Academic Counseling

There are two ways to book a counseling appointment: Zoom or in-person. New appointments are released every Wednesday by 7 PM for the following week. If no appointments are available, check back on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. If you need a phone appointment (not recommended), please call the General Counseling Department directly to schedule.

1. Schedule your own counseling appointment on Starfish Connect.  

2. Call 805-678-5816 to have the General Counseling Department staff schedule an appointment for you.

Full 45-minute appointments are for: 

• 4th Attempt Petition 

• Academic notice (probation & dismissal) questions 

• Academic Renewal Petition 

• Comprehensive educational plan (from first to last semester of reaching your goal) 

• Degree and Certificate (Graduation) Application 

• External coursework evaluation 

• Financial aid appeal ed plan

• IGETC/CSU Certification

• Major changes that require a new education plan

• Petition for Variance

• Progress check 

• Unit Increase

If you have already met with a counselor in a 45-minute appointment at least once in the current semester and now only have a quick follow-up question, you may utilize the "Drop-In (Same Day Express Counseling )" option below. 

Note: During peak periods such as the start of the term and registration weeks, the General Counseling Department serves students in 30-minute appointments. During these peak periods, our services are limited. Please see a counselor once a semester at least 4 weeks before your registration date to ensure all your questions are addressed in a 45-minute appointment. 

Call the General Counseling Department at 805-678-5816 to be placed on the drop-in list for the day. Wait times may vary. A counselor will call you in a first-come, first-served fashion. 

Drop-in meetings are brief (15-30 minutes) and are limited to services including:

• One semester educational plan
• Prerequisite clearance
• Unit increase
• Quick advising regarding adding/dropping classes
• Urgent questions

Please see a counselor in a 45-minute appointment once a semester at least 4 weeks before your registration date to ensure all your questions are addressed.

General Counseling (non-urgent) Questions: occounseling@vcccd.edu

This email is for simple general counseling questions. Email communication is NOT for educational plans, class schedule assistance, progress checks toward graduation, academic probation/dismissal concerns, external transcript evaluations, or any other detailed counseling-related question. All of those needs will be served in a meeting with a counselor. Always use your VCCCD email when contacting college personnel and be sure to include your full name and student ID number (900 _ _ _ _ _ _ ). All emails will be responded to within 3-5 business days.

In college, students are responsible for enrolling in their courses via the student portal. 

• Need help registering for classes? Watch the Registration Planner video to learn how to register for classes via the student portal. The OC Welcome Center is also available in person and via Zoom to help with class registration. 
• Check out the OC Register for Classes website to learn all about how adding/dropping classes works at Oxnard Colleges. 

Free Tech & Books

The OC Library has the following items available to current students to borrow.

• Laptops

• WiFi Hotspots

• Graphing Calculators

• Scientific Calculators 

• Semester Checkout Textbooks - please call (805)678-5819 

If you have questions, please contact the OC Library Learning Resource Center at (805)678-5819.

Distance Education

To learn more about Distance Education and how to read the schedule of classes for sections that have an online learning component, please visit the Distance Education website.

Canvas Support (virtual classroom)

Canvas is a learning management system that connects instructors and students so that course materials and activities are shared online. Courses that are provided through Canvas make it possible to access assignments, discussions, quizzes, and grades via your laptop, desktop, phone, and/or tablet.

If you're totally new to online education, we recommend you take a look at the Self-Paced Online Student Orientation via the Distance Education website.

Academic Counseling

One of the primary responsibilities of Oxnard College counselors is to assist students in planning for a program of study that appropriately reflects their educational and career objectives including earning a certificate of achievement, associate degree, associate degree for transfer, and/or university transfer. The counselor’s function, however, is an advisory one. Ultimately, the responsibility for knowing program requirements and enrolling in proper courses rests with the student.

Personal Counseling

Through a self-help holistic approach, counselors will help students explore immediate alternatives for crisis situations or assist in decision-making to provide for maximum student success while in attendance at Oxnard College. When further assistance is necessary, counselors can provide students with referral services for personal and social problems. Mental health therapists are available through the Student Health Center at (805) 678-5832.

Career Counseling

Counselors can provide students with information about a variety of learning and career pathways. Students may also enroll in Personal Growth courses taught by counseling faculty. By enrolling in Personal Growth courses and meeting with counselors, students have the opportunity to explore relationships between career choice, decision-making procedures, and personal values. Personal Growth classes allow students the opportunity to gain insight into the occupational outlook of specific careers while providing a supportive atmosphere for self-exploration.

To get further assistance with major and/or career exploration, please visit our Career Center website for workshop opportunities and to make an appointment with a Career Counselor. 

Transfer Counseling

Counselors are available to provide students with the knowledge and skills to successfully transfer to four-year institutions. While all counselors are prepared to help students understand transfer course requirements, it is highly encouraged for students to check in with the University Transfer Center (UTC) where additional services are offered for students to learn more about the transfer process, transfer timeline, and meeting with university representatives.