Articles - Spring 2008 - return to index
Students offer advice on
Life @ Lane
-By Chris Cunningham
Jessica Rojas admits that she "didn't
know how to use a computer"
when she enrolled at Lane four
years ago. The 31-year-old student
in Environmental Science says a
Student Service Associate in Career
and Employment Services helped
her to get started. "I was a little
embarrassed, and they helped me
through it."
Now Jessica is computer savvy and a Student Service Associate (SSA) herself. She and coworker Jeff Brady are among eight SSAs working for the college’s Counseling Center. The SSAs answer basic questions from current and incoming students about enrollment and class scheduling.
Jeff notes that SSAs are also trained to show students how to navigate the several options in the college’s computerized ExpressLane admissions system and to help them begin the online financial aid application process. SSAs are knowledgeable as well about scholarship opportunities and Lane's career assessment tools.
On a typical day, Jessica
and Jeff frequently show
returning students how
to utilize the college's
advance registration system. And
they greet students who are fresh
out of high school and eager to sign
up for classes but unaware that they
must first meet with a counselor.
Jessica says that she takes full advantage of these teaching moments by offering a powerful message to the apprehensive new student: "If I can do it, you can do it, too."
An Information Technology
major, Jeff explains, "We try to
be resources, the middlemen. We
show people 'the ropes.'"
The two also moderate "Life @
Lane," the new campus blog that
exchanges practical information
and provides opportunities for
informal dialogue among the
student body. The student blog
is accessible from the college
homepage at 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu.
"I like going to work and helping
people," Jeff says. "Even if it's
just one person, helping make
their day a little easier actually
brightens mine a lot more."
The Counseling department will begin recruiting for 2008-09 Student Service Associate (SSA) positions in April. For more information, contact Career and Employment Services in Building 1, Room 102 or call 463-5167. If you will be attending Lane in 2008-09, enjoy being a part of a team, and have a strong service orientation, we invite you to apply.
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