Student Services & Resources

Admissions and Records oversees several functions related to admission, enrollment, and graduation. Major areas that we assist students with include completing the application, adds/drops, residency, transcripts, enrollment verifications, graduation petitions, student communications, SMC GO, and Pearl (a chatbot), etc.

Articulation

SMC recognizes that articulation is the cornerstone of the transfer process. Students who plan to transfer need to know which courses completed at Santa Monica College will be accepted at the college/university of attendance.

It is highly recommended that a student meets with an SMC counselor regularly as transfer information and requirements do change. The location and office hours for the Transfer Center can be found at https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/transfer-center/. Additional transfer options and opportunities can be found at https://www.smc.edu/studentsupport/academic-support/transfer-center/resources/.

Auditing of Classes

Student auditing is not permitted at Santa Monica College. "Informal auditing" is not permitted. All students attending class must be enrolled for credit through the Admissions and Records Office. Students attending not-for-credit classes must be enrolled through the SMC Community Education Office.

Career Services Center

Student Services Center, Welcome Center, 1st Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/career-services/
(310) 434-4337
SMC's Career Services Center is a one-stop shop for student career needs. The center offers individual career counseling, a Counseling 12 Class called Exploring College Majors and Career, a Counseling 15 Class called Job Search Techniques, as well as assistance in preparing for the world of work. This includes resume writing, cover letters, interviewing techniques, and how to gain experience to become employed.

Cashier's Office (formerly the Bursar's Office)

Student Services Center, 1st Floor
https://www.smc.edu/administration/business-services/education-enterprise/cashiers-office.php
(310) 434-4664
E-mails: cashier@smc.edu; parking@smc.edu

Accepts payment of student fees, parking permits, ID cards, Big Blue Bus stickers, and student transcript payments. Additionally, this office distributes ID cards and Big Blue Bus stickers.

General Counseling & Transfer Services

https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/transfer-center/contact-hours.php

Student Services Center, 2nd Floor
(310) 434-4210

General Counseling & Transfer Services provides academic counseling to all students, focusing services on work life/school balance, overcoming barriers to success, and other related issues; assistance with course selection and academic planning; advisement on occupational certificates, Associate of Arts degree, and transfer requirements; discussion of important dates and deadlines; and counseling for probationary or disqualified students.

Transfer services include visits from campus representatives from over 60 four-year institutions, campus tours of California colleges and universities, and workshops on the transfer application process and financial aid. For more information about transfer services, please visit the General Counseling/Transfer Services website.

Office of Student Judicial Affairs

Student Services Center, 3rd Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/student-judicial-affairs/
(310) 434-4655
E-mail: student_judicial_affairs@smc.edu

The Disciplinarian, Staff, and Ombudsperson operate under the auspices of the Vice President of Student Affairs. The Office of Student Judicial Affairs, formerly the Disciplinarian’s Office, is a place to go to have problems solved, reach agreements, and to gather information. The office takes a positive, comprehensive, and proactive approach and provides a place for students and faculty to receive information regarding student conduct, academic honesty, behavior/anger management, before these concerns become discipline problems. It is crucial that faculty know they are being supported in dealing with extremely challenging and often disruptive students. Student referrals are received from faculty, staff, and College Police. Only Santa Monica College faculty and staff members may submit the online referral forms.

Ombudsperson

https://www.smc.edu/administration/ombudsperson/
(310) 434-3986

The Ombudsperson acts as a listening ear, conciliator, mediator, and resource for students with problems involving other students, faculty, and administrators. Responsibilities also include investigating grade disputes and other various complex issues.

Success and Engagement Center

Student Services Center, 1st Floor
https://www.smc.edu/successcenter
(310) 434-8040

Placement testing is available on a walk-in, first-come/first-served basis during our normal testing hours. The placement process is essential to evaluate students’ skills in English, ESL, and mathematics, to ensure students are placed into the courses that best meet their needs. This process is used only to generate English, ESL, and math placement recommendations, and not to advance students to higher-level courses once they enter a course sequence.

Welcome Center / SMC College Promise Program

Student Services Center, 1st Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/welcome-center/
(310) 434-8101
E-mail: WelcomeCenter@smc.edu

The Welcome Center is available to assist new and first-year students with the onboarding process. SMC’s College Promise Program offers free enrollment and textbooks to new full-time students (12 units or more per semester) who just graduated from high school anywhere in California. Students who qualify are eligible for free enrollment in classes (a value of up to $2,300 based on current fees), a free Student ID card, free Associated Students membership, and up to $1,200 in textbook vouchers.

Day-to-Day Assistance

Center for Students with Disabilities

Student Services Center, 1st Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/center-for-students-with-disabilities/
Voice: (310) 434-4265 / Video Phone: (424) 238-4272
Fax: (310) 434-4272
E-mail: dsps@smc.edu

The Center for Students with Disabilities provides support services to students with a disability, who need accommodations to mitigate their disability related educational limitations in their classes. Examples of services include, but are not limited to, academic counseling, assistive technology, alternate media, sign language interpreting, learning disability and acquired brain injury assessment, note taking, test proctoring, and support classes.

Counseling

https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/
To find the special program or specific service, click on “How to Connect with a Counselor”
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/contact.php

The Counseling Department at Santa Monica College has approximately 35 full-time and 120 part-time academic counselors, who work in 26 different specialized counseling programs and services. There are also four full-time and six part-time DSPS specialists and two full-time and seven part-time psychologists/social workers. Counselors counsel students individually and in small groups, lead student success workshops, and teach Counseling classes. (See the Transfer Center/Counseling in this section of the handbook for further information.)

Financial Aid & Scholarship Office

https://www.smc.edu/admission-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/
Student Services Center, 1st Floor
(310)434-4344

Financial aid is money for college. It is provided by the United States taxpayers to ensure that everyone who wants a college education has the financial ability to pay for their college expenses.

The Financial Aid office provides information and applications for federal and state grants, work study, loans, and fee waivers. Scholarships are also offered for a wide variety of achievements and activities through the SMC scholarship office.

Health Services Center

Cayton Center Complex by the Cafeteria
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/health-wellbeing/health-services/
(310) 434-4262

The Student Health Services Center provides primary health care services to currently enrolled Santa Monica College students. Services include: acute illness and injury evaluation, nonemergency care for mild infections and injuries, health care counseling, physician hours, mental health counseling, preventive health information and screening programs, immunizations, and TB screening. The Health Center is staffed by registered nurses, a dietician, and health 81 | Page assistants.

Library

https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/library/
(310) 434-4334, or e-mail: libref@smc.edu

The recently remodeled and expanded SMC library has one of the largest collections of materials in the California Community College system with more than 95,000 volumes and access to over 2,400 periodicals.

Individualized Services

Athletics Counseling

Corsair Gym, 2nd Floor, Rm 215
https://www.smc.edu/academics/academic-departments/kinesiology-athletics/athleticscounseling.php
(310) 434-8017

This counseling program assists SMC athletes with academic planning, class scheduling, unit enrollment requirements, athletic eligibility, and other athlete-specific educational and counseling issues.

Back to Success

https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/Back-To-SuccessWorkshops.php

The ‘Back To Success’ workshop was created to assist students in reaching their educational goals, therefore we created this workshop for SMC students who were placed on Academic and/or Progress Probation. If students were placed on probation, due to failing grades, they must complete this required workshop. The Workshop is available through the Canvas portal. Students can self-enroll by going to Canvas: Enroll in Workshop. Once the workshop modules and Action Plan for Success are completed, a counselor will respond to the student via Canvas.

Black Collegians Program, Umoja Community

Student Services Center, 2nd Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-supportprograms/black-collegians/
(310) 434-4232
E-mail: Black_Collegians@smc.edu

The Black Collegians Program, Umoja Community, is dedicated to promoting, encouraging, and increasing the retention, transfer, academic success, and graduation of Black students. We are part of the statewide California Community Colleges Umoja Community which promotes student success and improved lifetime outcomes for all students through an experience that is responsive to the legacy of the African and African American diasporas. Students engage in a comprehensive set of services that centers on meeting the needs of our amazing students and creating a sense of belonging at the college.

CalWORKS

Student Services Center, #238
http://www.smc.edu/CalWORKs
(310) 434-4082

The California Work Opportunities and Responsibilities to Kids Program (CalWORKS) at SMC works in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services (DPSS) and the Greater Avenues to Independence Program (GAIN), to offer eligible parenting students receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) the support needed to successfully transition to self-sufficiency. This includes academic and counseling support, employment preparation, work-study experiences, financial resources, and childcare referral.

CARE (Cooperative Agencies and Resources for Education)

Student Services Center, Room #238
http://www.smc.edu/EOPS
(310) 434-4449

CARE is a state-funded counseling and retention program that offers educational and financial support services to EOPS single parents receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) and attending SMC full time. Services include academic counseling, parenting workshops, and financial assistance.

CARE & Prevention Team (formerly Crisis Prevention Team)

www.smc.edu/care

The Care and Prevention Team is a campus resource for faculty and staff to refer students experiencing distress, and/or displaying alarming, problematic, or disruptive student behavior. The team responds to non-emergency concerns and uses a proactive approach to discuss potential problems, intervene early, and develop appropriate courses of action for referred students. The goal is to support students who may be in distress and/or whose behavior is of concern to others before they rise to crisis levels.

In an emergency, 24/7, from any campus phone dial 4300 or 911. From a mobile phone, call SMC dispatch at 310.434.4300 If off campus, call 911.

DREAM Program

Student Services Center, Room #238
http://www.smc.edu/DREAM
(310) 434-4892

The Santa Monica College DREAM Program provides support services to undocumented students to increase personal growth, development, and retention through academic, career, and personal counseling. The program also assists participants in applying for the California Dream Act/Financial Aid and scholarships and provide workshops relative to undocumented students and their families.

EOPS (Extended Opportunities, Programs, and Services)

Student Services Center, Room#238
http://www.smc.edu/EOPS
(310) 434-4268

EOPS is a counseling and retention program for full-time students who come from low-income families, are first generation college students, or face other barriers to educational success. Services include academic counseling, priority registration, textbook assistance, tutoring, school supplies, transfer assistance and much more.

Guardian Scholars

Student Services Center, Room #238
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-supportprograms/eops/guardianscholars-1.php
(310) 434-4491

The SMC Guardian Scholars Program supports the educational goals of current and former foster youth aged 17-24. The program prepares participants for academic and professional readiness, and advocates for student success. Services include academic counseling, tutoring, Financial Aid/CHAFEE assistance, direct student aid and referrals to community resources such as employment, housing, medical, transportation and scholarships.

International Students & International Education Center

Student Services Center, 3rd Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/international-education/
(310) 434-4217 or sending a fax to (310) 434-3615
IntlEd@smc.edu

The College defines an “international student” as a student who is admitted to this country with an F-1 foreign student visa to attend SMC. Students with F-1 Visas from other schools may enroll at SMC on a limited basis. Please consult with the International Education Center for more information. Students with other type of visas (not F-1) may enroll through the Admissions and Records Office.

The International Education Center offers academic and personal counseling for international students who are studying at SMC on an F-1 Visa. The International Education Center welcomes applications from international students who wish to attend Santa Monica College. SMC has historically had 3,000 international students from more than 100 countries enrolled at the College. SMC offers several district advantages to international students beginning their university education in the United States. Application for Admission may be downloaded from the website.

Latino Center

Student Services Center, 2nd Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-supportprograms/latino-center/
(310) 434-4459

The Latino Center is dedicated to promoting, encouraging, and increasing the retention, transfer, academic success, and graduation of Latino students. The Adelante Program is a support program that focuses on academic achievement, cultural awareness, and personal growth, and offers classes that accentuate the Latinx experience. All SMC students, regardless of ethnicity, are encouraged to visit the Center.

Law Pathway Program

http://www.smc.edu/LawPathway
E-mail: LawPathway@smc.edu

Santa Monica College's Law Pathway program fosters the skills needed to excel in a legal career. The Law Pathway program is designed to help traditionally underrepresented students that are interested in a legal career in becoming competitive applicants to law school.

NextUp

https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-support-programs/eops/foster-services.php

NextUp is a supplemental component of Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) that is specifically for foster youth. The purpose of NextUp is to bolster, support and encourage the student success and well-being of current and former foster youth who are enrolled at Santa Monica College. By providing simple tools for success, students graduate, transfer, flourish and succeed at SMC and beyond.

Rising Program

http://www.smc.edu/rising

The RISING Program provides support services to formerly incarcerated and system impacted students enrolling at Santa Monica College. RISING is committed to empowering students with the successful transition into college after incarceration. RISING supports the enrollment, retention, graduation, and transfer of system impacted and formerly incarcerated students and aims to support the academic, social, and emotional well-being of participants by providing services that are focused on access, equity, and inclusion.

Scholars Program

Student Services Center, 2nd Floor
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-supportprograms/scholars/
(310) 434-4371

The Scholars Program is a transfer program that aims to prepare students, particularly first-year students, first-generation college students, students from underserved schools and communities, and non-traditional students for transfer to the colleges and universities of their choice. The Scholars Program offers students dedicated counseling and courses that provide students with the educational background essential to university-level work. Through special transfer agreements with top four-year colleges and universities, Scholars students get priority consideration for admissions to the following campuses: The UCLA College of Letters and Science (TAP), UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, to name a few.

STEM/Science Research Initiative (SRI) Program

Drescher Hall 301
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/academic-support/counseling/special-supportprograms/stem/
(310) 434-3988

The Science and Research Initiative is an academic support program designed to help traditionally underrepresented students interested in pursuing STEM majors. The SRI program is designed to help students successfully complete their studies at SMC, transfer to ANY baccalaureate program or enter the STEM workforce by providing:

Specialized classes
Applied learning experiences, including research opportunities
Transfer counseling
Student success workshops
Supplemental Instruction
Exposure to careers in STEM fields
Peer Mentors

Student Equity Center

https://www.smc.edu/student-support/student-equity-center/
E-mail: StudentEquityCenter@smc.edu

Under the umbrella of the Student Equity Center are the Gender Equity Center, Racial Justice Center, Pride Center, and the Undocumented & Dream Resource Center. For more information, refer to the website address above.

Veteran Success Center

Veteran Success Center, Cayton Center Garden Level
https://www.smc.edu/student-support/veterans-success-center/
(310) 434-8205

The Veterans Success Center serves veterans entering college for the first time or returning to college to further their education. The Center acts as a liaison between the student and the Veterans Administration verifying enrollment for veterans and their dependents who claim their Veterans Administration Education benefits such as but not limited to benefits under the G.I. Bill or the Veterans’ Vocational Rehabilitation Program. The program offers psychological counseling, as well as referrals to make accommodations for disabled veterans and family members. The center can also make referrals to external veteran –serving agencies all throughout southern California.

Tutoring

For any of our campus's tutoring services, please visit the "Help in Our Course" tab in this website.

Technology

For any of our campus's technology support services, please visit the "Technology Requirements, Access & Assistance" tab in this website.

Getting Involved on Campus

For ways to get involved and engaged with our campus, please visit the "Campus Involvement & Community Info" tab in this website.

Campus Map

Are you not sure how to get to any of the above resources? Use the campus map.

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