One-stop shop, Student Services Center now open

07/19/21
worker helping student enroll

Monday, July 19, 2021

Starting Monday, July 19, Bakersfield College's new one-stop shop to address student needs and concerns, BC's Student Services Center, will be open on campus to assist students on the main Panorama campus Monday through Thursday from 7:30AM to 5:00PM. New and returning students can seek help and support from several different departments, all conveniently located in the CSS building, in room CSS 151. The Student Services Center is meant to ease the student journey and will include Admissions and Records, Financial Aid and Scholarships, EOPS, CARE, CalWORKS, NextUp, AB540, Early College, and all Welcome Center services such as enrollment support, class scheduling, and troubleshooting.  
  
“We're here and ready to support students no matter where they are in their educational journey and no matter how they feel most comfortable taking the next step. Whether students are eager to come back on campus or want to continue online, we have services and course offerings available to fit both lifestyles or any schedule,” said Dr. Zav Dadabhoy, President of Bakersfield College. 

The COVID-19 pandemic undeniably affected higher education, forcing a global shift to remote and online learning resulting in decreased enrollment nationwide. At Bakersfield College, the pandemic caused a 3.3% decrease in student headcount and 5.8% decrease in course enrollment in fall 2020 compared to the fall semester of the previous year. 

Dr. Dadabhoy is ready to see students return to pre-pandemic levels of engagement. He says this is important because, “Community Colleges hold an important key to our economic rebound. At BC, we've identified the labor workforce needs and are constantly evaluating and developing curriculum-based programs that will skill-up our workforce, keeping career-readiness at the core of our education. We have career pathways for some of the highest growing sectors such as healthcare, automation, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.”

The new Student Services Center can be used as a one-stop-shop for all new or returning students to get any help they need to start or continue their education. Due to ongoing renovations and new construction from the passing of the Measure J bond in 2016, the Student Services Center is located in the Center for Student Success, in CSS 151. Students who do not already have a parking permit are encouraged to park in the guest parking (P1), located through the main entrance off Haley St.

Students and visitors will be guided by signage and markers to the Student Services Center in CSS 151, located on the east side of the Center for Student Success building, on the 2nd floor. Also beginning Monday, students who wish to make an appointment can do so by visiting the Bakersfield College website.

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