Student Support

A wide range of student support services are available to help students succeed at Reading Area Community College and beyond.

The College provides professional staff who are available to assist students with personal and social matters, as well as career, transfer and educational planning.

Tutoring Services

Free tutoring is provided for all developmental credit courses, several 100-level courses and select 200-level courses in the Tutoring Center (Berks Hall 209). Tutors are available during posted hours to assist students on a walk-in basis in reading, writing, math, science, etc. and to facilitate study groups. Individual tutoring is available on a limited basis to students enrolled in credit classes who have a documented disability.

Transfer Center Services

Located in B216, the Transfer Center provides assistance for students planning to transfer from RACC to another college or university. Resources available to current RACC students include:

• Assistance with finding a transfer school that meets students’ educational and career goals.
• Literature from college and universities throughout the area.
• Information about course equivalency and articulation of RACC courses to a wide variety of other colleges and universities. Articulation information is also available online at www.patrac.org and www.collegetransfer.net.
• Information about scholarships available to students transferring from RACC to other colleges and universities.

RACC collaborates with the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center to provide all students detailed information about how credits will transfer between RACC and other participating public and private institutions in Pennsylvania. This information is available online at www.patrac.org

Career Center Services

The Career Center provides current RACC students and RACC alumni with assistance in identifying career goals, establishing ways in which these goals can be achieved, and transitioning from college to the world of work. Resources available include

• Career Exploration though one-on-one appointments and online resources.
• Workshops throughout the year to assist with identifying career goals and developing job search strategies.
• Job Opening information from employers interested in hiring current students and RACC graduates.
• Resume and Cover Letter evaluation and writing assistance.
• On-campus Recruiting visits by employers interested in hiring current students and RACC graduates.
• Career Library of information including labor market data, job descriptions, and internship information.
• Career Fair for students and alumni to connect with employers.

The Career Center also offers 2 courses on career development: Career Decision Making and Professionalism on the Job.

KEYS Program

KEYS is a state-run program designed to help a specific group of students attend, and succeed, in community college. Students who receive benefits through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and wish to enroll, or are already enrolled, in a community college in Pennsylvania, may be eligible to participate in KEYS.

The KEYS program here at RACC provides a student facilitator to help students achieve career goals by utilizing college services such as career counseling, tutoring, academic support and financial aid. Students will also be connected to Berks County Supportive Services and other community service agencies.

Students enrolled in KEYS may be eligible for financial assistance to cover such expenses as:

• Child care
• Transportation
• School/training registration fee (not tuition)
• Books and school or training supplies
• Test fees
• Clothing
• Equipment/tools needed for school/training
• Car purchase
• Car repair
• Motor vehicle operator fees

Probation and Alert Advising

The academic probation policy gives students warning and time to prove their academic performance before being suspended or dismissed. Students on probation are required to meet with an advisor to review their past academic performance, discuss strategies for success and select appropriate courses. During this meeting, advisors help students complete an ACE PASS (Agreement for Continued Enrollment Plan for Achieving Student Success). Students on probation may only change their schedules after completing the ACE PASS with an advisor and/or reviewing requested changes with an advisor. Students on Alert are not required to meet with an advisor, but are encouraged to do so to discuss ways to avoid probation and return to good standing. For more information see Academic Policies .

Student Facilitators/Case Managers

Student facilitators and case managers are available to provide you with support to keep you moving forward in attaining your personal and academic goals while enrolled at the College. These individuals can connect you with specific college and community resources designed to enhance personal and academic success.

Advantage Program/Student Support Services Program - Intensive assistance in college skills development is available through Support Services. Funded by the federal government, this project expands college access by providing basic skills instruction, tutoring and supportive counseling.

Carl Perkins Program - Federally funded, the Carl Perkins Grant provides academic support and career guidance services to qualified students who are pursuing degrees at Reading Area Community College. Students enrolled in college programs are eligible for these services which include tutoring, academic advisement and career guidance.

Disability Services

Students have the responsibility to self-disclose as a student with a disability and must provide documentation of the disability.

The disability documentation submitted should meet the following guidelines:

(1) assessment completed by a qualified professional

(2) assessment completed within the last three years of the date of application

Additionally, the disability documentation should build a case for and provide sound rationale for the accommodation(s) requested. Decisions regarding requested accommodations are based on the submitted documentation and are a result of collaboration between the student and the disability services staff.

The need for sign language interpreter services should be requested in a reasonable amount of time prior to meeting with disability services staff.

Services for Students with Disabilities - The Center for Academic Success at Reading Area Community College coordinates services for students with disabilities. The primary objective is to provide academic accommodations for students who qualify for services under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act.

Assistive Technology - RACC has acquired assistive technology for use by students with disabilities. There is also a staff person available to train students to use the technology to support student success.

Other Services/Student Activities

Bookstore

Students may purchase textbooks, other required reading materials, and classroom supplies from the bookstore.

Student Activities

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the voice of the student body at Reading Area Community College. Composed of elected freshmen and sophomore senators, SGA promotes civic responsibility and education. The Student Government Association functions under its own Constitution and the Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. SGA offers a discount card program that is free to credit students, staff and faculty.

Clubs and Organizations

Reading Area Community College student clubs are based upon student interest and may vary from year to year. Typical clubs include the Student Newspaper and International Club. Any group of students with a common interest may petition for official sanction as a club. Procedural information may be obtained from the Coordinator of Student Activities located in the Student Union Building, Room 110.

The Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges, was founded in 1918. In addition to recognizing scholastic achievement, Phi Theta Kappa also provides members opportunities for scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. The RACC chapter was chartered in 1990. Students are invited to join when they have completed at least 12 credits of associate degree coursework at RACC with a grade point average of 3.60 or higher. Membership benefits include scholarship opportunities, gold stoles and tassels for graduation and Phi Theta Kappa recognition on diplomas.

Health Services

Students who become ill or need emergency treatment will be directed to one of the local hospitals in Reading for care and treatment. The College assumes no responsibility for the medical treatment of students or for costs incurred for transportation to emergency services or for treatment rendered.

Student Housing

The College does not approve, rate or provide any resident housing facilities. All arrangements for living quarters are the responsibility of the students.

Alumni Association

All students who have graduated from Reading Area Community College automatically become members of the Alumni Association. For more information contact the Foundation Office at 610.607.6239.

Student Parking Services

Parking permits must be obtained within the first two weeks of the semester in the lobby of Penn Hall. Students may park on Lot B (South of Franklin Street), Lot E (Orange Car Lot), or in the Parking Garage. Students requiring handicapped parking will find spaces on all lots as well as along Front Street in front of Penn Hall. If you plan to park in the Parking Garage, you must use your Student Identification Card (ID) to gain access to the garage.

Yocum Library

The Yocum Library building, which contains the Humanities Center and The Yocum Library, was opened in 1996. The library is located on floors two through four of The Yocum Library building. The Humanities Center, which contains classrooms and faculty offices, occupies the first floor of The Yocum Library building.

The Yocum Library schedule and hours of operation are on the library website at www.racc.edu/library. The library is open seven days per week including evening hours Mondays through Thursdays. The Academic Testing Center, which is located within The Yocum Library, maintains a different schedule and hours of operation. Information on the Academic Testing Center is available as a Quick Link on the RACC website, www.racc.edu.

The Yocum Library includes a collection of approximately 65,000 books, films, music recordings, maps, art prints and posters. In addition to the physical collection, the library subscribes to many online databases which provide thousands of electronic or e-books, magazines, journals, newspapers, images, music recordings and primary research resources. RACC students, faculty and staff have access to these databases using passwords. Passwords are available on ANGEL. Library circulation and reference services are available on the second floor of The Yocum Library. The second floor also contains the children’s books, reference books, art prints, posters, maps and the feature film collections. The library’s collection of print magazines, journals, and newspapers are found on the third floor, as well as most of the book collection. Special collections in The Yocum Library include the College Archives, the Wes Fisher Music Score Collection, the Schuylkill Navigation System Map Collection, a research comic book collection and the faculty reserves collection.

The Yocum Library is part of the Berks County Advanced Library Information Network (ALIN) Consortium which links Berks County public libraries. Because the libraries in the Consortium share the same integrated library software system and a county-wide delivery system, library patrons can easily locate and borrow items from any of the libraries in the System. Thus, RACC students have access to over a half-million items in the county-wide libraries collections. RACC students also have access to the online databases of the public libraries using the library card as a password. You can access the catalog as well as the collection of online databases via the Internet at www.racc.edu/library.

The library staff includes reference librarians and technology specialists to help patrons using the library for research. In addition, there is also a Online Learning Librarian who serves as the contact staff member for students in RACC online or Dual Enrollment courses. Library staff information, as well as information on library services for students, staff and faculty, appear on the library website. The library staff provides customized instruction for RACC classes and also teaches library research courses.

The library also publishes on the library website, The Yocum Library Blog, offering articles about library events and resources, as well as reviews of books, films and Internet websites.

If your information needs cannot be met through The Yocum Library or Consortium collections, the library staff has access to library databases such as Access PA and OCLC. Using these databases, the library staff can identify holdings in other libraries and can obtain needed items by Interlibrary Loan. Ask the Reference Librarian or Head of Interlibrary Loan about this service. Other services available in the library include assistive technology (text readers, a print text enlarger, a TDD/TDY telephone line and software), and group study rooms. Check the library website or ask at the Service Desk about access to these services.