DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS AND NON-USERS OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER

This study explores the association between selected student characteristics and attitudes with use or non-use of the counseling center services in a community college setting.; A sample of 150 full-time college students was randomly selected from stratified equalization groups. The groups had been stratified into users and non-users of the Thornton Community College counseling center services. The students were administered the Counseling Center Survey, an instrument developed to include the demographic and attitudinal variables of interest. Significant associations between users and non-users were found to exist on seven demographic variables. Two scales measured significant differences.; The scales were: (1) Counseling Attitude Scale; users appeared to have a more positive attitude towards counseling than did non-users. (2) Counseling readiness; users appeared to be more willing to discuss their concerns with counselors than non-users.; The demographic variables were: (1) Perceived peer use; users believed more of their friends used counseling than did non-users. (2) Source of information; users relied more on orientation and less on printed material. The reverse was true for non-users. (3) Educational plans; more users intended to continue their education on a full-time basis after their associate's than were the non-users. (4) Post-graduation location; users planned to leave the Chicago area at a greater rate than non-users. (5) Educational aspirations; users had higher aspirations than non-users. (6) Parental income; users came from higher income homes. (7) Course selection; users responses were more concentrated in college counselor grid than non-users, and less concentrated in faculty and self grids.; The conclusions based upon these associations indicated counseling use fosters a more positive attitude towards counseling. Services need to be better integrated into the total educational effort. Information dissemination about counseling services needs to be improved and different approaches or services to the users and non-users may be necessary. Student needs are more than educational and cover a wide range of problems. To be effective change agents, counselors must change what is currently seen as fulfilling a limited function. These results can be used to give direction to future counseling services so that all students receive the developmental experiences in fulfillment of the promise which is the community college education.