This spring a new course, FYE 101: First-Year Experience, is being offered to help students transition successfully to college. In this course, students will experience, discuss, write about and apply knowledge, skills, behaviors, strategies and mindsets that help them succeed in college. This course empowers students to develop inner qualities that assist in making wise decisions, which result in the outcomes and experiences they desire. Students learn how to think critically about and prepare for their academic and career pathways. FYE 101 can be used as elective credit and transferred to a four-year college or university.

Highlights:
• Interactive, student-centered teaching
• Success groups for students to support one another
• Help constructing a transfer or career plan
• Improvement in key areas to help students achieve their goals
• Strategies and skills to create success in college and life

FYE 101 is a three-credit course and students may use financial aid to pay for the course. For more information or to enroll, students may talk with their academic advisor, email success@llcc.edu,
call 217.786.2292 or visit Admission and Registration in Menard Hall.

Encourage current students to register for spring by Dec. 2 to be eligible for free books and supplies!

Current students who register and pay (or make payment arrangements) for spring semester by Dec. 2 could win free books and supplies for spring! Three current fall students will win books and supplies for courses in which they are enrolled for spring (up to $500) from the LLCC bookstore. Winners will be chosen on Dec. 4 from names of all current students who have registered and paid, or make appropriate payment arrangements, for spring by Dec. 2.

We’re encouraging current students to register for spring semester by Dec. 2, get a chance for free books and supplies, and relax over the holidays!

Spring registration begins today for current students. You can assist by encouraging students to register now, rather than waiting. There are many advantages, including more class selections and a more flexible payment plan.

Also, WebAdvisor was recently enhanced and is now easier to use.

Students can now:
• Search for classes by term
• Search for classes by location
• Search for classes by delivery method (in-class, online, hybrid)

Encourage students to register now for spring classes using WebAdvisor!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During the month of October, advocates for victims and survivors strive to increase knowledge, understanding and support for those impacted by domestic violence, or “dv.” Advocates often share information, hold informational groups or even silently offer support and solidarity by wearing a purple ribbon; the color purple is recognized for domestic violence awareness month (http://www.nrcdv.org/dvam/traditional-campaign-events-ideas). Faculty, staff, and students can show their support by picking up their purple ribbon at the Advising, Counseling, and Career Services front desk or the Student Life Office.

Also for students, Claire Heffron-McKinney, located in Advising and Counseling is a certified Domestic Violence Professional and can be reached at 786-2591, or we have licensed counselors in Advising and Counseling, who can be reached at 786-2224. Thank you for your support in these issues! If you want to help with these charges, please call Leslie Johnson, AVP of Student Success at 786-2848.

Read Facts About Domestic Violence.

To assist you in helping students with the financial aid process and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), ISAC offers free professional development opportunities for counselors, mentors, and community partners through an annual certification series of training modules. Workshops give professionals a detailed understanding of the financial aid process and its programs through the use of case study scenarios and real-life examples. LLCC is hosting a workshop Nov. 16.

ISAC’s Annual Financial Aid Certification program is part of the National Training for Counselors and Mentors (NT4CM). NT4CM is a free train-the-trainer program to support counselors and mentors who assist students and their families in preparing financially for college. In Illinois, ISAC is the designated provider of the NT4CM training and has been since the inception of the program.
Session participants who successfully pass each knowledge assessment receive an official certificate of completion via e-mail.

ISAC also awards free continuing education credits (CEs) and continuing professional development units (CPDUs) to session participants at a rate of one per contact hour. To earn these, it is necessary to attend each session in its entirety and complete one session-specific knowledge assessment, an ISAC and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Evaluation Form, and an ISBE Evidence of Completion.

All sessions are offered at no cost to counselors, mentors, and members of the general public. More information about ISAC’s Annual Financial Aid Certification Program and registration for these events can be found online at:
www.ISAC.org/FinancialAidCertification

The A-Team, or autism awareness and support group, is an informal group of students, faculty and staff who are interested in talking and learning about the challenges and successes of students with autism spectrum disorders. We will meet from noon-1 p.m. in the R.H. Stephens Room, Menard Hall on the following dates: Sept. 29, Oct. 27 and Nov. 10.