Evergreen Valley College

About Special Programs

AFFIRM PROGRAM

The AFFIRM (Academic Force for Inspiration, Retention and Matriculation) Program’s philosophy is that the classroom experience must be rewarding to students, and that they should be exposed to and/or involved in a variety of specialized learning strategies in supportive learning environments. The major focus of the AFFIRM Program is to assist students in developing positive self-images as successful college students while providing them with the opportunity to acquire a solid foundation of basic skills in a supportive environment. The AFFIRM Program is an academic program and offers basic skills courses that include English 330, 104, Math 011A and Guidance 085. Transfer level courses include Chemistry 015, English 001A and Political Science 001. All courses offered will enhance success and progress towards the desired goal.   The AFFIRM Program, although specifically designed for African-American students, also serves all students who desire the nurturing services that are offered by the program, regardless of race.  The overall goal of the AFFIRM Program is to provide academic and personal assistance that will significantly increase graduation and transfer rates of all students in the program.

AFFIRM Program Admissions Criteria

Students who are admitted to the AFFIRM Program must be at the English 322/330 level (Reading and Writing Level 1); at-level placements can be determined through the placement test scores and/or a writing sample. The AFFIRM counselor is responsible for screening students who enroll in the AFFIRM Program. Students who are not at the English 322/330 levels will be placed in other appropriate classes, and will be eligible to use all other AFFIRM services, such as counseling, tutoring, book loans, scholarships, etc.

Support Services

  1. Academic Counseling      
    A counselor is assigned to work specifically with all AFFIRM students. Academic counseling makes it possible for each student to discuss and explore options about their future goals and to develop an educational plan that maps the route by listing courses in sequence that will assist them to attain their goals.
  2. Tutoring             
    Students receive one-on-one assistance with their course work with experienced tutors. This service provides students with the encouragement and support needed to succeed; it has significantly contributed to the increased retention rate of AFFIRM students.
  3. Scholarships and book loans         
    These are made available to assist as many students as possible. The three AFFIRM scholarships are awarded in Spring semester only. The AFFIRM Program also offers book loans for both Spring and Fall semesters.

For office hours and information, call the AFFIRM Program (SC-206) at (408) 274-7900 ext. 6853, or visit online at http://www.evc.edu/affirm/

ASPIRE PROGRAM

The ASPIRE (Asian/Pacific Islander Resources for Excellence) Program is designed to enhance the academic and personal success of Asian/Pacific Islander students, utilizing the commitment and skills of faculty, staff, and mentors. The program welcomes all students who may benefit from the nurturing services that this program offers.

The ASPIRE Program offers courses in Communication Studies, English, ESL, Ethnic Studies, Math, and Political Science. Success in these courses will provide the foundation for student achievement of academic and career goals. These courses employ culture-specific course materials and learning strategies. 

The key support components of the ASPIRE program are tutoring, counseling, mentoring, book loan (for ASPIRE Communication Studies,  English, Ethnic Studies, and Math), and scholarship opportunities. ASPIRE tutoring helps students succeed in college course work.

ASPIRE tutors are trained and supervised by program faculty and staff to provide instructional assistance consistent with program principles and methodologies. ASPIRE counseling incorporates culture-specific strategies to provide academic, career, and personal counseling. The counselor works with program faculty and staff to develop and implement strategies to maximize student success. ASPIRE campus and community mentors provide students with important advice and guidance. They serve as role models and provide links between the academic and the community/work world. ASPIRE also sponsors several scholarships to help students attain their academic goals.  

For office hours and additional information, contact the ASPIRE Program Specialist, in Acacia (A5-204), by phone at (408) 274-7900 ext. 6227, or visit our website at http://www.evc.edu/aspire/

DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Distance Education Program at Evergreen Valley College offers a variety of college credit courses for students interested in learning on an independent as well as collaborative basis. The program includes Online courses consisting of fully online as well as hybrid courses.  

Online courses offer independent and collaborative learning, which is truly space and time independent. These courses use the internet and other online technologies to deliver instruction. They are ideal for working adults or anyone who cannot attend classes on campus on a regular basis.  

Hybrid courses offer both in class and online delivery of instruction. It is ideal for students who need the structured classroom interaction while not having to attend class by using online technologies. 
Distance Education courses are available in a variety of disciplines including business, science, computer science, math, English, engineering, intercultural studies, foreign language, education, and social science. They are equivalent to on-campus courses, and the majority of them meet General Education and transfer requirements. (See the section “Distance Education Programs” in the Schedule of Classes for a listing of available courses and enrollment procedures.) 

Distance Education courses are designed for those who are unable to attend campus classes on a regular basis, prefer independent learning, or would like to take a course at their convenience. Distance Education courses are ideal for persons working toward a college degree, continuing education students, working individuals, single parents, and business professionals who want to brush up professional skills. Students who are usually successful in the Distance Education Program enjoy learning independently, are highly motivated, and possess good study skills.  Thus, Distance Education prepares you to become life-long learners.

The Distance Education Program Office is located in the Library Educational Technology Building, room LE- 230. Contact:  Nasreen Rahim (408) 274-7900 x 6246, email Nasreen.Rahim@evc.edu, and/or visit our Web page at http://www.evc.edu/de/

ENLACE PROGRAM

The Enlace Program is designed to help EVC  Latin@ students succeed. The primary goals of Enlace are:

To support student success, Enlace provides a Math Instructional Assistant, tutors, and Supplemental Instruction (SI ) Leaders. Over 60 Latin@ community professionals contribute to the program as mentors; serving as role models; sharing their personal academic, and career experiences; and providing guidance and motivation for the students. The Enlace Counselor meets with Enlace students to set career goals, take appropriate courses, and prepare to graduate and/or transfer.  In addition, Enlace offers guidance courses for incoming students and for transferring students.

Enlace provides a full range of extracurricular activities during the academic year.  Enlace offers several workshops; including career exploration, leadership development, community awareness, skill improvement.  Three student organizations help students succeed academically, contribute to the community, and develop leadership skills: the Enlace Student Association (ESA), the Enlace Honors Society (EHS), and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS). During the Spring, Enlace students attend on campus the Enlace Honors Conference, its focus on academic excellence, transfer, and community engagement.

The Enlace office is located in Roble 5-134. For office hours and more information, contact the Enlace Program Specialist at (408) 274-7900, ext. 6598, or visit our website at http://www.evc.edu/enlace/

HONORS PROGRAM

The Evergreen Valley College Honors Program serves high achieving students in all majors and interests on our campus by:

Office hours are posted on the office door each semester. For more information, contact the Program Coordinator at (408) 274-7900, ext. 6566, visit the office in RE 206, or see our website at http://www.evc.edu/honors/

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER

The centralized Learning Resource Center (LRC) provides a variety of learning resources for students.  These include Library Services, Computer Individualized Instructional Lab, LRC Open Computer Lab and Campus Tutoring Services. 

The mission of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) is to enable students to improve their academic performance and enhance their educational experience by engaging in student-centered learning activities.  These include topical workshops, study groups, discipline-based seminars, tutorial sessions, and interactive subject area computer programs. 

Students can work at their own pace using computerized instructional material in the faculty supervised Computer Lab. Students have an opportunity to interact with their instructors as well as in small study groups. In an atmosphere carefully structured to be conducive to learning and to meet individual student’s academic goals, the student can take advantage of a myriad of instructional activities and learning tools.

Group Study Rooms:

Students can reserve the small group study rooms for up to 2 hours at a time in the tutoring center.

Computers:

Students need a student ID card to use the open lab computers for up to 2 hours during operating hours.

Print Center:

Copies and printing are available in black and white or color, single or double sided using the available machines. Students may have their EVC IDs encoded for loading money to print or copy.

The Learning Resource Center is located on the lower level of the Library Technology Building (LE-200). For operating hours and more information, call (408) 270-6333.

Library Services

The Library is located on the third floor of the Library/Educational Technology Building. It is a place to study, conduct research, and check out materials to support coursework. The Electronic Research Area has computers with MS Office products and access to several research databases and the Internet. The electronic resources supplement an excellent collection of books, periodicals, and media, including CDs and DVDs. The online library catalog is available for users to locate library materials in the Evergreen Valley College Library and San José City College Library collections. Connect remotely to the library catalog and research databases through the library web page at http://www.evc.edu/library. 

Loan periods vary according to type of material borrowed. General collection items can be checked out for three weeks; items on course reserve are generally checked out for two hours.  Students must obtain an EVC Student ID card from Admissions and Records to borrow Library materials or to use the computers in the Electronic Research Area. 

Many classes come to the Library each semester for workshops tailored to the needs of particular assignments. Interested faculty should call or visit the Reference Desk to make appointments for class visits and to identify Library resources in their disciplines. 

A three-unit online course, Electronic Research and the Internet (LIB 015), teaches students information competency skills, how to conduct research, and the use of current information technologies. 

Additional services and resources include assistive technologies, laptop computers, scanners, free (unsecured) wireless access to the Internet, research guides, ongoing cultural/art displays, DVD/VCR players, and copy machines. Library computers are connected to networked (black and white or color) printers. Group study rooms accommodating 2-8 people are available for checkout with a Student ID card.

Reference librarians and library technicians are ready to assist library patrons during all library hours of operation.

For hours of operation and more information please call (408) 270-6433, or visit our website at http://www.evc.edu/library.

Computer Individualized Instruction Program (CII)

The Computer Individualized Instruction Program was developed to augment and supplement classroom instruction. Students work at their own pace using instructional materials in the faculty supervised Computer Lab. Students have an opportunity to interact with their instructors as well as in small study groups. In an atmosphere carefully organized to be conducive to learning and to individual students’ academic goals, the students can take advantage of self-paced instruction developed with the primary focus of teaching computer skills such as keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets, , Internet and email basics, windows, presentations, and computer literacy.

The Computer Individualized Instruction Program is located on the lower level of the Library Technology Building (LE-200). For operating hours and more information, call (408) 270-6333.

Campus Tutoring and Math Science Resource Center

The Campus Tutoring Program provides free tutoring services and resources in various subjects for registered EVC students: 

Tutoring is offered free on a drop-in, open-lab basis to registered EVC students only. The Tutors’ Bulletin Board displays subject availability and days/times tutoring is offered each Spring and Fall semester.  The Campus Tutoring Center is located in the Library/Ed Tech Building, LE237. For more information, please call 408.274.7900 x6802 or visit www.evc.edu/tutoring_center/index.htm.

Math and science tutoring is provided in the Math and Science Resource Center (MSRC), Acacia Building, AD141.

The Math and Science Resource Center (MSRC)

The MSRC provides tutoring and resource services to support all Math, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, courses.   All tutoring and resource services are offered free on a drop-in, open-lab basis to registered EVC students only.  The MSRC is located in the Acacia Building, AD141.  Office Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 6:00pm and Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  For further information, call 408.274.7900 x6883 or visit www.evc.edu/mse/math_center.htm.

Office Hours for both Campus Tutoring (LE237) and the Math and Science Resource Center (AD141):
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM

Learning Through Community Service-Learning
EVC’s Service-Learning Program offers students a great opportunity to earn college credit, learn by doing, obtain real life experience, explore career options, develop new skills, build resumes, enhance transfer and scholarships applications, while learning to work with diverse groups to affect social change and justice. With our sixty plus community organizations, and schools to choose from, students are able to find a service project that meets their course objectives as well as their career goals.

How is Service-Learning integrated into a class?

What is the Grade based on?

How Can Service-Learning Help Me?

To find out how you can make a difference in your life, your studies, and your community contact us at:
EVC Center for Service-Learning and Public Service
Location:  RD-216
Office Number:  408- 223-6770, Fax 408-270-0158