Student Success Center
The Student Success Center provides services in the areas of academic advising, career exploration and guidance counseling. The mission of the Student Success Center is to encourage student persistence and support the attainment of academic and career goals. To fulfill this mission, a team of academic advisors and counselors coordinate and facilitate all services and efforts at both college campuses.
The Student Success Center offers academic advising in two forms: in person and online. Students who prefer to seek advising services in person are welcome to visit the Student Success Center at either college campus on a walk-in basis. Students should plan to arrive at the Student Success Center well before closing to allow enough time for the advising session. The Student Success Center at Ft. McIntosh is located in the Lerma Peña Building, room 201, and at the South Campus it is located in the Billy Hall Student Center, room 131. Students who cannot meet with an advisor in-person or who would prefer a scheduled appointment may opt to seek online advising, which is facilitated via email or virtual chat room. To access email advising, type the following URL in the address bar of any web browser: www.laredo.edu/e-advising. To schedule a virtual appointment with an advisor, type the following URL in the address bar of any web browser: www.laredo.edu/advisorchat.
Academic Advising Services
Laredo College requires all students to meet with an academic or faculty advisor at least once a semester prior to the registration of their courses. Specifically, students who have not met requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) or who are pursuing an Associate of Arts or Science (AA/AS) degree must meet with an academic advisor at the Student Success Center. Students who are pursuing a workforce program, such as a certificate or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, and those who are Art, Dance or Music majors, must meet with a faculty advisor at the department of their declared major. Additional college programs that offer academic advising for their students include Honors, L.E.A.P.S., T.R.I.O. and Building Scholars. In accordance with Senate Bill 25, students are required to file a degree plan with their designated advising office prior to the completion of 30 semester credit hours (SCH), and 15 SCH for early enrolled students. Advisors provide students with guidance in assessment score interpretation, course placement, course recommendations, degree evaluations, review of institutional policies and assist with the transfer process.
Career Exploration Services
Career Exploration is the process of examining and learning about oneself, identifying careers or occupations that best fit the individual, and developing an effective plan of action to accomplish career and occupational goals. Academic advisors at the Student Success Center guide, mentor and direct students to the appropriate resources that lead to the development of a realistic and attainable academic and career plan. Career exploration services are typically facilitated through the use of computer-based interest, skills, and career exploration inventories and a variety of internet-based resource libraries.
Guidance Counseling Services
Guidance counseling is the process of helping students adjust from a secondary to post-secondary education environment while fostering and promoting the intellectual, emotional, social, and cultural development and well-being of individual students. By employing a variety of campus services, community services, and online resources, counselors can coordinate referrals that will provide individual students with the support and guidance needed to ensure a healthy and enriching college experience. Counselors are available at both campuses and are located at the Student Success Center.