Counseling

(661) 763-7748

Counseling Center Webpage

The Counseling Center provides a variety of resources to help students achieve the greatest possible benefit from their college experience. Each academic counselor is a specialist in several academic areas, and students may wish to see a counselor according to the major they declare. The Counseling Center is a valuable resource in exploring the options or defining the requirements in a particular field of study. All counselors have the expertise to assist with course selection, educational planning, questions concerning requirements for majors, general education, certificates, graduation, or transfer to a four-year college or university. A counselor can answer questions about course or academic requirements and serve as a valuable resource in helping students select, appropriate, as well as the best combination of courses to meet the lower division transfer requirements for specific transfer institutions. Academic Counseling Services also include the following;

• Academic counseling that helps the student in assessing, planning, and implementing both immediate and long-range academic goals
• Career counseling that helps the student assess aptitudes, abilities, and interests, and advises the student regarding current and future employment trends
• Personal counseling that helps the student with personal, family or other social concerns, when that assistance is related to the student’s education
• Coordination with the counseling aspects of other campus services, including programs for students with special needs, financial assistance programs, and job placement services

These counseling services are available for all students and are located in the Student Services building. Evening hours and distance learning counseling are provided, and bilingual staff and services are available. In-person and remote services are available. During the fall and spring semesters office hours are typically Monday –Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. During the summer semester office hours is typically Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and closed Fridays. Schedule an appointment to speak with a counselor by calling (661) 763-7748.

The Student Equity and Achievement Program (SEAP) is a process that enhances student access and sustains the efforts of students to be successful in their educational endeavors. The goals of SEAP are to ensure that all students complete their college courses, persist to the next academic term, graduate and/or transfer while achieving their educational objectives. As a result, SEAP will ensure that:

• New students will complete an admissions form: Taft College Admissions Application
• New Students complete an online new student orientation: New Student Orientation
• New Students can complete an assessment test or bring high school transcripts to their appointment with a Counselor: Assessment/Placement
• Students schedule an appointment with a counselor (new student workshop) to complete an Abbreviated Student Educational Plan 
• The last step is registration
• Steps to Success
• After students have completed or are in process of completing 15 units and have identified their program of study, they will need to meet with a counselor to create a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan that will detail the necessary courses to reach their academic goal.
• Students are strongly encouraged to follow up with a counselor to review and/or revise their Student Educational Plan as needed to adapt to developing education and career goals.

Comprehensive Student Educational Plan

It is important to develop a comprehensive student educational plan (CSEP) within the first or second semester at Taft College.  A Student Educational Plan (SEP) outlines a suggested course of study for the individual student based on major, transfer plans and sequence of courses.  Students are strongly encouraged to update their plan each semester or when a change is made to their major, transfer institution or other pertinent objectives.