Working Together for Student Success
SMC’S EXTRAORDINARY COUNSELING STAFF
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| Jeff Gordon | Patti Nakao | Michal Temkin | Oscar Galindo | Jackie Del Banco |
“Our students are coming from a wide variety of situations. We deal with each individual and try to match up and plan what each student needs to meet her or his educational goals. We spend quite a bit of time actually honing in on the particular goals that the student wants to pursue. As a general rule, we work with each student’s strengths and interests, to see what the overall issues are, both educationally and occupationally.”
— SUZANNE MCDONALD, SMC COUNSELOR
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“The sheer volume of counselors at SMC is unique. We offer counseling in the classroom, in seminars, in special programs, one-on-one in the transfer center, and even online!”
— DAN NANNINI, TRANSFER CENTER FACULTY COORDINATOR
“We are all partners here in helping students succeed,” explains Sara Nieves-Lucas about her role as part of the Santa Monica College team of counselors. “We use each other as resources to be able to get the answers and help the students with their needs.” With upwards of 40 full-time counselors and about 60 part-time counselors, SMC has developed a strong reputation in serving the needs of a remarkably diverse student body.
SMC has made getting started as easy as a visit to the Welcome Center, a year-round “one-stop center” to assist first-time SMC students as they transition to college. The center offers campus tours, academic counseling, help with admission and enrollment, and help with financial aid. The center supports students until they have successfully transitioned to other support services.
“Our number one goal is to promote student success. When we admit students, we want them all to achieve their goals, whether it is to transfer or graduate. We set up programs that help guide students in the right direction to be successful.”
— GAIL FUKUHARA, SMC COUNSELOR, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Key to this transition is SMC’s Transfer Counseling Center and the services offered through SMC’s special programs. “We’re able to offer multiple sources of support for our students to get information,” reports Dan Nannini, SMC’s faculty coordinator for the center. “Our students can shop around, too. They can say I prefer to work with someone in the EOP&S program; I prefer to work with someone in the Scholars Program; I prefer to work with someone in the African American Collegian Center or the Latino Center; or just see a regular counselor in the Transfer Counseling Center.”
Another important resource is SMC’s three-unit student success seminar, Counseling 20. Students are able to get classroom support directly from a counselor while exploring many of the factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being, and success. Credit for the three-unit elective is transferable to both UC and CSU.
“Students come back and tell us about the support they’ve received from our counseling. They feel confident because of the skills they learned here. They take those skills with them wherever they go and have success... This is a great program. We’re a big family here and nothing can compare!”
— JACKIE DEL BANCO, SMC COUNSELOR, EOP&S
Counselors can also guide students to academic support services such as the tutoring centers and labs in math, science, English and humanities, modern language, ESL, reading, and English skills; or to the library or to the computer labs in multiple locations on campus.
“We deal with each individual situation,” says SMC Counselor Suzanne McDonald, noting that students are coming not just from high school, but from other colleges, or are returning to college to gain new skills. “All of us work in support of that big event, that big day of graduation or transfer.”
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“The key to getting into the right college is to take the right classes, get the best grades you can, and come see us in counseling to make sure you’re doing the right thing.”
— PATTI NAKAO, SMC COUNSELOR
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| Larry Silvers | Suzanne McDonald | Cecile Hanrahan | Marie Dahan | Sara Nieves-Lucas |
Counseling in the E-World
• Online Counseling. SMC offers new and continuing students online assistance via e-mail questions and answers regarding topics such as college procedures, prerequisites, transfer requirements, and degree and certificate programs. (Personal counseling, academic plans, transcript evaluation, and similar topics require meeting with a counselor.)
• Online Orientation. This self-paced guide covers the services and programs at SMC, planning your class selections, the enrollment process, and more.
• Online Resources & FAQs. Visit www.smc.edu/counseling for a complete guide to resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and how to get started.
“It’s becoming an e-world. Our counselors help students navigate, finding multiple options for transfer, even multiple online sources for courses.”
— DAN NANNINI
Enrich Your Life with Study Abroad!
Culture, Power, & Healthcare in the Yucatan, Mexico
Winter 2011
Spend 22 days investigating issues of culture, power, and healthcare practices in the Yucatan, Mexico, with SMC professors Eric Minzenberg and Eve Adler. This study abroad program introduces you to the historical and cultural use of power, and to the healthcare practices of the peoples of the Yucatan. We will explore the effects of European colonization, the impact of African and indigenous Latin American slavery, and various efforts of empowerment by indigenous cultures; and we will examine and compare health and healing practices from the Yucatan within the context of the American healthcare delivery system. The program includes visits to several area archeological sites, Mayan cenotes, a flamingo sanctuary, and much more!
Successfully completing the program earns 6 units of SMC credit that is IGETC/UC transferable. The courses in this program are:
• Anthropology 21, Prof. Minzenberg—Peoples and Power in Latin America; 3 units
• Nursing 60, Prof. Adler—Multicultural Health and Healing Practices; 3 units
Informational meetings regarding this study abroad program will be held during September and October. Check the Study Abroad website (www.smc.edu/studyabroad) for dates and locations.
Please see www.smc.edu/studyabroad for program dates, costs, and other details. You may also contact Professor Minzenberg by sending email to minzenberg_eric@smc.edu or calling (310) 434-4367, and Professor Adler by sending email to adler_eve@smc.edu or calling (310) 434-3464.
Study in South Africa
Winter 2011
Join SMC professors Frank Dawson and Karen Gunn on a four-week study abroad program to South Africa during Winter 2011. Study in historic Johannesburg, at the beautiful University of Cape Town, and in several local township communities. The program includes a safari in Kruger National Park; sightseeing visits to Robben Island, Nelson Mandela’s house, Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum; and scenic and cultural tours of Cape Town. Students will also participate in at least two service learning projects designed to fulfill the goals and objectives of global citizenship.
Successfully completing one of the Speech courses and one of the Psychology courses offered in the program earns 6 units of SMC credit that is IGETC/UC transferable. The courses in this program are:
• Speech 1—Elements of Public Speaking; 3 units
• Speech 2—Persuasion; 3 units
• Psychology 5—The Psychology of Communication; 3 units
• Psychology 35—Contemporary Psychological Issues; 3 units
Please see www.smc.edu/studyabroad for up-to-date information on program costs, dates, and other details. You may also contact Professor Dawson by sending email to dawson_frank@smc.edu, and Professor Gunn by sending email to gunn_karen@smc.edu.
Egypt and the Red Sea
Winter 2011
Join SMC professors Garen Baghdasarian and Day Vinson on a Winter Session study-abroad program exploring Egypt and the Red Sea. Have the adventure of a lifetime as you fulfill your Global Citizenship requirement. With the Red Sea as your classroom, study marine biology and learn to SCUBA dive. Tour the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Sharm el Sheikh, Marsa Alam, and Luxor. You’ll also cruise the Nile River, and much more!
Successfully completing the program earns 7 units of SMC credit that is IGETC/UC transferable. The courses in this program are:
• Biology 15—Marine Biology (with lab); 4 units
• Kinesiology 49D—Basic SCUBA; 3 units
Please see www.smc.edu/studyabroad for program dates, costs, and other details. You may also send email to Professor Baghdasarian (baghdasarian_garen@smc.edu) and to Professor Vinson (day.vinson@mac.com).
For an Easy, Affordable Move into American Culture…
Santa Monica College is #1 in transfers to the University of California, including UCLA! Many international students choose Santa Monica College to begin their college careers because of SMC’s transfer success, high quality teaching, and low cost.
20 hours a week of English instruction in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Classes are provided at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. This is the best program to help you improve your TOEFL scores in a short time! Students can begin the academic program at Santa Monica College from any level. Classes begin February 16, 2010. Tuition is $2,750.
Intensive English Program at Santa Monica College will help you make real progress in college. This program offers a strong plan to help you improve your skills in speaking, reading, listening to, and writing English. For admission requirements and more information, you can contact SMC’s International Education Center on the main campus, or call (310) 434-4217. Intensive English tuition is $2750 for fall semester 2010. Classes begin on August 30. For information on the web, go to www.smc.edu/international.
SPEAK / READ / LISTEN / WRITE
“Coming to a new country, it’s better to start small… SMC really helped! Intensive English Program is like a little community—you spend a lot of time with other students and the teachers are right there taking care of you!”
— Galina Inzhakova, transfer student to UCLA