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The Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) mission states that the College provides an environment for students,
faculty, staff, and the community that encourages effective communication, freedom of expression, cultural awareness and
enrichment, professional and intellectual growth, personal assessment, informed decision-making, problem solving,
environmental awareness, and analytical, critical, and ethical thinking
[1].
In addressing this portion of the mission statement, BSCTC provides a variety of academic support services designed to
meet the needs of its diverse student population. These services include
Academic
[2]
[3]and
Master Advising [4],
Adult Basic Education [5],
Career and Transfer Services (CATS) Center [6],
Center for Enrichment Resources (CER) [7]
[8]
[9],
Computer Labs [10a]
[10b],
Counseling [11],
Disabilities Services [12],
E-learning Support [13],
First Year Experience (FYE) Program [14],
Library [15],
Minority Students Mentoring Program [16],
and Ready to Work (RTW) and Work and
Learn Programs[17].
- Academic and Master Advising. All BSCTC students are assigned an academic advisor based on their selected field of study.
Each student meets with her/his academic advisor to develop a plan for meeting the student's academic goals.
Each advisor has ten office hours per week during which they are available for advising students. During peak times of the
semester, such as registration, faculty are available additional hours as needed to meet with students.
BSCTC offers advisor training at the beginning of each semester as part of its back-to-school activities. New advisors are
assigned a mentor for the first year before assuming full advising duties. While the number of advisees per advisor varies,
the average advising load for each advisor is 36
[2]
[3].
The BSCTC Master
Advising Program [4]
ensures optimum opportunity for access and success of all at-risk students as they pursue identified personal educational
goals. Students whose COMPASS scores place them into two or more developmental courses are assigned a Master Advisor.
Master Advisors receive specialized training in advising students who enter the college academically under - prepared.
On-line advising is also available for students enrolled in various subjects such as math and English.
- Adult Basic Education (ABE) Kentucky
Adult Education [5]
assists adults in becoming literate and obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency,
assists adults who are parents in obtaining the educational skills necessary to become full partners in the educational
development of their children, and assists adults in completing a secondary school education. Adult education programs
provide free, direct, and comprehensive services to enrolled adult students. In addition to the campus centers, BSCTC
offers satellite sites in the counties to meet the unique learning needs of its residents. Core services consist of adult
basic education, which provides all levels of academic skills instruction for students who meet the eligibility requirements
for enrollment, GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), and workforce education. Adult basic education assists
adults in improving educational attainment levels and successfully entering employment and continuing education. The
instruction may also include life skills, employability skills, and computer literacy.
- A Career and Transfer Services center (CATS) [6].
The CATS center is available for all Big Sandy Community and Technical College students. The center provides the following
assistance:
-
Career Assessment
-
Career Related Material
- Employment Information
- Transfer Articulation Information For Four-Year Colleges
- Transfer Opportunities
- Host Visiting Recruiters From Four-Year Colleges
- Assist Students With Transfer Applications
- Assist Students With Scholarship Forms
- Placement File Assistance Including Resume And Cover Letter Writing
- Center for Enrichment Resources
[7]
[8]
[9].
The CER is located on the Prestonsburg, Mayo, and Pikeville Campuses with students at Hager Hill having access to the Mayo
Campus CER. The CER provides a broad range of academic support and assessment services.
These services include:
- The Testing Center is the official location for assessments including COMPASS, ASSET, WorkKeys, and other standardized
assessments. The Testing Center also provides proctoring for faculty and students, as well as for students enrolled in
distance learning courses at other colleges.
- Tutoring is available in subjects ranging from basic to advanced mathematics, writing, psychology, history, and
others. Trained student workers provide tutoring services by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Full-time and adjunct faculty
members also serve as volunteer tutors in the CER.
- Academic support services include alternative delivery of instruction, flexible scheduling for developmental classes,
remediation in math and writing, and workshops on the subjects of study skills, test-taking skills, stress management, time
management, and learning styles.
- Academic support modules are available to students from all BSCTC campuses, as well as those enrolled in distance
learning courses through the CER webpage.
- The CER provides workshops for GE100 classes on test anxiety, performance anxiety, test-taking skills, study
strategies, learning styles, stress management, and special topics as requested by GE100 instructors. Ongoing individualized
support is also available upon request for any student needing assistance with test anxiety, study skills, time management,
test preparation, and test-taking skills.
- Developmental reading, writing, and math courses are delivered through the CER on a flexible basis. These classes
utilize alternative methods of instruction, including one-on-one faculty-student instruction, small group instruction,
collaborative learning, individualized instruction, web-enhanced instruction using PLATO provided through a partnership with
the Floyd County Adult Education program.
- Academic support is provided to students enrolled in online courses. All CER staff and student workers are
proficient in navigating the KYVU/Blackboard online learning platform. An online writing tutor account has been established and is currently routed to the Early Intervention Specialist. The online writing tutor provides assistance to all BSCTC students.
- The Early Intervention Program was implemented in the spring 2007 semester. Early Intervention provides intensive,
one-on-one individualized assistance for students in reading and/or writing courses. An Early Intervention Specialist is
onsite in the Prestonsburg Campus CER four days each week and is accessible to students off campus through e-mail.
- Through the CER, distance learning students can receive assistance with internet-based courses, setting up or
accessing their student e-mail accounts, and other computer-related support services.
-
Computer Labs [10a]
[10b].
There are 38 computer labs and classroom computer access across the four BSCTC campuses.
All campuses also have wireless access points.
- Counseling [11].
The BSCTC Counseling area is composed of five certified counselors and a disability services coordinator covering the
four campuses. Services provided by the counselors include the following: academic counseling, career counseling,
advising/scheduling assistance, staffing the Career and Transfer Services (CATS) Center, interpreting test scores
(referring students to developmental classes), probation & suspension notification letters, academic bankruptcy,
disability services, scholarships, high school recruitment, completion of student documentation for Workforce
Investment Act (WIA), and Veterans Services.
- Disabilities Services [12].
Support services are available on all BSCTC campuses for students with documented disabilities. Students qualifying for
services may receive the following accommodations: extended time for test taking, scribes and/or readers, alternate
formats for textbooks, such as books on tape or electronic versions for screen reading software, and providing students with
a distraction reduced testing area. Disability Support Services (DSS) works closely with the Department of Vocational
Rehabilitation and the Department for the Blind to ensure that students with disabilities are made aware of community
resources available to them. The DSS office, along with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator, is responsible
for ensuring compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA.
- E-Learning Support [13].
The Distance Learning coordinator provides assistance to online students in accessing classes
and associated information. This individual also works with all faculty offering online classes.
- First Year Experience (FYE) [14].
The FYE Program has been designed to enhance the educational experience of first-year
BSCTC students, and to promote student engagement, persistence, and student success. FYE will provide a wide range of support
services and information, including an Introduction to College course (GE100), mentoring, and assistance in topics ranging
from accessing student e-mail and information to tutoring referrals and other support services. The FYE program is supported
by the faculty and received permission from the KCTCS System office to implement the program on a pilot basis.
- Library Services. See Core Requirement 2.9 for information about BSCTC Library Services.
- Minority Student Mentoring Program [15].
The BSCTC Minority Student Mentoring Program pairs students with mentors who
provide needed assistance on a variety of issues concerning college life. While all first-year students are served by this
program, particular attention is given to issues and concerns of special importance to minority students.
- Ready to Work and Work and
Learn Programs [16].
As set forth in a partnership between the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and the Cabinet for Health and
Family Services, BSCTC offers Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) participants assistance with job references
and referrals, academic seminars, advising, counseling, and mentoring.
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