The Student Success and Support Program is designed to assist students in planning, selecting, and achieving educational goals. The process brings the college and a student into an agreement for the purpose of realizing the student’s educational goal through the college’s established programs, policies, and requirements. The agreement acknowledges responsibilities of both the college and the student to attain these objectives. The primary purpose of the Student Success and Support Program is enhancing student success.

Listed below are the basic components of the Student Success and Support Program partnership shared between the college and the student.

The college agrees to provide: 

• An admissions application process.
• An orientation to the college’s programs and services.
• An assessment of the student’s study skills, English language proficiency, computational skills, aptitudes, goals, learning skills, career aspirations, academic performance, and need for special services Counseling and advisement to develop an educational plan.
• Follow-up evaluation of each student’s progress in achieving an educational goal.

The student agrees to: 

• Express a broad educational intent upon admission. 
• Declare an educational goal before or during the term after which the student completes 15 units. 
• Attend class.
• Work diligently to complete course assignments. 
• Demonstrate an effort to attain an educational goal.

The college is committed to student success, and with this in mind provides the following matriculation services:

Orientation
Orientation workshops are offered throughout the year in academic counseling. The orientation workshop provides students with important information regarding the services programs, and courses available at the college. All new students are required to participate in orientation in order to receive priority registration. Students will learn how to use the college catalog; class schedule, and prepare a class list. For more information, contact academic counseling at (818) 240-1000 ext. 5918. Students can also complete an online orientation by visiting our web site at www.glendale.edu/orientation. Click on Start Online Orientation now!

Assessment
To help the students determine their skill levels in many academic areas including written English expression, reading, and mathematics, the college provides a comprehensive assessment program. Assessment scores assist the students and counselors to determine the appropriate courses for students to enroll in during the first semester.

To receive priority registration, all new students are required to be assessed in English or ESL and mathematics upon application to the college and before the established priority registration deadline. For more information regarding assessment procedures, contact the Assessment Center at ext. 5329 or use the web site at www.glendale.edu/assessment.

Counseling and Educational Planning
One of the most important activities involved in the matriculation process is counseling and educational planning. Professional counselors are available to assist each new student in several areas:

1. Deciding upon an educational objective;
2. Determining the courses required to achieve this objective;
3. Determining the services needed to assist students in achieving their objective;
4. Assisting students in course selection appropriate to their goals

The Student Educational Plan (S.E.P.)
It is important for all students to have a Student Educational Plan (S.E.P.). The S.E.P. serves as an outline of the preliminary educational program students will undertake. In addition, the S.E.P. identifies the students’ goals (i.e. transfer, A.A./A.S. degree, certificate, etc.) and refers them to support services, if needed.

Completion of the student educational plan is required for priority registration. Students should make an appointment with their counselor to begin this process as soon as possible. Any changes in a student’s educational objective should be reviewed with a counselor in order to update the student’s S.E.P. for accuracy.

Follow-up
Counseling and teaching faculty provide a number of follow-up services to matriculated students. These services are designed to provide information regarding the students’ academic progress. Special services are provided to students on academic and/or progress probation, students in basic skills courses, and students who are undecided about their educational goal. Referrals are made to on- and off-campus services when appropriate.

Appeals Procedure
A student has the right to challenge or appeal any step in the matriculation process. A petition for the waiver of a specific Student Success and Support Program service or requirement may be filed for any of the following reasons:

1. Review of assessment—Students may challenge a placement decision on the grounds that the placement does not reflect their ability in the area assessed. To challenge a placement decision, a student must complete the GCC prerequisite challenge petition and submit the document to the division chair responsible for the course or their designee (see class schedule for retesting policies). 
2. Waiver of prerequisites—Students may challenge a course prerequisite, corequisite or limitation on enrollment on the grounds that the student has the knowledge or skills to successfully complete the course, that the prerequisite course has not been made reasonably available and will cause undue delay in completion of the student’s education goal as detailed in the student educational plan; that the course has not been established in accordance with the district’s process for establishing prerequisites and corequisites; or that the prerequisite is unlawfully discriminatory or is being applied in an unlawfully discriminatory manner. To request a prerequisite waiver, the student must complete the Glendale College Prerequisite Challenge Petition, and submit the document to the division chair responsible for the course. If the petition for a waiver is based upon the student’s contention that he/she has the necessary skills to succeed in the class, the student may be asked to submit evidence of this proficiency. The student will be notified, within fifteen (15) working days, of the receipt of the petition. The student may appeal the decision of a division chair to the vice president of instruction. 
3. Complaint of unlawful discrimination—If a student feels that assessment, orientation, counseling, (or any other student success and support program procedure or service) is being applied in a discriminatory manner, a petition may be filed with the dean of student services. The student will be notified, within five (5) working days of the receipt of the petition, regarding the college’s proposed response to the complaint and any additional steps which will be taken. 
4. Waiver of Student Success and Support Program services—If a student wants to waive a mandated Student Success and Support Program service, such as assessment, orientation, counseling for completion of a student educational plan, and student follow-up services, they must complete and submit a student success and support program waiver petition and return it to Admissions and Records.

Other Counseling Services
In addition to educational planning services, the college counseling staff provides a variety of other counseling services to assist students.

1. Career Counseling—The Career Center assists students in determining their academic majors, vocational or career goals. Most students require specific information about certificate, vocational and/or college preparation and career or job requirements. Often students need specialized counseling in seeing how their interests, skills, personal styles and values relate to an academic course of study. Career counseling helps students integrate their aspirations with the work world. 
2. University Transfer Counseling—The goal of many students at the college is to transfer to a four-year college or university. All counselors at the college prepare to assist students in preparing to transfer. It is important for students to see a counselor on a regular basis to review the requirements for transfer to the institution of their choice. In addition, the college’s Transfer Center can assist students in meeting with representatives of many local four-year institutions and can provide them with other important transfer information. 
3. Disabled Student Programs and Services—Specialized support services and counseling are available through the Center for Students with Disabilities. The Disabled Student Services program offers individual counseling services to students with disabilities. These services are provided to help with educational planning and to identify specific support services required to assist the student with a disability. 
4. Extended Opportunity Program and Services—The Extended Opportunity Program and Services office also provides specialized counseling services related to enrollment procedures, financial aid, tutorial services and university transition. The EOPS staff is prepared to serve students whose primary language is not English.
5. Financial Aid—The Financial Aid office provides the student with advising regarding his or her financial circumstances, and will assist the student in obtaining financial support needed to attend the college. Financial aid is available in a number of forms, including grants, loans and work-study programs. 
6. Adult Re-entry Services—Services for adult students who are returning to formal education after a lapse of time are offered through the Career Center. Services include career and academic counseling and workshops designed to meet the interests and needs of the adult student.

Course Selection and Enrollment
At the time of registration students will be asked to select classes for enrollment. However, prior to enrollment, it will be necessary for them to see a counselor and complete a student education plan; a list of courses they are eligible to take which will lead toward the completion of their educational objective. It is to their advantage to see a counselor as soon as possible prior to the next semester, to work out their class schedule for the next semester.

The process of enrolling in classes is explained in the orientation session. Students access MyGCC Student Center online regarding their date and time for registration, as well as the other requirements for completing this process.

Instruction and Progress Toward Goals
Students’ active and diligent participation in their classes is the single-most important factor leading to their eventual academic success. Students are expected to attend all classes and to complete all course assignments in a timely fashion. To assist students in making progress toward their goal the college will provide them with a variety of support services, such as tutoring, other learning assistance activities, financial support (where applicable) and other forms of assistance to increase their educational development. Students are responsible for notifying the college of any specific needs they have, or of any change in their goal.

Periodically students may be contacted by the college for information regarding their progress towards completing their stated goals. This contact may involve a meeting with a counselor, or other staff member of the college, or it may take the form of written communication to the students regarding their progress. In either case, it is up to students to follow up on this communication so that the college may better serve them.

Completion of Student Goals
The college’s goal is to assist in achieving the objectives students have for themselves; however, the students must determine when this is accomplished. They are responsible for notifying the college of any change in their goals or status as it relates to the college. The college can provide students with assistance to make changes as easy as possible. Students should feel free to contact any staff member to assist them during a period of transition when they are leaving the college for some other activity or environment.