Bossier Parish Community College is in compliance with this comprehensive standard because the College provides appropriate academic support services to promote the overall success of students. The diverse services available to students at Bossier Parish Community College address the following: traditional academic areas, technical support for electronic (e-based) learning, and students with special needs through the Office for Disability Services.

A student enrolling at Bossier Parish Community College, full-time or part-time, is offered initial academic advising services as outlined in the General Catalog 39. The Academic Affairs Division/Executive Dean of Instruction assign the student a faculty member specific to the student's course of study. A student who is undecided on a course of study, who is non-degree-seeking, or who is transferring from another institution is also assigned a faculty member as an academic advisor. Advising services include initial course registration, program selection, and continuing academic guidance towards successful completion of the student's academic goal. Additionally, faculty members serving as academic advisors complete annual training in advising services and receive a copy of the Faculty Advisor Manual. New faculty members are assigned faculty mentors who are experienced faculty advisors.

Library services are provided to all students enrolled at Bossier Parish Community College. The BPCC Library offers traditionally shelved resources pertinent to all program areas. The Dean of Learning Resources and all academic divisions communicate continuously on these resources. Annually, faculty and staff offer recommendations for resource procurement, which includes books, periodicals, and audiovisual materials. Library resources also include various reference materials, historical collections of Louisiana documents, and inclusion in the state-wide Interlibrary Loan system. Internet access is provided for all students in the Technology Resource Center to support student research efforts. Electronic access to online catalogs of all Louisiana state-supported institutions and other state and private institutions are provided as a member of LOUIS, the Louisiana Library Network. Student survey results from the past three semesters show that students are more than satisfied with library resources and services. Fall 2005 student survey results showed that 257 of 269 students surveyed (95.5 percent) rated the Library's overall performance as Excellent or Good. Spring 2006 student survey results found that 278 of 282 students (98.6 percent) rated overall performance as Excellent or Good. Fall 2006 student survey results showed that 106 of 111 students (95.4 percent) rated overall performance as Excellent or Good. Faculty survey results from the past three years indicate that the College's faculty are more than satisfied with library resources and services. Spring 2004 faculty survey results showed that 97.9 percent rated the Library's performance as Excellent or Good. Spring 2005 faculty survey results indicated that 98.5 percent rated the Library's performance as Excellent or Good. Spring 2006 faculty survey results showed ratings at 97.5 percent for Excellent or Good performance.

The Technology Resource Center (TRC) located in the second floor of the College Library offers students access to technological academic support services such as Blackboard for the posting of information from instructors to supplement or complement coursework; access to databases for a variety of fields, including literature, science, education, and behavioral sciences; access to the internet for researching material for coursework; and access to computers and printers for writing and creating documents for class. A manager of the TRC assists students and provides orientations for classes upon request. A question on the 2006 ACT Student Opinion Survey showed that 749 of 831 students who answered the question indicated that services provided by the TRC were satisfactory. The number of computers in the TRC has been increased to meet the needs of the students.

The Learning Center (TLC) at Bossier Parish Community College offers students the opportunity to access required or supplementary course material available in electronic format/software programs, textbooks, and figure models for specific courses, particularly in the Natural Sciences field. In the Learning Center, there are numerous workstations with audio head-sets; the informal setting allows students to work most effectively at their own pace. Additionally, there are study rooms to allow for study groups. A dedicated full-time staff and cadre of student assistants assist students and provide tutoring services. The TLC tracks the numbers of students who use the service and report the results on the TLC website. Students who visit the center complete a survey which is tabulated each semester. Each semester faculty members receive a list of students in their classes who have utilized the services of the learning center. Based on feedback from students and faculty, additional anatomical models, microscopes, computer software, and other learning aids have been added to the TLC.

Students enrolling in online courses or courses augmented with electronic-based curricula are supported by the Division of Educational Technology. Orientation sessions presented at the beginning of each semester are mandatory for students enrolling in online course(s) for the first time. Introductory training in online course administration is provided on a regular basis for faculty and staff. Additionally, on-going/follow-up training is offered for faculty in enhanced e-based instruction resources and presentations. The division offers technical support to students, faculty, and staff for electronic courses and resources, as well as an online diagnostic evaluation of a student's personal work station with regards to supporting online coursework provided by this institution. The division also administers the SMARTHINKING, an online-tutoring resource. Chairs of academic divisions, along with other members of the Planning Council, provide annual evaluations of division services by completing the BPCC Report Card. Students enrolled in online coursework are asked to complete a survey on educational technology services provided. After reviewing previous surveys, a mandatory orientation has been required of all first time students; faculty are now encouraged to provide orientations for students utilizing a course management system in their traditional classes.

The Counseling Center provides students with access to licensed counselors for personal and career counseling. Personal counseling with unlimited follow-up counseling is available; also included are crisis intervention and referral services. Career counseling provides students with specified occupational options based on the students' interests, program choice, and career goals. Online and paper surveys provide students with feedback on occupational opportunities with updated data and criterion from United States' Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Office for Disability Services provides a variety of necessary modifications and accommodations for disabled students. Students are introduced to the availability of such services during initial registration and in each individual course by each instructor in the Section Information Sheet of each course section. Students utilizing services of the Counseling Center are asked to evaluate the effectiveness of such services by completing the Career Counseling Survey, Disability Services Survey, or the Counseling Services Client Satisfaction Survey.

Bossier Parish Community College is in compliance with this comprehensive standard because the College provides appropriate academic support services to promote the overall success of students by supporting a well-equipped library, a Technology Resource Center, a Learning Center, and a Counseling Center. Special accommodations are made for students who require such services, and many courses are either augmented or offered electronically. The academic services provided are routinely assessed by students and faculty, and results from evaluations are used to improve services.