3.4.9 Academic Support Services

The institution provides appropriate academic support services.

  Compliance          ___  Partial Compliance          ___  Non-Compliance

Narrative:   

South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) provides the following Academic Support Services:

Library
SLCC has three libraries, one at the Lafayette campus, one at the New Iberia campus, and a third library at the Franklin site. Each library houses a core collection of books, periodicals, and reference materials arranged in an easily accessible open-shelf arrangement. Seating space for individual and group study is provided throughout the libraries. Computer labs at each campus and site enable students to access electronic resources including the online Catalog, databases, and electronic books.

Library materials are available to students at all sites through intra-library loans (library materials circulated among SLCC libraries) and inter-library loans (library materials circulated with other Louisiana libraries through the statewide courier service).

SLCC is a member of the Louisiana Library Information Network Consortium (LALINC), which is a consortium of Louisiana college and university libraries. Through use of the LALINC library card, SLCC patrons are entitled to check out library materials from any Louisiana college or university library.

Additionally, the Louisiana Library Network (LLN) is a consortium of all Louisiana public and academic libraries. The support staff of LLN, referred to as LOUIS, provides central support services to all members of LLN. These services include provision of library automation services and a union catalog, licensing of full-text electronic resources, and training and consulting to member libraries.

Library services are also provided to distance education students. Distance education students have access to all of the LOUIS electronic resources in addition to other electronic resource licenses purchased individually by SLCC.

The library staff engages in continuous collection building to ensure that books and other materials are appropriate in support of SLCC‘s general education and academic degree programs.

Access to the SLCC library computer catalog, electronic resources, and supplemental learning resources is available in the Library from one of several computer labs. TVs and DVD players are available for viewing educational audio visual materials. SLCC also has laptop computers and LCD projectors available for faculty checkout to enhance the classroom experience. (1)

Academic Success Center
The Academic Success Center provides walk-in and online individualized assistance to students on both campuses. The Center's resources include tutors in English, math, and other selected courses.  The Center has electronic tutorials, such as SMARTHINKING and PLATO available to students through the web. (2)

Career Center
The Career Center provides students with career resources, which include printed, audio-visual materials, and software to aid students in their career decision process.  Students are able to access individual career planning resources as well as attend workshops regarding resume writing and interviewing skills.  Students may access available jobs through the Career Center.  Electronic resources are available including a national job search through College Central.  Students also have an opportunity to participate in Career Fairs. (3)

Academic Advising
Academic advising is available to all new, returning, continuing, and transfer students at SLCC and is provided by the student services staff along with faculty advisors. The advising staff and faculty advisors assist students in making career decisions, planning a program of study, and selecting and scheduling classes. Students undecided about choosing a major receive academic advising from assigned advisors and/or a career counselor. (4) SLCC Website).

Counseling
SLCC is committed to providing counseling and career services and resources to assist students in exploring and identifying career options.  Counseling services provide personal, academic, and career counseling. It provides information and resources to students to enhance their ability to solve educational problems relating to career planning preparation as well as personal problems that may inhibit their educational growth and potential.  Individual academic counseling and personal counseling are available to students through academic advisors and full-time faculty.  Personal counseling is available for stress management, time management, and relationship issues. (5)

Disability Services
Students who are in need of special support services are advised to contact the Office of Student Services. SLCC is in compliance with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities are made provided the students have self-identified with the Office of Student Services and have provided required documentation. (6)

Information Technology
SLCC provides basic computer services for students which enables study via computer. SLCC computer use is governed by the SLCC Computer Usage Policies, which apply to everyone who has an account through the College. Students may access and submit a request for new accounts by contacting the SLCC IT Helpdesk. Students are expected to be professional, ethical, and demonstrate good judgment when using SLCC technological resources. Student use of the Internet/lntranet, e-mail, or other online communications and the materials stored on any SLCC computer, including computer hard drives and other media, such as diskettes, CD-ROMs, etc., is not privileged, nor private. (7)

Developmental Education
Developmental Studies includes courses and support services designed to prepare students for college-level studies. The developmental courses consist of instruction in writing skills, quantitative skills, reading skills, and academic and personal skills.

Students who score below the minimum required ACT scores or appropriate placement test scores are offered semester-length developmental courses in English, mathematics and reading. Based upon placement test results, a degree-seeking student may be required to take one or more of these developmental courses during the first semester enrolled if s/he is scheduled for more than 4 semester hours. If a student is required to take two or more developmental courses, that student, if degree-seeking and enrolled full time, must enroll in those developmental courses. Any degree-seeking student who places in two or more areas such as English, math, and reading is required to take the College Survival Skills course (CSSK 0001) or College Success Seminar (COLS 0001). A student who is placed in more than one developmental course may not enroll in more than 15 total semester hours. Developmental education courses will not satisfy any requirement for degree programs. (8)

College Success
College Success is a course available to all students at SLCC and mandatory for all students testing into more than one developmental course.  This course focuses on successful strategies and skills to ensure success in the college environment including study skills, planning and time management, diversity, problem solving, decision making, personality type and learning styles, and setting career goals. A companion, one-hour course, focuses on successful strategies and skills to ensure success in the college environment, including study skills, planning and time management, communications, values, problem solving, decision making, and career goals, but is a developmental course not applicable towards a degree. (9)

Testing Center
The Office of Student Services coordinates and administers all testing services and assessments. The ACT COMPASS is administered by appointment only and used for placement of the students into appropriate coursework. CLEP testing is also available. (10)

Field Trips
Field trips sponsored by SLCC complement classroom instruction and are considered an important part of the educational process. While the College endorses the field trip concept, it also stresses the importance of students performing all class work in a timely manner. If a student has to miss other classes in order to participate in a field trip, it is the student’s responsibility to make up all work covered during this absence.

“Field trip,” as used in this context, includes all events organized by a staff or faculty member in which SLCC students are taken off campus to participate in instructional or cultural activities which are directly related to their course of study.

The Dean of Instruction and Effectiveness must approve requests for field trips at least one week prior to the scheduled event. Overnight field trips require special approval of the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs prior to making arrangements for the trip. No student is allowed to participate in a field trip sponsored by the College unless a signed waiver of liability is submitted to the staff/faculty member conducting the trip. (11)

Practicum
Supervised work experience is offered in some degree programs: Care and Development of Young Children, Emergency Medical Technology—Paramedic, Industrial Technology, and Criminal Justice. (12)

Documentation: