Guidance Programs and Services in Notre Dame of Dadiangas University

This study assessed the implementation of guidance counseling services and student satisfaction with the Office of Guidance and Counseling Services (OGCS) at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, a private higher education institution in General Santos City, Philippines. A quantitative descriptive design supplemented by qualitative interviews was employed to examine perceived service implementation, student satisfaction, and practitioners’ experiences. Findings showed that the five core guidance service domains, Information, Individual Inventory, Testing, Counseling, and Follow-Up, were perceived as extensively implemented, with high student satisfaction across all domains. Qualitative findings indicated that individual counseling was the most frequently utilized service and identified challenges involving limited participation in voluntary programs, counseling stigma, client retention, technological limitations, and procedural concerns. Preventive and developmental initiatives, particularly mental health programs and Personal Growth Sessions, emerged as important components of student support, while ethical use of student information and assessment data strengthened individualized guidance and decision-making. The findings indicate that the OGCS provides a strong foundation for comprehensive, student-centered guidance counseling services and support targeted enhancement rather than replacement of the existing program. Priority areas include strengthening career guidance and preventive programs, standardizing referral and follow-up procedures, improving data-informed guidance practices, enhancing institutional coordination, and progressively addressing digital staffing and resource needs. The study provides an empirical basis for continuous quality improvement and sustainable guidance service delivery in higher education.