Navigating LaGuardia Community College: A Guide to Registrar Services and Student Support

LaGuardia Community College offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support students throughout their academic journey. From registration and academic advising to wellness and career guidance, LaGuardia provides resources to help students succeed. This article provides a detailed overview of these services, including registrar functions, academic support, wellness resources, and other essential programs.

Registrar Services and Registration

The Registrar's office is a central hub for many essential student services, including registration. Students can find assistance with admissions, financial aid, international student services, testing, and general information. On Fridays, a single Zoom link connects students with these crucial services, providing a convenient way to access support and referrals.

Class Placement and Developmental Support

Part of the registration process involves class placement, which determines the level of English Composition and Math courses a student will take in their first semester. Placement is based on factors such as high school GPA and standardized test scores (e.g., Regents or SAT). Students who may benefit from additional support are placed in college-level classes with extra assistance. These classes meet for additional time each week and provide opportunities to build foundational skills while earning college credit. It's important to note that students cannot opt out of these supported sections.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment

A full-time student for Financial Aid purposes means taking a minimum of 12 hours of coursework each semester, typically four classes. However, many students opt to take 15-18 hours per semester to graduate in two years. Programs like ASAP and the GI Bill may require students to take more than 12 credit hours. It's crucial to discuss college goals and other commitments (e.g., work or family) with academic and peer advisors or faculty mentors to determine the best course load. Part-time students take fewer classes/credit hours, requiring regular meetings with an advisor to discuss progress and ensure degree requirements are met.

LaGuardia’s 12/6 Calendar

LaGuardia utilizes a 12/6 calendar to help busy students enroll full-time. The 18-week semester is split into two sessions: a 12-week Session I (September-December or March-June) and a 6-week Session II (January-February or June-August). This allows students to split a full-time course load between the two sessions, providing flexibility and convenience.

Degree Credits and Core Classes

With few exceptions, students need to complete 60 "degree credits" to earn an associate degree. Most college classes are 3 credits and meet for 3-4 hours each week. However, some classes may meet for up to 7 hours a week, especially in the first semester, counting toward full-time status for Financial Aid. Academic advisors can help students ensure they are enrolled full-time and on track to meet their degree requirements.

Regardless of major, every student at LaGuardia completes four Pathways Required Core classes: two English classes, one Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning class, and one Life & Physical Sciences class. These courses form the foundation of a student's academic work at LaGuardia. It is recommended to begin taking these classes in the first semester, starting with English and Math. Many courses at LaGuardia require these core classes as prerequisites before students can register for major-specific courses.

The first English class is Composition I (ENG/ENA101), which provides foundational skills in reading, writing, and research. This class prepares students for the writing expected in other courses and equips them with the tools to write college-level essays. The Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning requirement can be met through various math courses, with some majors requiring a specific type of math. Students should consult with their academic advisor to make an informed decision based on their transfer and career goals.

Every LaGuardia degree also includes a major-specific First-Year Seminar (FYS), a class that meets an Urban Studies requirement, and a major-specific Capstone class. The FYS, taken in the first semester, introduces students to their major and LaGuardia’s advising and mentoring resources, connecting them with co-curricular opportunities and a Student Success Mentor.

Degree Maps

Every curriculum has a Degree Map that lists the classes required to earn an associate degree and suggests a sequence for taking those classes. These maps are guides, and students should meet regularly with their academic advisor and faculty mentor to stay on track.

Read also: Explore LaGuardia

After the First Semester

The second required English class depends on the student's major. Most students take Writing through Literature (ENG102), while some majors require Technical Writing (ENG259). Students should consult their academic advisor or faculty mentor with any questions about meeting this requirement. Students may also have a choice regarding which Life & Physical Sciences class to take, typically in the second semester, and should make this decision in consultation with their advisor or faculty mentor. Students who were unable to enroll in the FYS for their major in their first semester should prioritize taking it in Session II or the next semester. Additionally, as CUNY students, they will take several courses in the CUNY Pathways Flexible Core, encompassing a range of academic disciplines.

Academic Advising and Mentoring

LaGuardia Community College places a strong emphasis on academic advising and mentoring to guide students toward success. Depending on the type of advice needed, students have several options:

Academic Advisors: Provide academic advice regarding specific courses for a student's major.
Faculty Mentors: Offer career guidance and information about potential career paths related to a student's major.
Career Counselors: Also provide career guidance and information about what a student might want to do with their major.
Transfer Peer Mentors: LaGuardia alumni enrolled at a CUNY 4-year college who provide support for students transferring to those institutions.

Wellness and Support Services

LaGuardia is committed to supporting students' overall well-being through various wellness and support services.

The Wellness Center

The Wellness Center, part of LaGuardia Community College’s Health and Wellness Services, offers mental health and crisis services to students. It provides personal guidance and counseling services to help students achieve educational and career goals, learn complex problem-solving skills, and enhance their capacity to develop satisfying interpersonal relationships. Services include short-term individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, and workshops on topics such as depression, stress management, and anxiety. For appointments, students can visit C249 or call (718) 482-5471. For counseling-related emergencies, contact ext: 4444.

Academic and Student Social Integration for Success Team (ASSIST)

The ASSIST program is staffed with peer mentors/coaches and graduate interns, supervised by a trained and licensed counselor. Peer mentors/coaches assist students who experience severe social anxiety, feel isolated, or have been diagnosed with Autism and/or Asperger’s. They offer an open mind, a listening ear, goal development, and plans to help students reach their goals. They also help students develop coping skills for anxiety-producing situations by planning events to meet other students facing similar difficulties.

Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC)

The Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. ECLC programs provide child care for children ages 12 months to 12 years, preparing them for the next level of development. The ECLC is a licensed child care facility located on campus, offering Infant Toddler Care, Preschool, Extended Day, School Age, Saturday, Summer Camp, Holiday Camp, and Department of Education free Pre-K for All programs for children of LaGuardia students. The ECLC is also a training site for intern teachers to develop hands-on knowledge of working in a childcare setting.

Health Center

The Health Center works to minimize students' health problems and risks, helping them attain their academic goals. The Center’s staff aims to improve lives through preventive education by collaborating with on-campus and off-campus resources. The Center coordinates the college’s immunization program, disseminates information about meningitis, facilitates medical leaves of absence, monitors over-the-counter medication, and provides blood pressure and glucose monitoring. The staff also coordinates on-campus health fairs and manages a comprehensive HIV\STI prevention education program titled “Health Education Learning Project and Services” (HELPS). Students without medical insurance can visit Room MB40 for assistance in obtaining low-cost or no-cost health insurance. The Registered Nurse, Paramedic, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) provide medical treatment during emergencies within the college.

Library Media Resources Center

The Library Media Resources Center (LMRC) provides access to dynamic, up-to-date information and data. The Library’s subscription database offerings include encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, peer-reviewed journals, primary source materials, videos, and books. A team of faculty librarians and support staff members connect users to the Library’s vast resources for research and educational development.

The Library offers a book collection of almost 100,000 volumes and access to over a half-million ebooks, including textbooks, assigned course readings, career information, and study aids. It also subscribes to over 500 current print periodicals and has access to over 100,000 periodical titles electronically. The physical media collection includes over 6,000 titles, with access to over 200,000 video titles via streaming technology. Viewing and listening stations are available in the Media Lab, and special workstations are available for students with disabilities.

The Library’s College Archives houses important documents related to the governance of the College and its history. The Library also loans laptops, iPads, and calculators to students. The second floor of the Library features eleven group study rooms which students can reserve online, equipped with large monitors.

The LaGuardia community has access to the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service, allowing patrons to borrow items not held in the LaGuardia collection from institutions outside of CUNY. Library faculty provide one-on-one instruction at the Reference Desk and teach information-gathering skills through the Library’s instruction program. Library instruction is embedded in ENG101 and the First Year Seminars. The Library also offers credit classes: Internet Research Strategies (LRC 103), InfoCity: Informed Citizens in the Information Age (LBN 105), and Information Strategies: Managing the Revolution (LRC 102).

A validated, bar-coded LaGuardia ID serves as a library card for LaGuardia’s Library and other CUNY libraries. The Library is open each day of the week except designated holidays.

Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)

Under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, LaGuardia Community College ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to its programs and services. The OSD provides advocacy to ensure access to all college programs and facilities and facilitates the transition to college life for students with disabilities. All students are required to register with supporting documentation.

Appropriate accommodations and services are determined and may include academic, career, and personal counseling, academic advisement and registration, and other support services such as readers, note-takers, tutors, and proctoring of exams. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations should call (718) 482-5279.

International Student Services Office

The International Student Services Office is required by federal law to keep extensive records of students in F-1 status and to adhere to federally mandated regulations in assisting and advising students. All students in F-1 status at LaGuardia Community College are required to report to the International Student Services Office to maintain such records. For more information, call (718) 482-5145 or visit room B 117.

Transfer Services

Transfer Services engages, educates, and empowers students to make informed decisions about the transfer process and the opportunities available when transferring to 4-Year colleges, including the City University of New York (CUNY), the State University of New York (SUNY), and any other public, private, and/or Ivy League institution. Transfer Services’ staff provide resources, tools, and support to guide the successful transfer, transition, persistence, and graduation of transfer students. The Transfer Services team empowers students by facilitating the college research processes, connecting students with 4-Year college representatives, providing students with access to on-site credit evaluations, helping students to understand the 4 Year college application and admission requirements, and assisting with Admission appeals as well as the availability of potential scholarships. Transfer Services engages students and the college community by hosting and collaborating with partners on traditional semester events and co-curricular activities.

Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Director provides information regarding all of the benefits available to students and assists with any other problems encountered while attending the College.

Program for Deaf Adults (PDA)

Under the Program for Deaf Adults, students who are deaf or hard of hearing are provided with support services, including academic advisement, registration assistance, interpreters, testing accommodations, tutoring, and note-taking. Contact the Program for Deaf Adults at C203, or call (718) 482-5325 (TTY) or (718) 482-5324 (voice).

Student Advocate/Ombuds Officer

LaGuardia Community College’s Student Advocate/Ombuds Officer offers a confidential, neutral resource for students to receive assistance, voice concerns, and file complaints. The Student Advocate/Ombuds Officer serves as a mediator who strives to address issues and facilitates communication and resolution in a fair and equitable manner. The College Ombuds Officer provides information about LaGuardia Community College’s policies, procedures, services, rights, and responsibilities. The Ombudsperson receives and suggests modifications to the institution based on students’ concerns and shares trend data about student complaints monthly with the Student Affairs Leadership Team.

Tuition Discounts

ACE offers discounts to the following groups: a 30% tuition discount is offered to LaGuardia Alumni Association members, LaGuardia undergraduates, senior citizens (65+ years), LaGuardia faculty/staff, and the families of LaGuardia faculty/staff; a 30% tuition discount is offered to the children of LaGuardia undergraduates and to the children of LaGuardia faculty/staff; and a 50% tuition discount is offered to public assistance recipients. Only one discount can be applied per course. To receive a tuition discount, students must register in person no more than three working days prior to the start of the selected course and show appropriate ID.

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