Supporting Students
Academic and Personal Support Resources
At times, it is important that faculty acknowledge the limits of our abilities and skills. In some situations, it may be better to refer a student to a specialized office or staff rather than to improvise a response yourself. On some occasions, you may find that a student is facing non-academic challenges that surface in the classroom. Encourage students to reach out to on-campus experts. Where you direct a student will depend on the nature of the challenge, but there a number of offices on campus that you and your students can consult.Student Academic Support
Student Personal Support
Most offices will also provide resources and advice to faculty and staff so don’t hesitate to call and ask them how you can help your student directly. If you are made aware of a student challenge that leaves you feeling concerned for the student, yourself, or others, you are encouraged to make a referral to the SDSU’s CARES (Campus Assistance, Response, Evaluation and Support) Team.
The list here provides basic information so that faculty and staff will have an idea of what is available but please see the individual websites for contact information and additional details. Note that the first two resources below provide extensive listings of virtually all available campus resources for student support.
CARES Campus and Community Resources
Faculty are encouraged to use Navigate to provide academic support for their students. Navigate is a web-based student success management system that brings together students, advisors, faculty, and staff in a collaborative network to holistically support students across their college journey. For an introduction to this useful tool, watch this helpful video introduction to Navigate prepared by the Student Success team with CTL; you can also review the slide deck from this video introduction.
Resources for Academic Support
San Diego State University (SDSU) offers multiple academic support systems to include advising about general education, major, minor, and other degree requirements, in addition to supporting students' overall success. This page has a summary of how to locate and identify the variety of SDSU undergraduate academic advisors.
Unsure where to start or have a question? The Student Success Team supports students via email, zoom, phone or text. Note that many colleges also have their own.
Supplemental Instruction targets historically difficult courses and offers free sessions to all students on a voluntary basis. Sessions are facilitated by students who were previously successful in the course, known as SI Leaders. These sessions are collaborative and integrate course content and study skills with information gathered from attending all of the class lectures to help students engage in active learning. Active learning in SI Sessions may include memory games, journaling, or diagramming on the board. See the website for a current list of courses with SI session.
The Library and Information Access supports the information, curricular and research needs of the university's diverse community through the widest possible range of resources. They are committed to information literacy, lifelong learning, and creative endeavors in a welcoming environment.
Assists students on a variety of projects—from essays, research reports, and resumes to presentations, podcast scripts, and creative narratives.
The MLS provides various services for students in math and statistics, including both in-person and virtual tutoring, workshops and early intervention.
Get help with a range of computer and technology concerns in person, via phone, email, or chat.
Resources for Personal Support
C&PS offers a wide range of services to help students obtain support for a variety of presenting concerns. These include individual counseling, couples counseling, group therapy, workshops, specialized programs, and appointments with Baxter, C&PS’ therapy dog. Their website provides links to resources for faculty and staff including interacting with students following a tragedy, a booklet for working with emotionally distressed students, and quick guidelines for referring students.
ECRT aims to bridge the gap in resources for students experiencing immediate food, housing, or unforeseen financial crises that impact student success. Using a holistic approach to well-being, ECRT supports students through crisis by leveraging a campus-wide collaboration that utilizes on and off-campus partnerships and provides direct referrals based on each student’s unique circumstances.
SHS is staffed by fully licensed and certified health professionals who are dedicated to the college community. No-cost or low-cost medical services include outpatient evaluation and treatment of common medical problems, preventive care, health counseling, immunizations and psychiatric treatment. Specialty care services, including dentistry, optometry and orthopedics, are available for additional fees.
SDS is the university office responsible for providing appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Services and accommodations are available to students with documented disabilities, including but not limited to students who have visual limitations, communication limitations, learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, attentional disabilities, mobility and other functional limitations, as well as those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Office of the Student Ombudsman acts as the student liaison or mediator, and is a confidential, independent, and neutral resource for students. They provide information, advice, intervention and referrals to try to solve problems at the most informal level possible. If you are unsure where a student should go with a problem, this is a good place to start.
There are a number of different offices and resources available for victims of sexual violence (whether faculty or students). The Title IXLinks to an external site. site provides links and information for legal, medical, counseling and other resources.
Cultural Centers at San Diego State University
SDSU’s Cultural Centers support student success through a framework that addresses equity, justice, and inclusion. Centers facilitate the learning and growth of traditionally underserved students through programs and events that educate the campus; facilitation of intergroup dialogues to address pressing issues; and advocacy with campus stakeholders to create an institutional climate that supports the students served by each Center.
The SDSU APIDA Center facilitates the academic and personal success of APIDA-identified students by providing relevant and accessible programming, resources, and services.
The BRC strives to promote Black Excellence and to provide a safe and welcoming environment where students, staff, and faculty of the African diaspora can congregate, collaborate, and cultivate a unified community.
The LRC cultivates a student-centered and welcoming environment for Latinx identifying students. The LRC encourages students of a Latinx background to embrace their culture through events, celebrations, programs, and services while connecting with other students, faculty, staff, and the community.
The NRC engages, supports and promotes the cultural, social, academic, and leadership development of students, faculty, and staff committed to the sovereign identity and progress of Indigenous communities.
The Pride Center creates, sustains, and strengthens an open, inclusive, safe, and affirming gathering space and campus environment for persons of all sexual and gender identities and their allies.
The URC is designed to provide undocumented students guidance, support in navigating the campus and local community resources to support their well-being, enhance their educational achievement and timely progress toward a university degree.
The WRC strives to provide a vibrant, brave, and inclusive space for women and all people who face gender-based oppression. Through an intersectional feminist lens, the WRC offers leadership opportunities, educational and healing events that address gender justice, and community building programs.
The CIR researches, designs and implements unique programs that promote the appreciation of cultural diversity and fosters intercultural and cross-cultural understanding.
The CTJ promotes restorative justice, reduces recidivism, and empowers individuals transitioning out of prison through higher education.
Other Offices and Services
The Office of Educational Opportunity Programs and Ethnic Affairs is committed to supporting first-generation, low-income students through innovative outreach and retention programs that encourage them to persist towards the goal of a university degree.
GLAD's mission is to support all graduate students' success and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our graduate programs at SDSU. They offer various personal, professional, financial, and social resources to enrich the graduate experience and promote success in graduate training. They offer programming and support designed to increase retention and decrease equity gaps for historically underrepresented and underserved students by fostering inclusion, equity, and intellectual growth for graduate students.
The International Student Center (ISC) advances the internationalization efforts of SDSU by serving both incoming international students and SDSU students studying abroad. The ISC offers a full range of programs and services to foster student success, global perspectives, intercultural awareness and international cooperation.
On campus, and worldwide, we’re committed to supporting military, military veterans, military spouses, and dependent children in the areas of higher education in outreach/admission, GI Bill benefits, academic success, graduation, and a career.
The SDSU Student Parent Support website provides access and resources for the academic and personal success of those who are both students and parents.
