Students at SISFU have access to a number of student services to help them adjust to the challenges of college life and meet their academic and social needs throughout their stay at SISFU. The following are examples of student activities and the major support services provided by the University:
A. Career Counselling and Academic Support Services
SISFU students are provided with full support to assist them in their academic performance and achievement through the following programmes:
· Consultation – Students are provided after-school- hours consultation with subject tutors on module assignments, topic clarifications, and other Q&A matters regarding the module.
Consultation hours are held as a result of the following:
1. Student’s name is included in a “List of Students at Risk” submitted by the tutor during the 4th week of the class. These are students whose academic performance is below acceptable levels.
2. A student may request for consultation or may see a tutor for consultation.
3. Results of attendance monitoring and achievement tracking conducted by the Academics with names of students who need help.
· Peer Mentoring – This is a fairly new academic support scheme where scholars conduct mentoring sessions to meet the needs of students at a lower educational level. Although training of mentors is currently held, SISFU is going to formalize the training process and conduct continuous training of scholars for mentoring. Starting in June, 2015, the process will be evaluated, students who attended peer mentoring will be asked to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of mentoring.
· Study Skills support - This consists of help to students with issues such as assignment planning and structuring, reflective writing, referencing, revision strategies, and other study techniques. A team of tutors is designated to provide assistance to students. These students can either make an appointment for the service or just see a tutor who might be available during their consultation hours.
· Student Career Counselling – This process enables the students to explore and make sense of issues that may be distressing or disrupting in their lives. Some of the issues that the counselor discusses might include managing depression, panic attacks, time management, low self-esteem, and relationships. Exploration of problems can lead to greater awareness, increased understanding, and change. The need for counseling can be initiated by the student or a tutor or a Dormitory House Parent. Students are free to see the Career Counselor anytime the counselor is available. However, making an appointment is helpful and is more efficient. The Counselor can refer the student to a licensed professional (e.g., guidance counselor or psychiatrist) if deemed necessary.
· Financial Assistance – The school provides financial assistance to students who need immediate or temporary help in settling their financial obligations with the school.
B. STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
SISFU has a number of Student Clubs and organizations, all run by students, which provide a great way to learn skills such as leadership, financial skills, interpersonal skills, technological skills, etc. These organizations enable students to meet their peers who might share their interests and get involved in music, sports, computing, culinary arts, and a host of other activities. The Coordinator of Student Affairs and a number of Student Organization advisers provide support and guidance to the student leaders in managing their club activities, including escorting them to locations outside the school for competitions and industrial visits. These activities could include academic, social, cultural, and economic events, seminars, experiential programmes, as well as regional and national competitions.
C. INTERNSHIPS AND PLACEMENTS
Internship assignments constitute an integral part of SISFU’s academic programmes. The training students receive during this managed internship is a significant part of building their credentials for future employment. Students are given the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the classroom setting into practice in the different companies where they are assigned. Internship is required of all students in the School of Business and Computing. Students spend their 500-hour internship at the end of the second year programme before they enter their top-up (which is the final year of the degree programme). The 500-hour internship is a change from the 300 hours that students spent in internship during the past school years.
SISFU works with companies from a variety of sectors in the Philippines and abroad to provide the student access to the best training and internship opportunities. The Coordinator of Internship and the Head of Academic Support provide assistance to students in preparation for internship, job search, and ultimately, placement. SISFU maintains partnership with business, multinational corporations, inviting their leaders and senior managers, many of whom are in SISFU’s Board of Advisors, to conduct seminars in the University. These partnerships help our students by providing them internship opportunities and often, permanent jobs upon the students’ graduation.
D. ORIENTATION
SISFU holds orientation programmes at the start of the school year and a series of consultation meetings with its current students to keep them abreast of the information about their programme of study. In these programmes, SISFU clearly sets out the school’s expectations of the current students and what current students can expect of the school. Starting school year 2015-2016, the Orientation programme will include topics such as: Time Management, Information on the UK System of Teaching and Learning, and Critical Thinking. SISFU, through its career counseling programme and career presentations, makes available to new students important information to help them select their courses and help them understand the academic environment in which they will be studying and the support that will be made available to them.
E. TRAINING IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The English Language Center was created to provide assistance to international students who have not developed the required level of proficiency in the use of English Language. The Center conducts testing in English Language proficiency and classes in English Language are offered to potential students and students who need to improve their oral and written communication in English.
F. MEDICAL SERVICES
Medical Services are provided by an in‐house nurse. There is also a medical clinic located in the Southville campus with nurses and a physician on‐call which serves the schools under the Southville Global Education Network. In addition, there is a medical center (Las Piñas Doctors Hospital) located across the university and within walking distance from the University.
G. STUDENT HOUSING AND LIVING
· Housing
1. Dormitories within the campus reach are available.
2. If the student prefers or wishes to reside elsewhere, there are accommodations (apartments and houses) conveniently located within or near the village where the SISFU campus is situated in. The said accommodations are ready and meant for student occupancy.
· Cost of meals and public transportation
1. Students can easily travel to the campus via public transport.
2. There is abundance in options for buying food both inside and outside the campus, but price ranges may differ in accordance to the selling area. Meals around the campus reach start at Php50.00/$1.00.