Mission for Counseling Services Educational Programs

Counseling Services Educational Programs are designed to enhance the SJSU student experience by providing information and resources on how to reach the student's desired educational goals. These programs include one on one educational counseling, workshops, and/or support group meetings.

Our philosophy encompasses the belief that graduation may be an outcome, but learning never stops.

Learning Outcomes/Goals

Educational Counseling will help students:

• Successfully navigate college to reach their desired educational goals.
• Achieve and maintain clear academic status.
• Return to clear academic standing and complete their educational goals if they have been disqualified or placed on academic probation.
• Understand the university policies and procedures regarding academic regulations.
• Become a lifelong learner.

How Educational Counseling Works

In order to achieve the above outcomes, educational counselors are available to assist enrolled students, individually, as a group, or in workshops with a variety of academic concerns, including but not limited to:

• Adjusting to the university environment and academic expectations.
• Improving study skills.
• Choosing an appropriate major for long-term goals.
• Enhancing individual learning style.
• Overcoming academic difficulties and improving academic performance.
• Utilizing better time management skills to accomplish priorities.

What Can You Expect From Educational Counseling?

Appointments. You can make an appointment by calling 408-924-5910. Appointments are available from 8:30am-4:30pm daily. The first appointment you make will be 30 minutes. It helps if you arrive a little before your appointment to complete some paperwork.

First Visit. During your first 30 minutes, you and an Educational Counselor will discuss your concerns and prepare a plan for achieving your goals. Many students find that they only need one 30 minute appointment to meet their needs; others may decide with the counselor to return for future appointments.

What Factors Can Help Make Educational Counseling Beneficial?

It is helpful if you think about your goals prior to your meeting with the counselor. You may not know what you need, but you probably have an idea of what you want to happen as a result of your time spent. This may be to learn new skills or to get information about how to drop a class. Whatever your goal is, you will find your experience more productive if you are open with your counselor regarding your desires.

The session between you and the Educational Counselor is a collaborative one. Together, you and your Educational Counselor will establish your personal goals and lay out a course of action to improve your educational success.

As in all counseling, you will have to work toward improvement. Change does not happen overnight and requires effort. However, if you are willing to practice the new skills learned during an Educational Counseling session, you can improve the quality of your experience at San José State University - in and out of the classroom.

What to Bring

It is a highly recommended that you bring copies of your academic records/transcripts, especially if you are a transfer student or a returning student after a leave from SJSU. If you are a first semester frosh, then you will not yet have any records. However, all students should know their user ID and password for their MySJSU website.