Guidance, Counseling, and Assessment Office

General Functions

Guidance, Counseling and Assessment Services plays in the overall development and success of our students. In collaboration with other college departments, we lead the development of mental health programs to support students' and other stakeholders' mental health and wellbeing. Its programs aim to assist students in achieving their full potential, enhancing well-being, and improving academic, career, personal, and interpersonal skills through tailored support, resources, and interventions while promoting inclusivity, diversity, and continuous improvement.

Guidance Services Offered

1. Guidance Services Offered

   Counseling

   • Individual Counseling - assist the students through call-in, walk-in, and/or referral type. Counselor can call-in identified students during the initial intake interview and based on results of psychological assessments conducted. Interview of the student is conducted upon admission until graduation to identify potential problems and prevent them from becoming serious.
   • Group Counseling - a group intervention with the consent of the college dean to meet the students in their classrooms for group interpretation or psychological intervention. This is a venue to provide information on health and wellness and group discussion of identified shared concerns.
   • Career Counseling - a personalized and multifaceted service focused on helping the students explore their strengths, interests, and values, aligning them with potential career paths. The process involves self-assessment, career exploration, educational and career planning, goal setting, skills development, job search strategies, and continuous guidance to empower students in making informed decisions and successfully navigating their career journeys.
   • Tele-Counseling - a remote counseling service using communication technologies to enhance accessibility, maintaining confidentiality, and providing a range of counseling support integrating technology through online platforms such as video conferencing, email counseling, and telephonic counseling.

   Referral System- This is an essential tool that systematically directs individuals with specific needs beyond the scope of the counseling center to external resources, professional services. Referrals can also be made for academic concerns, personal, financial, and psycho-social concerns. This can include teacher-referral, family member-referral, or peer-referral.

2. Prevention And Wellness Services

   • Seminars/Workshops/Symposia - programs held for a variety of audiences including staff, teachers, and student organizations which covers leadership, teamwork, defining values, personhood, life coaching, and enhancing interpersonal connections among others.
   • Group Dynamics - interactive and structured exercises aimed at promoting positive interactions, enhancing communications, and fostering a sense of community. This activity includes ice breakers, team-building exercises, skill-building workshops, mindfulness techniques, thematic discussions, expressive arts, conflict resolution exercises, peer support circles, and goal-setting sessions.
   • Peer Mentor Program - This involves pairing experienced mentors to provide academic and personal support. This program aims to contribute to students’ overall well-being and positive development.
   • System Support - This covers guidance staff professional development and committee participation where it strongly encourages guidance staff members to attend yearly seminars, trainings, and workshops to further enhance their expertise in the field of guidance and counseling as well as participate in different committees assigned by the administration as needed.
   • Psychological First Aid/MHPSS - This is a crucial tool for prevention and mental wellness to provide immediate, compassionate support to individuals in distress, including rapid assessments, active listening, and practical assistance. This incorporates psychoeducation, crisis intervention, and referral to specialized services with cultural sensitivity.

3. Assessment/Testing Services

   Assessment/Testing Services within the Guidance Program involve the use of various tools for assessment to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s abilities, interests, aptitudes, preferences, and characteristics.

4. Information Services

   Information services for students under the guidance program involve the proactive gathering and dissemination of relevant information to address their academic, social, and personal needs.

5. Placement and Follow-Up

   With the use of this service, students can get help getting into specific programs within the college. When a student wants to switch to a different course, they are directed to the Guidance center to speak with their assigned guidance counselor.

6. Research, Evaluation and Training

   The guidance services are systematically evaluated by this service, which is to determine whether the program’s aims and objectives have been reached.

7. Appointment Procedures

   We understand how important it is for the student to access the Guidance Appointment link. State the purpose of the appointment, set the schedule and time according to the student’s availability. Please come at your specific time for the appointment.

8. Counseling Procedure

   1. Student identifies the need for counseling through call-in, walk-in, or referral.
   2. Based on the first intake interview, if necessary, psychological assessment is conducted to gather more information about the student’s needs and challenges. Counseling sessions will be scheduled with informed consent from the student to prevent potential problems from escalating and develop strategies for personal growth and well-being.
   3. If concerns require expert handling or specialized professional assistance, the Guidance Counselor/Associate may refer the student to appropriate agencies. Continuous monitoring of the student’s progress through follow-up sessions to help track the effectiveness of the intervention. Evaluation of the counseling process is done before closing the counseling session to assess effectiveness and make adjustments of the student’s concern.

1. Admissions

   Admission

   • The City College of Cagayan de Oro's Admission Office, guided by CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 9, series of 2013 and CMO No. 8, series of 2021, and the College's mission, vision, goals, and objectives, ensures an inclusive, transparent, and equitable admission process. The office reviews applications, conducts interviews, and assesses standardized test scores while upholding the College's commitment to efficiency, inclusivity, and accessibility.
     
     Pursuant to its mandate, the Admission Office also works hand-in-hand with the Academic cluster in providing and disseminating information and materials about programs, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities that all qualified students can take advantage of to ensure continuity of learning.
     
     Lastly, it conducts information and orientation sessions for prospective students, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the College's offerings, future careers, and steadfast commitment to providing excellent education.
     
     

   List of Service Offered

   • Online Pre-registration
   
   
   • Admission Orientation
   
   
   • Administration of City College Admission Test (CCAT)