Welcome to East Los Angeles College! Usually the two primary reasons students select ELAC are its location—the campus is convenient to more than 1.5 million homes—and that it is the best educational value in the community. But once students start attending classes, ELAC’s professors become the primary reason they return semester after semester to complete their education.

I would like to recommend some strategies that will help you reach your educational goals:

Advice: ask our experienced counselors and student services advisors for information on everything you need to succeed at ELAC. They will help you develop a customized educational plan, assess your language and math abilities, finance your education, and select a career or university–in fact, these are just a few of the many services available at ELAC designed to help you reach your goals.

Help: ask for help with your academic coursework. ELAC has a wealth of special programs to help you understand and succeed in your classes including our Writing Center, the Math Lab and Learning Assistance Center. You will find friendly, knowledgeable tutors, hundreds of computers, seminars on using the library and data bases, personal development courses and much, much more.

Connect: start by getting to know your professors. They are committed to your success and are interested in your dreams and goals. They will encourage you to explore their discipline and help you learn how to learn. Next, connect with other students by joining a student club or organization, getting involved with a special project, participating in athletics, volunteering for an interesting internship—in other words, learning how to network to make the most of your college experience.

Next: plan for your future from day one. While it is important to develop short-term strategies that will propel you through each of your classes, keep an eye on your ultimate goal. It could be preparation for a career when you graduate or perhaps your heart is set on transferring to a university. Whatever your goal, look ahead and incorporate it into each step of your college life. Again, ELAC faculty and staff are here to help you make decisions about your future and show you the way to maximize your abilities.


“Start at ELAC. Go Anywhere” is our motto—but for this to work for you, it is critical that you connect with our professors, counselors, staff, administrators and your fellow students to make the most of your college experience.

Dr. Tyree Wieder, Interim President

East Los Angeles College