New guidance and planning program at LTCC helps keep students on track

Guidance and Planning for Success, or as it's known on campus, GPS, is a new state mandated program that requires all students at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) to complete a new student orientation, take Math and English assessment tests so they are placed in courses that match their needs, and to work one-on-one with an LTCC counselor on a personalized Educational Plan prior to enrollment.

GPS is required for both new and returning students.

“All the research paints a very clear picture,” says Sue Saia-Gochis, LTCC’s Dean of Student and Academic Support. “Students who participate in orientation and have a personalized introduction to their college do far better and have higher success rates in college than those who don’t.”

LTCC has 14 scheduled new student orientations that started on August 21 and go until September 19, three days before classes begin. These sessions will include guided tours of the campus provided by current students and will instruct on what resources are available on campus, how to apply for financial aid, how to get involved in campus activities and student clubs, and how to navigate around campus and register for classes using the online PASSPORT registration system.

The Math and English test assessment portion of LTCC’s GPS program helps to gauge what skill level students are currently at, and what courses they ought to be placed in to successfully improve those skills. Assessments are free, and they take approximately three hours to complete. Students will need a photo ID and a pen or pencil in order to take the assessments. These tests can be taken from now through September 18, Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the D-Wing computer lab. From September 22 through December 11, students can take the tests Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., or Fridays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., also in the D-Wing computer lab. The lab can be accessed by entering LTCC’s Main Building on campus.

The one-on-one counseling provided through the GPS program results in students having a clear Educational Plan in place before they even step foot in a classroom. “Everything you see and read about student retention mentions connectivity as a big part of keeping college students in school through graduation,” says Saia-Gochis. “When students are engaged in their own educational process, they’re much more likely to stick with it.”
LTCC students can meet with a counselor now through September 10 Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. From September 14 through December 11, appointments with a counselor can be made Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Extended Friday hours are available on September 19 and September 26, when the hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. LTCC’s counseling staff is housed in Student Services, inside the Main Building on campus.

For more information about the GPS program, to reserve your orientation spot or to discuss how college can help you meet your academic and personal goals, contact LTCC’s Student Services Department at (530) 541-4660 ext. 231, or send them an email at studentservices@ltcc.edu.