Counselors STEP Up To Welcome New Students To Mt. SAC
April 27, 2026 - 03:46 PM
Every summer, Mt. SAC鈥檚 Counseling Department helps transition new students into college, either setting foot on campus or logging in online.
The Summer Transition Enrichment Program (STEP) is a two-week transferable counseling class that does exactly as it is titled: it is an introduction to college.
鈥淪tudents learn what they need to be successful in STEP,鈥� says Mt. SAC鈥檚 Alana Bachor, Ed. D., Counseling Faculty and Faculty Coordinator of STEP. 鈥淭hey learn about education planning, campus resources, and career exploration. STEP is highly interactive and hands-on, and students connect with classmates and make friends.鈥�
Thirty-four counselors are scheduled to teach 40 different sections of the STEP course to over 1,000 incoming students this summer, and, during the upcoming 2026 Summer Intersession, students can expect a fresh approach from their instructors.
鈥淭he curriculum has been revamped this year to include an asset-based approach, one that focuses on the great talents that students bring to the college, making it better,鈥� Bachor says.
鈥淲e were awarded a Guided Pathways to Success Grant to fund CliftonStrengths Assessment codes, so all STEP students can take the assessment and learn about their specific talent themes. We piloted using the assessment during the past fall and winter terms, and it was very successful. We designed the class activities to be in alignment with Guided Pathways, the Student Equity Plan, and Mt. SAC 2035鈥�, says Emily Versace, Mt. SAC鈥檚 STEP curriculum lead and Career Counselor/Coordinator.
In addition to focusing on the students鈥� talents, the counselors will also connect their pupils with campus resources.
鈥淪tudents who participate in STEP and meet eligibility requirements, gain Promise Plus-funded benefits, and continue to stay connected with counselors and resources throughout their first year,鈥� Bachor explains.
Mt. SAC students are not the only ones benefiting from STEP. Graduate students have opportunities in the newly-created volunteer program within STEP to gain teaching experience in a community college classroom.
鈥淭he Teaching Experiential for STEP is a brand-new volunteer program to Mt. SAC that provides training for Teaching Experiential Participants (TEPs), so they can help out the counseling faculty in the STEP classrooms,鈥� Bachor says. 鈥淭his additional support not only helps the counseling faculty and students, but many of the TEPs are current Mt. SAC employees in graduate programs, looking to broaden their skillset in the classroom.鈥�
To learn more about the Counseling Department, visit /counseling/. To learn more about STEP, visit /step/.