WHERE TO GO FOR HELP …

• Academic Advising Center Does your institution have an academic advising center, or is advising done by faculty in their offices? If you don’t already know, find out this week where you will go to get help in selecting courses, obtaining information on degree requirements, and deciding on a major.
• Academic Skills Center Whether you need help or not, explore this facility. One day you might want to take advantage of its services such as tutoring, help in study and memory skills, and help in studying for exams.
• Adult Reentry Center If you are an adult or returning student, this service will be your lifeline. Plan to visit this center to learn about programs for returning students, make supportive contacts with other adult students, and gather information about services such as child care.
• Career Center You may visit the career center as part of your first-year seminar. If not, put it on your list of important services. Career centers usually feature a career library, interest assessments, counseling, help in finding a major, job and internship listings, co-op listings, interviews with prospective employers, and help with résumés and interview skills.
• Chaplains Whatever your faith perspective, learn about the worship services, fellowship, and personal counseling offered by college chaplains. Usually the chaplain’s office and worship facilities are in an off-campus but nearby location.
• Commuter Services Commuter students are the new majority. If you are a commuter, find the office on your campus that offers lists of off-campus housing and roommates as well as orientation to community, including maps, public transportation guides, and child-care listings.
• Computer Center If you would like more experience in using word processing or data programs such as Excel, research what your computer center offers. You will find minicourses as well as handouts on campus computer resources.
• Counseling Center Find out about your institution’s counseling center and the services it offers, which will probably include confidential counseling for personal concerns and stress management programs.
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Office Be sure to meet with someone in this office to learn about financial aid programs, scholarships, and grants. You may be eligible for a loan or a grant that you didn’t know about.
• Health Center Don’t wait until you need a doctor or a nurse. Locate your campus health center and learn about their services. Your campus health center might also include a pharmacy.
• Legal Services Legal help can be expensive and difficult to find. Does your institution have a law school or legal services center? If so, and if you need legal advice or representation, access the Web site for the law school or center and learn about possible legal aid for students. This aid might be provided by law students or interns and available for all students on a low-cost or no-cost basis.
• Math Center If your math instructor hasn’t already told you about help from the math center, ask whether your college or university has such a center.
• Writing Center As you write your first research paper, ask an expert in the writing center to read a first draft to help you with proper grammar, syntax, and punctuation as well as the appropriate method of citing and listing references.