Section 5: Academic Support Services

The Colorado College Advising Handbook, Section 5:

Academic Support Services

The Writing Center and the Writing Program. Colorado College offers a multi-level program designed to help students improve their writing. Believing that students write more forcefully about subjects which interest them, the faculty decided against requiring a conventional composition course: instead, faculty members from many fields offer courses which emphasize writing. Freshman tutorials, limited to 15 students, require papers and offer help with writing. For students who want more extensive help, many departments offer one- and two-block courses in standard academic subjects which emphasize writing. Enrollment is limited to allow time for individual conferences, small group sessions, and detailed criticism. The Student Writing Center offers free tutorial help in writing to all Colorado College students. Staffed by a director, part-time professionals and student peer tutors, the Center provides individual tutoring and small group workshops in composition. In addition, the Center can give editorial help with non-curricular projects such as newsletters, job or graduate school applications, and non-academic articles.

Tutt Library. Tutt Library provides intellectual and physical access to knowledge and information in support of the educational aims of the college. To support this mission, Tutt Library's collections are a rich resource for study and research. An enthusiastic and knowledgeable team of librarians help students, faculty and staff navigate the complex electronic and paper-based information world of the 21st century. Professional research help is available by contacting the reference desk at extension 6662.

The library has an excellent reference collection consisting of bibliographies, periodical indexes and related bibliographic tools, many available online. It currently subscribes to more than 2,000 periodicals and 50 domestic and foreign newspapers, and houses over 430,000 books (both paper and electronic). In addition, as a federal government depository library, the library houses over 300,000 government publications. Rare books, the College's archives, and regional historical collections are housed in the Special Collections Department. A video collection serves both the educational and recreational needs of the academic community.

Built in 1962 and expanded in 1980, Tutt Library seats 800 people in spacious study areas, including individual carrels. A computer lab, video viewing area, multipurpose rooms, audiovisual facilities, a satellite of the Writing Center, and a late-night study area are available. Round-trip van service to Denver and Boulder libraries is provided on the first, second and third Saturdays of the block. 

The collection of more than 480,000 volumes in open stacks is designed to serve undergraduate study and research. The Government Documents collection contains 200,000 items. Special Collections houses the College’s historical and rare materials 

Specialized materials are kept in the Albert Seay Library of Music and Art in Packard Hall. Students may freely use the art and anthropology resources of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center one block south of the campus. 

Academic Computing. Colorado College provides extensive computer service to students, faculty and administration. 

The Mathematics Department offers formal course work in the computer use and in adjunct courses. 

Tutoring. The College does not have an office that manages tutors and tutoring services. Departments should be contacted when an advisee needs a tutor. Ask the department whether they have special sessions for students needing assistance (afternoon problem sessions tied to Math courses; help sessions in some Physics classes). The Dean of Students and the Assistant Dean of the College may also be contacted for help in arranging tutors for students with academic problems.

Counseling Services. The College Counseling Center at Boettcher Health Center provides a wide range of free mental health programs. The staff consists of doctorate-level psychologists, social workers, and a psychiatrist. Short term in-house therapy and outside referrals are provided for eating disorders, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and many other personal problems. Workshops and support groups are also available for relationship issues, assertiveness, study skills, time management, and problems related to grief, body image, and adult children from dysfunctional families. 

In addition to the counseling center, other excellent sources of brief counseling and advising on personal and/or academic concerns include faculty advisors, academic deans, the dean of students, hall directors and student resident assistants. The chaplain of Shove Memorial Chapel is also available to the students for counseling. 

Career Center. The Colorado College Career Center supports the mission of this liberal arts and sciences college. Center staff help students and alumni articulate their undergraduate experience to the world of work, clarify career goals, explore graduate programs, and develop effective job/internship search strategies. Students should be encouraged to visit the Career Center - even their first year at CC. The Career Center offers:

• Individual career advising, self-assessment, and job/internship search assistance
• Resume and cover letter critiques (in person, electronically, or by mail)
• Workshops on career assessment and job/internship hunting skills
• Panel discussions and presentations on various career fields
• Job/internship vacancy listings (full-time, part-time, and summer)
• Current information about careers, internships, and graduate programs
• Research resources and directories for a variety of career interests
• Information booklets and handouts on a variety of relevant topics
• Career Fairs and on-campus recruiting by graduate schools and employers
• Practice Interview sessions
• Data on recent graduates

Self-Assessment Tools to Help Students Declare a Major. Choosing a major can be the biggest decision facing an undergraduate and advisors should expect some apprehension about making this commitment. Additionally, advisors should be aware that students may question how their majors fit in with their after-college plans. For many students self-assessment and information gathering are keys to successfully choosing a major. By examining skills, interests, values and personality characteristics as they relate to career choices, students can begin to identify and explore viable options. The Career Center offers a variety of services and programs to help students with the self-assessment process.

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End Notes (for entire Handbook)

• Dean Brenda Tooley would like to thank Victor Nelson-Cisneros and Richard Storey for their strong commitment to the on-line Advisors Handbook project. She would like to thank reviewers and contributors to the third, on-line edition -- Matthew Birnbaum, Susanne Felber, Sarah Kawano among them.
• Dean Victor Nelson-Cisneros would like to acknowledge the encouragement and commitment of David Finley to this project. He thanks Tim Fuller for his support and the contribution of the Preface in the first edition, and Richard Storey for his support and for revisions to the Preface in the second edition. He would also like to thank the faculty who reviewed an early draft of the handbook and forwarded their comments and suggestions. These include Keith Kester, Judith Laux, Thomas Cronin, Marcia Dobson, Cathy Weir, and Mario Montaño. He would also like to acknowledge the support and suggestions of administrators who helped him clarify some points as well as provide accurate information; he is in their debt. They include Mike Edmonds, Margaret Van Horn, Phillip Apodaca, Rick Roberts, and Tiggy Shields.
• Calhoon, John, Doug Casson, Tina Eyre, David Carlson and Orlando Martinez. Colorado College Campus Association Faculty Advising Review Project. Colorado Springs: CCCA, November 18, 1991.2.2
• Adapted from "Strategies of Advisement," Houston Baptist University, as found in Crockett, David S., ed. Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 765-766.
• Adapted from "Referral Skills," as found in Crockett, D.S. (Ed.). Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 759-760.
• Adapted from "Thirty Reminders for Effective Advising," as found in Crockett, D.S. (Ed.). Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 737-738.
• Adapted from "Skills, Knowledge, and Attitudes Required for Developmental Advising," in O'Banion, Terry. "An Academic Advising Model," AAJC Journal, March, 1972 as found in Crockett, D.S. (Ed.).Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 131-132.

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