Navigating Resources at Olympic College: A Comprehensive Guide
Olympic College is dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of resources designed to enhance learning and support student success. From its state-of-the-art library to a multitude of support services, the college strives to create an inclusive and enriching environment for all students.
The Haselwood Library: A Hub of Knowledge and Innovation
The Olympic College Haselwood Library stands as a testament to the college's commitment to academic excellence and student support. The current main branch of the library on the Bremerton Campus was built after a major district-wide fundraising effort following a roof collapse in 1996, caused by an unusually heavy ice storm. The Olympic College Haselwood Library opened on March 10, 2000 at a cost of $7.9 million. As the first new building in the college's revised Master Plan, the new structure offers more than $1.5 million in new books, periodicals, media, and equipment that replace contents which were lost when the roof of the previous building collapsed in a major snowstorm. The three-story building has views of Mt. Rainier, Port Washington Narrows, and the Olympic Mountains. The library is named in honor of Bremerton residents and benefactors, Joanne and Chuck Haselwood. "Four of our children went to Olympic College, and we have lots of grandkids who may go there," Joanne said.
Accessing Resources and Services
The Haselwood Library offers students and the community the opportunity to study, conduct research, and learn outside the classroom. An integral part of the college experience, the library offers a wide variety of resources, including an open computer lab, laptops, group study rooms, and quiet places for study and reflection. Resources include more than 86,000 books and e-books, 1,700 videos, and 1,000 sound recordings. In addition, thousands of periodicals and reference works are available electronically, on and off campus, through a variety of subscription databases. Library faculty at OC assist students in all phases of the research process: developing search strategies, searching for information, evaluating information, and in using information ethically, legally and responsibly. They also provide learning opportunities through a variety of approaches, including course-related and course-integrated instruction, hands-on active learning, credit courses, tutorials, pathfinders, and point-of-use assistance. Library faculty are available in person for consultation during all hours of operation. A library technician is available to assist students with their research needs during select weekday hours.
The Poulsbo Library shares space with the open computer lab and offers a collection of books as well as access to all the resources and services housed in Bremerton. A library technician is available to assist students with their research needs during select weekday hours.
A History of Resilience
The Haselwood Library's story is one of resilience and community support. The original library faced a major setback in 1996 when a roof collapse, caused by an unusually heavy ice storm, led to significant damage. However, through a major district-wide fundraising effort, the college was able to rebuild and create an even better learning environment for its students.
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The construction of the new library involved several stages, including the use of mobile buildings to house resources and equipment during the construction phase. These mobile buildings served as temporary spaces for media equipment, repair shops, and offices, ensuring that students and faculty could continue their work while the new library was being built.
Support Services for Student Success
Olympic College offers a wide array of support services designed to help students thrive academically, personally, and professionally.
Access Services
Access Services partners with the OC community to foster a college culture that recognizes disability as a valued aspect of diversity and is dedicated to the inclusion and full participation of students with disabilities in all college programs, services and activities. The office determines appropriate academic adjustments and assists students with self-advocacy and referral to campus and community resources.
Admissions and Advising
Welcome Center staff are the first point of contact for prospective or new students. Applicants will receive personalized admission packets, academic and professional/technical program information, and directions on how to find online information such as the college catalog. Information on new student advising appointments, pre-entrance assessment, and new student orientation will be included. Admissions staff coordinate and provide outreach support to community groups and events, visit high schools and community fairs, and provide personal or group tours of college campuses. Campus tours are available upon request.
Advising is an important part of a successful learning experience. This on-going and purposeful process addresses the overall quality of a student’s experience and encompasses areas that impact student success.
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Alumni Association
Founded in 2013, the Olympic College Alumni Association’s mission is to develop a sense of community among OC alumni and promote their lifelong personal, educational and professional growth. Joining the Alumni Association is the perfect way to stay in the know about the college, your fellow alumni and our campus community It’s quick, easy and free to join. Just go to OCAlumni.org and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up. Did you know that 89 percent of OC alumni stay in Kitsap and Mason counties? That means you’re part of a powerful community right here in your own backyard. Stay connected.
Assessment and Testing
Most tests and assessments require appointments and/or fees to administer. Not all services are available at OC Poulsbo and OC Shelton campuses.
Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology course offerings include voice recognition, voice output, screen magnification, and one-handed keyboarding.
Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET)
The primary function of the OC BFET program is to ensure eligible students continue receiving vital services such as Basic Food Assistance and/or Child Care Subsidy while completing a Professional-Technical program of study with the goal of future employment.
ABE and GED Programs
ABE and GED courses are non-credit and are intended for those who want to develop the reading, writing, and math skills needed to pass the GED test or Accuplacer scores that indicate a need to review before beginning college-work or training. An orientation session that includes a placement assessment is required before registration. Transition Specialists assist students in creating a customized educational plan. To receive a diploma, you must demonstrate competencies in reading, writing, math, science and other applicable subject areas.
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English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
English to Speakers of Other Languages is intended to help non-native English speakers learn how to read, write, speak and understand English for personal, academic, or employment reasons. Beginning through advanced ESOL classes are offered (classes are non-credit). An orientation session that includes a placement assessment is required before registration.
Integrated Basic Education Skills Training (I-BEST)
An I-BEST class or program uses a team-teaching approach, providing students with twice the support at no extra cost. With I-BEST, you will work with two teachers in the classroom. One teacher will provide job training or teach an academic transfer class like welding or sociology. The other will teach basic skills in reading, writing, math, English language or employability (it’s like having a tutor available right there, while you are in class). I-BEST challenges the traditional notion that students must move through a set of pre-college courses before they can start working on certificates or degrees.
Bookstore
The OC Bookstore offers course materials including books, supplies, uniforms, college sportswear, calculators, flash drives and laptop computers. The bookstore provides a convenience store with a variety of healthy and decadent snacks to satisfy your hunger or thirst. Textbooks for all OC courses may be purchased at the main store located in the. Textbooks for OC Poulsbo and OC Shelton courses may also be purchased in the store at that location or through the online store at olympic.bncollege.com. The web store also offers clothing, technology, and basic required supplies. Concerned about textbook prices?
Campus Security
The Olympic College Campus Security office is located in the Bldg. 4 (HSS), in Room 101 at the OC Bremerton Campus. Students can call Campus Security by dialing 360-475-7800 for all campuses or by using one of the emergency call boxes at any time. Campus Security personnel will not provide personal information about students to unverified individuals due to privacy concerns. Therefore, emergency messages to students on campus may be referred to local law enforcement. New students and staff are automatically enrolled in the campus emergency alert system which is used during campus emergencies or change of campus operations. Parking spaces are designated with painted white, parallel stripes for side/side parking, or painted white hash marks for end/end parking. Parking in a space without such markings will subject you to a possible parking violation. All finalized fines shall be paid at the Cashier’s office. Please review the OC Parking Policy. There are nine student parking lots at OC Bremerton, known as General parking lots. year round and on weekends. This area is located in the loop off of 16th Street near the flag pavilion. This area is provided to safely drop off or pick up passengers and is limited to 10 minute time period. Student parking lots are available at OC Poulsbo and OC Shelton campuses. Temporary License plates for newly purchased vehicles will get temporary parking credentials until the permanent plates arrive. OC Bremerton visitors permits can be obtained at the Campus Security Office in the. Visitors can obtain a visitor pass in the Student Services office at OC Poulsbo and at the main office at OC Shelton. Disability and carpool spaces are appropriately labeled and available in most lots. Disability license plates, placards or passes must be displayed and fully visible to park in disability parking spaces. The OC annual security report (ASR) is published in accordance with the Clery Act by Oct. 1 each year and distributed to the community. The ASR includes campus crime statistics, resources, and information about safety on campus. The ASR is available online (olympic.edu/services/campus-safety/annual-security-report) or by request. This may be used to report any behaviors of concern involving OC students or employees (behaviors may occur in or out of the classroom) or other hazards present on campus. Please note, anonymously submitted forms may limit the ability to respond fully.
Career Services
Career Services provides a wide range of career and employment planning services that assist students in developing self-directed job search skills. The Career Center also offers both on and off-campus student employment, work-study, internship and community volunteer/service learning listings through an online job board - RangerJobs. Applied learning strategies use a community or on-campus site to provide students with supervised learning experiences that relate to their educational and career objectives. Students enrolled for a least five credits in an OC program are eligible for on-campus Regular Student Employment. Federal or state Work-Study employment is a work program coordinated through the Career Center. Students must be enrolled for at least six credits to participate.
CTE Dual Credit
CTE Dual Credit offers high school students the opportunity to start professional/technical training programs while still in high school. Via articulation agreements between OC and the high schools, high school students in selected programs can earn both high school and OC credits at the same time, provided they earn a “B” or better in the high school course. Education partners include OC, Kitsap and Mason county school districts and the West Sound Technical Skills Center.
Teacher CTE Certification Program
Olympic College is one of seven Washington state providers approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for the Plan II Business/ Industry Route for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certification. Our program is based on the requirements in the Washington Administrative Code WAC 181-77-041.
Online Courses
OC has nearly 400 online courses from which to choose. Programs include Project Management, Certified Bookkeeper, HIV/AIDS, Spanish for Your Job, as well as classes in computer applications, business administration/management, design and new media certification programs, entrepreneur/business, healthcare, legal, personal enrichment, test prep, and writing.
Counseling Services
Counseling Services is staffed by professional counselors who are licensed by the State of Washington. Counselors are dedicated to promoting the emotional well-being of students by recognizing individuality, diversity and the person’s inherent ability to manage everyday challenges and achieve life goals. Counselors provide a variety of services including personal counseling, career counseling, crisis and academic intervention, as well as academic advising, workshops and staff consultation.
Dining Options
The OlympiCafe serves cafeteria-style breakfast and lunch throughout the academic quarter from an excellent selection of reasonably priced menu items. The OlympiCafe features freshly prepared salads made to order, a panini sandwich of the day, a carved entree, grill, soft drinks, desserts, snacks and espresso as well as a choice of selected entrees for lunch each day. The Fireside Bistro is located in the Bremer Student Center. The restaurant is staffed by OC Culinary Art students.
Olympic College Foundation
Here are a few examples: Josh went from being homeless to being on the path to a great-paying and fulfilling career as a welder with the help of scholarships and emergency funding from the Foundation. Shanika, who needed a better job to help support her two children and disabled partner, said she wouldn’t have been able to finish her nursing degree without help from the Foundation. And Joe used Foundation scholarships to help him transition from addict to drug abuse counselor. Fund specialized equipment, such as high-tech medical mannequins for the nursing program: Thanks to donor and grant support, the Foundation has been able to provide a realistic hospital simulation suite and lifelike mannequins that bleed, gasp for breath and cry out in pain. Thanks to our donors, we help students make their educational dreams come true.
Information Technology (OC-IT)
Olympic College’s Information Technology department (OC-IT) is the central IT organization for the college, delivering essential technology services and support for all campuses.
Military & Veterans Programs (MVP) Support Center
Transfer credit may be awarded for previous Armed Forces credit, and university or college education. CLEP and DANTES SST credit may be applied to certificates and degrees. Active duty students and family members may be eligible to use military tuition assistance along with several other tuition-reduction programs. Open weekdays, the MVP Support Center offers fellowship and activities, a calm environment to study or take a break, a computer lab, TV, and lounge. The Student Veterans of America chapter is located at the MVP Support Center. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11G. I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.
Opportunity Grant
The Opportunity Grant is a state funded grant offering financial assistance. Eligible students pursuing approved technical degrees may receive funds to cover tuition and mandatory fees up to 45 credits and up to $1,000 per academic year for books and supplies. The goal is to help low-income adults reach their educational goals.
Passport to Careers Program
Passport to Careers Program provides support to former foster care and homeless youth while in higher education. The program provides financial assistance beyond other state, federal, private, and institutional financial aid for which they are eligible.
Registrar
The Registrar and office staff are responsible for coordinating registration policies including: grading, honors designations, general academic progress, grade forgiveness, and recording credit awarded by vertical challenge, credit by examination, Tech Prep, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, CLEP and DANTES SST credit, and Armed Forces. Certification of high school completion, certificates, and degrees are the purview of this office.
Resource Center
The Resource Center helps students overcome barriers to your success by providing access to information referrals, resources, and more.
Additional Resources for Academic Success
Olympic College provides several courses and programs specifically designed to enhance students' academic skills and prepare them for success in their studies.
College Success Courses
College Success courses equip students with the knowledge and skills to successfully transition to college. In addition to learning about the wealth of available resources, you will learn essential skills such as setting goals and good study habits.
Library Research Courses
Library Research courses are also available to teach you how to effectively conduct online research while avoiding misinformation.
Online Learning Class
You can also enroll in an online learning class to help you get up to speed using our online learning system, Canvas.
Biology and Chemistry Book Loan Program
Biology and Chemistry books are available to enrolled science students at any Olympic College campus on a need basis. These books are freely borrowed each quarter and the success of this program relies on the return of these books. Students must fill out a request and be able to pick it up the first week of classes on the Bremerton campus. Applications may be turned into the Mathematics, Engineering, Sciences & Health Division.
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