You Are Welcome Here!

Our Counseling Team is committed to creating a culturally inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students.

We seek to cultivate safe spaces where students feel respected, valued, and able to fully participate in their educational journey, free from judgment, criticism, abuse, and harassment.
 

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Counselor assisting a high school student

Connect with a Counselor

  • Book an In-person or Online Zoom Appointment. Please note that Counseling Appointments are often fully booked three weeks out, so plan your schedule appropriately and book the counseling appointment as soon as you can.
     
  • Express Counseling is available online via Zoom or in person during the Fall and Spring semesters, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, on a first-come, first-served basis.  *Please note that Express Counseling ends promptly at 3:00 pm, with the last student being seen at 2:45 pm.
     
  • Send email to mycounselors@evc.edu for quick questions and prerequisite clearances ONLY.  Please note that Counselors cannot schedule counseling appointments.  Do not send appointment requests to this email.

Counseling Appointments

Students can make one of the following appointments:

  • 60 minutes
  • 30 minutes
  • Express Counseling
    (Available Tues.--Thurs. 9am-3pm; Fall & Spring semesters only.  Please note that Express Counseling ends promptly at 3:00 pm, with the last student being seen at 2:45 pm).
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Graduation Petitions

In order to graduate or earn a degree and/or certificate, students must schedule an appointment with a Counselor to submit a graduation petition.  For additional information and/or graduation deadlines visit evc.edu/graduation.

We Can Help

Explore the various ways Counselors can assist and support you in achieving your academic goals below.

Academic Planning

A Student Education Plan (SEP) is a key tool for academic success. It provides a personalized, semester-by-semester outline of the courses you need to complete to achieve your educational goals. 

Students can create an SEP on their own through Self Service, by enrolling in COUNS 014--College Success course, or with a Counselor during a 30-minute or 60-minute counseling appointment.

Please note that Counselors prefer to wait to complete comprehensive SEPs for incoming freshmen, students who have completed fewer than 12 to 15 units of college-level coursework, or those who have not yet selected a specific major or transfer university.  If students like an overview of the required courses for various majors or degrees at EVC, they can view the Program Mapper.

Academic Probation

Placement on academic/progress probation should be taken very seriously because it can delay a students' educational journey.  Go to Academic Probation/Dismissal for further details.

Career/Major Exploration

Choosing a major and career can feel overwhelming, and starting college may seem intimidating — but it's okay to feel unsure. Counselors at EVC are here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Here are several ways to explore majors and careers at EVC:

  1. Take a career exploration course: COUNS 013 –Career Planning (3 units)
  2. Work with a Counselor to identify your values, skills, interests, and long-term career goals. From there, you can explore a wide range of options and begin charting your career path. Remember, career counseling is a collaborative effort—you’ll gain the most when you actively engage. Come to your appointment with an open mind and a readiness to reflect on your values, skills, interests, goals and strengths.
  3. Students can explore their career and major options on their own by taking a variety of self-assessments.  EVC students have access to these tools through the online platform Eureka To access Eureka free of charge, please contact the Counseling Office or email the Counselors’ mailbox at mycounselor@evc.edu.

Course Repeat Petition

At EVC, students are allowed to repeat a credit course a maximum of three (3) times. This includes any combination of substandard grades (D, F, NP, NC, or FW) or course withdrawals marked as a “W.”

For a second repeat (third attempt) or third repeat (fourth and final attempt), an online Repeat Petition must be submitted. This online petition is initiated and submitted by a Counselor. To begin the process, please schedule a 30-minute appointment with a Counselor.

Course Substitution & Process

Students who wish to use courses completed at another college or university to earn credit toward a degree or certificate at EVC may submit a Course Substitution Petition.  Please note that this process applies only to major courses, not general education (GE) courses. For questions about receiving credit for GE courses, refer to the "Preliminary Evaluation of Transcripts" section below or schedule an appointment with a Counselor for further guidance.

Process: As of Fall 2024, students are no longer required to meet with Counselors to complete this process; however, Counselors are still available to assist and support students with the Course Substitution Petition process.  It is the student’s responsibility to complete the form and submit it to the appropriate academic Dean and their Administration Assistant for review and approval.

Dual Enrollment

At EVC, we welcome middle school and high school students to take college-level courses through our Dual Enrollment program. To learn more and access the required forms, please visit the Dual Enrollment webpage.

Please note that Counselors do not process Dual Enrollment forms. If a student wishes to enroll in a course that has a prerequisite, the Dual Enrollment staff will forward the application and supporting documents to the Counselors’ mailbox for review and prerequisite clearances.  Please do not contact Counselors regarding the status or processing time of Dual Enrollment forms.

Excess Units Request

At EVC, students are limited to a maximum of 18 units during a regular Fall or Spring semester, 10 units during the Summer session, and 7 units during the Winter or Spring Intersession.

Students who wish to exceed these unit limits must schedule a 30-minute appointment with a Counselor to complete the Excess Units Authorization Form.  Please note that Counselors base their approval on the student’s academic history, including past performance and overall GPA.

General Education Guidance

Effective Fall 2025, California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) is the new general education (GE) pattern designed to streamline the transfer process from a California Community College to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC). It has yet to be determined when the use of the CSU GE and/or IGETC pattern will be phased out. Some students may be eligible to continue following the old CSU GE and/or IGETC patterns. Learn more about which GE pattern you may be eligible for. If you have questions about which option is best for you, meet with a counselor.

In-Progress Verification Petition & Process

Students who need to enroll in a course at EVC but have not completed the prerequisite(s) at EVC may be eligible to submit an In-Progress Verification Petition.

For example: If a student wishes to enroll in MATH 073 – Multivariable Calculus at EVC but has not completed MATH 072 – Calculus II with Analytic Geometry at EVC and is currently enrolled in an equivalent course at another college or university, they may proceed with the In-Progress Verification Petition process.

Process: The student must schedule a 30-minute counseling appointment to meet with a Counselor, present an unofficial transcript showing the in-progress course at another institution.  If the Counselor is able to verify the equivalency/articulation of the required prerequisite, they will clear the student to register for the requested course in the system, complete the In-Progress Verification Petition and submit the completed petition to the Dean of Admissions & Records for review and approval. 

If the Counselor cannot verify the equivalency/articulation of the required prerequisite course(s), then they will refer the student to go through the Prerequisite Verification Process first to get the equivalency/articulation approved by the specific department.

Personal Counseling

We strongly encourage students who are experiencing challenges with emotional regulation, self-esteem, or interpersonal relationships that may be affecting their education to meet with a Counselor.  EVC Counselors provide a safe, supportive space to help students identify stressors, understand their emotional responses, and develop effective coping strategies.  Students can also access mental health support through the Student Health & Wellness Department.

Preliminary Evaluation of Transcripts

Students who have completed courses at other colleges or universities and wish to transfer those credits to EVC can meet with a Counselor for a preliminary transcript evaluation. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for this purpose and can help Counselors recommend appropriate courses for the upcoming semester.  Please note that Counselors are not official evaluators.  For an official evaluation of transcripts, students must submit a request to the Evaluators after registering for or completing at least 12 units at EVC.

Prerequisite Clearance

Students who wish to use courses completed at another college or university to meet prerequisites for higher-level courses at EVC (also known as prerequisite clearances) may submit a Prerequisite Verification Request to the counselors’ mailbox at mycounselor@evc.edu. Please ensure all required documents are included in a single email—this may include unofficial transcripts or AP score reports.  All documents must clearly display the name of the college or university, the student’s name, and the completed course with a grade of “C” or higher.  

If a Counselor is unable to verify the equivalency or articulation of the prerequisite course(s), the student will be referred to the appropriate academic department to complete the Prerequisite Verification Request process for review and possible approval.

Transfer

Any of our Counselors are available to assist with most transfer-related questions, including timelines, application deadlines and procedures, completing transfer applications, and understanding required coursework such as general education and major preparation.

Contact.

Victor G. Garza
Dean, Counseling Services & Student Success
Victor.Garza@evc.edu
Student Services Complex 

Celina Gallegos
Sr. Division Administrative Assistant
Celina.Gallegos@evc.edu
408-270-6478
Student Services Complex
 

Location
Student Services Complex - Student Counseling
(2nd Floor S-2027)
408-270-6475
Campus Map (PDF)​​

Office Hours
Mon./Tue./Thurs.: 8am-5pm
Wed.: 8am-6pm (Fall/Spring) 
Wed.: 8am-5pm (Summer/Winter)
Fri: 8am-1pm

CSUs /UCs

Students can visit the Transfer & Career Center in person on the second floor of the Student Services building (Room# S-2003) or click on Transfer Center for more information about transferring to UCs and CSUs on the Transfer Center webpage.

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Staff

Counseling Staff

Victor G. Garza Division Dean, Counseling Services & Student Success
Celina Gallegos Sr. Division Administration Assistant
Jovita Valdez Academic Services Analyst
Joseph Martinez Program Specialist, Counseling
Grace Nguyen Interim Program Specialist, Counseling

 

Counselors

Alejandro Ramos Torres Adjunct Counselor
Alma Garcia Adjunct Counselor
Caritha Anderson Counselor, Early Alert
Charlie Kahn-Lomax Counselor/Coordinator, EOPS
Claudia Barbosa-Daniels Counselor/Coordinator, Umoja-Affirm
Doriann Tran Counselor, Auto. Technolgy
Grace Tong Counselor, DSP
Hang Chu Counselor, Aspire
Hanh Deng Counselor
Harvey Gipson Adjunct Counselor
Jose de Jesus Sancez Counselor
Kathleen Melendez Adjunct Counselor, OASISS
Kim Nguyen Adjunct Counselor
Laura Garcia  Counselor/Articulation Officer
Martha Hardin Counselor
Mirella Burton Counselor, Enlace
Monica (Delia) Galvin Adjunct Counselor
Patricia Perkins Adjunct Counselor
Rosa Pereida Counselor
Rosa Vidales Adjunct Counselor, Veterans
Thao Nguyen Adjunct Counselor
Theresa Carpio  Counselor
Thompson Ly Adjunct Counselor
Tina Iniguez Counselor, International 
Tram Pham  Counselor, EOPS/CARE
William Sapigao Counselor, Athletics
Will Thai Counselor/Coordinator, Transfer Center
Yolanda Hayes Adjunct Counselor, Nursing