6.8 STUDENT SERVICES
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The goal of the University Laboratory High School’s Student Services Program is to help students benefit from every aspect of the school experience. The Assistant Director oversees the Student Services Office and staff which includes the Guidance Counselor, the Director of College Counseling, and the Student Services Secretary/School Registrar. The Student Services Staff is available to students, parent(s)/guardian(s) and teachers for discussion of students’ academic, personal or future planning concerns. The following services are available:
Academic Advising — Academic Advising is offered by the Guidance Counselor who monitors students’ progress throughout the five years, prepares students for the following year’s course selection, counsels all new students on course selections and extracurricular activities, assists students with college concurrent enrollment requests at both the UIUC and Parkland, offers study skills help, and serves as liaison between parent(s)/guardian(s) and the school. The Guidance Counselor can also assist in coordinating tutorial assistance.
Personal Counseling — Personal counseling is available with the Guidance Counselor who meets directly with students to help identify problems and work through them. The counselor assists teachers, administration, and outside resources in addressing academic, personal, behavioral, and emotional concerns. These services include:
• Serving as an advocate for students;
• Listening to students and assessing their needs/developing realistic interventions;
• Providing short-term personal and crisis counseling;
• Helping students to set realistic goals;
• Helping students to understand their learning style and to assess their overall needs;
• Reporting and referring a case when a person’s welfare is in jeopardy;
• Assisting students with transition issues;
• Providing educational information and programs for parent(s)/guardian(s) and faculty.
NOTE: An employee or student having any reason to believe a student is considering or threatening suicide should immediately contact an administrator or the Guidance Counselor.
NOTE: All school personnel are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect directly to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (Urbana Office: 333-1034) (325 ILCS 5/1, et seq.). Reports of child abuse or neglect must include, when known, the name and address of the child and his parent(s)/guardian(s) or other persons having custody, the child’s age, the nature of the child’s condition including any evidence of previous injuries or disabilities, and any other information which the person reporting believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of such abuse or neglect and the identity of the person believed to have caused the abuse or neglect.
School Violence Hotline: If you suspect someone may be contemplating or planning a violent act, notify the Assistant Director or contact the School Violence Hotline: 1-800-477-0024.
Academic Monitoring — Students in the Early Assistance program and students on academic probation work closely with the Guidance Counselor who monitors their academic progress.
Post-Secondary Planning — Students and families receive information from the Guidance Counselor on a variety of post-secondary planning topics including: standardized testing (college entrance exams), concurrent enrollment information (for both UIUC & Parkland), summer opportunities, leadership programs, career planning activities, and “Time-Out” options after high school.
The Guidance Counselor works closely with the Director of College Counseling — preparing students for the formalized College Counseling Program which begins during the junior year.
College Counseling — Students and families begin working during the Spring semester of the junior year with the Director of College Counseling on the formalized college counseling process.
Junior Class Night (the annual College Planning Program for junior families) officially “kicks off” this formalized process, as students and parent(s)/guardian(s) are invited to attend this evening event to learn about the college planning process, financial aid, and the timelines that lie ahead.
The Director of College Counseling then begins to work with the junior students through group/class meetings, individual appointments, and continued PCC programming (see information regarding the Peer College Counseling program). Students begin to compile a list of possible college choices, and are encouraged to continue the college search process throughout the summer.
College Counseling for the seniors is an extensive program of conferences, small-group meetings and classroom visits, as well as guidance through the process of applications and college essays. Student/parent(s)/guardian(s) evening informational programs are also offered—covering various topics related to the college application process and financial aid. One of the most challenging yet rewarding tasks for the Director of College Counseling is completing a strong letter of recommendation for each student.
Admissions officers visit University Laboratory High School throughout the school year to talk with interested students. Such visits enable students to learn firsthand about the colleges they may be considering. College admissions officers also meet directly with the Director of College Counseling to learn more about the curriculum and the preparation students receive at University Laboratory High School.
School Registrar — The Student Services Secretary serves as the School Registrar. Students and parent(s)/guardian(s) should see the Secretary/Registrar regarding:
• Student records, report cards, student progress reports and test scores;
• The tracking of all outgoing college applications;
• The certification of all official transcripts and verification of student status for “good student” discounts via insurance companies;
• Admissions process paperwork;
• Copies of transcripts for students, as requested;
• Add/Drop requests and new schedules;
• Student GPA;
• Appointments with the Guidance Counselor and the Director of College Counseling;
• Paperwork for Concurrent Enrollment requests at both the University of Illinois and Parkland College;
• Paperwork for the NCAA Clearinghouse;
• Parent-Teacher Conferences;
• Independent Study Requests from students/teachers.
Publications — The Student Services Office also publishes several newsletters/documents including:
• The PCC College Zone: Distributed to junior and senior students/families (approximately once a month).
• The CQ (College-bound Quarterly) Newsletter: Distributed to the entire Uni High community four times a year.
• College Admissions/School Profile: Distributed to colleges and attached to all outgoing transcripts. This is a six-page, tri-fold document highlighting Uni’s mission statement, history, academic honors, lab mission, curriculum, “no rank” policy, student activities, Uni traditions, standardized testing averages, college admission offers to Uni students, etc.