Frequently Asked Questions

Sections:

Counseling and Advising

Q: What is the difference between a Counselor and an Advisor?

Counseling and Advising are two separate but complementary services. General Advisors, Counselors and Faculty Advisors are available to help students reach educational goals. It is important to understand the different types of assistance available from each, in order to gain the appropriate help.

General Advisors are available on a walk-in basis in the Counseling and Advising Office(SSC 3200) and can assist with the following issues:

General course selection
General transfer information
Pre-course test clarification and interpretation
Explanation of degrees and degree requirements
"Credit Hour Overload Permits" for students with an established COD GPA above 2.0 requesting to register for 20 to 24 credits
Referral to faculty advisors and other COD services
Orientation to the college
Unofficial progress check toward graduation

Counselors are available by appointment or on a first-come, first-serve walk-in basis in the Counseling and Advising Office(SSC 3200), and by appointment at several off-campus locations. Students can plan ahead and have a convenient time reserved by calling (630) 942-2259 for counseling appointments in Glen Ellyn (Main Campus), Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Naperville, West Chicago and Westmont. Counselors can assist with the following issues:

Career exploration and decision-making
Personal concerns that interfere with educational or career goals
Educational planning for undecided students
Development of success strategies for students on academic probation
All of the elements indicated for Advisors above.

Faculty Advisors are faculty members who teach in various fields. All full-time faculty members are faculty advisors. They can assist students with the following issues:

Course selection specific to their major
Fulfilling general education requirements
Concerns or questions about prerequisites for a specific major
Transfer programs in their major/area of interest
Special agreements with transfer schools for specific degree programs
Unofficial progress check toward graduation
Prerequisites for limited admission programs
Competency exams when an existing exam is not in place
Advice and information on transfer schools that would meet your academic goals

Q: How can I receive assistance from a General Advisor, Counselor or Faculty Advisor?

You can receive assistance three ways:
1. General Advisor assistance

Walk-in: Students can stop in the Counseling and Advising Center (SSC 3200) to meet with a general advisor. No appointment is necessary. Students are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis onlyPhone-in: Students may call (630) 942-2259 to speak with an advisor

2. Counselor assistance
Schedule an appointment. Students can plan ahead and have a convenient time reserved by calling: (on-campus) (630) 942-2259 for appointments in Glen Ellyn, Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Naperville, West Chicago and Westmont to make an appointment with a counselor.Walk-in: Students can stop in the Counseling and Advising Center (SSC 3200) to meet with a counselor on a first-come, first-serve basis. The wait time is determined by student demand. Making appointments ahead of time is encouraged. During the critical registration time just prior to the start of a term, most counselors will be focused on group presentations due to the volume of students. Plan ahead and make an appointment.

Email: Students may contact a counselor by email

3. Faculty Advisor assistance
If you know the faculty member's name, use COD's faculty search page. Faculty advisors may be contacted directly in their offices to set up appointments or messages can be left at their division offices.If you know your major but are not familiar with instructors in that area, use the Academics link. Select Programs, Certificates, and Degrees. Select your program of interest as you scroll down the list of available programs. Read over the web page carefully. Usually, the name of the program coordinator appears on the front page, as well as a listing of faculty that can be found within the web page. Use the links to connect you to those desired areas. Select one and call to arrange an appointment.If you are unsure which majors are related to your career and educational goals, make an appointment with a counselor for some direction by calling (630) 942-2259.

Q: Will you pick my classes for next semester? AND/OR What classes should I take if I'm undecided about my major?

Counselors and General Advisors assist students with general course selection. They make sure that students have all the information and tools needed so they can make their course selections and register for classes, but they don't pick students' courses for them.

Undecided students are referred to a counselor who will work with the student to make appropriate course selection and look at strategies for making a career decision. This may include interest testing or referral to EDUCA 1105 (Career Development).

Students with questions specific to a particular major are referred to a faculty advisor.

Q: What's the difference between an Occupational and Transfer degree? What about a certificate? How will I know if my classes will transfer?

Occupational and Transfer program guides

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is an Occupational degree which provides programs of study in specific occupational-technical fields. Many of the occupational areas also offer certificates that can generally be completed in less time than a degree. While the A.A.S. degree is not intended as a transfer degree, many of the courses may transfer depending on the transfer school and the program of study.

College of DuPage offers several Transfer degrees depending on the student's major. The program guides for the various transfer programs will indicate the degree the student should pursue. (See above link.)

Acceptance of transfer credit is decided by the receiving institution. In other words, the school to which the student wishes to transfer will make the determination. If a student completes the 37 credit hour General Education Core Curriculum for the A.A. or A.S. degree, schools participating in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) have agreed to accept this as meeting their core curriculum requirement. More specific transfer information

Q: What can I do in myACCESS?

Everything!
Register for classesPay a balanceSign up for the payment planView Financial Aid awards and documentsRequest an Enrollment VerificationSee if COD received transcripts from your high school or other college or universityCheck the status on a transcript evaluationView your official gradesView your unofficial transcriptRun a Degree Audit to check your progress towards a degree or certificateOrder an Official Transcript

Probation Information

Q: I am a probationary student and I want to return to COD. What do I need to do?

As a probationary student, you need to meet with a counselor to discuss the issues that prevented your success and to determine what strategies will help you succeed. After that meeting, a permit to register may be issued.

You can arrange an appointment with a counselor at any of the following locations by phone or you can visit the Counseling office in Glen Ellyn to make an appointment either in Glen Ellyn or at an off-campus location.

Glen Ellyn (630) 942-2259
Naperville (630) 942-4700
Westmont (630) 942-4800
Addison (630) 942-4600
Carol Stream (630) 942-4888
Bloomingdale (630) 942-4900

Q: What can I do if I am placed on academic probation or on academic suspension and can't register?

As a probationary student or if you are on academic suspension, you need to meet with a counselor to discuss the issues that prevented success and to determine what strategies will help you succeed. After that meeting, a permit to register may be issued. Contact Counseling Services at (630) 942-2259 for an appointment with a counselor.

Q: How do I attend a group session?

Counseling Services runs small-group sessions for probationary students who did not plan ahead with an appointment but still need assistance for the next term. These are offered one to two weeks before the beginning of a term and are on a first-come, first-served basis.

You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the group starts and check in at SSC 3200. You may want to call ahead and find out about a specific group, as there is a limit to the number of students per group. There may involve a wait for the next group to start. When groups are filled for the day, you will be encouraged to return the next day.

On selected dates, Counseling Services provides group sessions that run daily, Monday to Friday. For more information, call (630) 942-2559.

Personal Counseling Questions

Q: How do I schedule an appointment with a counselor at COD?

Appointments can be arranged by calling any of the locations that appear below. The Glen Ellyn campus office only (SSC 3200) offers walk-in appointments with counselors, but a wait may occur in order to see the counselor. The off-campus locations can be scheduled from Glen Ellyn as well.

Glen Ellyn: (630) 942-2259
Addison: (630) 942-4600
Bloomingdale: (630) 942-4900
Carol Stream: (630) 942-4888
Naperville: (630) 942-4700
Westmont: (630 942-4800

Glen Ellyn hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.

Q: Is it possible to schedule a counseling appointment via the Internet?

Yes, for the main Glen Ellyn campsu only.

Glen Ellyn Campus (GEC)

Q: Do you have a psychiatrist on staff?

No. However, all counselors on staff are equipped to work with student issues that impact his/her academic effort on a short-term basis. When a student requires intensive, long-term psychotherapy, referrals are made to outside agencies.

Have you contacted the DuPage County Health Department? They can also provide referrals and sliding scales. For more information, call (630) 627-1700 or check out the Health Department's website.

Q: Where can I get information on student health insurance?

Visit the University Health Plans website.

Career Interests Questions

Q: Where can I find information about careers?

You can access information at the College of DuPage Library in Glen Ellyn, which is located on the north side of the Student Resource Center. The College Career Information Center is located at the top of the stairs on the second floor of the Library. A librarian is assigned to assist patrons who visit this area.

Q: How can I determine what career is best for me?

If you're looking for career direction, take the Strong Interest Inventory via computer to measure your likes and dislikes, and compare your results with people employed in various occupations. COD counselors provide immediate feedback and explore areas of personal and career interest.

College of DuPage Counseling Services can provide Interest inventory testing (using the Strong Interest Inventory as an example) and personality preference evaluations (using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator). Meet with a counselor to discuss your needs and determine what testing might be beneficial. An appointment can be arranged with a counselor by calling an individual location (below) or visiting SSC 3200 in Glen Ellyn and asking to make an appointment with a counselor in Glen Ellyn or at an off-campus location.

Glen Ellyn: (630) 942-2259
Addison: (630) 942-4600
Bloomingdale: (630) 942-4900
Carol Stream: (630) 942-4888
Naperville: (630) 942-4700
Westmont: (630 942-4800

After meeting with a counselor, you must complete a follow-up appointment with a counselor to review and receive the results.

To initiate the testing process, select a location, set up an appointment and meet with a counselor. At the off-campus locations, you may be able to take the tests on the same day you have an appointment. In Glen Ellyn, the testing is done with a "testing slip" obtained from your counselor and administered through the Testing Center in the Berg Instructional Center.

Generally, it takes approximately two-to-three weeks for tests to be scored and returned to your counselor.

Group testing sessions are offered for the Strong Interest Inventory or the Myers Briggs Personality Inventory or both. Check out the Career Inventory Workshops for more information.