Sierra College Support and Resources

Resources to Help You Succeed

In my opinion, getting help from the resource services at college should be a part of every student's experience - regardless of confidence level or ability level.  Not using these excellent resources is like someone trying to compete in a NASCAR race without a pit crew.  The expectations in college are high.  College students all need help to succeed.  Some of that help is typical college expectation stuff – you form study groups or you ask people you know for help – parents, spouses, siblings, friends – as you’re stuck on something.  But Sierra College has a whole lot of help for you as well.  

Don’t think of these as optional; think of them as optimizing.  Don’t consider whether you’ll use them; consider which you’ll use most.  

I've clustered a few of them first because they address needs common to the specific reading, writing, and research goals of the English 1A course:

• Online Tutoring - Sierra College offers a 24/7 (!) online tutoring service (you can also find this in the Canvas’ left menu for “Tutor.com 24/7 Online Tutoring”).  All students have eight hours of this service provided for them each semester by the college (but I've heard they don't cut you off after eight hours if you need it).  Students have found this to be a valuable resource for grammar proofreading and help with MLA8 in-text citation and works cited pages.  You can upload a document you are working on, and a tutor will do a live essay review with you.  At 4 in the morning if you want!

• Writing Center - The fine folks in the Sierra College Writing Center are available for any kinds of writing that you might need help with.  Because writing is at the core of what we do in English 1A, this service is custom made for our course! The Writing Center staff has a lot of experience helping student writers at all levels with all kinds of writing needs - from generating ideas for what students could write about to getting drafts started to proofreading and revision.  

• Library - You'll be using outside sources in all the process essays in class.  That might mean getting some help finding good sources.  The folks in our LRC are awesome for that.  They're awesome for all kinds of things.  Two different library resources that you'll definitely find helpful:

  • • "Ask Us" chat feature - real-time chat with a Sierra College librarian for quick questions.

    • Schedule a 20-minute appointment with a research librarian.  If you need a bit more time/depth - you can have a research librarian all to yourself to help you with your research.  

Below are some additional awesome FREE resources that have been proven to increase success for students at Sierra College. 

• The Success Center - the folks there can help you find important resources or just chat with you if you are feeling stuck, confused, or unsure about anything related to your classes, your major, or college in general

• Services and Programs for Students with Disabilities - From priority registration and vocational counseling to student education plans and evaluating learning disabilities, SAS has everything a student with disabilities will need!

• Counseling - Academic and Personal (including email and online counseling)

• Food Pantry - Food and toiletry items available for free - for all students!

• Health Services - Did you know your student fees provide you with free or low cost medical services?!

• Tutoring Center - Students who have been successful in Sierra College courses are here to help you navigate the subjects you need help with.  Online meetings make it easy!

• Open Computer Labs - You've got some on-campus options for computing - check here to see!

• Financial Aid - Your first stop in finding you ways to help pay for college - and there are lots of options to explore!

• Career, Transfer, and Internship Services - Empowering students for what's next and helping students figure out what career field to aim for.

• Campus Life - College clubs, student government, activities - it's all here!

• Campus Clubs - Students who are involved in at least one campus club or activity consistently earn higher GPAs

• Security - For on-campus safety and security needs, please contact our helpful and friendly security staff!

• Food Spots - Convenient and healthy eating options for our on-campus students.

• PRIDE Center - Our LGBTQI students' home away from home.

• Women and Gender Resources Center - Personal health supplies (tampons, pads, condoms, etc.) and toiletries free of charge. They also provide support for parent student-scholars. 

• Cross Cultural Center - An accepting and welcoming multicultural setting. 

• Undocumented Student Center - Nurturing guidance and resources to help empower undocumented students.

• Veterans Success Center - Committed to providing the best assistance in appreciation for veteran students' sacrifice and service.

• Lactation Project - On-campus lactation facilities for working mothers and students.

• Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) - Specialized counseling, financial aid, priority 1 registration, tutoring, assistance with purchasing books, and more for low income and educationally underserved students. 

• CalWORKS - Helping students meet their Welfare-To-Work requirements and prepare for permanent jobs in their chosen profession.

• Guardian Scholars: Former Foster Youth - Helping current/former foster youth students to thrive academically.

• Puente Program - Spanish for "bridge," Puente is a supportive learning program geared towards increasing its participants' transfer to/enrollment in four-year universities.

• TRiO - A helpful counseling program for first generation and low-income students.

• Black and African-American Support and Resources - Committed to providing a welcoming and supportive space for Black and African American students at Sierra College.

• Native American and Pacific Islander Resources - Offers a variety of programs, services and resources to support and create a community for students who identify as Native American

• Honors Program - Offers a more academically enhanced classroom experience for students motivated to push their academic limits.

• International Students - For our Sierra College students who are attending from across the world, this is a supportive place to get questions answered and make the most of their Sierra College experience.