New Students: Getting Help Along the Way

We want you to take an active role in deciding on a learning plan and developing a learning program that meets your needs and goals, but you're not expected to go it alone. There are lots of supports in place and people available to help you make the most of your experience at CPCS.

Advising is an important part of the learning process at CPCS. It will be important for you to have an advisor who can help you develop your learning plan, monitor your academic progress, provide counsel when you need it and support you in making your time at CPCS as good as it can be.

For your first semester, your Critical Learning Seminar instructor will also serve as your advisor. At the end of your first semester, after you've had a chance to get know other faculty and make some decisions about the directions you want to move in, you will select an advisor or have one assigned to you.

Peer Advisor/Tutors are CPCS students who are farther along in their study at the College. PATS are here to help you learn the ropes of the College, give you an insider's perspective on the place and provide tutoring support in writing and reading. Each Critical Learning Seminar will have a Peer Advisor/Tutor (PAT) assigned to it. In addition, other PATs are available to work with any students who want assistance with writing or other skill issues.

The Competency Connection Office (W-3-154-29) exists to help students with alternative modes of competency completion, in particular Independent Learning, Prior Learning, and independently developed Field-Based Learning. It can steer you towards internships in the community. It helps you find other students to work with. It can recommend evaluators. It also can offer moral support.

If you need any kind of help or guidance on where to get your questions answered, the Office of Student Services, W-4-151 is a good place to start. Staff in the office can help steer you in the right direction or answer your questions. They can also work with other offices (Financial Aid, Bursar, Registrar) to sort out any issues you may encounter.
Linda Hardenbergh can be reached at 617 287 7131 or linda.hardenbergh@umb.edu or Valerie Miller at 617 287 7374 or valerie.miller@umb.edu

If no one is available to help you on the spot, there is a Request for Assistance form that you can fill out. They will try to track down the answer or fix the problem and get back to you ASAP.

During the semester, the Office of Student Services is open 8:30-7:30 Monday through Thursday, 8:30-5:00 on Fridays 8:30 am to 1:00 pmThe phone number is: 617-287-7120.