Center assists transitioning students
By Kellie Benn
Pulse Staff Reporter
Everybody on campus has probably walked by the Center for Academic Transitions a dozen times, but many students most likely haven’t taken the time to stop in and see just what this center provides for Palo Alto students.
Conveniently located in Room 101 in the Student Center across from the cafeteria, the Center for Academic Transitions’ main focus is on assisting students who are going either into the work force or into a four-year university.
“The Center for Academic Transitions really is a dream of the president, Dr. "Cha" Guzmán, who wanted to see the career services and transfer services brought together,” said Rosie Castro, coordinator of the center.
The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Students may make appointments to meet with staff by calling (210) 486-3131 or by stopping at the welcome desk located in the center.
On the career services side, students may take advantage of monthly classes and workshops such as Resume Writing, Interview Skills, Goal-Setting and Dressing for Success. These classes, most of which are organized by Education Support Specialist Nora Esparza, are designed to better prepare students to enter the work force.
The center also helps graduating students find full-time jobs in their field of study as well as part-time jobs for those who may need to work while they are attending school. Students may also obtain assistance in finding work-study programs to help offset tuition costs.
Education Support Specialist Erminia Sanchez helps to establish a one-on-one relationship with area employers who post job opportunities on the center’s website at www.accd.edu/pac/htm/Current/services/career/jobs_services.htm. Students may come to the center for referrals or to find out more information about a particular job that interests them. The staff will then attempt to match students to employers, depending on the needs of both.
Students may also find internship, co-op and volunteer opportunities by sending their resumes to several employers through the center. Employers will then contact the applicants that they think are best suited for the job.
Cooperative education programs (co-ops) are included in the student’s academic program and are generally paid positions. They offer individuals the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while attending school. In contrast, internships are usually non-paying positions that a student obtains after or close to the completion of a degree.
In addition to career services, the center also provides assistance to students wanting to transfer to a four-year university after graduating from Palo Alto. The transfer side of the center offers assistance that varies from simple counseling on degree plans to all-expense-paid trips to colleges and universities. As the Student Success Team Leader, Charley Garcia is always on hand to help students in their search for the perfect four-year university.
“I think life is figuring out what it is you love doing. I guess that’s why I like to help students. It’s part of my giving back to people who reached out to me,” said Garcia.
Garcia is particularly proud of the center’s 10-year partnership with the University of Northern Iowa, which he said started by way of a very unassuming phone call nine and a half years ago from San Antonio native Roland Carillo, who is the financial aid director at UNI. UNI offers scholarships to qualified Palo Alto students that pays for tuition and housing. Every spring, Garcia takes a group of students to the university for an all-expenses-paid, three-day tour of the campus.
Sophomore Gene “Gino” Morales, the president of the Student Government Association, has been working very closely with Garcia and has already received his acceptance letter from UNI.
“In the past year, I have been researching the university and many of its attributes, thus the encounter with Charley was inevitable,” Morales said. “I found out about the partnership through him and found that much of the financial security that I was looking for laid with UNI.”
The center has also developed a bachelor’s of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in partnership with Texas A&M University at Kingsville in San Antonio where students in certain degree programs may complete up to 90 hours at Palo Alto and finish only their last year at the TAMUK-SA.
For more information visit www.accd.edu/pac/htm/current/services/cat/default.htm or stop by the center where there is always a staff more than willing to help.