How AC Helps Me

Academic counseling helps the student in reaching both their long and short term goals.  Academic planning is available if you are seeking a certificate or an associate degree in one of the occupational programs, seeking job skills or retraining for a new job, and/or planning to transfer to a college/university.  Academic counseling is critical for a smooth transfer to another college.  Lassen offers transfer agreements with U.C. Davis and U.C. Santa Cruz.  Lassen also offers on the spot admissions with C.S.U. Chico.

Students must see a counselor if they meet the following criteria:

1. All Lassen students enrolling in 10 or more units are required to see a counselor each semester
2. All non-matriculating pre-college students seeking special admittance (non-high school graduates, and under 18 years of age)
3. Special student populations; athletes, financial aid students, and veterans
4. Students taking math, English, science or reading classes

Counselors are here to help you plan a successful future.

Students may be exempt from counseling if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. The student is taking 9 units or less
2. The student is taking courses only for personal interest
3. The student is taking courses for advancement in current job/career or to update job skills
4. The student is taking courses to maintain a certificate or license

For specific questions contact the Counseling Office (530) 251-8842.

Why Academic Counseling Is Important

There are many program choices available at Lassen Community College. A counselor will work with you to determine what is right for you and compatible with your life goals.

Counselors can help you plan for the essential experiences necessary to make progress toward your goal.

Completing the requirements for your certificates, degrees, or transfer goals in a timely manner requires PLANNING !!!!!   Academic planning will save you time, money and aggravation.

Counselors are familiar with all the degree and certificate graduation requirements as well as the transfer requirements.  Requirements, policies and procedures may change from year to year.  Your counselor will track those changes and will be able to clarify which of these changes will affect you and which will not.

Counselors can show you exactly what academic courses you will need to reach the academic goals that you have set.  Counselors help you to develop your education plan, which serves as your road map to your degree/certificate/transfer objective.

Academic Counseling is available to Help Students:

• Understand graduation requirements
• Develop an education plan
• Evaluate transfer credit
• Choose or change a major
• Plan your courses for your entire time at Lassen Community College
• Clear the Writing, Mathematics and Reading competencies
• Remove probation status to avoid disqualification
• File for graduation
• Prepare to enter a college/university as a Junior (CSU, UC, UNR, Private, Other out of state colleges/universities)

Tips

1. Complete an education plan

All full-time Lassen Community College students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to prepare an education plan.  This consists of planning ahead on a semester by semester basis the classes that a student will need to take in order to reach their educational goal.  Plans can be changed or updated each semester.

Educational planning is based on the premise that students with firm educational goals have been shown to be more successful in their college careers.

2. Plan your counseling sessions during non-peak times.  Counselors and the counseling center is busiest during registration periods and the first weeks of classes.  Schedule your appointment during non-peak times.
3. Obtain a Lassen Community College Catalog.  Know your catalog year (or years) for your graduation requirements and be sure you keep a copy of the catalog in which you enrolled.  Provided you maintain your enrollment at Lassen Community College, this catalog (or these catalogs) establish the requirements you must complete for obtaining a certificate, degree or transferring to a four year campus.  Details regarding catalog rights are listed under Graduation Requirements in the catalog.
4. See your Counselor regularly:  Don't wait until you encounter a problem before seeing a counselor.  Check your degree progress regularly.  If you plan to transfer to a college/university you should see a counselor regularaly.
5. Keep an advising file.  Even though counselors have copies of your records, keep a personal copy of transcripts (official or unofficial) from each college or university you have attended in a file and bring it to your counseling sessions.  (You can obtain a copy of your Lassen Community College record from the Admissions and Records Office.  Lassen Community College does not release copies of other college’s transcripts.)  Progress evaluations, education plans, test scores, and other important academic information should also be kept in your advising file.
6. Petition for Graduation.  Graduation is not automatic, you must file a graduation petition during the stated graduation application periods.  Filing early will assure a final graduation evaluation before your last semester of enrollment.