Core Requirement 2.10
The institution
provides student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its
mission that promote student learning and enhance the development of its
students. (Student Support Services)
Non-Compliance
T. A.
Lawson State Community College provides student support programs, services and
activities consistent with its mission; however, the institution did not
provide evidence that these student support services are made available to
online students and at both campuses.
Typical services and activities provided include academic advising,
assessment, and career development; student support, retention, health,
counseling, and disability services; and recreation, athletics, and other
organizational services.
Response:
Lawson
State Community College provides a comprehensive array of student support
programs, services and activities consistent with its mission. The college emphasizes a student-centered
approach to individual student success and offers comprehensive and diverse
opportunities that enable students to attain stated goals. Lawson State is committed to providing
accessible educational support services and programs to each student enrolled
at the college. Student support
programs, services and activities are made available to all students,
traditional (campus-based) and online, and at both campuses. These programs, services and activities
include, but are not limited to, the following:
Admissions
and Records offices on both campuses are staffed with qualified personnel to
assist prospective and re-entering students in gaining admission and enrolling
at the college. The admission application is
available in the Office of Admissions and other Student Services offices and
online via the Lawson State Community College website. Students may complete
and submit the admissions application online or print and mail the completed
application to the Office of Admissions.
Other admission and
student records related forms and information may also be accessed
and submitted online. Online
registration and payment is available through the student web suite. A step-by-step guide to registration is
provided in each semester’s class schedule in print as well as on the college
website. The college offers free Help
Desk assistance for any student encountering a problem registering online.
All first-time students who enroll in
associate degree, diploma or certificate programs and who enroll in more than
four credit hours or eight weekly contact hours per semester are assessed
through the administration of the COMPASS computerized assessment instrument
and placed at the appropriate developmental level as indicated by the
assessment results. COMPASS assessments are administered
on each campus on a variety of days and times to accommodate student
needs. COMPASS placement assessment
information is available on the college website under the Admissions Section and
the Prospective Student Section. Other assessments administered include the
ACT WorkKeys, GED, and CAPP.
Academic
advisement is provided for each student at Lawson State Community College. The primary purpose of academic advising is
to support students in their pursuit of meaningful educational programs that
will assist them in fulfilling goals.
Students are assigned to their advisors through the Office of Admissions
based on their respective program of study. The advisor’s name is listed
on the student’s class schedule
for easy reference. Designated Student
Services staff also provides academic advisement services. Students are expected to have regular contact
with their advisors whether through office visits, telephone calls, e-mail
correspondence, or class attendance. All
Lawson State students are assigned an e-mail account upon registration. Directions on accessing student e-mail are
provided in the printed class schedule each semester as well as on the
website. Students, especially online
students, are encouraged to contact academic advisors and faculty via e-mail
for timely response and assistance.
Information regarding locating
academic advisors is included in the Lawson State Class Schedule each
semester. Students registering for
online and web supported courses for the first time are required to attend an online training session to introduce
them to the online environment and to maximize their opportunity for success in
these courses.
The
Career Services Office on each campus is designed to assist students in making
suitable career choices by providing career information and to aid students in
securing part-time and full-time employment.
The Career Services Coordinator conducts numerous activities, including
career counseling, maintaining a career information library, receiving and
publishing job vacancy notices, arranging for prospective employers to visit
the campus, interviewing applicants, mailing students credentials to
prospective employers, and publicizing campus interviews. Every effort is made to maintain an
up-to-date file of part-time and full-time jobs for students. Job listings are compiled from businesses and
organizations in the Metro Birmingham area.
This information is provided to students on both campuses and select
information is made available online through Blackboard
announcements . Students may access LSCC
Optimal Resume from the
Lawson State website to create resumes based on their major and career
goals. The annual Career and Wellness
Fair, College Transfer Day, and employer visits allow students to take
advantage of placement services and networking opportunities.
Comprehensive
Offices of Student Financial Services with qualified full-time personnel are
maintained on each campus. Student
Financial Services personnel provide information regarding federal, state, and
institutional aid to assist students with educational costs. Personnel assist students with the
application process and awards aid to eligible students. Students have online
access to federal financial aid information, Veterans Affairs
information, scholarship applications, forms, resources and contact
information, etc. Links to the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Tuition Management Systems, and
Debt Management information can also be found on the college website. Students may access their individual
financial aid award information as well as make tuition and fee payments via the
online Student Web Suite. Students may
access the Financial Aid Corner from the
Lawson State website provides easy access to announcements and frequently asked
questions.
The
College’s Student Support Services (SSS) program is a federally funded TRIO
project that offers supportive services to low-income, first-generation
college, and disabled students. Services include basic instruction in
developmental reading, basic math, and developmental algebra; assistance with
study, test-taking, and survival skills; tutoring in various subjects;
advisement/counseling; and cultural enrichment activities. These services are
available to eligible students on both campuses.
The
College’s counseling program is committed to the establishment of an
environment where a student is provided the opportunity to become a responsible,
self-directed learner and to maximize his/her potential as he/she prepares to
transfer to a four-year institution or to the world of work. Counselors are available on both campuses to
assist students with obstacles that affect their educational, occupational,
social, and personal life and to provide supportive services that enhance
persistence, student learning and overall student success. These services include individualized
counseling for prospective students, monitoring of students’ progress to ensure
early identification of those having problems, individualized assistance with
academic and personal adjustment issues, and group activities to address
study/test-taking strategies and to provide appropriate intervention. Designated Student Services personnel provide
residential students and student-athletes with learning strategies and support
so they can achieve their educational goals.
Disability
Services provides individualized services and assistance to students who are in
need of disability-related accommodations and interventions. Special services and accommodations are
provided on an individual basis once supporting documentation is
submitted. A Disability Services
Counselor is housed on each campus to assist students requesting services. The Guide to Disability Services
is available on the college website and contains general information, services
provided, commonly asked questions, and counselor contact information including
office locations, email addresses and telephone numbers.
The New
Student Orientation program is designed to provide information that will aid a
new student in his/her transition to college and stimulate an excitement for
learning. Students are informed of college policies, procedures, and services
available to promote student learning and academic success. New Student
Orientation sessions allow incoming students to participate in placement
testing, academic advising, pre-register for classes, and gain valuable
knowledge on subjects such as program offerings, college transfer options,
financial aid, residential life, athletics, and much more. These sessions are held as
scheduled on both
campuses at various times using identical program agendas to
accommodate students. Students may also
view the online PowerPoint summary
of the orientation session. New students
are required to take PSY 100 - New Student Orientation during their first
semester. This one credit hour course is
offered in a format that includes informational lectures, guest speakers, group
activities, online assignments and individualized instruction and advisement
based on student needs.
Student
health services provides direct, basic health care to students on each campus
while also increasing health awareness among students through health/wellness
fairs, pamphlets and brochures, speakers, and films relating to health
issues. The college’s student health
nurse provides scheduled services on both campuses and other health professions
instructors are available to provide basic services if needed.
The
college’s intramural and recreational sports program is committed to promoting
healthy lifestyles. The program is
dedicated to providing a safe, enjoyable, and clean environment for faculty,
staff and students. Involvement in our
Intramural and
Recreational Sports does not require a high degree of skill or
physical fitness, but a desire to participate and have fun. The program offers all members of the Lawson State
family the chance to improve their health, relax from work and class, and the
opportunity to socialize with others.
The
athletic department strives to develop character, integrity, and leadership in
all student-athletes. As a collegiate
student-athlete, good sportsmanship also plays a vital role in the overall
development of the student-athlete and their maturity into productive adult
citizens. Tryouts are held each year for
students interested in becoming student-athletes in order to participate in
men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s volleyball and baseball. The student-athlete will have an opportunity
to compete for a championship and participate in the NJCCA Championship events. In addition, cheerleader squad and dance team are available to support the
sports.
Student
activities and organizations are coordinated through the Office of Student Life
and are viewed as an integral part of student learning, development and
engagement. Student activities and
organizations are open to all Lawson State students and active participation is
encouraged. The college provides a variety of programmed activities and
organizations for students of different interests and needs in order to
supplement his/her academic life.
Announcements for respective activities are sent to students via student
e-mail and are posted on Blackboard, the college’s instructional management
software.
Lawson
State is committed to engaging all students in the entire college
environment. On campus and online
students on both campuses are afforded opportunities to participate in
programs, services, and activities designed to promote student learning and
enhance their development.
Documentation:
|
Documentation |
Location |
|
Admissions
Application |
|
|
Admissions
and Records Online Forms |
|
|
Guide
to Registration |
|
|
Compass
Administration Schedule |
|
|
Admissions
Web Page- Compass Information |
|
|
Prospective
Student Web Page- Compass Information |
|
|
Typical
Student’s Class Schedule |
|
|
Academic
Advisor Information |
|
|
Online
Course Training |
|
|
Blackboard
Job Announcements |
|
|
Optimal
Resume |
|
|
Online
Financial Aid Forms |
|
|
Financial
Aid Corner |
|
|
Guide
to Disability Services |
|
|
New
Student Orientation Sessions |
|
|
New
Student Orientation Program Agendas |
|
|
New
Student Orientation PowerPoint |
|
|
Intramural
/ Recreational Sports Information |
|
|
Dance
Team |
|
|
Student
Life / Activities Information |