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Advisement and Career Services Combined

By Cerone White

Faced with dwindling financial support from the state of Florida, Miami Dade College has consolidated all academic and career services departments to cope with the current financial crisis.

According to Sandra Martinez, North Campus director of academic and career services, the college administration reviewed surveys from all employees, and amongst the various recommendations the joining of the departments was one of a few that were implemented.

“This is a welcomed opportunity that we’re able to provide a broader range of services,” said Martinez. “We use to do it anyway, now we officially do it.”

Before each department held a post in two separate rooms but now they share one in Room 1103 of Scott Hall (building one).

While both departments share the common focus of providing student services, they now face the challenge of cross-training to accommodate students better.

“Everyday there are new things to be learned, and now we have to work together,” said Roberto Garcia Jr., aerospace engineer major, who works in the department. “Now I have to learn about new services, while teaching new work-study students how things are done”

For first year students Martinez recommends scheduling an appointment to have an individualized education plan (IEP) completed. Students with more than 30 credits applicable towards graduation may not receive an IEP.

“Because we have a limited resources the IEP is only for students in their first year of college, because we have limited personnel we limit the IEP,” Martinez said.

Martinez also advises students to come back after they complete an IEP for follow-up sessions with an advisor.

“The routine is slightly different; there is a continuum of services,” said Martinez. “We’re now enhancing the transfer information helping students to identify career options.”

Martinez said that there are plans for college-wide workshops for advisers to enhance certain aspects of departmental student advisement.

News Editor Michael Finch II contributed to this report.

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