Blackburn Mentoring gives California community college students one mentor who helps them choose a pace, finish the classes they start and follow a clear transfer or career plan, in person in Los Angeles or by video. That includes students in the Los Angeles Community College District and university students who are home and taking classes locally. The first step is a free 20 minute intro call; the student, a parent or both can join.
Community college is flexible, and that flexibility is the hard part: no one notices if a student drops to six units or stops going in week five. A mentor is the person who notices.
The system at a glance
California has 116 community colleges in 73 districts serving about 2.2 million students, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Community College District runs nine colleges serving 40 cities and communities across more than 882 square miles, with about 205,000 full and part time students, and 72.7% of its students attended part time in fall 2022, according to LACCD Fast Facts.
Probation rules every student should know
California sets two kinds of probation in state regulations. A student on academic probation comes off it when their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher; a student on progress probation, for too many units ending in a W, I or NP, comes off it when those units drop below 50% of the units attempted (see California Code of Regulations, Title 5, section 55032). Each college explains how it applies these rules in its catalog.
The practical lesson: withdrawing from classes over and over is not a neutral choice. A mentor helps a student pick a load they can finish and decide early, with the counselor, whether a class should be dropped. Our guides to academic probation and whether to withdraw from a class go deeper.
Transfer: ADT, Cal-GETC and the CSU guarantee
Under California’s AB 928, Cal-GETC became the single general education pattern for transfer to CSU or UC starting in fall 2025, and colleges place incoming students on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway when one exists for their major. An ADT is a degree of no more than 60 units that gives students who meet CSU minimum eligibility guaranteed priority admission to the CSU, though not necessarily to a particular campus or major, according to the California State University.
Check how each course transfers on ASSIST, California’s official transfer course database, and meet with a college counselor every term. For UC goals, see community college to UC transfer in Los Angeles.
Home from a university and taking classes locally
Some students come home to Los Angeles after a hard term or a leave of absence and take community college classes to stay on track. It can be a smart reset, if the classes transfer back and the student has structure. A mentor helps with both. See back home from college in Los Angeles.
How a mentor helps a community college student
- Choosing a pace the student can finish, then protecting it.
- A semester map from every syllabus in week one, with check ins between sessions.
- Counselor meetings prepared in advance, including the education plan and ADT questions.
- Work and school balance, built around the real week.
- A transfer or career goal the student can explain in one sentence, and the steps to reach it.
A note for parents
A note for parents of students 18 and older: under the federal student privacy law FERPA, rights over college education records belong to the student (see the U.S. Department of Education student privacy site), so a parent may not see grades or standing unless the student shares them. Mentoring works the same way. The student owns the plan, and with the student’s written consent we can keep a parent informed about how engaged the student is.
When a semester is slipping for reasons bigger than structure and follow-through, such as anxiety, depression or trouble coping, Blackburn Clinical Services, our sister practice, offers therapy and psychiatry for college students. In a crisis, call or text 988.
How to start
- Take a short assessment. Tell us about the student and what is going on this term. It takes about five minutes.
- Have a free 20 minute intro call. The student, a parent or both can join. We talk through fit, the academic calendar and how sessions would work.
- Meet the mentor. New clients are matched with one mentor within two business days.
- Start the plan. Sessions by video wherever the student lives, or in person in Los Angeles, with check ins between them.
Related
- Mentoring for community college students
- Starting community college
- Community college to UC transfer
- Transfer agreements explained
- Mentoring for CSU students
- Mentoring for UC students
- School and college systems hub
Common questions
What is the difference between academic and progress probation?
Under California regulations, academic probation relates to a cumulative GPA below 2.0, and progress probation relates to a high share of units ending in W, I or NP. A student comes off progress probation when those units fall below 50%. Each college’s catalog explains its process.
Does an ADT guarantee admission to a specific CSU?
No. An ADT gives students who meet CSU minimum eligibility guaranteed priority admission to the CSU system, not necessarily to a particular campus or major.
Do you work with LACCD students in person?
Yes. Our team is based in Los Angeles, so LACCD students can meet in person at a convenient, appropriate place or by video.
Can a university student home in LA work with a mentor while taking community college classes?
Yes. That is a common situation. The mentor helps the student keep a schedule, choose classes that transfer back and plan the return.
Get started
Looking for a mentor for a community college student? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.