Saints Success Center
Carroll offers a wide range of academic support services so students can achieve their full academic potential. Many academic services are located in 1st East Borromeo Hall in the Saints Success Center which includes the offices of Academic Advising, Academic Support, Career Services, Internships, Global Learning, Nationally-Competitive Scholarships, Testing, and Veterans Services.
Academic Advising and Support
The Academic Support & Advising (ASA) Office supports the intentional and collaborative partnership between advisors and students, the focus of which is to help students create and realize their long-term educational, professional, and personal goals, and develop critical skills that will support a lifetime of learning. In addition to academic advising information, support, training and resources, the ASA Office also provides a variety of services offered at no additional charge to all Carroll students, including academic counseling, academic recovery plan development, study skills workshops, and alternate or make-up exams. Through direct services, communication, and referrals, ASA helps students build strong working relationships with faculty, as well as with staff in other student-service and administrative offices. Students in need of subject tutoring, tutoring in writing, and/or disability services are referred to and supported by other campus offices.
First Year Cohort (FYC) courses serve as a critical component to achieving our goals in academic advising. Every first-year student takes an FYC designated course in their first semester at Carroll. The professor of each FYC course serves as the academic advisor for the enrolled students. This teacher/student relationship serves as the backbone of the advisor/advisee relationship. First-year students transition to department advisors during the Spring semester before pre-registration for the upcoming Fall semester. All students are encouraged to consult with his or her advisor at least twice each academic semester. Students should meet with their advisors any time they have questions about their academic performance or progress. The advisor will help students develop an academic program and direct them to other college resources whenever appropriate.
Accessibility Services
The purpose of the Accessibility Services office is to create equal access for students with disabilities to the full college experience in and out of the classroom. In order to ensure that students with disabilities can experience and enjoy equal access throughout their college career, faculty, staff, and administrators are provided with guidance and training regarding their specific roles.
This office will provide a “level playing field” for students who, due to disability, face an extraordinary challenge to their learning processes or otherwise to their ability to enjoy the full college experience. An appropriately accommodated student will face the same academic standards as any other student and will otherwise be treated as any other student is treated.
More information about the accessibility services offered at Carroll can be found online at https://www.carroll.edu/academic-services/accessibility-services.
The college's policy on Disabilities and Access for students is found in the Student Handbook.
Career Services
Career Services staff assists students in developing, evaluating and implementing career and life planning. These services support a process of self-assessment to clarify personal and career-related goals, values, and interests. Students learn how to obtain occupational information, to explore the full range of employment opportunities or graduate study, and to present themselves effectively as candidates for employment. Our mission is to empower students to follow passion, realize potential, and pursue lives of purpose.
Career development programs are offered in group sessions using career assessment instruments in workshops and in-class presentations. Freshmen and sophomore students unclear about their plans can take a one-credit career decision-making course to assist them in creating an effective career plan. Experiential education, through internships and shadowing, are important components of one’s education, and students are encouraged to incorporate these experiences into their educational plans.
Juniors and seniors can take a one-credit job search preparation course to prepare for entering the job market. Career Services also offers a Career Resource Library which contains a collection of online materials, including occupational and job market information, internship information, and graduate school resources. Career Services maintains an extensive web page that covers all aspects of career development and job search.
Career Services staff assists students in preparing for and locating appropriate internships and experiential education connected to their academic majors and to develop learning objectives consistent with their career goals. Students can take advantage of opportunities in Helena, throughout Montana, across the U.S., as well as internationally.
Credential services are offered through Interfolio to Education seniors and alumni to assist in processing employment applications.
Career Services sponsors a variety of on-campus workshops, special events, a career and graduate school fair, and individual appointments throughout the year to help promote students’ career development and job readiness.
Global Learning
Our Global Learning Office provides over 150 exchange programs that allow students to study abroad for a semester or a year in exchange for an international student coming to our campus. Carroll College also offers semester and summer study abroad experiences as well as faculty-led travel seminars to various destinations each year. This wide variety of options makes study abroad possible within four years for all students, regardless of major. We also encourage students to consider other types of high-impact, international experiences outside the classroom, including service learning, undergraduate research and internships.
International Student Services
International Students are assigned a secondary advisor to help them navigate their educational experience at Carroll and ensure they remain in compliance with the regulations governing their student visas, as noted below.
Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status
SEVIS
SEVIS stands for “Student & Exchange Visitor Information System” and is a database used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to track international students and visitors in F-1, J-1 or M-1 status. The Global Learning Office uses this database to update your student status each semester. This is why it is so important to inform the International Student Office whenever your situation changes. If we are unable to verify your status, we may have to terminate your record within SEVIS. If this happens, you will have to apply for reinstatement or leave the country and come back in with a new I-20 or DS-2019.
Course Load
You must register for and complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester. The only exceptions to this are when you need fewer than 12 credits to complete your program that semester, or if you request and are granted permission from the Global Learning Office in advance. You must request and obtain permission from the Global Learning Office before you withdraw (officially or unofficially). If you drop below 12 credits, you will be out of status. One on-line or distance education class may count for up to three credits towards your full course of study.
Transferring or Taking Courses from a Different School
If you wish to obtain a degree or certificate from your current school, but want to take courses temporarily at a different school, you should consult with the Global Learning Office to determine if any procedures must be followed to authorize the study. If instead, you wish to cease study at your current school and transfer to a different school, you must follow proper transfer procedures. Consult with the Global Learning Office BEFORE you transfer, to submit a written request to transfer your SEVIS record.
Changing Major or Education Level
If you complete an associate level program and wish to study for a bachelor program or change your major, you should come to the Global Learning Office, after meeting with your academic advisor, to request a new I-20 or DS-2019 listing the new educational level and/or major.
Change of Address
You must report any change of address, name and phone number to the Global Learning Office within ten days of the change. This is a USCIS requirement and is a deport-able offense! Please don’t forget to tell us your new address! Even if you only change rooms in the residence hall, this must be reported to the Global Learning Office.
Global Learning on Moodle
International students are automatically enrolled in the Global Learning course in Moodle. This is a course that is not for credit and does not meet in person, but rather a resource for international students. An International Student Handbook is located on the Global Learning course site.
International Student Employment
On-campus Employment
You may be employed at Carroll College in any job on campus. You may not accept on-campus employment without prior written clearance from the Global Learning Office. The office will provide you with a verification of your legal status for employment purposes and assistance to obtain a US Social Security Number.
Social Security Number
If you do not already have a US Social Security Number, you will need to have a job offer from an on-campus or off-campus employer before you can apply. You will also need authorization from Career Services and/or the Global Learning Office.
Off-campus Employment
With appropriate authorization, you may work off campus, but this requires prior approval from Career Services and/or the USCIS. There are several types of authorization as outlined below.
F1 Students Only: Economic Hardship Work Authorization
If there is an unforeseen change in your financial situation you may be eligible to apply for a Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization from the USCIS. You must have completed at least one academic year of schooling before you can apply. See Career Services for more information.
Practical Training (CPT/OPT) or Academic Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work which is directly related to your field of study. Most F-1 students are eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) before completion of studies, and/or Optional Practical Training (OPT) during or after a program of study. You may request 12 months of OPT at each program level (Associate’s, Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD).
Please note: OPT after completion of studies must be requested before you complete your studies. The best time to complete this request is typically 6-8 weeks prior to expected graduation.
J-1 degree seeking students may apply for academic training to be done following their academic program. The program sponsor must approve this well in advance of the program completion date. Please consult your program sponsor within 90 days of the completion of your program if you are interested in applying for academic training.
Important Note: On-campus and off-campus employment must not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session, but may be full-time when school is not in session or during your annual vacation period (off-track). Check your hours worked to ensure you do not go over the 20-hour limit. The Carroll College workweek begins Saturday and goes through Friday evening. This is not the same as your pay period.
Veteran Services
Carroll College is dedicated to providing its veteran student population with the highest quality education, and the assistance and guidance necessary to promote the veteran student’s growth, independence, self-worth and potential, in an effort to secure the veteran students’ future through education. Additionally, the Office of Veteran Services is available to assist all students using VA educational benefits with academic advising and planning, registration questions, class concerns, transition issues, and benefit questions. The Office of Veteran Services works closely with the Accessibility Services Coordinator, to ensure that students with documented disabilities receive appropriate accommodations.
Orientation of New Students
Carroll College offers a range of orientation programs designed to acquaint students with the College and its people, policies, and facilities.
All new students attend the new student orientation program at the beginning of the semester that they begin their studies at Carroll. Orientation introduces students to the intellectual, spiritual, social, and physical dimensions of campus life. College faculty, staff, and students welcome the new students to Carroll through a variety of activities. Orientation events continue throughout the first month of class in the fall and the first week of school in the spring.
First Year Cohort (FYC) Courses
One course with an FYC designation is required for all first year students and is taken in the fall semester. The FYC course is taught by a faculty member who serves as the students' first-year advisor for both the fall and spring terms. This course is a unique opportunity for students to make a close connection with their advisor, as they spend a minimum of three hours of classroom time per week together, in addition to more traditional advising appointments. After the first year, students select or are assigned to faculty advisors in their majors or areas of interest.