Each establishment offers students guidance counselling, educational and vocational information, psychology and placement services, socio-cultural animation, individual educational assistance, etc. All these measures allow the college to respond to the personal and collective needs of students, to help their academic progress, integration, commitment and success.
Services adapted to different clienteles
Most colleges are accessible to students with motor disabilities, and they offer educational and para-educational services to people with hearing, visual or motor impairments.
Who can my child refer to in the event of a problem?
An academic adviser is the person who advises and informs students about the choice of programs and courses, and who helps them to build an appropriate schedule.
The adviser meets the students, analyzes their files and suggests solutions adapted to their needs. They participate in the implementation of measures to improve student performance, in the formalities for issuing diplomas or admission to university, as well as in various information meetings for students.
To find out who their adviser is, students can get information from the educational support service of their institution.
When to consult an adviser?
For students who have questions about their academic progress, schedule, course selection, change of program or who wish to obtain information about study programs and various careers and professions, this is the perfect person to call!
The guidance counsellor supports the student in their quest for self-knowledge. They are experts in terms of assistance, evaluating psychological and personal resources, and environmental conditions. They help the student become aware of his personality traits, values and interests, for him to persevere in school and find his place in the world.
Visit the Guidance for my child to find out more! (Ce lien devra changer vers le page en anglais)
When should they consult a guidance professional?
College studies are often accompanied by a fair share of emotions, and students often face many questions and choices. At any time, they can make an appointment to discuss their career choice with a guidance counsellor when he
- wants to discuss their choice of program and explore different careers.
- does not know where he will go after college, and that his school plan does not make sense to him.
- must register for higher education programs and their choice is unclear.
- assumes that a refusal of his application means his career dreams disappear and that he will not succeed.
- feels the need to better understand himself, his interests, skills and talents.
- wishes to take stock of his personal and professional strengths.
- has a variety of interests and difficulty disentangling his professional interests from his hobbies.
- wants to validate his choice.
- is worried about the future and trying to discover the place he can take in the job market.
Finally, he can meet with a guidance counsellor whenever he needs support during his college career.
Inspired by the Cégep de Ste-Foy site
The school information advisor inform students about the different choices of study programs and various careers. Their role is also to support the student in his admission procedures to a program and to explore the best strategy for accessing a limited enrolment program.
These services help students who:
- need information on a specific profession, program or field.
- has targeted an area to explore and learn about career possibilities.
- wants to compare similar programs in different universities or schools.
- wonders about the admission requirements: R score, admission criteria, prerequisites, etc.
- aims for a limited program, wants to assess his chances of admission and explore strategies for getting accepted.
- wants to study abroad.
Information inspired by the Cégep de Ste-Foy.
Psychology services offered by colleges provide the support needed to overcome difficult times that can affect motivation and academic performance. These can involve family, social, personal, organizational or school issues. The help offered by psychology services complements the young person’s educational success. Consultations with psychologists are free and confidential.
For more information, you can consult the website of your child’s school or contact the establishment directly.
Most institutions offer students informal assistance to succeed in their studies. These services allow them to obtain additional support from certain teachers as well as tutoring by peer volunteers.
These staff members support students from the moment they start college until they graduate. Supervisory activities are also offered to help students with difficulties better understand and more profoundly explore the subjects taught, to facilitate their learning and acquire effective working methods.
Examples of supervision and service activities
- Success support workshops.
- French help centre.
- Mathematics help centre.
- Science help centre.
- Computer help centre.
- Language resource centre.
- Projects to help students succeed in several courses.
- Work rooms for students.
The mission of adapted services in cégeps is to meet the needs of students who have a diagnosed limitation (physical or sensory limitation, learning disability, attention deficit disorder, mental health disorder, etc.). These services provide the required accommodations and follow-up for students with special needs to promote integration and academic success.
Adapted services welcome students to assess their specific needs and develop an individualized intervention plan related to their challenges and the recommendations of their medical diagnosis. Various assistance measures can be put in place to promote educational success (pedagogical supervision, extra time for exams, access to writing software or any other measures to help alleviate a limitation).
Useful links
- Students with disabilities – MEES
- Ordre des psychologues du Québec
- Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec (in French)
- Ordre des psychoéducateurs et psychoéducatrices du Québec (in French)
- Student associations
Other relevant resources
- Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (in French)
- Fondation jeunes en tête
- Kids Help Phone
- Tel-Jeunes
- Phobies-Zero (in French)
- Psycho-réssources
Inspired by the Collège Laflèche and ACOC website.
Loans and bursaries
The Loans and Bursaries Program is intended for people who are pursuing full-time – or are deemed to be pursuing full-time – secondary studies in vocational training, college studies or university studies. In all cases, these studies must be conducted in a ministry recognized educational institution.
The objective of the Program is to enable people with insufficient financial resources to pursue their studies, by granting them financial assistance. However, students remain primarily responsible for the costs associated with their studies.
The financial support of the Ministry of Education aims to promote the integration of students and to support them financially during their university studies.
The programs
- Calculation simulator
- Loans and bursaries program (student financial assistance)
- Loan programs for part-time studies
- Deferred repayment program
- Special Needs Allowance Program – Youth
- Allowance for Special Needs Program – Adults
- Explore program
Visit the Student Financial Assistance website to find out more.