Mission Statement

The Butte College Career Counseling Center aims to increase career literacy for prospective and current students, equipping them with the knowledge, tools and support they need to make informed career decisions, create a plan and obtain appropriate employment. 

Program Description

The following services and programs are offered through Career Counseling: (1) One-on-one counseling to increase career planning knowledge and achieve career planning skill competence, including career assessment administration and interpretation; (2) Provide workshops and events to enhance career literacy (3) Deliver resources and tools to help students explore careers and establish a career goals (4) Provide dual enrollment courses to high school students 

Accountability for Previously Funded Items

Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes

Our efforts need to focus on serving more students and reaching out to these students earlier. Career Counseling has only been providing services to approximately 500 students per year, and of those students served, most have already acquired 30 or more units. Our department is mostly working with the Career & Academic Assessment Center to combine and expand career-related services - to create a new career studio, improve services directed towards instructional departments, and increase outreach to area high schools and employers.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (Instruction Departments)

Not an instrcutional department.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)

We offer services to assist students in making timely and informed career decisions necessary for certificate and/or degree achievement and transfer. Ensuring students have clear pathways is a successful strategy for increasing retention and completion.
 -Traget and increase contacts with undecided students to affect retention rates
 - Increase CLP 101 dual enrollmnet offerings across area high schools
 - Provide clearer pathways to employment by offering job shadows, informational interviews, field trips, and internships to increase job attainment closely related to field of study

Strategic Direction

 
Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
Implement Dual-Enrollment “Get Focused-Stay Focused” at the high school level with the goal of students learning about career and transfer pathways in preparation for entrance to a community college or four year institution.
Collaborate with middle school and high school students to provide students with the tools to make career decisions.
Continue to work with industry to determine student expectations after graduation from college.
Students who know their career and educational plans for success are more likely to remain in school and complete degree and/or transfer requirements.
Provide training to students, faculty and staff to update on career trends and resources.
Ensuring students on-line, at the Glenn Center, Chico Center and Skyway Center have access to career resources and career counseling.
 
Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Training
Update on-line resources for student, faculty and staff access.
Presentations through forums and classes.
Participation on governance and other campus/community committees.
 
 Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement
Reviewing student assessments to determine trends for careers.
Addition of an on-line platform for all student assessments in order for students to make better decisions about their career choices.
Implementation of “Get Focused-Stay Focused” at the high school level.
 
Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
Implementation of on-line platform for all students to participate in student assessments at the time of assessments prior to orientation and class registration.
Implementation of “Get Focused-Stay Focused” at the high school level to prepare students for career and educational decisions prior to college.
 
Modeling Sustainability
Educating students, faculty and staff about career readiness/preparation for “Green Careers.”
 
Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
Access to career resources (including career counseling appointments) at the high schools, Main Campus, Glenn Center, Chico Center and Skyway Center.  On-line appointments are also available.
Informing our diverse community about guided pathways to ensure success.

Program Review

2017 Program Review Recommendations received on 1/29/18. 
The Validation Team respectfully submits this recommendation related to staffing issues as the most critical to Career Counseling’s ability to continue serving students in alignment with the District’s mission and values:

Continue to advocate through district unit planning and other appropriate means to seek funding to create and fill two additional positions. Program growth and expansion is critical to continue to participate in and complete the initiatives at the District level for recruitment, student achievement, and apportionment: 

Full Time Career Counselor – to increase the quantity and quality of services to students and implement year round appointment availability
Part Time Career Counselor – to increase work flows with a focus on services to the district’s satellite campuses at the Chico and Glenn Centers



 
The Validation Team respectfully submits these recommendations to assist Career Counseling in their efforts to seek continuous improvement in delivering services to students:

Implement technological solutions to create and enhance department services for further marketing and promotion.
Explore the possibility of embedding online career tools on BC department websites and assessment, use teaser advertisements to get students to click on links to access important career information related to a student’s major, and offer tools as incentive to instruction to use as “extra-credit” in classes.
Collaborate further with Job Placement services as the two departments are closely aligned to ensure students achieve success. Clearly defined roles and services provided by each department while working together will support students with career life planning and employment search while attending college and upon completion. 
Work closely with the District for cohesive collaboration for a district wide student centered career plan as developing, implementing, and scheduling guided pathways, instruction, and CTE programs.
Solicit support from the district and other departments in the continued development and implementation of the dual enrollment program. This program is a district endeavor that should be managed by a committee comprised of a cross-section of instructional department faculty and staff to ensure institutional compliance and district fulfilment.
Coordinate a Career Counseling Advisory Committee to bring focus together and strategize efficiently on how to better prepare and encourage students for academic and career success.
Responsibility to fulfill counseling and advising capabilities while working with students in regards to creating usable, workable Educational Plans. Student experience at Butte College is a commitment as highlighted by the District’s “Students First” value, not having the ability to complete a counseling appointment with an Ed Plan can add to student frustration and perception of “too many hoops.”
Examine possible interventions through the Strong Workforce Task Force (CCCCO) for any additional funding available to be applied for resources to assist the department and its students with their educational and career goals.
Solicit continued supplementary funding support needed for, often times too costly for students, career assessment testing with MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory (SII).
Consider analyzing possible department realignment for purview under Student Learning & Economic Development (SLED) within the FYE department as Career Life Planning (CLP) and dual enrollment are closely intertwined. This realignment would reduce the dual enrollment coordination activity of the career counselor to further be able to assist students with their career and educational needs.
Explore the possibility of collaboration with multiple student services departments to meet student needs at outlying centers (Chico and Glenn Centers) for more of a “one-stop shop” student experience. Also consider using Twitter, Instagram, and Grad Guru to communicate with students as further outreach endeavors.

 
Implementations & Actions Still to be Addressed Although funding has not materialized for additional career counselor positions, Career Counseling is working with the Career & Academic Assessment Center to hire 2 classified positions committed to serving current and prospective students in a various career exploration/planning related services. Online career tools have been enhanced. Career Counseling is a part of a workgroup within the Guided Pathways Steering Committee to update all online materials, resources and tools to enhance the onboarding process for students. Communications with Job Placement has increased and roles have been defined. We are working on a referral system, and are investigating on how to partner on certain projects. CLP 101 dual enrollment numbers declined after the Camp Fire, losing 9 sections in Paradise High. Growth of this program has been stagnant due to limited time. Career Counseling and the Career and Academic Assessment Center plan to establish an advisory committee by the end of Spring 2020.

Department Goals

Career Counseling has identified the following program goals for 2020-2021:

Provide resources and services for students to reach an informed career/major decision within their first term, and direct them to establish a comprehensive education plan shortly after


Develop, manage and continually expand a successful CLP dual enrollment program for area high schools


Align all programs and services (Career Counseling) with the Guided Pathways initiative and Student Equity Plan


Improve and increase department's online presence/usage by offering more effective and navigable career exploration and planning tools/resources


Fold all services into the Career & Academic Assessment Center - deliver services in CAAC (new office)


Develop and manage a Career Studio


Increase outreach/services to area high schools

 

Future Development Strategies

Requested Non-Financial Resources

Current Financial Resources

Augmentation Requests