Student Success Center
The Josephine Steiner Student Success Center offers a variety of services and programs to the entire Hood College community to assist students who want to be more effective and efficient learners.
Academic Advising
Students must take ultimate responsibility for academic planning—of each semester, of each academic year, and of degree completion.
First-year students enter the College as undeclared and are encouraged to explore various subjects or disciplines. During that time, they are advised by the instructor of their First-Year Seminar course. Students in some programs may be assigned to a staff advisor, or to a faculty advisor within the major of interest. Students must declare a major by the end of their sophomore year by completing the appropriate form with the Office of the Registrar and may declare as early as the end of the first semester.
Transfer students declare their major upon entering Hood and are assigned an academic advisor in their major field.
Improvement of Basic Skills: Reading, Writing, Mathematics
Student Success Center staff evaluate all new students’ basic skills. Tutoring may be recommended to meet specific needs in the Writing Center and specific math needs in certain subjects. Free tutoring is offered in many subjects and can be scheduled with peer tutors or online tutors through Thinking Storm. Individual academic coaching sessions are also available. Students can work with a staff success coach or a student Blazer academic coach on time management, study skills, note-taking and test-taking strategies as well as goal setting and motivation.
Placement Testing
Placement tests, also referred to as the Basic Skills Inventory, are administered online by The Student Success Center. All first year and transfer students are required to take placement tests in the following two academic areas if not transferring in equivalent credit:
| Mathematics |
Required for students without credit for a college-level mathematics course or a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus Test. Students with transfer credit in math MAY need to complete the placement test, depending upon the specific credit-bearing mathematics course(s) transferred to Hood and the intended major.
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| Global Language* |
Required unless credit for a college-level foreign language course is transferred. Students can take French, Spanish, or German placement tests online or can choose to take American Sign Language (ASL for core fulfillment is eligible for students who matriculated in or beyond Fall 2025). |
Placement tests are generally not required of transfer students with an associate's degree (A.A., A.A.T, or A.S. degree) as all Foundation and Methods of Inquiry areas of the core are considered to have been met. However, if the student does not have the required prerequisites for college-level mathematics classes, the Math BSI will be required.
English as a Second Language
International students who have a strong command of English but need additional language enhancement may be enrolled, depending on placement results, in ENGL 100E/Advanced ESL Skills, which focuses primarily on advanced-level academic writing.