Community Connections

MESA Engineering Program (MEP)

Santa Clara Hall 1207
(916) 278-6699

Participation in the MESA Engineering Program (MEP) increases the probability that students will be successful in their engineering or computer science college studies. Focusing on the recruitment, retention, and graduation of highly motivated students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, MEP emphasizes participation by students from communities with low rates of enrollment in engineering majors.

The MEP program provides an on-campus home for its members with a large 24 hours-a-day study center that encourages study groups. MEP provides professional development, a freshman orientation course, and personal-academic advising. It assists in the coordination of tutoring services for all students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Community Engagement Center (CEC)

Dr. Ann Moylan, Director

Library 4028
(916) 278-4610
www.csus.edu/cec

The Community Engagement Center, a program of Academic Affairs, focuses Sacramento State's greatest resource–the knowledge and skills of faculty, staff and students–on making a difference in the various communities throughout the Sacramento region. 

Our mission is to engage members of the Sacramento State campus through their educational experiences to become aware of and respond to local and global community concerns through Service Learning, Volunteerism and Academic Internships. Additionally, our vision is to create a campus climate that promotes community awareness and involvement and supports students to become civically minded graduates who are actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally.

At Sacramento State, community engagement describes the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. 

The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning, prepare educated, engaged citizens, strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good. 

Students, faculty, and the CEC collaborate with community partners to create community-engaged learning activities to:

  • enhance classroom experience;
  • connect scholarly work and community services;
  • expand knowledge of civic and social issues;
  • network with professionals;
  • develop leadership and teamwork skills; and
  • act locally, think globally.

The Community Engagement Center programs include:

  • Service Learning (SL), which links students in courses with community-based partners for mutual benefit. The community partner gets assistance with various programs and the students gain experience understanding how different organizations operate and function to deliver programs and services. One example of Service Learning is: "Writing Partners @ Sac State," a program where university students participate in a letter exchange with fifth graders at local elementary schools. Writing Partners helps Sac State students be better writers and it helps fifth graders aspire to become college students;
  • Community Service, including Alternative Break @ Sac State and Sac State Volunteers, both of which provide volunteer opportunities with organizations throughout the Sacramento region; 
  • Civic Engagement, which supports opportunities for students to become "engaged" citizens in their communities and includes the Constitution and Civic Engagement Program (CCEP) sponsored by CEC and other campus programs; and
  • Academic Internships, which are stand-alone courses that formally integrate students’ academic study with practical experience in a cooperating organization.

For more information on how to become involved, visit the Community Engagement Center Web site at http://www.csus.edu/cec.

Partnerships for Employment Opportunities

Dr. Melissa Repa, Director

Employer Relations Team:

Maria Johnson, Employer Relations Specialist

Stephanie Francis, Lead Internship & Professional Programs Coordinator

Yoon Chao, Employer Relations Coordinator

Career Center

Lassen Hall 1013
(916) 278-6231
www.csus.edu/student-life/career-center/ 

Through a collaborative career development approach, the Career Center engages, educates and empowers our students and alumni to thrive and successfully contribute to our community, economy and future workforce. The Career Center offers a proactive comprehensive career development program, fostering partnerships with community and campus businesses to provide hands-on work experience for students and alumni.

Experiential education and internships offer students academic credit or experience for employment and learning opportunities that complement their educational endeavors by matching educational goals with work experiences. The Career Center provides internship and job listings for students looking for employment while attending college. Handshake, the online job database, lists thousands of opportunities (part-time, full-time, internship, and volunteer) for students and alumni in the Sacramento and Western region and beyond. It is accessible at the Career Center website 24 hours a day.

The On-Campus Interviews (OCI) program provides students and alumni with an opportunity to interview with Fortune 500 companies, top accounting firms, government agencies and other well-known organizations without ever leaving campus. Interviews for full-time and internship opportunities are conducted within our Career Center or virtually online.

Career Events and Job Fairs offer students and alumni even broader opportunities to meet with prospective employers. Over 500 employers attend Career Center events, annually, each searching specifically for Sacramento State students who have a reputation for professionalism, strong work ethic and academic preparedness to help companies and organizations excel.

Sacramento State alumni can also share advice and feedback with students via our online career mentoring platform: Sac State Career Network in partnership with Alumni Association. 

See also Campus Life/Student Resources/Career Center.

The EXCEL Program

Pamela O’Kane: (916) 278-4345
E-mail: okane@csus.edu

In the EXCEL Program, Sacramento State students learn the basics of tutoring elementary school children in reading or mathematics. After training, they work under supervision at local elementary schools helping children who are achieving below grade level. The following classes each offer 3 units of upper division credit:

EDUC 124A
EDUC 124B
Tutoring Children in Mathematics
Tutoring Children in Mathematics: Practicum
3
EDUC 125A
EDUC 125B
Tutoring Children in Reading
Tutoring Children in Reading Practicum
3
EDUC 126Assisting the Elementary Classroom Teacher3

Some paid positions are available with funding through FWS or America Reads/America Counts. This experience is an excellent way for students to find out if a career working with young people is right for them.

University Outreach Services

Office of Admissions and Outreach
Lassen Hall Lobby - Room 1102
www.csus.edu/admissions

The Admissions and Outreach Office, is charged with the recruitment of prospective students to the University. This involves recruitment visits and yield events at high school and transfer services, as well as services to students from low income educationally disadvantaged groups. The programs are designed to meet enrollment levels that reflect the richness of diversity in the Sacramento Region and to build a healthy enrollment balance by class level and academic programs.

Additional services provided include:

  • Pre-admission advising and presentations;
  • California Residency review;
  • Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program;
  • Undergraduate application review and processing;
  • Prospective and new student event planning;
  • Customer Relationship Management;
  • Outreach and marketing services;
  • Campus tours;
  • Tele-counseling services;
  • Distribution of complimentary copies of CSU/Sacramento State materials to schools, colleges, and related agencies;
  • Consult and Liaison between University academic departments and partner institutions for course articulation

High School Outreach Programs

High School Outreach programs provide information and guidance on higher education opportunities in general, and Sacramento State opportunities in particular, to prospective students, parents, guidance personnel, and other interested persons. High School Liaisons provide extensive outreach visits and activities at high schools in the Sacramento State service region and throughout the state. The Outreach staff also assists students in completion of the matriculation process and articulates University programs, policies, and procedures to other educational institutions and agencies.

Transfer Outreach Programs

Community College Outreach Programs work closely with community colleges in California to facilitate a smooth transition for students transferring to Sacramento State. In addition to the following list, the programs and services of the Community College Outreach mirror the High School Outreach program.

  • Memoranda of Understanding, established with the Los Rios, Sierra, and Yuba Community College Districts, are partnerships emphasizing and promoting a seamless transition to Sacramento State.
  • Development and distribution via www.assist.org of official articulation agreements between Sacramento State and other campuses specify the acceptability of transfer courses toward meeting lower-division major preparation.
  • Visits to community colleges enable staff to meet with prospective students, providing instant, on-site admission for eligible applicants at major feeder community colleges.

Community Outreach

Project PLAY

Dr. Scott Modell
E-mail: modells@csus.edu
(916) 278-5041

Project PLAY (Play-Oriented Lifetime Activities for Youth) is a fitness and leisure program for individuals with disabilities ages 3-25, that also trains parents, legal guardians, and other family members to provide follow-up instructions and support for program participants in the home. Project PLAY combines activities in the areas of motor fitness, physical fitness, development of leisure time skills, opportunities in adapted aquatics, training for Special Olympics, wheelchair games, and other organized competition for individuals with disabilities.

Project PLAY is an opportunity for students to participate in community engagement in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science.

Sacramento State Alumni Association

Alumni Association

SAA Staff Advisor: Erin Mahoney (they/them)
Telephone: (916) 278-4354
E-mail: saa@csus.edu
www.csus.edu/alum/students/

The Alumni Association, open to all current students and friends of the University, was founded July 20, 1950 to encourage alumni involvement with their alma mater and to support the campus community. Governed by a 27-member Board of Directors, the Association offers its members various opportunities to volunteer and participate in social and fund-raising activities.

Current students are encouraged to join the Student Alumni Association (SAA). SAA is a student volunteer group that works on behalf of the Alumni Association to enhance the student experience by connecting students to one another, alumni, and the University. SAA volunteers plan and participate in social, career-oriented, and school unifying events. SAA membership for current students is only $20/year and, in addition to the full privileges and benefits of membership in the Alumni Association, members receive a t-shirt and keychain.

The Alumni Association also provides the opportunity to network with alumni who share your professional or social interests through chapters including: Art; ASI; Basketball Alumni and Friends; Black Alumni; Business; Capitol Fellows Affiliate; Construction Management; Criminal Justice; Education; Engineering/Computer Science; Government; Hong Kong; Football/Spirit Alumni and Friends; Latino; MPPA; Nursing; Recreation, Parks and Tourism; Speech Pathology and Audiology; Theatre/Dance; and Urban Collective. All groups welcome student member (SAA) participation as well.

Events are another way the Alumni Association keeps alumni active in the life of the University. Annual events include “Alumni Month” every April, the Causeway Classic, Homecoming, pre-game parties, and the prestigious Distinguished Service Awards. Members of the Alumni Association also support students through donations to the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Each year 12-15 scholarships ranging from $1,000-$2,000 are awarded to deserving Sacramento State students.

When you think of your alumni home on campus, think of the Alumni Center. Maintained and operated by the Alumni Association, it is an outstanding venue that may be rented for meetings, conferences, weddings, receptions, and other social events. It truly provides a “home” on campus for alumni and a place for activities that help alumni strengthen ties to the students, the campus, and the community.

Current Alumni Association membership information can be found online at www.csus.edu/alum/students/. We hope you will get involved and consider showing your Hornet Pride by joining for life!