Center Unites Career and Transfer Services

Bringing Valley College’s assessment, counseling and informational services into a single space, the Career / Transfer Center will formally open Thursday in the college’s Administration Building.

At the Thursday open house, the center will be dedicated in honor of Ann Morris, who founded the school’s career center more than 20 years ago.

Although the community college has long offered career and transfer counseling, the center combines those services into a separate office for the first time.

“The career and transfer center is really here to help students define their goals . . . and to help them, once they get a goal, to implement it,” said center director and counselor Barbara Goldberg.

The office, open to Valley College students and the public, includes a resource library, computer resources about four-year institutions, a locater program, books, college catalogs and a video library, Goldberg said.

The four-room center includes two counseling offices, a resource room and a library/reception area. The center is staffed by Goldberg, a half-time counselor and a person who administers assessment and placement tests. Three graduate interns from Cal State Northridge conduct workshops on career exploration, resume writing and interviewing techniques. Four Valley College students provide clerical support.

Goldberg said there is always a staff member available to help visitors use the computer databases that provide access to the latest college and career-planning information.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

The open house includes tours and computer demonstrations from noon to 2 p.m. in Room 126 of the Administration Building.