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STUDENT SERVICES

Air Force Reserve Officer Training (AFROTC)

Students may take AFROTC courses for academic credit with no commitment to the Air Force. For academic credit, a student may take the courses as electives to learn more about national defense, airpower strategy, the Air Force lifestyle, and Core Values. Students can register for classes through Fresno State's extension program. If a student wants to take the courses as a lead-in to a commission as an Air Force officer, he/ she must eventually join the cadet corps to prepare to enter active duty as a second lieutenant. Merced College students, who wish to pursue commissioning as cadets, and not just as students, must be full-time students with at least 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a 2.0 CGPA. They must also be accepted to Fresno State by their junior year in order to complete the commissioning path. In either case, a student or cadet can use the theory and skills learned in Aerospace Studies as leadership experience that will be invaluable for either an Air Force or civilian career. Books and supplies are provided at no cost to the student; uniforms will also be furnished for qualified students at no costs.

For more information, contact California State University-Fresno, AFROTC at (559) 278-2593 or visit Air Force ROTC website.

Basic Needs

The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location for all currently enrolled students to access basic needs services and resources linking students to on- and off-campus housing, food, mental health, and other basic needs.  We are located on the Merced Campus in the Student Union Building, Room 104 and on the Los Banos Campus in the Student Services Building, Room 129. 

CalWORKS Program

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is a state-funded welfare-to-work program designed to help individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a cash aid program (welfare) for parents who meet income guidelines and have a child at home under the age of 18.

CalWORKs serves as a liaison between the student and the Human Services Agency (HSA), the Department of Workforce Investment (DWI) and the Merced County Office of Education EMPOWER program by providing educational and career opportunities combined with an array of high-quality support services that enable students to complete their educational goals, find gainful employment and successfully transition into the workforce.

CalWORKs staff provides customized support services during the student’s educational and employment journey toward self-sufficiency. For more information, contact: Merced College (209) 381-6515 or Los Banos Campus (209) 381-6428, or visit CalWORKS website.

Career Center and Transfer Center Services

Merced College provides students career and transfer resources at the Career/Transfer Center. The Center gives students the opportunity to research colleges and careers through a variety of resources. Counselors are available to provide academic and career advisement. Students are encouraged to visit the Center to learn more about the services they provide. The Center is open during the fall and spring semesters Monday through Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. Summer hours will be posted on the website. The Center is located on the third floor of the Lesher Student Services building, room 312 on the Merced College Campus. Career and Transfer Center Services are also offered at the Los Banos Campus in Building A. For more information, contact Merced Campus at (209) 384-6243 or Los Banos Campus (209) 826-3495.

Child Development Center

Child Development Center services are available on campus for eligible children, with a priority given to eligible full-time Merced College Students and staff. The Merced College Child Development Center is an infant/toddler and preschool education program and serves as an optimal learning environment laboratory for students majoring in Child Development education, nursing, and other student disciplines. Eligible families must qualify for financial assistance through the State Department of Education for free or low-cost childcare services. Applications are available at the Child Development Center.

Counseling Department

The Counseling Department is staffed by professional counselors with training and expertise in the areas of personal, educational, and vocational/career development. In addition to services provided by the professional counseling staff, the Center is also staffed by teaching faculty who can provide academic advisement in their areas of concentration or major.

Counselors will assist students in making satisfactory progress in their program of study and will confirm that they are taking appropriate prerequisite course work necessary for success in higher level courses which may be required for their major. Counselors are also assigned to other support services and programs, including Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, Disabled Student Program & Services (DSP&S), International Student Services, the Career Center, Transfer Center, Foster Youth Center, Veterans Services, V.T.E.A., CalWORKS, Noncredit Matriculation and Student Athlete Support.

Appointments with counselors done either on an appointment or walk-in basis. The Counseling Department is open Monday through Friday from 08:00a to 04:30p and some evenings until 07:00p. Please plan to check-in no later than 30 minutes prior to closing.

Disabled Students Program and Services

Disabled Students Program & Services (DSPS) offers educational support services for students with verified disabilities, including those students with physical, psychological, communicative and learning disabilities. Support services and accommodations include, but are not limited to, priority registration, scheduling assistance, academic and vocational counseling, learning disability assessment, test proctoring, assistive technology and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters.

DSPS serves as a liaison with the campus and community agencies on behalf of students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to visit DSPS in the Lesher Student Services Building, 2nd floor, office #234 on Merced Campus (209) 384-6155 or (209) 384-6311 (TDD) and in the Student Services Building on the Los Banos Campus (209) 381-6423 or visit the Disabled Students Program and Services website.

Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) CARE and NextUp Programs

EOPS program's primary goal is to encourage the enrollment, retention, and transfer of students disadvantaged by language, social, economic, and educational circumstances, and to facilitate the successful completion of their goals and objectives in college. EOPS offers academic and support counseling, financial aid and other support services.

CARE is a supplemental component of EOPS that assists EOPS students who are single heads of household, are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and have young children. The program offers support services to help students acquire the education, training and marketable skills needed to transition from TANF-dependency to employment and eventual self-sufficiency for their families. Every CARE student is an EOPS student who must meet the eligibility criteria for both programs.

NextUp is a supplemental, categorical component of EOPS that assists students who are current or former foster youth, are under the age of 26, were in foster care on or after their 13th birthday, and enrolled in at least 9 units. The program provides academic and support counseling, financial aid and other support services.

For more information or to determine eligibility for EOPS, CARE, or NextUp, contact the Merced Campus EOPS office at (209) 381-6596 or the Los Banos Campus EOPS Office at (209) 381- 6423.

Job Opportunity Services

Job Opportunity Services offers employment referral assistance for part-time, temporary, and full-time jobs for students attending Merced College and for up to two years after graduation. Other services provided are resume writing, interviewing techniques, job search assistance, and information regarding employment trends. The center also provides listings from summer camp programs locally and countrywide.

Students who already have jobs may sign up for Cooperative Education, earning college credit while they work and providing an opportunity for skill development and career exploration. (209) 384-6068.

NextUp

The NextUp Program (also known as Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support or CAFYES) is a service provided through EOPS to assist eligible current and former foster youth. The program’s goal is to encourage enrollment, retention, and transfer by offering additional services including NextUp Orientation, Workshops, NextUp Grants, Meal Cards, Gas Cards, Parking Permits, and Educational Supplies. We are located on the Merced Campus in the Student Union Building, Room 127.

Student Health Services

The mission of Student Health Services is to provide students with services, education, and resources necessary to make responsible, informed decisions regarding their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Services, health promotion activities, community and campus resource information and referrals are provided to currently enrolled Merced College students.

Licensed Personnel: Registered Nurses (RNs); Licensed Marriage Family Therapists (LMFTs)

Eligibility: Full or part-time students, who are currently enrolled and active in classes, are eligible for service. Students must present a current Merced College ID card at the time of service. Cost: All services are included with payment of the health fee.

Services include:

  • Personal counseling with a licensed therapist (short-term)

  • Health information and education

  • Blood pressure checks

  • Over the counter medications

  • Family planning: information, condoms, pregnancy tests

  • First aid Tuberculosis (TB)

  • Testing / Risk Assessment

  • Community resource information

Treatment of a Minor: Any student under the age of 18 is required to have a parental consent form signed prior to receiving the following services: personal counseling (to be determined by therapist, based upon need), and TB skin testing.

Accident Insurance: Student accident insurance is included in the student health fee. Coverage is limited to accidents and injuries sustained while attending college or college-sponsored activities.

Student Health Services is located in the Student Union Building on the Merced Campus (209) 384-6045, and in the Student Services Building at the Los Banos Campus (209) 386-6716.

Please visit Student Health Services website for more information.

Veterans Services

Merced College welcomes veterans wishing to further their education and encourages them to seek assistance at the First Lieutenant Peter Joseph Gallo Veteran's Resource Center, which is located in the Student Union Building. Staff are available to provide the paperwork and information necessary to establish eligibility. Veterans are also supplied with information about other campus resources and local agencies services. Department of Veterans Affairs encourages all new and returning veterans to contact them directly at United Stated Veterans Affairs website or (888) 442-4551 for questions about veteran’s benefits and payments.

Merced College is one of 1900 members of the Servicemen's Opportunity College dedicated to assisting service members, their family members, and veterans in attaining their educational goals.

Academic counselors specializing in veterans services are available to provide educational and career planning. Counseling services are provided on the second floor of the Lesher Student Services Center, next to Admissions & Records. Class registration information can be found in the "Schedule of Classes" booklet printed each semester or on the Search for Classes website.

Veterans with disabilities can receive assistance from the College’s Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS) program. Call (209) 384- 6155 for more information about available services.

Personal Counseling is available through the Merced College Student Health Services Office. Call (209) 384-6045 for more information.

Additional information may be found at Veterans Resource Center website or by calling (209) 384-6113.