QUICK REFERENCES TO SERVICES

You will find the following linked elsewhere throughout the Cypress College website. We find that these are the most useful and sought after student and instructional services on campus.

Note: This information is subject to change, especially with the current changes in the State Budget, so please contact the specific office you are interested in for their most current information.

• Admissions and Records
• Bursar's Office
• CalWORKs
• CARE
• Financial Aid
• Honors Program
• Job Placement
• Learning Center
• Learning Community
• Library
• Mathematics and Science Learning Center
• Matriculation
• Veterans' Benefits
• Writing Center

Admissions and Records
The office of Admissions and Records is involved in almost every aspect of a student's association with Cypress College beginning with student inquiries concerning admission and culminating with the student's graduation. The office is responsible for processing all foreign and domestic undergraduate applications for admission and re-admissions, maintaining all academic records, performing evaluation of transfer units, carrying out online computer registration processes, and handling student requests.

A brief menu of services include:

• Address changes
• Admissions applications
• Degree application
• Disqualifications
• Grade point average (GPA) insurance verification
• Name changes
• Petitions
• Program changes
• Re-admission
• Residence requirements
• Transcript requests
• Veterans' Affairs
• Withdrawal from college

Location: 1st floor of the Library/Administration Building
Phone: (714) 484-7346

Bursar's Office
The Bursar's Office (campus accounting office) services include:

• Collection of registration fees
• Bus pass sales
• Acceptance of child care payments
• Sale of parking hangers & motorcycle stickers
• Refunds of registration fees
• Redemption of registration credit vouchers
• Clearance of fine codes for returned checks & unpaid registration fees
• Club account deposits and check requests
• Disbursement of Financial Aid grant and loan checks (normally in the Admissions Annex)

In order to accommodate evening students most Bursar's Office Functions dealing with registration may be handled in the Admissions Annex during evening registration hours.

Location: 1st floor of the Library/Administration Building
Phone: (714) 484-7317

In need of cash???? Try the ATM located on the first floor of the Library Building, outside the Business Building (off of parking lot #1), or the first floor of the Humanities Building.

California's Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
The CalWORKs programs serves the TANF recipient requiring 32-hour work-related activities who are enrolled in 6 units or more. Program services may include childcare, work-study (on or off campus), and student success packets, counseling, and assistance in obtaining supplementary funds for books.

Location: Tech Ed 2 Building, 2nd floor, Room 215
Phone: (714) 484-7240

Cooperative Agencies for Resources Education (CARE)
CARE is a program designed for single parent students receiving TANF who have children under 14 years of age. Program services may include book vouchers, transportation assistance, childcare grants, and success packets.

Location: 2nd floor of the Tech Ed 2 Building, Room 215
Phone: (714) 484-7317

Financial Aid
There are essentially two kinds of financial aid--grants and loans. Grants do not have to be repaid; loans do. You are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid Office to learn about specific eligibility requirements.

• Board of Governor's Grant (BOGG): This state grant is designed to help financially needy California residents by paying the full cost of enrollment excluding Associated student and parking fees.
• Pell Grant: Pell Grant funds are awarded to all under graduate students who have an eligible financial need.  Awards vary depending on need and student enrollment.  You may receive funds even as a part-time student.
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): SEOG awards are made to students with exceptional financial need who would be unable to continue their education without the grant.  Awards may range from $200 to $2,000 per academic year.
• Extended Opportunity Program and Services Grant (EOPS): EOPS Grants are designed for residents of California from disadvantaged and/or low income backgrounds.  To qualify you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12-units per semester.
• California Students Aid Commission Programs: The State of California offers three major grants.  Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office each December but may not be filed before January 1, or after the first week of March
• Cal Grant A: This grant is for students who are transferring to four-year schools.
• Cal Grant B: This grant is awarded primarily to students from low income backgrounds who demonstrate financial need.
• Cal Grant C: This grant is for two-year vocational students only; eligibility is based upon financial need and academic promise.
• College Work Study Program (CWS): CWS provides jobs for students with financial need who must earn part of their educational expenses.  Award amounts are determined by financial eligibility and by the number of hours you can reasonably work given your academic program.
• Federal Direct Student Loan program (Direct Loan)/Stafford Student Loan Program: This is a long-term, low-interest loan program in which students borrow directly form the federal government instead of from a bank or other lending institutions. Repayment begins six months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Loan rates very according to the interest rate current at the time of application.
• Book/Emergency Loans: Cash loans are available to students who are enrolled in at least six-units and who are also recipients of a Pall Grant. These loans allow for the purchase of up to $200 in books and supplies at our Campus Bookstore. A payment schedule will be determined at the time the loan is approved.
• Scholarships: There are approximately 150 scholarships available during the academic year for students who have completed at least one semester of study. Recipients are selected based on the factors specified by the scholarship donor.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs Grant (BIA): BIA Grants are offered to students who are at least one-fourth American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut as certified by a tribal group served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  This grant is based solely upon need.

Location: 2nd floor of the Tech Ed 2 Building, Room 209
Phone: (714) 484-7114

Honors Program
The Cypress College Honors Program is designed to encourage talent and ability in highly motivated students as they begin their academic studies and prepare to transfer to a college or university. Students who complete the Honors Program and meet all major transfer requirements will have priority consideration for admission to certain transfer institutions.

Director: Kathryn Sonne
Counselor: Penny Gabourie
Location: Transfer Center, Fine Arts Building, 1st floor
Phone: (714) 484-7130 or (714) 484-7169

Job Placement
The Cypress College Job Placement Office was CLOSED in December 2003. Students are now referred to the Fullerton College Work Center, (714) 992-7734.

Learning Center
The Learning Center provides an opportunity to improve your academic skills in order to become a more successful college student.

At Cypress College students are eligible to use the Learning Center. You must present your student ID card, which is used for the computerized Electronic Attendance System.  Students enrolled in college classes may be assigned to complete audio-tutorial, computer, and/or video materials in the Learning Center. These materials help students to learn, practice, and/or apply the concepts and ideas and strategies presented in their regularly scheduled courses. Foreign language, English, ESL, reading, health and nutrition, psychology, economics, and nursing are some of the disciplines that utilize the facility.

In addition, students may go to the Learning Center to use any of the several individualized programs to improve academic skills such as study habits, vocabulary, spelling, and reading rate.

These self-paced programs are available throughout the semester for those wishing to improve their skills on a non-credit basis.

Location: 3rd floor of the Humanities Building, Room H-303
Phone: (714) 484-7193

Learning Community
The Learning Community is a great way to accomplish your general education requirements in classes where assignments for reading and research are linked in an area of interest for you. For further information please contact Kimberly Wise, Learning Community Coordinator.

Location: Humanities Building, Room 223
Phone: (714) 484-8539

• Black Studies -- This learning community is designed to expose students to African/American culture. All reading, research, and discussions are drawn from the black experience. The counselor for this program is Renee Ssensalo, Fine Arts Room 102, (714) 484-7135.

Library
Cypress College maintains an inviting, modern, comfortable and technologically up-to-date library. Two floors of books and study areas are arranged in open, spacious patterns, providing a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere for study and research. Services provided include:

• Reference
• Research guidance
• Library instruction
• Interlibrary loan
• Reserved reading materials
• Individual study carrels
• Photocopiers and group study room

Searches for books, cassettes and video tapes, as well as magazine and journal articles can be made from the online catalog accessible at terminals on both floors. The catalog can also be searched off campus from any personal computer with a modem by using an instruction sheet available from the library. Students can determine from the screen, whether a particular book is in the library or is checked out.  The holdings of the Orange coast, Golden West and Fullerton college's libraries can also be accessed through the online catalog.

The Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times are available "full text" on the NewsBank CD-ROM stations on the 3rd floor.  Students may either download relevant information to their own computer disks or pay a small fee for printing.

The student picture identification card is required to check out material. Due to heavy use, magazines and newspapers must remain in the library. Most other library material can be checked out for two weeks, although students are urged to return materials as soon as possible as a consideration to others waiting to use them.

Through special arrangements, students may check out books at California State University, Fullerton; as well as at Fullerton College, golden West college and Orange Coast College.  A free Library Guide is available. En electronic security system is in operation to protect the library collection.

Location: Entrance is in the 2nd floor of the Library/Administration Building
Phone: (714) 484-7124

Mathematics and Science Learning Center
The Mathematics and Science Learning Center is an area where students may work on mathematics, chemistry, computer science, physics, and engineering assignments.

The first thing you should do when using the Math Center is to sign in at the computer (the recorded hours provide the funding for the Center). When you leave, be sure to sign out on the computer.

When assistance is needed, help is close at hand. A mathematics instructor and qualified, experienced tutors are available for help on a first come, first served basis.

The Math Center has videotape players for tapes about algebra and arithmetic. It also has a good collection of reference books for math and physical science. Because tutors assist everyone in the room, the most help is available when the room is least crowded--during afternoons or on Fridays.

Location: 1st floor of the Science/Engineering/Math Building, Room SEM-114.
Phone: (714) 484-7151

Matriculation
Matriculation is a process which brings a first-time student and the college into a partnership for the purpose of reaching the student's goal. We, as members of the college, have a responsibility to provide you with the following services for a successful partnership.

WE

• Recruit and admit you into the college system;
• Assess you basic and educational skills plus future goals;
• Approve class selection and orient you to the college's programs, services, & policies;
• Provide counseling in individual and group settings;
• Provide career decision making courses;
• Offer services to support your education;
• Follow up on your progress toward your goal.

You are provided with basic services to aid you in completing your education.

Below are the elements required to fulfill your responsibility.

YOU

• Apply and declare an educational goal;
• Keep appointments for registration and counseling; bring transcripts;
• Attend an Educational Planning 140 class and complete the Student Education Plan (SEP);
• Work to complete assignments and courses;
• Set additional visits with a counselor to discuss your educational plans & to update your SEP;
• Make every effort to achieve your goals;
• Seek additional Support Service in:
• Career Center
• Library
• Financial Aid
• Tutoring Center
• Faculty Conferences
• Independent Study Labs in each House

By fulfilling your responsibilities, you will ensure your continued access to Student Support Services.  Matriculation is provided to improve student success. Research has shown that over 80% of students who follow the above steps continue with college.

Students Rights
All matriculated students have the right to challenge or appeal any step in the matriculation process. These rights include the following:

• Enroll in any class for which you meet necessary prerequisites.
• Challenge course placement decision.
• Request a waiver of prerequisites for a course if it is not offered, not validated, or if you are able to  demonstrate previous knowledge.
• File a complaint of discrimination if prerequisites are being applied in a prejudicial manner.

If you have questions regarding any aspect of these services, please contact the Matriculation Coordinator at (714) 484-7161.

Veterans' Benefits
If you are a United States military veteran, or the spouse or child of a disabled or deceased veteran, you may apply for Veterans' Benefits through the Veterans' Office located in the Admissions and Records. Benefits are activated after proof of enrollment and an approved educational plan are submitted to the Veterans' Administration by the student.

Location: 1st floor of the Library/Administration Building
Phone: (714) 484-7346

Writing Center
The Writing Center offers all students the opportunity to work on their writing assignments. Thirty state-of-the-art computers can be used for word processing or writing tutorials. Networking and access to the Internet are also available. Students may print their papers on high speed laser jet printers. Students must bring their student ID card for the computerized Electronic Attendance System.

At the same location, the English Department offers a free tutorial service for students enrolled in ESL 186 and English 58, 60, 95, 100, 102 and 142. Experienced English graduate students from neighboring universities are available to help students with writing assignments, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm beginning the third week of the semester. Students may sign up for an appointment at the Center where they will find more information about how to best use the tutorial program.

Location: 3rd floor of the Humanities Building, Room H-324
Phone: Writing Center, (714) 484-7136
Language Tutoring, (714) 484-7258