IMPROVING MAN AS MAN
EXPERIENCE

Center for Guidance Services

Center For Guidance Services

Being an integral part of the Our Lady of Fatima University’s educational program, the Center for Guidance Services (CGS) plays a significant role in molding the youth of today— some of whom could be beset with confusion, conflicts, problems or maladjustment. CGS is dedicated to the continuous search for appropriate and effective interventions in understanding and helping students with issues that plague them; issues that could very well hinder them from learning and growing as individuals.

VISION

The Center for Guidance Services envisions itself to be the central service component of the institution focused on the continuous improvement of the students’ holistic formation.

MISSION

We commit ourselves to help students become more well-adjusted, competent and endowed with compassionate values that will help them develop more satisfying relationship within the family, school, community and the society.

We advocate for academic success of all students by being more responsible in helping them improve holistically through the effective implementation of the various guidance services.

OBJECTIVES: 

  1. Implement responsive, relevant and effective guidance programs & activities.
  2. Initiate useful, timely and relevant researches focused on guidance services.
  3. Develop more committed means of soliciting clients’ feedbacks.
  4. Assist students in coping with their emotional and social difficulties through continuous strengthening of the counseling program which is considered to be the central service of the department.
  5. Create a system of evaluating the counselors’ competencies through constant monitoring of their post-graduate studies and through regular evaluation procedures.

Guidance Services

Guidance, as a service, is an integral part of any academic institution. It is a cluster of integrated, correlated and coordinated guidance activities that is used to assist individuals in dealing with problems to a degree that they become self-directive in making and carrying out essential choices, plans and adjustments in life.

Such services include:

  • Information Services
  • Counseling Services
  • Career & Placement Services
  • Monitoring & Follow-up Services
  • Referral System
  • Evaluation and Research
  • Testing & Measurement Services
  • Special Projects
  • Special Guidance Services for International Students

Counseling Services

Counseling is considered to be at the core of guidance services. It seeks to assist students in learning how to focus on certain concerns; how to address these positively to the extent that they themselves (the students) come up with their own resolutions. Further, Counseling aims to help students achieve optimal growth and development; to become people capable of self-direction, sound decision-making and self-understanding. Then, counseling program teams composed of students, parents and teachers—work together to help students maximize academic, social, emotional and personal growth.

To actualize these goals, certain activities are undertaken by the CGS Department:

  • The Chat Program

This program is one of the flagships of the Center for Guidance Services. Here, new students from all the programs and of all socio-cultural orientations, are required to have one-on-one counseling with a guidance counselor. These “chats” are structured very much like casual conversations, thereby more effectively drawing-out student needs. Depending on the willingness and readiness of a student, personal issues are sometimes shared. The Chat Program is also a venue for new students to express concerns that may be hindering them from achieving their full potential, academically. The exercise is designed to ease the new student into the OLFU journey; helping him thrive more successfully in the new environment.

  • Career Counseling

Career decision-making is a process that involves time, self-study, and planning. Too often, it is assumed that a decision regarding a career can be made quickly or on the basis of a test. On the contrary, students need to get a better understanding of their own selves; expand their knowledge of work opportunities (and assessed against their skills and passions) locally and globally; and develop the ability to make good decisions. Career Counseling helps in this phase of student life when he is about to complete schooling and face the world and all that it has to offer. The service helps students in assessing their short- and long-term work and life goals.

  • Online Counseling

On-line Counseling is meant for students who prefer anonymity in their personal concerns. The advent of communication technology has afforded CSG the flexibility to reach out to students and parents faster, more effectively and in a platform that they can perhaps better relate to; especially where airing personal issues is concerned.

  • Focus Group Discussion

Commonly known as the FGD, the Focus Group Discussions of CGS are aimed at counseling simultaneously to groups of students. In these sessions, counselors zero in on identified needs of a college. The focus group share their insights and ideas around issues and concerns relevant to a specific college the group belongs to.

  • Multicultural Counseling

Designed to recognize student diversity and champion inclusivity, Multicultural Counseling helps international students navigate problems on adaptation, academic inadequacies, interpersonal relations, separation anxiety, and more. This program is facilitated by multi-culturally competent guidance counselors. Such interactions are either walk-in cases or on appointment basis.

INFORMATION SERVICE

One of the most sought after services of CGS, the Information Service gives out pertinent information to students with regards to anything and everything related to their stay at OLFU. Learners are made aware that the Guidance Office has a perennial open door policy in sharing information that could be educational, vocational or socio-psychological in nature.

Some activities proactively implemented in this respect are:

  • Orientation Programs

Held every start of the semester, new students and transferees are encouraged to attend the orientation assembly where they get acquainted with school policies, rules & regulations, facilities and services. As a welcoming gesture, key personnel of the University make it a point to be present at these activities.  These series of orientation sessions are a major highlight in OLFU’s program of activities.

  • Seminars and Workshops

Academic and/ or behavioral in nature, seminars and workshops are designed to address the holistic development of students. Mainstays are psycho-spiritual uplift, personality development and leadership skills training.

  • Posting of Bulletins

Knowing that constant communication is highly important in student life, bulletin boards are strategically located in all buildings of the school. Latest university updates; job postings/ employment opportunities; and self-help tips on study habits, time management, exam preparation, conducting research are just some types of messaging carried out on this platform.

EVALUATION SERVICES

Our Lady of Fatima University puts a premium on how students evaluate the faculty. Student insights offer a solid tool in assessing the quality of teaching of each faculty member. Spearheaded by the Human Resources Department, and with support from CGS, the evaluation exercise is conducted each semester; continuously churning insights on areas of improvement for succeeding semesters.

Another assessment procedure is the evaluation by students of personnel services. Creating an environment conducive to learning is one of the major goals of this exercise. Students are asked to rate the services provided by the following departments: Learning Resource Center, Student Accounting, Registrar’s Office, Health Clinics, Canteen, Guidance, Security and others. This is implemented each semester, of which results become valuable references for the University administrations and department heads. In turn, learnings pave the path to the continuous improvement of services.

MONITORING SERVICES

OLFU teachers leverage an internal Referral System where they are able to team-up with guidance counselors who help them in managing, not only difficult students, but even those who are deemed high-performing, highly-intellectual or gifted. Through a Monitoring Program, counselors assume the responsibility of supporting the students towards a track of positive adjustment.

Twice monthly, teachers submit attendance referrals to the Guidance Office. Consequently, guidance counselors take appropriate action by reaching out to parents with regards to the current status of their children; done by phone, text, email, postal mail, or even home visitation. Parents appreciate this service the most because they feel the school’s genuine concern for the well-being of their children.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING SERVICES

One of the ways to understand individual abilities is through the data gathered from psychological tests. With findings from these, counselors are better equipped in assisting students towards better self-understanding; which, in turn, could redound to better decision-making and self-integration.

SPECIAL GUIDANCE SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

To ensure that Fatima’s international students acclimatize to and integrate well with the University culture and Filipino culture, CGS has specially-designed programs. Hand-in-hand with the International Students’ Office, initiatives are carried out in the interest of productive and happy lives for foreign students while at Fatima. Partnering together are the school administrators, students, faculty and community:

  • Acquaintance Party with Cultural Orientation

It is designed to help international students learn about Philippine culture, including but not limited to Filipino values, attitude, beliefs and way of life. The Acquaintance Party also allows students to “break the ice” in a social setting, and becomes one of the first venues for students of foreign descent to come together and make friends.

  • Referral System

Teachers refer foreign students whom they have observed to have adaptation difficulties or poor academic performance. If the problem is academic in nature, a student is then referred to the appropriate authority such as an academic head for closer guidance.

OFFICES:

Valenzuela City Campus

  • 3rd Floor, CAS Building
    293-2703 to 06 Loc. 864
  • 2nd Floor, Saint Benedict Hall
    432-6310 l Loc. 5
  • Ground Floor, Padre Pio Building
    443-3843 Loc. 4
  • 2nd Floor, Saint Jerome Building
    443-3843 Loc. 7
  • 3rd Floor, San Lorenzo Hall
    443-2993 Loc. 3
  • Ground Floor, Galleria Building
    292-3363
  • Ground Floor, Basic Education Building
    293-1018

Quezon City Campus

  • Ground Floor, CAS Building
    419-1291
  • 3rd Floor, Regalado Annex

Antipolo City Campus

  • 2nd Floor, Juliet Santos Building
    661-3023 local 122

City of San Fernando, Pampanga Campus

  • Ground Floor, Saint Jacinta Bldg
    4551216 local 105

Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Campus

  • Ground Floor, Main Building