“Generally, students don’t know that there is a student health center here at all unless they need the service or are seeking it and someone tells them,” Conover said. “A large percentage of our students are uninsured. They don’t have their own insurance and they aren’t on their parents plans so we are a very valuable service.”

Conover also said students often think the Health Center is just a first-aid station but that it was set up to provide all the services of a doctor’s office.

Some of the free services provided include doctors appointments, chiropractic appointments, flu vaccinations, STD testing and mental health counseling by a licensed psychologist.

Students can also get lab tests done for a nominal fee that varies depending on the tests that are being run.

Students are required to pay for prescription medications but often times the Health Center has generic versions of the drug for less than $5 and over-the-counter medication is free, Conover said.

One student who said the Health Center has made his life easier is Manuel Hernandez, 28, computer information systems major, who started using its services because he didn’t have health insurance.

It’s very prompt (service),” Hernandez said. “Its more like a walk-in clinic rather than having to make an appointment and come in a month later or a couple months later so its very convenient.”

Walk-in hours and additional clinic information can be found on the college website at http://www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/health/ 

Health care isn’t the only service on campus that can save students money.

The cosmetology department offers discounted salon services for both students and community members.

All work is done by cosmetology students, many of who also work part-time in proffesional salons and they are always overseen by instructors, Patricia Gebert, cosmetology professor, said.

Hair cuts are $6 for community members and $4 for students that present their student ID.

The cosmotology department also offers perms, pedicures, facials, hair coloring and scalp treatments, often at less then a third of the cost of proffesional saloons, Gebert said.

Walk-ins are accepted Mon., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. from 8 a.m. to noon in Room 152 of the Technical Arts Building and appointments can be made by calling 310-660-3593, ext. 3602.

The automotive department also offers discounted services to students.

Students are required to pay a $10 to $20 fee and pay for parts but all the labor is free.

Services provided include tune-ups, brake repair, transmission repair and air-conditioner system maintenance.

Students who want to check service availability should contact the automotive instructor teaching the specific class that covers the type of repair they need. Contact information is available athttp://www.elcamino.edu/academics/indtech/autotech/faculty.asp 

For students who want to stay in shape on the cheap, there is the Community Fitness Center located in the Physical Education North Building.

Students who are enrolled in a physical education class (PE) and have purchased an ASB sticker can use the gym for free, while those not enrolled in a PE class can pay a community education fee of $49 for the semester.

Students can sign up and pay the fee online at http://www.eccommunityed.com/ or by calling 310-660-3593.

For students who don’t want to buy food on campus and decide to bring their own from home, there are microwaves in the Student Service Center and The Common Ground that can be used for free.

A new service that is being offered by the financial-aid department is a computer lab, located in the Student Services Center, Room 204G.

The lab provides students with access to computers and assistance in filing their FAFSA applications as well as help applying for grants and checking on their financial-aid status.

Workshops where students can get tailored one-on-one help are also offered in the lab, but the dates are yet to be determined.