About Advising - Southern State Community College





	ADVISING & RETENTION SERVICES The SSCC Advising and Retention Services is located in Room 404A on the Central Campus. We are your central resource for academic advising while you are at SSCC. The Advising and Retention Services can help you with: Selection of courses Questions regarding academic programs, courses, professors, etc. Understanding and dealing with academic warning and probation Exploring, declaring, or changing a major Additionally, we can: Provide helpful study tips Refer you to other campus resources Provide informational websites Offer advice and encouragement. Advising Staff To schedule an appointment with an advisor, please call (937) 393-3431 ext 2825 or 800-628-7722 ext 2825 or email: • Dennis Bothel - dbothel@sscc.edu • Freddie Jenkins - fjenkins@sscc.edu • Rob Moffat - rmoffat@sscc.edu Academic advisors are generally assigned according to the student’s intended major. The advisors in Advising and Retention Services are here to assist students with any of the various majors available at SSCC as well as answer any questions they may have. NEW STUDENTS New students will meet with an academic advisor for the first time during New Student Orientation (NSO). At NSO, academic advisors will help you select your classes for the first time, based on the following information: Self assessment results, your intended major, and course availability. For subsequent quarters, you will see your assigned academic advisor. If you do not know who your advisor is, you are welcome to meet with an advisor in Advising and Retention Services. You are strongly encouraged to see an academic advisor each and every quarter while attending SSCC. TRANSFER STUDENTS Transfer students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor at least one quarter before transferring to Southern State Community College. When meeting with an academic advisor, it is beneficial if you bring unofficial transcripts from all previous colleges/universities to this meeting. The advisor can then look at what might transfer into your new major, and therefore provide better feedback. Additionally, if you are transferring from another Ohio state college or university, you can access the on-line transfer guide at https://oh.transfer.org/cas/index.jsp. ACADEMIC SUCCESS AT SSCC There are many factors that contribute to academic success and academic difficulty. Staff members in Advising and Retention Services are here to provide assistance with those issues. Success Workshops are currently being offered to students in the areas of Warning/Probation, Study Skills, Time Management and Stress Management. Study Skills Courses- SSCC offers PSYC 108. This every term offered course is designed to address topics in note-taking, test taking, learning styles, career exploration, and time management. In addition, the course provides students information about SSCC offices that focuses on student success. Academic Warning and Probation- Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 1.5 (45 credit hours or less ) or a 2.0 (46 credit hours or more) will be placed on academic warning. Students also can be placed on warning if they fail to complete 75 percent of their academic coursework in a particular quarter. The Advising and Retention Services Staff can help students assess their skills, obstacles, and make plans for increasing their grade point average. CHOOSING AND DECLARING A MAJOR Deciding on a major can be a daunting task, but once a decision is reached you may have greater confidence and a sense of direction. If you don’t know what to major in, your first step should be taking an assessment test. SSCC provides the KUDER Journey assessment at no cost to the student. You'll find the KUDER Journey assessment at www.kuderjourney.com. This popular tool is designed to help you assess your skills, values, interests and then provides suggestions as to possible careers. FAQ’s What is Advising & Retention Services? The Advising and Retention Services was designed to provide academic advising services to prospective, new, and current students at all campuses of Southern State Community College. Why should I see an advisor? Advisors are here to help students make the transition to college, but also to support them as they pursue their educational goals. Advisors help students select classes according to placement guidelines, make course recommendations, understand transfer credits, explore careers, understand major requirements, and provide support and resources for student’s academic needs. What should I bring to an appointment with an advisor? You should have your student ID, a degree requirement check sheet, list of questions you may have, as well as a tentative course schedule. If you come prepared, the advising meeting is much more productive. What is “MY SSCC”? “MY SSCC” is a web portal which allows students to view their grades, view their current major requirements and needs, view their current financial aid award package, register for classes, drop/add courses, and make tuition payments. In addition, students can log on to Blackboard if they are taking an on line course, apply for FAFSA, as well as check their webmail. What is academic warning and probation? Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 1.5 (45 credit hours or less) or a 2.0 (46 credit hours or more) will be placed on academic warning. Students also can be placed on warning if they fail to complete 75 percent of their academic coursework in a particular quarter. Students are “placed” and may be provided (not guaranteed) up to 3 additional quarters to raise their grade point average or complete 75 percent of their coursework in an individual quarter. If you are placed on academic warning, you should see an advisor immediately to discuss your course of action. What if I don’t know who my advisor is or I can’t find/reach them? Advisors are assigned based on your intended major. If you are unable to locate or meet with your assigned advisor, please make an appointment with an advisor in Advising and Retention Services. How often should I meet with my advisor? Meeting with an adviser is recommended every time you need to register for courses as well as when you have questions regarding your academic progress. You are always welcome to drop in for a quick chat, but we recommend at least 3 times a quarter. Those times are: first to prepare a schedule for the upcoming quarter, within the first week or two to discuss your current classes, and then again at midterm to discuss your progress and courses for the upcoming quarter. Academic advisors play a critical role in the success of students at Southern State. Advisors are the most reliable source for students to explore career options, select courses that fulfill degree requirements, gain insight into transfer options, obtain answers to frequently asked questions, and much more. Return to Advising & Retention Services Home Page