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Hi and Welcome! My name is Erin Long, and I get to be your instructor for Counseling 1: Academic Planning. I am glad to start the spring 2026 semester with you to support you both throughout our course, and provide counseling support as well!
In addition to teaching, I meet with students daily during counseling appointments. These appointments are available to support you with academic, personal and career information, issues and counseling!
Please take a few minutes to read through this site, and learn a little bit about our course and then explore the rest of this page to get an early grip on this course.
I look forward to seeing you online, asynchronously during the first 8-weeks of the semester, and during my support hours throughout the semester!
You'll find the link to our course at the bottom of this page.
How this course works
How this course works
The Essentials
The Essentials
This is a fully online, 8-week course.
This course begins on Monday, January 12, 2026 and ends on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
We have no regularly scheduled meeting times (we will not meet in Zoom.) All of your coursework will be completed asynchronously (on your own time) in Canvas.
This is not a self-paced course. You will learn in a community with your classmates and me. We are in this together!
The course is organized into eight 1-week modules and 1 finals week, which will always open on Monday at 10:00am.
Your coursework will therefore be available on Monday, and not be due until 11:59pm the following Sunday, which gives you 7 full days to complete all of your work for the week.
If you would like to get ahead you can! Please do keep in mind that responses to your peers' discussion board posts need to be made by Sunday of the week it is due; so if you work ahead you may need to go back and complete this portion of the weeks' assignments.
How to be successful in this course
How to be successful in this course
On Mondays, I will make an announcement in our course notifying you that it is time to begin the new module. Every Monday, plan to log in to our course, even if it is just for a few minutes. Go to the course homepage, click on the new module (which I will always link to the weekly banner located on the homepage,) review the Module Welcome and Weekly To Do List and take a look at that week's assignment(s) and due date(s).
Doing those simple things each and every Monday is the perfect strategy to prepare for each week of our course. By logging in early it gives you an opportunity to reflect on what's ahead and plan your study time around other important events and commitments you have on your plate that week (which is inevitable!) And if you sense that it is going to be difficult to meet that week's due dates (at the beginning of the week), let me know as soon as possible (pro tip: Not afterwards) and we can work out a different plan. If you run in to an emergency at any point in time, let me know as soon as you can, and I will help you figure out an alternate plan for your coursework. I am always just a message away and I want to support your success!
Download the Canvas Student App on your phone, if possible, and use it to check in frequently on our course.
When in doubt, reach out to me for help, guidance or support!
GOALS!!!!!!!!
How to get your questions answered
How to get your questions answered
How to contact me
How to contact me
There are so many ways we can connect to get your question answered. The most important thing for you to know is that communication will ALWAYS benefit you. There is never a time when avoidance will make things disappear, so let's figure this out together!
Also, important to note, that I am never sitting in judgement of you, I took this class myself when I was in school, and I am a constant work in progress.
I prefer for you to email me through Canvas inbox, which is located on the left pane of your Canvas web application or at the bottom of your Canvas app on your phone.
You can also email me from your own email to elong@saddleback.edu.
During the week, Monday - Friday (excluding holidays) you can expect a response within 24 hours. If you do not hear back from me within that time, please reach out again to make sure that there wasn't a technical glitch, which can sometimes occur.
You can also "text me" on Teams.
You have access to Teams (along with all Microsoft 365,) through your Saddleback Logins page with your Saddleback log in.
This is a great way to get ahold of me!
If you prefer to speak with me live, please check my booking page to find a time that works for you when I am available.
If you do not see a time that works, please complete my appointment request form and I will get back to you to book a time with you.
I cannot book an appointment with you same-day, but if you need immediate assistance, please contact the Counseling Office 949-582-4572 and ask to speak with me on callback.
Please note that I am not available on Wednesdays or Thursdays unless I book an appointment with you in advance, so please do not contact the Counseling Office about our class on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
You can still email and Teams me on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and I will be able to respond to you.
AND if you need general counseling assistance on any day of the business week, please feel welcome to contact the Counseling Office to speak with any counselor any time we are open.
How to get your general questions answered
How to get your general questions answered
If you have questions about our course, I encourage you to post it in our Q&A Lounge on Canvas, located within our course under Discussions, there is also a link on our homepage. Questions posted in the Q&A Lounge will be visible by everyone in the course, and can be answered by anyone (in fact, if you answer a peer's question, you will get 5pts of extra credit!)
If your question is personal in nature, please email me directly.
Our Pact
Our Pact
What you can expect from me
What you can expect from me
I will provide you with a clear, organized course that is designed to ensure you meet our course outcomes in a meaningful manner.
I will provide a variety of assignments to ensure your learning needs are met.
I will be actively present in your learning.
I will provide a supportive and safe environment for you to share and discuss ideas with your peers.
I will reach out to you when I sense that you need support.
I will treat you with dignity and respect and be flexible to support your individual needs.
I won't be perfect. I am human and will make mistakes at times. I will view mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Is there anything else you would like to add to this list?
We will visit expectations again in our first class module, so think of what you need from me to be successful, and what I can expect from you in order to support your success!
What I can expect from you
What I can expect from you
You strive to be an active participant in this course and strive to meet due dates.
You will maintain an open line of communication with me so I understand how to support you.
You will contact me if you have a concern with meeting a due date.
You strive to regularly contribute to collaborative activities to ensure other members of the community have ample opportunity to read/listen, reflect, and respond to your ideas.
You will treat your peers with dignity and respect.
You will do your best to have patience with technology. There will be hiccups, expect them. We will get through them together.
You will give yourself grace. Expect to make mistakes. You are human and you are stressed.
Is there anything else you would like to add to this list?
How to get in to our course
How to get in to our course
How to sign in
How to sign in
To access our course, you will log in to Canvas using your Saddleback login (first part of your Saddleback email address before the @) and then your password.
How to get help with Canvas
How to get help with Canvas
If you have trouble logging in to Canvas, or are experiencing technical issues, click the button below to reach support resources.
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