Extended Opportunity Programs & Services
Counseling Contacts FAQ
Specific to the Eureka Campus
What are counseling contacts and why do I need them?
The purpose of counseling contacts is to support your academic success. As an EOPS student, you are required to have 3 contacts each semester:
- 2 contacts must be with a Counselor.
- 1 contact can be with a Counselor, Advisor, Student Services Specialist, or Peer Mentor.
When should I have my counseling contacts?
We recommend that you spread your contacts throughout the semester. If you haven’t made any contacts yet this semester, please do so as soon as possible. If you wait until the end of the semester, there will not be any more appointments available and drop-in advising will be impacted by registration. (That means a long wait!)
Recommended EOPS Contact Schedule
First Contact Week Two – Week Six
This meeting is to create or review your Student Educational Plan (SEP) and discuss your academic needs for the semester.
Second Contact Week Seven – Week Eleven
This meeting is to monitor your progress and make adjustments to your SEP if necessary.
Third Contact Week Twelve - Finals
This meeting is to assist you in preparing for the next term and make adjustments to your SEP if necessary. |
What do Counselors do?
Counselors will help you create or review your Student Education Plan (SEP), discuss academic problems and/or personal issues that might be affecting your academic progress, help you prepare for the next semester, evaluate transcripts from other colleges, and assist you in deciding on your academic and career goals.
How do I see a Counselor and who should I see?
While most counselors have some drop-in times, it is best to make an appointment. Call the number listed below for the counselor who you think best meets your current needs or is associated with a program you participate in, such as CARE, CalWORKs, foster youth, Learning Community, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), etc. If you don’t know who you should see, call 707.476.4270 or visit the EOPS office and ask to set an appointment for a counselor contact. The person you speak to will select a counselor based on the purpose of your appointment and on the counselor’s availability. (FYI, it is important that all CARE and CalWORKs students meet only with Marcy Foster or Angela Winkle to complete and update their SEP’s.)
Who are the Counselors?
The following counselors are located in the EOPS office. Call 707.476.4270 to make an appointment:
Marcy Foster works primarily with first-year students, CARE and CalWORKs programs, and club participants (Bridge-Way for foster youth, Bars to Books for formerly incarcerated students).
Angela Winkle works exclusively with CARE and CalWORKs students. In addition to an office in EOPS, she has an office at the Downtown Instructional Site, 707.269.4010.
Lisa Liken works primarily with the EOPS Learning Community students.
Melissa Higgins works with all general EOPS students.
Allen and Michael are located in the Transfer Center (upstairs Administration Building, behind the Counseling and Advising office). Call 707.476.4146 or 707.476.4270 to make an appointment:
Allen Keppner works with all EOPS students, but especially those who are close to graduating and/or have tricky transcript and transfer issues.
Michael Regan works primarily with EOPS students seeking in-depth career counseling.
Harry Pyke works with students who qualify for Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS). His office is located in the DSPS building, behind the bookstore. Call 707.476.4280 to set an appointment. (FYI, if you are in DSPS your SEP can be completed by any EOPS counselor.)
Who are the Advisors and what do they do?
Advisors can suggest classes for you to take that meet your educational goals, help you register for classes, evaluate your readiness to graduate, and assist you with forms and petitions. Advisors are available for drop-in meetings or by appointment located in the Counseling and Advising Center, 707.476.4150. Advisors include: Jennifer Bailey, Ron McQueen, Kara Newman, Barry Tucker, and April Evans. (April is a counselor, but she works primarily with student athletes and she is not affiliated with EOPS. If you see April, it will count as a non-counselor contact.) Mary Thompson is an advisor with DSPS but she can also complete SEP’s for DSPS students. She can be reached at 707.476.4280.
Who are the Student Services Specialists and what do they do?
Student Services Specialists fill important administrative roles in EOPS and its associated programs. If you speak to one of these individuals during the semester about issues related to your academic success, ask them to count that as your non-counselor contact. The Student Services Specialists are: Cindy Anderson, Carol McCormick, and Jamie Peterson (CARE/ CalWORKs Coordinator).
Who are the Peer Mentors and what do they do?
Peer Mentors are CR students who work for EOPS. They may make recommendations about classes and instructors, or they may share personal experiences that provide you with insight into your own situation at CR. If you believe you’ve had a discussion with a Peer Mentor that has contributed to your academic success, ask the mentor to count that conversation as your non-counselor contact. The Peer Mentors in the EOPS office include: Madison Ayala, Sheri Harwood, Xou Her, Kim Johnson, and Danyel Powell. Mentors Wes Roth and Mallory Penzotti are located in the EOPS Mentor Center in the Academic Support Center (in the Math Lab).
How long will my contacts take?
Creating and updating an SEP will take about an hour, or longer if you have transcripts from other colleges that need to be evaluated. Allow a half hour to discuss next semester’s classes. A check-in contact can take as little as ten minutes. Two or more one-hour appointments may be needed for in-depth career counseling.
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