Getting help can be the difference between failing and succeeding.
It’s a new semester, and myriad student services are ready and available.
However, many of these services get unused or students just don’t know about them.
Services like the writing center in Room 203 of Gonzales Hall are there to help students succeed through one-on-one, peer-to-peer tutoring along with an extensive collection of writing learning materials. The center is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
There are also four math labs in McCreless Hall with walk-in tutoring for both college and developmental math.
The student fitness center in Room 260 of Loftin Student Center is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and offers treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes and weight training equipment as long as students are wearing appropriate exercise attire.
Moody Learning Center houses a wide variety of services, including the library, the student learning assistance center and the student megalab, which offer places to work and assistance with technology and some tutoring.
Disability support services is there to give students who have any diagnosed disability, whether physical or mental, the tools and support they need to be successful students.
Student veterans have access to a support system, both financially and socially, through the veterans’ affairs office, which they’ve earned after serving in the U.S. military.
The first three Mondays of every month, the Student Government Association meets to hear student concerns.
The early-childhood center offers a sliding scale for child care for children ages 1-4, providing a program that helps children develop both socially and emotionally.
Student life regularly puts on events that students can participate in and enjoy, such as boxing exhibitions by the boxing club, movie nights and opportunities to learn about student clubs through activities such as Weeks of Welcome.
In addition, spring semester annual events include Black History Month, Women’s History Week and the Multicultural Conference.
Student email includes public relations newsletters that show the opportunities around campus as well as program and student success stories.
The weekly crime report from the Alamo Colleges Police Department keeps the community abreast of safety issues and trouble spots to watch out for.
Study abroad opportunities take students to many countries for a combined education and cultural experience.
Students have already paid for these activities with tuition and a student activity fee charged at a rate of $1 per hour enrolled.
Look around. Bulletin boards in every building post upcoming events and opportunities for socializing and learning outside the classroom.
Now students just need to do a little research to find just the help they need. For some students, asking for help is hard to do, but going it alone can be a lot harder and have much bigger consequences. So take advantage of all the tools out there to succeed. Because at the end of the day, students are their own best advocates.
