Navigating Your Future: A Guide to Butte College Counseling Services

Butte College offers a comprehensive suite of counseling services designed to support students in achieving their academic, personal, and career aspirations. From exploring transfer options to navigating academic requirements and personal development, the Counseling Department is dedicated to helping students succeed. Careful course selection prior to registration is the key to a successful college experience. While it is ultimately a student's responsibility to obtain and follow academic requirements and application deadlines, Butte College counselors can help students keep up to date with the complex array of these requirements and applications.

Academic Counseling: Charting Your Educational Path

Academic counseling is a cornerstone of the services provided. As a new student, meeting with a counselor is essential. Counselors play a vital role in helping students find the right level of classes and assist you in designing a short- or long-term educational plan. Counselors can help you find the right classes and create a personalized educational plan. They provide guidance in selecting courses that align with students' goals, whether it's pursuing a certificate, an associate degree, or transferring to a four-year institution. To ensure transfer admission, particularly into competitive majors, students should see a counselor early in their educational experience in order to develop a student educational plan (SEP) that includes the transfer prerequisites common to the public and private four-year colleges and universities.

Developing Your Student Educational Plan (SEP)

A Student Educational Plan (SEP) is a personalized roadmap that outlines the courses and steps needed to achieve your academic goals. Counselors work with students to develop SEPs that take into account their interests, strengths, and career aspirations. The Counseling Department provides academic, personal and career counseling services for students wishing to fulfill vocational, transfer, personal and/or professional development goals.

Understanding Degree and Certificate Options

Butte College offers a variety of degree and certificate programs to meet diverse student needs.

Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) Degrees: These degrees are designed to facilitate transfer to a four-year institution, meet community needs, or serve an occupational purpose. To earn either degree, students must complete the Butte College Local GE pattern.
Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T): Butte College offers Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) to the CSU system, providing a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. Students who complete these degrees are guaranteed admission with junior standing in the CSU system, with priority consideration for CSU Chico in a similar program. This guarantee does not ensure admission to a specific CSU campus but to the CSU system as a whole. Students with an AA-T or AS-T can complete their remaining requirements for the 120-unit baccalaureate degree within 60 semester or 90 quarter units.
Certificates of Achievement (CA) and Certificates (CERT): Certificates of Achievement (CA) and Certificates (CERT) equip students with specific skills or knowledge to enter skilled employment or progress toward specific careers. Certificates under 18 units can be building blocks to larger programs, such as a Certificate of Achievement (18+ units) or a Degree.

Express Counseling: Quick Answers When You Need Them

For quick questions and guidance, Butte College offers Express Counseling service. Get quick, 10-minute counseling sessions with our Express Counseling service, available on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about what can and cannot be addressed during Express Drop-In sessions, please visit our How to Select Your Appointment!

Read also: Nursing Programs at Butte College

Transfer Counseling: Making Your Four-Year Dreams a Reality

The Transfer Counseling Center (TCC) provides counseling and transitional services to all students wishing to attend a four-year college or university. The Transfer Center has limited appointments for students looking to transfer out of Butte College to a 4-year college or university.

Transfer Center Resources

The Transfer Center offers a range of resources to support students in their transfer journey:

Application Workshops: The Transfer Center provides Application Workshops in-person and by Zoom for CSU, UC, and TAG applications. -Please CLICK HERE for APPLICATION WORKSHOPS in-person and by Zoom for CSU, UC, and TAG applications.
IGETC/CALGETC Certification: Please CLICK HERE for the IGETC/CALGETC Certification Request Form for students who have committed to a UC. This form opens May 7th and the Transfer Center starts sending certifications on June 24th.
University Representative Visits: UC, Davis will be hosting online student advising appointments with Butte College students during the Fall and Spring semesters. Chico State Admissions Counselor will be available during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Cross Enrollment Program: Call (530) 895-2264 to set up an appointment with a Counselor to talk about taking a free Fall or Spring course at CSU, Chico through our Cross Enrollment program. You must be an enrolled Butte College student to be eligible and meet other requirements. Sign-up early!

UC Transfer Support

Butte College is here to help students with their UC Transfer needs. Call (530) 895-2264 for more information.

Specialized Counseling Services: Meeting Diverse Student Needs

Butte College recognizes that students have diverse needs and backgrounds. To ensure that all students receive the support they need, the college offers specialized counseling services:

Veterans Services: While working in tandem with Butte-Glenn Community College, the Office of Veterans Services strives to ensure a positive and rewarding experience for all veteran and dependent students. Our goal is to provide the best possible service and guidance to help our veterans and their dependents achieve their educational goals.
Rising Scholars: Rising Scholars is a resource for formerly incarcerated and system impacted students (those who have experienced the effects of incarceration). Allies of restorative justice and prisoner advocacy are encouraged to join.
International Student Counseling: Counseling and advising provides international students with the services and support needed to be successful at Butte College and long-term educational goals. International students have a dedicated counselor.
MESA Program: The MESA Program is dedicated to providing the resources and environment for Butte College students to succeed and transfer to four-year colleges in STEM-based majors.
Puente Project: The Puente Project at Butte College is a learning community focused on supporting students from educationally underrepresented backgrounds through the process of transferring from Butte College to four-year colleges and universities. Puente students develop a strong support system through the relationships they build with peers, faculty/staff, and community mentors. Puente students have a dedicated counselor.

Additional Support Services: A Holistic Approach to Student Success

Butte College provides a range of additional support services to ensure students' overall well-being and success:

Career Center: Schedule an Appointment with a Career Specialist in the Career Center Department.
Financial Aid: I Need Financial Aid Help.
Referrals to Support Services: We can listen and direct you to Butte College's support services and community resources.

Scheduling an Appointment: Taking the First Step

To access these valuable counseling services, students can schedule an appointment by calling (530) 895-2264 to set up an evening appointment to speak with Counselor.

Steps to Schedule an Appointment:

STEP 6 - Meeting Type: Select either "Video Appointment" or "Telephone Appointment" and click "Continue" (Note: During long wait times we encourage phone appointments if possible.
STEP 7 - Remain on the page until your session starts. Note: For phone sessions, expect a call from a blocked number.

Counselors are here to support you in your academic journey. This is a high-volume period as Regristration Begins and REG2GO approaches. Appointments will be limited. We appreciate your understanding when scheduling or contacting the Counseling Department.