Student Support
Navigating college isn't easy, but it is important to know that your campus has programs, resources and advocates to support you.
If you dont know if a program is right for you, research their student benefits, visit their office, go to their open houses, talk to staff, attend one of their events, or ask people who are already in the program!
Student Support Programs
There are many programs that you can join to receive additional support (tutoring, scholarships, advising, workshops, professional development, internship opportunities and more!).
College Libraries
Besides the services that any library offers, your college library may offer computer labs, digital equipment rental, creative spaces, classes, space reservations, and tutoring.
College Centers
Like student support programs, college centers offer a variety of services. Centers typically have different focus, like academic, career, or cultural, for example.
Learning Communities
In a learning community, you will complete courses with the same cohort of students and faculty (professors) in a supportive environment.
Counseling Services
Colleges may offer health services like counseling and psychological services, student disability services, on-site doctors and pharmacies, and even therapy dogs!
Office Hours
Professors have a weekly available time where you can drop by to discuss class topics, ask about homework, learn about extra credit opportunities, or seek mentorship.
Student Support Programs
In college, you will have access to a lot of offices, programs, and faculty that can help you navigate your way through college and make sure you have all the tools you need to graduate and prepare for life after college. Some programs have limited capacity, so you will need to submit an application.
EOP/EOPS
EOP (or EOPS in community college) stands for Educational Opportunity Program and assists students with mentorship, academic programs and advising, financial assistance, counseling, and other services to first-generation college students and/or from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
Student Support Services (SSS)
SSS is one of TRIO's federally funded programs. They support students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. These programs help students overcome academic, financial and personal barriers so that you have a positive college experience and receive your degree(s).
Promise Program
Participation in the Promise program comes with a variety of benefits including up to two years of FREE tuition and health fees, individualized academic counseling, guidance and support to help you complete your educational goals, access to Peer Mentors, Book grants, and additional campus engagement opportunities.
Academic Enrichment or Support
In addition to offering students tutoring, scholarships, and academic support, programs like MESA, Honors, or Faculty-Mentoring programs guide and support students to be successful in college by providing industry connections, career and research advice, and access to internships to gain real-world experience.
First-Year Experience
These programs support first-year college students by hosting events and workshops, offering and connecting you with a variety of services, so you get to know your campus, learn about opportunities, and find the right support. They usually have limited spaces, allowing you to get more specialized help.
Foster Youth Program
Programs like Guardian Scholars and NEXT UP offer foster youth a variety of services, including scholarships, monthly meetings, seminars, wellness coaching, free test materials, Thanksgiving and graduation celebration dinners, invitations to campus events, and personal, academic, and career counseling.
Some programs have summer bridge experiences where students can get an introduction to college (with other new students) to ease the transition from high school to college (or community college to university).
College Centers
Student Resource Centers might offer similar programs and resources like academic support, leadership development opportunities, professional guest speakers, social events, scholarships and other student services. Although the centers might collaborate often with each other, each one offers a unique perspective in their offerings.
Career Centers
They host workshops, one-on-one advising and other resources to help you look for a job, practice for job interviews, explore career paths and use your college's alumni network.
Students With Disability Centers
Ask for appropriate support and services that minimize any academic and/or physical barriers you might encounter in your college experience. Services might include test accommodations, accessible technology, transportation, interpreters, and more.
LGBTQIA+ Centers
With a focus on community building and advocacy, these centers hosts programming and events promoting gender-inclusive campus resources, community and national resources, and college and career resources welcoming students from all backgrounds.
Veteran's Centers
Veteran's centers support any military-affiliated students with admission assistance, educational benefits guidance, academic success resources, graduation support, career advancement and more.
International Student Centers
These centers offer events, spaces, and access to staff for students to become aware of resources like housing, health insurance, work permits, immigration policies, and their college campus resources.
Cultural Centers
Your campus might have identity-based centers (like Black Resource Center, APIDA Resource Center, LatinX Resource Center, or Native Resource Center). Like other centers on campus, they offer a wide range of resources including career advise, counseling, professional networks, scholarships, safe spaces and more!
Transfer Student Centers
Transfer centers can be a home away from home for commuter students. They offer additional places to study, access to kitchen appliances (to store and heat up your lunch), computers, printer stations and charging ports.
Undocumented Student Centers
These centers support students regardless of their immigration status. In addition to providing academic resources, they create a safe space for students to feel welcome on campus, offer legal services and guidance, social activities, and share community resources.
Women Centers
These centers might offer exposure to positive mentors, feminist education, academic mentorship, leadership development, community building, identity exploration and sexual and gender-based violence prevention, among others.
College centers do not charge for their services or membership, you can attend their events, visit their office and participate at any point!
Learning Communities
In a learning community, you will complete courses with the same cohort of students and faculty (professors) in a supportive environment. You share classes with other learning community students. Learning communities may offer special workshops, educational opportunities, field trips, social events, or other co-curricular activities to provide an enriching college experience. They can be academically-focused or centered around social justice.
CHEL
CHEL is a Nahuatl word that means, "rainbow". This learning community focuses on the LGBTQIA+ life experience and issues and topics related to the pursuit of higher education and overall support.
Sangam
This community provides a home for all students who want to learn about the Asian-American Pacific Islander experience through literature and history, preparing scholars for academic and personal success!
Bayan
Bayan is a Tagalog word that means “home”. This learning community provides a home for all students that want to learn more about the Filipino-American experience through literature and history.
UMOJA
Explore issues minority students face in college, learn more about the African-American experience, participate in culturally-enriching activities, make connections and learn strategies to succeed in life.
PUENTE
Puente aims to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges, and return to the community as leaders or mentors, providing mentoring, counseling, and skill-building opportunities.
College centers do not charge for their services or membership, you can attend their events, visit their office and participate at any point!
College Libraries
Your school's library operates as traditional library (allowing you to borrow books, periodicals, archives, etc.). It is even open to the non-SDSU community. However, college libraries have a wide range of services to help you succeed academically.
Course Reserves & Research Databases
Your professors might require textbooks and books as part of your class reading material. You can find these on your library stacks or they might be under course reserves. You can borrow, read, or photocopy pages of your course's reading materials to prepare for class. This could save you money!​ Colleges pay subscriptions to research databases so you can access peer-reviewed articles, journal publications, scholarly texts, and high-quality research for free.
Librarian Consultations
You can always make an appointment to talk to a librarian for things such as advice on a particular topic, developing research strategies, and locating and using sources.
Events and Workshops
Libraries host a wide range of events hosted by their staff but also other organizations. Check out their calendar to see if something peaks your interest!
Tutoring Centers
Many college libraries will offer tutoring in a variety of subjects like writing or math (or historically challenging courses like chemistry or calculus) for free! These tutoring services often employ graduate and undergraduate students who have taken those courses and received good grades.
Maker Spaces
These spaces are designed to foster creativity by providing the infrastructure for the DIY learning of technology (sewing/embroidery, 3D printing, electronics), available to anyone on campus, regardless of their discipline or expertise
Meeting Rooms & Quiet Spaces
In addition to study spaces, students can reserve private rooms to host study groups, or work on projects individually. You can also ask for materials such as whiteboards, computers, projectors, etc. Many colleges offer 24/7 areas (if you ever need to pull an all-nighter).
Loanable Technology
Many libraries carry motion pictures and music (digital or in a physical format such as DVD, VHS, CDs, Vinyl, etc.) and the machines or adaptors needed to play them. You can check any of these materials out the same way you would books. In addition, you can also check out computers, video or photographic cameras, and other materials you might need for a class project.
Licensed Software
College students are usually eligible to install several licensed software applications like Microsoft, Adobe, Matlab, Zoom, N-Vivo, and more using their student IDs or using their library's computers.
Computer Labs & Printing Stations
Your college library provides access to various technologies that can help you with your studies and class projects, such as computers with licensed software, printers, copy-fax-scan machines, 3D printers, and other machines, and WIFI.
Do you have a gap in between classes? Find a cozy, quiet spot on the library and catch up on your class readings, assignments or study!
Counseling and Psychological
Your campus might have an office, center or even building, dedicated to supporting student with mental and physical health. These confidential services are paid for through the student health fee, so you only have to worry about making an appointment and showing up.
Counseling
Colleges offer might offer individual or couples counseling. You can request a phone consultation, in walk-in opportunities, group counseling, and scheduling a Zoom or in-person session.
Workshops
These interactive groups cover topics such as healthy relationships, dealing with anxiety, living with loss, mindfulness meditation, dealing with stress and improving your mood, among many others.
Other Services
Some colleges have meditation spaces, therapy dogs, mental health programs, referrals to community resources, access to medical care and basic needs assistance (like food insecurity, housing, or safety).
Your college offers a variety of services, they are more than happy to support you, you just have to take the first step!