STUDENT SERVICES

The office of Student Services is the ¨adjusting link¨ between the student and the college. Through its programs and services, it tries to enhance the teaching and learning process at Okaloosa-Walton Community College. Student Services also supports those extracurricular activities that add to the quality of student life. All of its programs, services, and activities are intended to support the goals outlined in the college's purpose statement. Student Services is committed to maintaining a close relationship with all other departments within the college, and the common goal is student success.

Academic Assistance

Academic advising is available to help students make academic decisions. This service is provided by faculty, counselors, and at the centers, by educational advisors. Upon declaring a major area of study, each student is assigned a faculty advisor. This person is responsible for providing academic advice about the declared major. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their advisor at the earliest opportunity.

For students who have not chosen a major, experienced college counselors and educational advisors are available to help make that choice. Counselors are located in the Student Services, ¨C-1¨ Building on the Niceville campus and Building T (2) on the Fort Walton Beach Campus. Educational advisors are located at each of the centers. An appointment is advisable, but walk-ins will be served if possible. These services are intended to insure that each student has the opportunity and the information to decide what is best for them.

The Learning Skills and Writing Laboratory provides help to students who want to improve their abilities in writing, reading, study, and subject matter areas. Participation in this program is arranged by the student, a faculty advisor or a counselor. Use is voluntary; however, a counselor or faculty member's recommendation should be seriously considered by the student. This lab is located on the North Mezzanine in the Academic Success Center.

The Academic Success Center is located in the North Mezzanine of the Learning Resources Center, Room E-149. The Center provides learning support programs consisting of tutoring in most subjects, writing assistance, CLAST (College Level Academic Skills Test) review, tutoring for learning disabled students and students with English as a Second Language, (ESL) computer tutorials, and collaborative learning sessions for several students needing assistance in the same area. Tutors and computer tutorials are also available for students needing help in learning foreign languages. Tutoring is on a one-to-one basis at no cost to the student. Assistance is available on a walk-in basis; however, students are encouraged to make an appointments. For more information call the Academic Success Center at 729-5389.

Math Laboratories, which are located in the Math-Public Safety Building, (¨L¨), Room L-131, on the Niceville Campus and in Building ("U¨) on the Fort Walton Beach Campus are open to all students who need additional help in mathematics. The hours are posted on the lab doors.

Career Planning Assistance

Students who are undecided about their future career plans are encouraged to make an appointment with their faculty advisor, educational advisor or a counselor to begin the selection process. Research indicates that students who have made career decisions are more likely to be academically successful than those who have not. The next step should be a visit to the Workforce Development Center (WDC) in the Consumer Education Building (¨P¨) on the Niceville campus or Classroom Building (¨V¨) on the Fort Walton Beach campus to explore the following available resources.

Career Assessment Services are provided for students and others needing additional counseling and assessment of interests, aptitudes and transferable skills. Other resources include career resource materials and computerized career exploration programs (CHOICES) to help students explore careers. Career assessment services are also provided at the Robert L.F. Sikes Education Center in Crestview and the Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs.

The Skills Development Center provides students with a variety of resource materials to help them succeed in college. The SDC offers an open-entry, open-exit program, which means that students may enroll anytime during the semester and use any or all of the various sites. All sites feature computer-based research, wordprocessing, academic refreshment, and tutorials. The SDC supports certificate and A.S. programs, as well as ABE/GED and Criminal Justice. Students will find professional staff interested in helping students achieve their goals.

First time college students or returning students who need refresher skills and/or transitional support services may enroll in S.T.A.R.T., the Student Transition and Academic Readiness Track. In 1996, the S.T.A.R.T. program won the Florida Association of Community Colleges' award for Exemplary Practice in Adult and Continuing Education. S.T.A.R.T. offers students who are interested in improving or enhancing their academic skills the support required for success transitioning into school.

S.T.A.R.T. offers transitional counseling, academic assessment, basic skill refresher seminars, aptitude testing, and interest inventory testing. S.T.A.R.T. staff tailors an individual educational plan to help students succeed and attain desired educational goals. Returning or transitioning students looking for a new career, opportunity for advancement, or upgrading of skills can benefit from this unique, student-centered program. Computer-based learning helps students succeed and retain more information than traditional course delivery. Computer skills are not necessary for this program. The Women's Resource Center, on the Niceville campus, provides additional career planning assistance for students, primarily women, who are returning to school because of divorce, separation, or the death of a spouse. The program assists students with education and training so they can enter the workforce with marketable skills. The program provides skills assessment, a support system, textbook loans, career information, tuition assistance and other services. Call (850) 729-5291.