Hawai'i COMMUNITY COLLEGE Counseling and Support Services Center (CSSC) Building 379, Room 5A (next to Career Center) 200 W. Kawili Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 (V/TTY) (808) 974-7741 Fax (808) 974-7692 Hours of Operation: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Hawccssc@hawaii.edu	Counselors: • Kenoalani Dela Cruz • Bob Duley • Karen Kane • Jodilyn Kunimoto • Karen Leialoha • Helen Nishimoto • Kaleo Quintana

		• Student Success and Educational Counseling • Graduation Checks • Career Counseling • Transfer Advising • International Student Educational Counselors • ESL (English as a Second Language) Student Educational Counseling • Disability Services (Ha'awi Kokua Program) • Personal Counseling • Peer Assistence with Financial Aid

How the Counseling and Support Services Center unit can assist you

Student Success and Educational Counseling
     The Counseling and Support Services Center (CSSC) can help you to maximize your academic potential and achieve personal success! Counselors are available to meet with you to discuss success strategies, study tips, future action plans, setting goals, priorities and responsibilities. Counselors are concerned for your well being as a student here and we encourage you to come in and utilize our free services. Please make an appointment to meet with a Counselor if you are affected by or need help with:

• Any of the above mentioned services or issues
  
• Other services or issues affecting your performance
  
• Calculating your GPA
  
• Academic Warning/Probation
  
• Continued Academic Probation
  
• Academic Dismissal/Readmission
  
• Grievances associated with student behavior or academic performance
  

     Continuing students needing assistance in selecting courses for their major requirements should meet with their faculty/academic advisor (program instructors). The Counseling and Support Services Center can inform you of open classes and print out GRADVISE.

GRADCHECK
     Counselors can assist you in determining whether you are meeting your program requirements and are ready to graduate.

Career Counseling and Job Referral
     Are you unsure of what to major in? Do you have concerns about finding a job after you graduate? Can you create an effective resume? Do you need to prepare for a job interview? These are just some of the issues addressed during a meeting with the Career Counselor. For more information about the free services offered, make an appointment to visit the Career Counselors in the Career Center.

Transfer Advising
     Are you interested in transferring to another college? Whether across the street to UH-Hilo, across the islands to UH-Manoa or across the country or even the world, the Counseling Center can help you to prepare for your transition.

There are several things to keep in mind if you are planning to transfer:

1. It is very important to have an idea of where you want to transfer. The earlier you decide which school you would like to attend, the sooner we can help you to identify the best plan of action.
   
2. Prepare a tentative timetable. How long will you stay at HawCC? Will you finish your Liberal Arts degree here, or transfer as soon as possible? By asking yourself these questions, it is easier to determine what kinds of classes you should register for.
   
3. Do you have a contact at your future school? If so, it helps to determine what admission criteria are necessary and which classes will transfer. Please remember that transferable courses need to be at the 100-200 level. Any course below 100 (i.e. ENG 22, MATH 26, BUS 24, etc) is not acceptable as transfer credits towards a bachelor's degree.
   
4. Keep in mind that not all courses offered here are transferable within the UH system, or applicable, to some other colleges. For a partial listing of acceptable courses at UH-Hilo, go to http://www.uhh.Hawai'i.edu/uhhiloweb/advising/. Unfortunately, this type of listing is not available from all schools. Contact the Counseling & Support Services Center if you have specific questions regarding transferable courses.
   
5. Transferring to another school can be a big step for some students, especially for those who are moving away from the island. There are many factors to consider when transferring. You will need information on housing, travel arrangements, application deadlines, required admissions documents such as high school SAT scores, etc. Plan early and have an idea of what will be required of you when transferring to another school.
   
6. Seek help! Come to the Counseling & Support Services Center for assistance. Feel free to utilize the resources available in the Career Center by making an appointment with the career counselor.

• Admission to HawCC
  
• TOEFL scores
  
• Intensive English Program
  
• ESL - English as a Second Language (credit courses in reading, writing and listening/speaking)
  
• International transcript credit evaluations
  
• Requirements for maintaining visa status (i.e. F-1, J-1)
  
• Annual Filing of IRS form
  
• Employment and Optional Practical Training
  
• Taxes
  
• Returning to the home country during vacation times
  
• Transfer to another college or university
  
• Diversity Immigration Visa Program - Annual Lottery for resident alien status ("green card")

      To make an appointment to meet with the counselor to discuss any of these topics, or any other questions you may have, call (808) 974-7741 or e-mail hawccssc@hawaii.edu.

ESL (English as a Second Language) Student Support
     English as a second language students who are citizens, permanent residents, or visa exempt international students do not have to meet many of the admission requirements placed on international students. The admission process is the same as it is for most other students, but the initial English classes required are different.

     Based on placement tests scores, ESL students will be placed in Department of Education (DOE) or FIRWM prep classes, ESL 13, or ESL 15 for writing and DOE or FIRWM prep classes, ESL 9, or ENG 21 classes for reading. The ESL 13 writing class is seven units and the ESL 15 writing class is five units. It is strongly recommended that students enrolled in either of these classes also enroll in ESL 25, a non-native speaker listening and speaking class.

     After completion of ESL classes, ESL students are channeled into regular English reading and writing classes. ESL students can take other college courses while enrolled in ESL classes provided they meet that courses prerequisites. Counseling services offered to ESL students are similar to those offered to all students with the exception that counselors will be sensitive to the special needs ESL students may have. For a Counseling appointment, contact the Counseling Center at (808) 974-7741 or e-mail hawccssc@hawaii.edu.

Disability Services (Ha'awi Kokua Program)
   Mission
   The Ha'awi Kokua Program promotes equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain the maximum benefit from their educational/learning experience by participating fully in their regular courses and activities at HawCC.

   Goals:
- To provide assistance to individuals with disabilities and ensure physical access with educational equality in all HawCC programs and activities.

- To provide reasonable academic accommodations for students with disabilities, which will support their independent learning opportunity.

- To foster a sensitive environment for students with disabilities that is conducive to learning.

- To support students with disabilities in becoming independent, responsible, and productive community members.

- To provide consultation to students, faculty, and staff on disability issues and general access information.

   Commitment & Compliance with the ADA - Section 504
   In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act - Section 84.4 of the Federal rules and regulations governing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973..., "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity..."

   Student Responsibilities:

• Students with disabilities must self-identify as being a person with a disability, to the Hþ'awi Kškua Program Counselor.
  
• Students must provide relatively current documentation of their disability, which includes information of their limitations.
  
• Students must request accommodations in a reasonable and timely manner.
  
• Students must abide with all HawCC policies and procedures, and be otherwise qualified for their degree program.
  
• Students are ensured that all disability-related information they have provided will be kept confidential.

   Access
   Hawai`i Community College offers courses and programs at various campuses and physical locations, and is committed to providing equal access to all of these locations or course activities.

• Priority registration if physical access is a concern
  
• Relocation of classes, as the last resort to ensure physical access
  
• Handicap Parking stalls
  
• Assistance in accessing library material
  
• Materials provided in alternate formats such as assistance with RFB tape textbooks, or enlargement of printed material
  
• Liaison with Hawai`i County Department of Education Special Education (DOE SPED) high school transition teachers and counselor, to ensure successful transition
  
• Assistance with concurrent registration with UH-Hilo courses and activities

   Specialized Services
   The program Counselor will determine all requests for reasonable accommodations. Decisions made regarding accommodations are based upon the current documentation and the program or course requirements.

• Make appropriate referrals to community agencies/services that offer support to individuals with disabilities to support the academic learning opportunity
  
• Classroom Note-takers
  
• Sign Language Interpreters
  
• Testing accommodations may include:
  -Distraction-free testing environment
  -Alternative format of testing
  -Scribes for exams
  -Computer equipment for exams
  
• Learning Skills 070 Course a 1 credit, 5-week course that introduces useful strategies and techniques for achieving success in college. Topics include: attitude and motivation, time and money management, learning styles, test-taking strategies, note-taking techniques, memory techniques, community and campus resources and other skills to enhance students success.
  
• Assistance in career planning and on-going monitoring of academic progress, to ensure compliance with worker compensation and insurance plans, for private and state vocational rehabilitation agencies, and Chapter 31 Veterans.
  
• Scholarship information and disability-related assistance in the application process.

   General Services
   All students in the Ha'awi Kokua Program are offered the following general services:

• Assistance in completing forms for admission and financial assistance
  
• Liaison with private and state rehabilitation agencies to assist with program planning and registration
  
• Referrals to non-credit PREP classes to transition to college English & Math
  
• Career information, personal, career and academic counseling
  
• Personal, academic, and career counseling
  
• Technology - The Technology Center is located on the Manono Campus. The special adaptive equipment is available for student use. Individual assistance is provided. The following adaptive equipment and resources are available:
  
• Voice/TTY phone
  
• CCTV - Visual Text Enlarger
  
• Talking Calculator with Printer
  
• Large Print Calculator with Printer
  
• Spell Checkers
  
• Large Print Dictionary
  
• Large Print Thesaurus
  
• Table Top Microphones
  
• Cassette Tape Recorders
  
• 4-Track Players for RFB tapes
  
• Kurzwell Audio Text Reader
  
• Computer Monitor Screen Enlarger
  
• Math Learning Videos
  
• Voice Enhancer
  
• Dragon Dictate Computer Software
  
• WAVE Aerodynamic Computer Keyboards
  
• Wheelchair adapted desk & tables
  

      To make an appointment to meet with the Ha`awi Kokua counselor to discuss any of these topics, or any other questions you may have, call (808) 933-0702 or e-mail Karen Kane at: kane@hawaii.edu.