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Parents and Counselors

Parents and Counselors

Resources for parents and counselors to help guide students.

    Become a Student > Parents and Counselors

Spokane Community College (SCC) believes a strong support network is essential to student success before, during and after college. As a counselor or family member of a prospective or new SCC student, there are several things you can do to help them apply and prepare. Here you’ll find helpful tips, pertinent information, and links to important resources. 

Resources

How Parents Can Be Involved

  • Attend a New Student Orientation or recruitment event with your student. See the Activities Calendar for dates and times.

  • Help your student connect with the Admissions and Registration Office for advising. It’s normal for students to feel unsure, apprehensive or overwhelmed during the application and planning process. You can help by offering encouragement, a listening ear and support. Ask what you can do to help. Express your confidence in their ability to make smart decisions. Encourage them to try new things. Try not to take over. Instead, encourage them to exercise independence and personal autonomy, while emphasizing you’ll be there to offer guidance when they need it.

  • Likewise, help your student connect with other college resources. Direct them toward the appropriate offices or personnel but try to avoid contacting them yourself. Your student benefits from learning to navigate on their own.

  • Talk about money management with your student. Students who learn to budget and manage finances in college are set up for financial success post-graduation. Encourage them to attend a financial literacy workshop as well. These are offered regularly by our Student Success and Career Services Department.

  • Review the catalog with your student. SCC offers a broad variety of outstanding programs designed to establish a foundation for a lifetime of success, whether they plan to transfer to a four-year college or pursue a skill-based trade. We offer certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. In the catalog, you’ll find details on all available tracks.

  • Help your student find and take note of important dates and deadlines.

Support Tips

College is a significant milestone for students and parents. For many families, going to college marks a child’s transition to independence and adulthood. This transitional period is exciting and challenging. As your child’s primary pillar of support and guidance, your role remains vital. However, it’s also important to trust your child to make the right decisions. Students whose parents trust and support them have more self-confidence on and off campus.

  • Ask your student how they’re doing.

  • Keep lines of communication open.

  • Acknowledge that they may be stressed or overwhelmed.

  • Act as a sounding board for your student and avoid giving unsolicited advice. 

  • Allow them to make mistakes and encourage them to see failures as opportunities.   

  • Let them know you trust them.

  • Avoid checking in on attendance and grades. You might consider making it a part of your financial arrangement with your student that they will share their end-of-term grades.

FERPA

In accordance with institutional policy and the U.S. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), Community Colleges of Spokane vigorously protects the privacy of student education records. The institution does not release private records of individual students, such as grades and class schedules, without prior written consent of the student or as specifically authorized by FERPA.

Special Circumstances and Other Need-to-Know Details

  • Your child requires special accommodations: Community Colleges of Spokane, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other relevant state and federal laws, provides accommodations for students with disabilities. Learn more here.

  • Your child needs workforce training: The Center for Workforce and Continuing Education provides workforce training, corporate and contract training, and industry-driven professional development and certification. Each track is designed to help students gain employment in in-demand regional industries. Courses are open to those looking to renew certifications and advance their careers, as well as those who are entering the workforce for the first time.

  • You have a limited income or receive public assistance: Students who meet the criteria may be eligible to receive financial support for tuition and other school-related expenses, as well as remedial education and training, job search assistance, and other support services.

  • Your child is an international student: Community Colleges of Spokane welcomes international students from around the globe. CCS also facilitates a study abroad program for American students.

Helpful Links