Students in search of tutoring, better note-taking and study skills should enroll in the Program for Academic Student Success (PASS), which aims to do as its name states.
Javier Alcantar, program manager at the Valle Verde campus, has been with PASS for 22 years.
“This [PASS] is a mini college within the college for disadvantaged students; a support system,” said Alcantar.
The program focuses on both academic and non-academic skills such as time management, test-taking, transfer and career advising, personal growth and development, and is targeted toward students who are on the brink of dropping out, said Alcantar.
Alcantar, with the help of program student advisor Laura Molina, has made the PASS program a success with 87 percent of students in good standing with a GPA of 2.5 or better.
“I walked in hoping to get help in math,” said Arlina Palacios, student and mother of two, but gained more than that.
“I picked up study skills that spilled over into my other courses. It’s not just about reading, writing, math, but knowing more about your own self. They [PASS] help you get there,” said Palacios.
The PASS program is federally-funded by the U.S. Department of Education and Student Support Services.
The program is available at all EPCC campuses except for the Northwest campus.
For more information, call 831-2128 or visit room A1401 at Valle Verde.
The PASS program’s website is currently under construction.
