💼 Student Support Services & Resources at Pierce College

At Pierce College, student success goes far beyond the classroom. We are committed to supporting the whole student—academically, personally, and professionally—through a comprehensive network of services and resources designed to help you thrive.

Whether you're looking for academic guidance, mental health support, basic needs assistance, help with writing or math, or simply a welcoming community to belong to, Pierce College has a resource for you. Our support services include:

Academic support through advising, tutoring, eLearning, and specialized learning centers
Personalized help for students with disabilities, veterans, undocumented students, and military-connected individuals
Essential needs services like food, housing, emergency aid, and wellness counseling
Student communities and engagement programs such as TRIO and ASPIRE that provide mentoring, events, and holistic support

Every student is different—and every journey is unique. Whether you're navigating college for the first time or returning to complete a degree, our support services are here to ensure you have what you need to reach your goals.

ACCESS AND DISABILITY SERVICES

ACCESS AND DISABILITY SERVICES

Access and Disability Services (ADS) is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for students with disabilities at Pierce College. ADS serves students with both temporary and permanent disabilities. We provide academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services to qualified students with disabilities. Students may also find additional support through assistive technology on both Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses. Please contact us for more information.

ADVISING

ADVISING

You’ll find knowledgeable, friendly staff that can help you choose your classes, chart your education or career path, and assist you through the registration process.

ASPIRE

ASPIRE

Pierce College Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Reaching Their Potential Through Education (ASPIRE). ASPIRE is a student support program made possible through federal funding from the Department of Education Title III, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) grant. The ASPIRE program is part of the Student Engagement Services division, and aims to improve and expand the college’s capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.

BASIC NEEDS - Pierce Advocacy and Resource Connections (PARC)

BASIC NEEDS - Pierce Advocacy and Resource Connections (PARC)

Do you need housing right now? Do you need assistance with food? Do you need emergency gas money? The PARC website can help you find online assistance with food, housing, financial aid, employment, counseling, and other resources. Resources include external and internal community partners.

COLLEGE CATALOG

COLLEGE CATALOG

The current online College Catalog goes into effect beginning Summer 2025 through Spring 2026. See the Archived Catalogs section for previous catalogs.

View the 2025-2026 College Catalog online

The institution publishes in a catalog, or provides in a manner reasonably available to students and other stakeholders, current and accurate information that includes:

Institutional mission and core themes;
Entrance requirements and procedures;
Grading policy;
Information on academic programs and courses, including degree and program completion requirements, expected learning outcomes, required course sequences, and projected timelines to completion based on normal student progress and the frequency of course offerings;
Names, titles, degrees held, and conferring institutions for administrators and full-time faculty;
Rules, regulations for conduct, rights, and responsibilities;
Tuition, fees, and other program costs;
Refund policies and procedures for students who withdraw from enrollment;
Opportunities and requirements for financial aid;
and Academic calendar.

eLEARNING

eLEARNING

eLearning is here to support students and faculty with educational technology to empower you to be successful in your learning. Pierce online learning provides courses that use the web to enable innovative and quality educational experiences. Pierce online learning represents the college's dedication to enriching and expanding access to higher education.

Types of eLearning classes:

Online Courses – Class is completed entirely online. Instruction will be in the Canvas virtual environment. Class time is flexible. Plan to be online approximately 15 hours per week.
Hybrid Courses – Hybrid classes combine scheduled, synchronous instructional time (meeting together during the same time, either online or in a classroom) with asynchronous online instruction in Canvas.
Web Enhanced Courses – Web enhanced classes are face to face, and use Canvas to support and enhance learning opportunities.

MATH CENTER

MATH CENTER

The Math Center – the newest academic support center here at Pierce College – is the home for all your math class assistance. We offer tutoring for every math class here at the college. Not only do we facilitate one-on-one and group tutoring for drop-ins and appointments, we also coordinate with math faculty to provide embedded tutoring and supplemental instruction (SI) for several math classes every term. We believe in creating an open and safe environment in which all students feel welcome.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS COUNSELING SERVICES

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS COUNSELING SERVICES

Life happens inside and outside the classroom and sometimes this can cause problems for students. Counseling can help students sort through their difficulties. Faculty counselors at both colleges are licensed mental health counselors for the state of Washington. They are trained to provide short-term personal counseling for students; to provide consultation to faculty, staff and students; and to make appropriate referrals to community agencies. Faculty counselors also provide a wide range of services, including crisis intervention and presentations on issues common to the college environment.

STUDENT EMAIL

STUDENT EMAIL

As a Pierce College student, you will be provided a college email address, used to access Office 365, printing resources and other electronic resources. Student email accounts can be set up at Student Email | Pierce College District (ctc.edu) (www.pierce.ctc.edu/student-email). All official communication is sent to a student’s preferred email account as indicated in ctcLink, so it is important to keep that email address up to date. The preferred email account can be updated on the Student Homepage under the Profile tile.

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES (TRIO-SSS)

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES (TRIO-SSS)

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is one of three TRIO programs in the Student Engagement Services division. TRIO Student Support Services provides holistic student services that promote the academic development and motivation needed for successful completion of post-secondary degree and transfer goals. We provide proactive advising, mentoring and coaching, university transfer tours and assistance, as well as social and cultural engagement opportunities. Most of all, we offer a supportive family community of peers, staff and faculty, and leaders to help you succeed.

TUTORING CENTER

TUTORING CENTER

Peer Academic Support Services provide students with an inclusive learning community environment where they can work with their peers, classmates, and knowledgeable tutors to maximize their academic potential. Students may choose from subject-specific peer-led study groups, general drop-in tutoring, peer mentoring appointments, embedded tutoring (available mainly in key STEM courses), online e-tutoring, and study skills workshops. The centers are open six days a week, all services are free, and every attempt is made to accommodate each student’s request as staffing and availability allows. Students wishing to become tutors often have a grade point average of 3.0 and instructor recommendations for any subjects they will tutor. Students wishing to become mentors often have lived experiences that give them valuable perspectives to share and a heart for services with a desire to help others. Tutoring and Mentoring positions are paid positions and do not require work-study eligibility. Paid training and professional development are provided.

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

You are an important part of our community. And you are most welcome here. Pierce College is committed to serving undocumented students through a holistic approach that encompasses personal guidance, peer mentoring, counseling, community building, referrals to immigration legal services, and other forms of individualized support. If you are an undocumented student, know that Pierce College is for you too.

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER

The Veterans Resource Center provides a single point of contact to coordinate veteran student support services. The center offers a textbook lending library, computers for student use, quiet study areas, opportunities to connect with other veteran students and resources, and referrals to community service providers who can assist veterans with transitioning to the civilian life. Students who have served in the military and/or their dependents are invited to visit the Veterans Resource Center in Cascade 425 and Gaspard Administration 106.

VETERANS SERVICES

VETERANS SERVICES

The Veterans Services Offices (VSO) provide assistance for students who are using their VA Education Benefits. Students using benefits should contact the VSO at their preferred campus. Services are also offered at the Stone Education Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Please contact JBLM at 253-964-6567 to learn about service availability.

WRITING CENTER

WRITING CENTER

https://pierce.instructure.com/courses/1762129

Writing Center tutors help guide students through all stages of the writing process and with all writing tasks for any class, as well as for college application essays and resumes. They can assist students with brainstorming, structuring, referencing, editing, grammar, formatting, and any other writing concern. Students can book 30- or 60-minute appointments on our online booking system for either on-campus or online writing consultations with a tutor. The Writing Centers are located inside the library on the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses and are open Monday through Friday. We are also available Monday through Friday and Sundays for online live consultations and written feedback consultations. We are always looking to hear from students who are interested in becoming a trained writing tutor and joining our Writing Center family! You should be a confident writer who has an interest in helping others become better writers.