Student Support Resources are programs that exist on every community college and college campus to help you in any way that you may need help. Broadly, these resources can help you physically, academically, emotionally, socially, career-wise, financially and even spiritually.
Not all schools will have a separate office for each of these; some of them will work together in one office or program, but colleges know that students have these needs and they have programs, counselors, offices, workshops, and events to provide this support to their students.
Let’s discuss these one at a time so you know what resources exist on your campus to help you have the best and most successful experience possible!
Physical needs:
Police — all campuses have a police force to keep you safe.
Escort-home Service — many campuses have escort teams who will walk you home safely from the library, etc at night for free.
Health clinic — campuses have a health clinic where you can go to see the doctor or nurse for any reason, including birth control.
Sexual Assault Hotline — this phone number will be posted all over campus in the event of an emergency.
Academic needs:
Tutoring — if you need more time to ask questions for a subject, go to the math lab or the writing lab and get free help.
Learning support — if you have learning differences, go to the office of disability services and get the support you need to succeed!
Office hours — you can go to the office hours of your professors to ask questions after class. This is a great way to learn more!
Emotional needs:
Mental health counseling — campuses have support staff who are trained counselors for any mental health issues you may face.
Suicide prevention — this phone number should be well-posted around campus in the event of an emergency. Report any concerns you have.
Bullying or hazing — talk to a professor, your RA or an adviser if you or someone you know is being bullied. This is UNACCEPTABLE!
Homesickness — if you feel homesick for more than a week, go talk to your RA. They have great strategies to combat the blues.
Social needs:
Childcare services — many campuses have childcare services so you can leave your children with trained babysitters while you go to class.
Clubs and activities — there is a club, sport or activity for every hobby and interest you can imagine! Join at least two so that you can make friends.
Career needs:
Career counseling — this office will help you take career tests and find the right career for you.
Resume advice — the Career Services Office on campus can help you draft and edit your resume. They often have workshops.
Interview prep — the Career Services Office can help you prep for a job interview. Schedule an appointment in advance.
Internship placement — Career Services receives notices of job opportunities from many companies and they will help you find internships, which lead to jobs!
Job placement — Career Services helps students make a plan to get hired. Start going here well before your program ends.
Financial needs:
Merit aid — you get merit aid from your college based upon your previous grades.
Scholarships — anyone can apply for scholarships. CollegeMapper has a scholarship search. So does Scholarships.com and Zinch.com.
Work-Study — work study means you work on campus and part of your salary goes to pay part of your tuition. It’s a sweet deal.
Part-time job — you can work part-time during college, and most kids do, you just have to make sure you plan out your study time and don’t work too much.
Resident Advisor — you can be an RA in the dorms and then you get to live and eat there for free. It’s an awesome deal!
Loans — your last resort to pay for college should be student loans (private bank loans are even worse). Try to save up and work instead.
Spiritual needs:
Places of worship — most campuses offer churches, chapels, temples, and synagogues for all faiths. Ask your RA.
Religious groups — there is faith based groups on every campus that you can join to meet other people who share your faith.
Whatever your need, the colleges are used to supporting their students and there is very likely a wealth of resources in place to help you be successful. Just ask!
Not all schools will have a separate office for each of these; some of them will work together in one office or program, but colleges know that students have these needs and they have programs, counselors, offices, workshops, and events to provide this support to their students.
Let’s discuss these one at a time so you know what resources exist on your campus to help you have the best and most successful experience possible!
Physical needs:
Police — all campuses have a police force to keep you safe.
Escort-home Service — many campuses have escort teams who will walk you home safely from the library, etc at night for free.
Health clinic — campuses have a health clinic where you can go to see the doctor or nurse for any reason, including birth control.
Sexual Assault Hotline — this phone number will be posted all over campus in the event of an emergency.
Academic needs:
Tutoring — if you need more time to ask questions for a subject, go to the math lab or the writing lab and get free help.
Learning support — if you have learning differences, go to the office of disability services and get the support you need to succeed!
Office hours — you can go to the office hours of your professors to ask questions after class. This is a great way to learn more!
Emotional needs:
Mental health counseling — campuses have support staff who are trained counselors for any mental health issues you may face.
Suicide prevention — this phone number should be well-posted around campus in the event of an emergency. Report any concerns you have.
Bullying or hazing — talk to a professor, your RA or an adviser if you or someone you know is being bullied. This is UNACCEPTABLE!
Homesickness — if you feel homesick for more than a week, go talk to your RA. They have great strategies to combat the blues.
Social needs:
Childcare services — many campuses have childcare services so you can leave your children with trained babysitters while you go to class.
Clubs and activities — there is a club, sport or activity for every hobby and interest you can imagine! Join at least two so that you can make friends.
Career needs:
Career counseling — this office will help you take career tests and find the right career for you.
Resume advice — the Career Services Office on campus can help you draft and edit your resume. They often have workshops.
Interview prep — the Career Services Office can help you prep for a job interview. Schedule an appointment in advance.
Internship placement — Career Services receives notices of job opportunities from many companies and they will help you find internships, which lead to jobs!
Job placement — Career Services helps students make a plan to get hired. Start going here well before your program ends.
Financial needs:
Merit aid — you get merit aid from your college based upon your previous grades.
Scholarships — anyone can apply for scholarships. CollegeMapper has a scholarship search. So does Scholarships.com and Zinch.com.
Work-Study — work study means you work on campus and part of your salary goes to pay part of your tuition. It’s a sweet deal.
Part-time job — you can work part-time during college, and most kids do, you just have to make sure you plan out your study time and don’t work too much.
Resident Advisor — you can be an RA in the dorms and then you get to live and eat there for free. It’s an awesome deal!
Loans — your last resort to pay for college should be student loans (private bank loans are even worse). Try to save up and work instead.
Spiritual needs:
Places of worship — most campuses offer churches, chapels, temples, and synagogues for all faiths. Ask your RA.
Religious groups — there is faith based groups on every campus that you can join to meet other people who share your faith.
Whatever your need, the colleges are used to supporting their students and there is very likely a wealth of resources in place to help you be successful. Just ask!
