Navigating life as a college student comes with its inherent challenges. From the newfound stress of trying to keep up with a rigorous course load to the potential sense of isolation that comes with attending a new school, college students need all the support possible as they make a major life adjustment.
When choosing a university, then, it is important to look not just at practical matters — like the cost of attendance or how quickly you may be able to get your degree — but also at the kinds of support services that may be available to you when you attend. By selecting a school with robust campus support offerings, you may be able to set yourself up for an easier transition regardless of what life may throw your way.
What Are Campus Support Services?
What are academic support services and student support services, exactly, and why are they integral to the college journey?
What Is Academic Support and Student Support? Overview of Available Campus Resources
Generally speaking, campus support services refer to any program (whether on-campus or online) that is available to help students overcome challenges and make the most of their college experience. These typically fall into two broad categories: academic support services (such as tutoring and writing centers) and student support services (such as counseling, career services, and specialized programs). While no two offerings are exactly alike, academic support centers on a college campus may offer tutoring in specific subjects and/or writing help.
Meanwhile, student support services tend to encompass resources like:
- Health and wellness services, which may include counseling/therapy, affordable health clinics, and physical fitness programs.
- Career and professional development services, such as career counseling, job placement, resume-building workshops, and on-campus career fairs.
- Specialized student support programs, including those specifically for international students, veteran/military students, and students with disabilities.
Importance of Utilizing Campus Resources
Taking full advantage of available campus resources is essential to maximizing your college experience. If you are struggling with a topic in a calculus class, for instance, working with a tutor on campus could help you sharpen your understanding and perform better academically. Even if you are not running into any challenges with your coursework, meeting with an academic advisor could help keep your plan of study on track.
Leveraging campus health and wellness services also enables you to get help when you are experiencing high levels of stress or burnout. Meeting with a counselor could help you discover coping mechanisms, while on-campus fitness facilities allow you to keep your body as sharp as your mind.
Even as your graduation date approaches, student support in the form of career and professional development services could help you prepare your resume for your first job applications or practice for interviews. In many ways, then, taking advantage of the resources available to you could help you better enjoy your time in school while preparing you for the future.
Academic Support Centers
Many students reach a point in college where they could use extra support with their academics. They might struggle with a particular class or assignment, wondering why they cannot seem to just “get it” like their classmates do. This is where it may be useful to turn to a school’s academic support centers for additional guidance.
So, what are academic support services, more specifically?
Services Offered by Academic Support Centers
In an academic support center, students typically have access to dedicated tutoring services for common subjects like math and science. Many colleges even have a dedicated writing center, where students from any program and any class may receive one-on-one writing support from peers.
In addition to tutoring, academic support centers may offer workshops on specific topics, such as how to conduct research or how to cite sources in an essay.
How to Access Tutoring and Writing Help
The specific process to access academic support services may vary from one school to the next. However, in most cases, writing centers offer convenient appointment scheduling that guarantees you a time slot with a friendly and knowledgeable writing tutor. Sometimes, you may even be able to walk in and get help from a tutor, but this may depend on how many tutors are available and how busy the center is.
Often, schools may also have tutoring support set up for online students. This may be in the form of an asynchronous session or a live tutoring session, depending on what your school offers and what best suits your needs.
Benefits of Regular Visits to Academic Support
No matter your academic strengths and weaknesses, taking advantage of academic support services could help you perform your best while in school. Even if you are not struggling with a particular class or subject, regular visits to academic support could help you become a better writer or learn something new that you may be able to apply to your future work.
Health and Wellness Services
The demands of college frequently lead to increased feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm for students. This is where having access to dedicated health and wellness services could make a major difference.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Many college campuses have their own counseling and psychological support services available to students. These may include “traditional” counseling, be it in the form of individual counseling or group therapy, to help students work through difficult times. When more serious interventions are needed, many campuses offer crisis intervention services as well.
Health Clinics and Nutritional Advice
Whether you fall ill or are simply in need of your annual flu shot, having access to an on-campus health clinic could be especially convenient as a college student. The services of these clinics may vary considerably from one campus to the next, but many offer such basic services as lab testing, immunizations, and routine wellness exams. Some clinics may even offer nutritional coaching for students looking to fuel their bodies more effectively.
Programs for Physical Fitness and Well-being
Along with mental health services, many college campuses also offer on-site health clinics, fitness centers, and health education programs to promote a healthier lifestyle for students. This is particularly important given the potential benefits of regular exercise for college students, including:
- Reduced anxiety and depression symptoms
- Improved cognitive function
- Enhanced academic performance
As you explore college options, check to see whether each school includes an on-campus fitness center membership. What about fitness classes? All of these resources could help you take better care of your mind and body while you are in school, which could have a direct impact on your academic performance and college experience.
Career and Professional Development
Even as you are preparing to graduate, the career and professional development services your school offers could help you more seamlessly transition into the next phase of your life with career counseling, job placement, and other professional development services.
Career Counseling and Job Placement Services
Still not sure where you see yourself professionally post-graduation? A meeting with a career advisor could help you identify your strengths and interests, in turn helping to solidify your career path. Certain colleges may even offer job placement assistance as part of their career services.
Internship Opportunities and Resume Building Workshops
During your time in school, you might seek out internship opportunities as a means of gaining hands-on experience in your chosen field. Your college’s career services center may be able to assist with this, especially if they have established connections with organizations in your field of study.
When it comes time to apply for jobs or internships, the career services center may also be able to assist with resume preparation to help you tailor your resume to the specific opportunity you are pursuing.
Networking Events and Career Fairs
Many schools host special events throughout the year, including networking events and career fairs. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of these. Consider, for example, that among surveyed students who attended a job fair within the past 12 months, more than 45% indicated that they were offered a job interview after the event. Nearly 25% of those students reported that they went on to receive an employment offer that stemmed from the job fair experience.
Even if you are not nearing your graduation date, attending a job fair on campus could be a great way to learn about prospective career opportunities, get feedback on your resume, or discover internship opportunities while you are in school. Additionally, networking events (including job fairs and industry-specific workshops) offer an excellent opportunity to connect with others in your field and grow your professional network organically.
Specialized Student Support Programs
In addition to academic, health/wellness, and career services, many schools offer dedicated support to students from unique backgrounds. This may include international students, military/veteran students, and students with disabilities.
Services for International Students
Attending college as an international student may accompany some unique challenges, such as those surrounding student visas, language barriers, and access to health and wellness services. For this reason, many colleges offer specific support services for international students in the form of:
- Advising for students looking for help with their visas or work authorization.
- Orientation services to help international students adjust to campus life.
- Language support services, including resources to help international students improve their English.
- Health and wellness services, including support for international students who may not have health insurance.
- Housing servicesto assist international students in securing on- or off-campus housing.
Accessibility Resources for Students With Disabilities
Students with disabilities may also benefit from specialized support and guidance. For some, this may include taking advantage of special academic accommodations — such as additional time to take tests or the use of assistive technology during class. In some circumstances, students with disabilities may be granted access to priority class registration, specialized tutoring services, or other resources (like interpreters) to help them navigate their college experiences more readily.
Services and support for students with disabilities may vary by school, so be sure to research and understand what to expect from your chosen school, especially if you need special accommodations yourself.
Veteran and Military Student Services
While not all colleges are considered “military-friendly,” the ones that are typically offer dedicated services to veteran and military students. This may encompass dedicated offices for military and veteran students that offer specialized academic and social resources, as well as liaisons that serve as a single point of contact for military/veteran students during their studies.
Some schools may even host specialized programs for military and veteran students that are aimed at easing the transition to civilian life. These programs, when utilized, could help students better acclimate to their respective campuses while receiving the guidance they need to thrive in college.
What Are Academic Support and Student Services? Find Out at Post University
Being a new college student is exciting. At the same time, it is crucial to make sure that you have a safety net to fall back on when you need additional academic or personal support.
At Post University, we take a personal approach to education, taking an interest in each unique student’s success. This is exactly why we offer an extensive selection of academic and student support services, ranging from advising and tutoring to career development and more — at no additional cost to students. With the right support services in place, we believe that students are better prepared to excel inside and outside the classroom.
Get in touch to learn more about our services or any of our programs offered. Ready to take the next step? Apply today to get started.
