bills, and shelter from domestic violence. We do need to be careful how we state these programs though. At a recent orientation it was stated that if the student needed help with housing, bills, etc. they could go to student services and they could get help. A student was very angry and said we misrepresented our offers when we would not pay his electric bill for him! He "heard in orientation we would help pay his bills!" What we meant was we would assist in getting the student to the organizations that will either pay, offer vouchers, reduce the amount owed, etc. So, be careful how you state your intentions!
I agree. Many, many times it can make the difference between a student succeeding or not.
Neldys,
Student services need to be available and well know to students. Often they think they would never need uch a resource, then life happens.
Janet,
It is the community link that establishes relationships between the school and area businesses. Our school name gets out there and is remembered by potential employers.
I completly agree and I think that it trancends to the Institution culture and students participation in the community and in their role as future professionals in their fields.
