Support for Every Step of Your Journey
Our team is here to support you every step of the way, dedicated to making your program healthy, manageable, and enjoyable. Student Services houses your Student Advisors, who orient and guide you through your program, and help you work through life's obstacles, whether that's finances, a barrier you're unsure how to solve, or just not knowing where to turn, by building action-oriented solutions both at school and in your personal life.
Getting in Touch with Your Advisor
You'll meet your Student Advisor early, during New Student Orientation, before your program even starts. From there, the easiest way to reach your advisor is by email, so they can respond directly and set up a time to meet if needed. You're also welcome to call or stop by BTC Student Services on campus, whatever works best for you.
How Often You'll Meet
There's no one-size-fits-all schedule. Early on, you'll complete the Full Life Audit – BTC Welcome Survey, which flags any personal needs or barriers that might affect your training. Your advisor uses that to follow up with support and resources throughout your program, whether that's a set weekly or monthly check-in or more as-needed outreach when something new comes up. Either way, advising is built around what you actually need, not a fixed template.
How Easy It Is to Connect
Student Services is on campus and accessible throughout the training day, and your advisor knows how to gauge urgency, whether that means immediate, same-day support for something unexpected or steady guidance that builds your self-reliance and confidence over time. Email is still the fastest way to get things moving, letting your advisor respond quickly and set up an in-person meeting if needed. You'll have an established point of contact throughout your enrollment, so don't hesitate to reach out.
Resources & Community Partnerships
Student Services has partnered with local experts to bring you the most comprehensive support available during your no-cost training. That includes help with childcare, professional clothing, housing and utility budgeting, transportation assistance, and applying for PA SNAP benefits, along with access to BTC's own on-campus food pantry. BTC has been awarded the state's Hunger Free Campus designation.
BTC is also a proud partner of United Way of Pennsylvania. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org to connect with United Way for help with critical, essential needs.
Additional Support Resources
Need extra help with your coursework? Bidwell's Academic Support offers pre-enrollment brush-up courses in math, reading, writing, and digital literacy, plus tutoring through a partnership with Literacy Pittsburgh — learn more on Academic Support here. Looking for confidential support? Bidwell offers free counseling, plus financial and legal consultation, through ESI Employee Assistance Group — learn more on Counseling here.