Give
As a new student at Stark State College, your First-Year Experience (FYE) begins with your participation with New Student Orientation and continues throughout your first year of college. You will receive academic, career and social support, both inside and outside the classroom, resulting in the successful completion of your academic and career goals.
Career Communities
Our 10 Career Communities help you take a look at clusters of occupations that align with your interests, skills, goals and career plans.
Whether you have your sights set on a specific career pathway or are exploring your options, Career Communities offer a better way for you to find your career calling amongst the more than 230 degrees and certificates available at Stark State.
New Student Orientation (NSO)
New Student Orientation (NSO), whether taken on campus or online, provides you foundational information about Stark State’s unique campus policies, programs, systems and services that help you succeed and gives you answers to your questions. It’s also our chance to welcome you to Stark State! All new students seeking a degree or certificate complete NSO as part of the enrollment process before their first classes. Students who already have a degree from another college or university also are encouraged to complete NSO to become familiar with Stark State. Once admitted to the College, you will receive more information on how to register and complete NSO.
New student advising
As you start your educational journey at Stark State, you’ll meet with a Gateway advisor who’ll help you establish your career goal and choose the right courses for you to accomplish your dreams. Your Gateway advisor will support you through your first 15 college-level credit hours. Once you’re on your way in your program of study, your Gateway advisor helps you transition to a faculty advisor who ensures you take the courses you need to stay on your pathway to success.
Jump Start
Jump Start is here to help you make a successful transition into your first year at Stark State. Our faculty, staff, administrators and current students will be on hand to help you establish the foundation for your future success and build upon what you have learned at New Student Orientation to help you learn what’s expected, how to be successful, where to find key resources and give you an opportunity to meet other new students.
First-Year seminar course (SSC101)
This course helps students gain the skills necessary for academic success at Stark State College. Topics include learning styles, critical thinking, time management, study and test-taking techniques, communication skills and a variety of personal development strategies. You will also learn how to access and use SSC resources such as mySSC and other college resources. It’s recommended that you take SSC101 within your first 15 credit hours.
Welcome and engagement
As new students, we want you to enjoy your college experience both inside and outside of the classroom. Enjoy Welcome Week during the first week of classes and join one of 50 different student clubs or participate in the Student Leadership Academy.
Student Success Workshops
Student success workshops are offered both fall and spring semesters and are designed to help students both inside and outside of the classroom.
Topics include
- how to be an effective student
- managing stress and anxiety
- getting involved in student life
- how to select a research topic
- and more.
