Student Support Services

Student support services are known by many names. Here are eight services that are particularly significant to the Distance Education Coordinator. 

Advisement 

For students, advisement is a source of information about the resources, programs, and policies of the college. Advisement information is printed in college catalogs, class schedules, student handbooks, and other publications. The use of web sites, email, and other technology to supplement or replace printed advisement media is growing rapidly. Students call upon advisement staff to answer innumerable questions. Technology can expedite answers to many of those questions.

Counseling

Counselors help students define and accomplish personal and academic goals, cope with personal problems, and explore career opportunities. Counselors can refer students to community service agencies for further professional assistance. There is no sign that technology will ever replace the counselor's skills in probing a student's questions and interpreting a student's demeanor. As a tool for routine advisement, however, technology can help give the counselor time to concentrate on questions where there is no substitute for human insight.

Assessment

Assessment is the process of determining a student's interests or level of competence in a particular subject area. Because of the issues involved, assessment is here treated separately from counseling and advisement.

Tutoring

Effective tutor support is a key requirement for student retention in distance learning courses. Cost is a problem.

Library

For many courses, the online student needs online access to a library that holds a wide range of publications. Advice on how to use the library can greatly enhance the value of this resource.

Technology Services 

Online student services are contingent on the availability of technology in many forms and across a broad time frame. Issues include the provision of technical support for student users; maintenance of a technology infrastructure that grows ever more complex; and dependence on funding for services and staff that are critical to the distance education enterprise.

Accessibility Services

The college has an obligation to provide equal access to educational opportunities for students with special needs. When such a student is also a distance learner, providing the necessary accommodation can present a special challenge.

Financial Aid

Many students who need financial aid don't know what kinds of aid are available or how to cope with the administrative procedures. Web-based information and management resources are of great assistance, especially for distance learners, if students and staff know how to use them.