The San Diego State University 1996-97 General Catalog on the World-Wide Web cannot
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Student Services
The Division of Student Affairs supports the academic mission of the University by providing services which assist students in identifying, clarifying, and achieving their educational and career goals. Through the Division of Student Affairs the campus expresses its awareness that students have unique financial, developmental, social, cultural, psychological and health related needs both in and out of the classroom.
In addition to direct assistance to students, the Division of Student Affairs is charged with developing programs which enhance the learning environment on campus and improves the quality of life for students and others. Central to this charge are activities which promote and sustain an appreciation for the diversity of cultural, racial and life-style backgrounds represented on the campus; the investigation of contemporary issues concerning the well-being and life choices of students; and a campus environment which encourages a productive interchange of ideas.
By working with the following departments students will receive the assistance and counseling they need to remain focused on their studies while maturing as individuals and members of the campus community.
Tours of the campus are conducted by the SDSU Ambassadors, the University honorary and service society. The Ambassadors have been carefully selected and trained in order to represent SDSU at new student orientation programs and at campus and community events. To find out how to become an Ambassador, or for information about scheduling campus tours, please contact the Campus Tours office.
Career counselors assist students in the exploration of their skills, interests and values as they choose a major and develop a career plan. A variety of computerized instruments are used in the career counseling and job search process. An extensive Career Resource Library is available to provide information about potential employers as well as current open positions for graduates.
A centralized listing of paid part-time jobs and internships for on and off campus is available through the Student Employment section of Career Services.
Career fairs are scheduled each semester allowing students to meet employers in an informal setting. A comprehensive career fair is scheduled in September followed by a graduate and professional school day. In the Spring a series of specialty fairs are scheduled, including one for summer jobs. Access to a bank of SDSU alumni (through our Career Consultant Network) will also help students explore numerous career possibilities.
The On-Campus Recruiting program brings prospective employers and graduating students together for career employment interviews. Students are assisted in preparing for these interviews and all other aspects of the job quest through workshops and individual career counseling.
Various services are offered to alumni for a nominal fee.
Career Services is open 8:00-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays during fall and spring semesters while classes are in session.
Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS) offers individual and group counseling for the typical college student who wants assistance in coping with, and successfully resolving, the problems they face in everyday life. Issues relating to intimate relationships, self-esteem, personal independence, conflict, anxieties, self-confidence and academic performance are difficult and common obstacles for most college students. Peer counselors are also available to assist students with personal and family problems.
Individual counseling services are designed for students who can benefit from short term, intensive counseling, lasting a maximum of six sessions. If a student's situation requires longer term therapy, referrals can be made to off campus resources.
CPS has a stress management program and Personal Growth Resource Library equipped with over 200 video and audio tapes and a variety of free brochures on topics to assist students in their academic performance and personal growth.
Enrolled SDSU students who want help from the CPS staff in locating off campus community services can call 594-5220.
Counseling psychologists at CPS offer help in:
Learning to reduce stress. Stress can interfere with concentration,
memory, and mental processing.
Dealing with relationship loss, feelings of helplessness or
hopelessness, which may lead to a lack of motivation or prolonged
depression.
Developing communication skills and problem solving techniques to
improve important relationships.
Building self-esteem and improving coping skills.
Clarifying values and career decisions.
Counseling & Psychological Services is open from 9:00-4:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Disabled Student Services provides support services for students with mobility limitations, learning disabilities, hearing or visual impairments, psychological disabilities, and other disabilities. Counselors are available to help students plan an SDSU experience to meet their individual needs. They assist students in making personal, academic, and vocational choices, and show how best to utilize campus facilities. Prior to receiving this assistance, appropriate medical documentation must be submitted to Disabled Student Services. Services offered include:
Orientation for students-Information on attendants-Government benefits counseling - Priority registration for students with special needs-Close-in parking- Transportation on campus and information about off-campus transportation - Accessibility information, maps, and library study rooms - Reader services and assistance with books on tape; sign language interpreters for deaf students-Testing assistance for visually impaired, learning disabled, and dexterity limited students - Loan of educational support equipment (tape recorders, amplification equipment, wheelchairs, etc.); a high technology computer lab - Specialists who evaluate and provide support services for learning disabled students -Tutoring and notetaking services - Referral to off-campus agencies for mobility orientation, financial benefits, and other services.
The Office of Educational Opportunity/Ethnic Affairs (EOP) at SDSU has helped many students with the potential for academic success and who are from low-income backgrounds enroll in and graduate from college. EOP assists students who have historically been underrepresented in higher education institutions. It is the purpose of the program to support those students who have the interest and motivation to obtain a college education, but who have not been able to realize their full potential due to economic, educational, or cultural factors.
Student services provided by EOP include preadmission counseling, summer program, priority registration, academic advising, personal counseling, referral services, individual tutoring, study groups, academic skills courses, work study, and multicultural activities. Financial aid is available through the Financial Aid office.
To apply for the program, students must complete the CSU Application for Admission and check the appropriate box for EOP. Supplemental application forms will then be sent to students indicating interest. For assistance in filling out the application forms, or for further information about the program, please contact one of the EOP recruiters in the Student Outreach Services office, (619) 594-6966.
All regularly enrolled SDSU students have prepaid a health fee which entitles them to basic medical services. Some services, including annual Pap smears and pharmacy, require a minimal fee. Charges associated with these services are usually dramatically lower than those found elsewhere. This care is provided at Student Health Services, an on-campus center where health care providers offer a wide range of programs and services. Services include:
Care by physicians board certified in family practice, pediatrics,
internal medicine, and preventive medicine, and by primary
care nurse practitioners; nursing, x-ray, and laboratory staff; a
pharmacy which dispenses prescriptions and over-the-counter
items at reduced cost; health-related counseling and campuswide health education programming offered by the Health Promotion Department.
New or readmitted students born on or after January 1, 1957 must demonstrate proof of immunity to measles and rubella (German Measles) by the beginning of their second term of enrollment at SDSU. Students who have not complied with this California State University mandate prior to the registration deadline will not be assigned classes for the upcoming second semester.
Measles and rubella immunization is now required because both of these diseases continue to cause disability and sometimes death in college-age individuals. Epidemics have occurred on many college campuses during the past few years because a sizeable percentage of students lack immunity to measles and rubella. The minimum requirement is proof of at least one immunization for measles and rubella given after the first birthday and after 1968. All students are encouraged to consider a second immunization for measles prior to enrollment.
Students may fulfill the immunization requirement by bringing or sending documentation as proof of either previous illness or immunization to Student Health Services. Students may also receive a free immunization in Student Health Services. For more information, call (619) 594-6684.
Immunization from the following diseases may also protect students against potentially severe infections: tetanus, diphtheria, polio, mumps, and hepatitis B. Like measles, these too can be particularly harmful in the college-age group. These immunizations are available at reduced cost in Student Health Services.
Entering students are also strongly encouraged to have a screening test for tuberculosis (TB). The TB skin test is offered free at Student Health Services.
Students without acute or urgent problems are encouraged to make an appointment. Those with problems requiring immediate medical attention should walk in. Student Health Services is open twelve months of the year. During the fall and spring semesters, the clinic is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. During the summer, fees and clinic hours vary. It is best to call for hours of service and to ask about the availability of services (594-5281). All medical care provided at Student Health Services is strictly confidential. No one, on or off campus, other than Student Health Services staff has access to medical record information without written permission from the student.
Students can participate in the clinic activities and offer important feedback about services through membership on the Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) sponsored by Associated Students. Members not only work with clinic staff on a variety of health education projects, but also act as liaison between the SDSU student body and Student Health Services. SHAB keeps Student Health Services staff focused and current on major student health issues. Membership from all academic majors is encouraged.
First aid or urgent medical care is provided to students, faculty, staff, and campus guests for accidents and injuries occurring on campus. Accidents requiring treatment and/or transportation to Student Health Services or a local hospital should be reported immediately to the SDSU Department of Public Safety; telephone 594-1991.
SDSU students are treated by the University as adults. Accordingly, students are responsible for their own safety and health in connection with participation in campus activities and should exercise good judgment and due care at all times. The University does not provide accident, liability, or health insurance coverage for students. This includes those participating in extracurricular activities, intramural sports, and required or elective academic programs, such as laboratory courses, workshops, theatrical productions, internships, or practica. Specific questions regarding insurance coverage for campus programs, institutional safety regulations, and potential risks inherent in academic programs and student activities should be directed to the responsible faculty or staff member in charge of the activity.
In addition, through the Associated Students, a health insurance policy is available and recommended to students having no private medical or accident insurance coverage. The insurance includes hospitalization benefits and specified medical and surgical services. The policy may be purchased by semester or on a yearly basis. An open enrollment period is available the first thirty days of each semester and the policy may be purchased at the Aztec Center ticket office.
Each of the various housing alternatives available to SDSU students offers unique advantages. SDSU considers the student residence an integral part of the educational experience. Students are strongly encouraged to live on-campus at least two years while studying at SDSU. Since family housing is not available on campus, off-campus housing serves the needs of families. For assistance in finding housing most appropriate for each student, the Housing and Residential Life office is the campus resource.
On-campus residence halls are conveniently located on campus and offer students a 10 to 15 percent better chance of doing well in college than those who live off campus according to research done by the American Council on Education.
Residence halls offer a variety of accommodations including double rooms and apartments. Special interest housing includes graduate, international, upper division, outdoor/recreational, extended quiet, Freshman Living/Learning Center, and housing over the breaks.
There are five coeducational residence halls on campus offering students various living situations and meal plans. Zura Hall is a nine-story highrise with 594 residents, Tenochca Hall has eight floors for 424 students. Chapultepec Hall has eleven floors for 560 students. The three other halls are three-story, red-brick buildings accommodating 218 students each. These halls provide sleeping and study facilities on a two-students-per-room basis, with a limited number of single rooms available. Villa Alvarado is an apartment-type facility housing 354 students in furnished two-bedroom suites. Student government within the residence halls provides residents an opportunity to run their own programs, gain leadership experience, and maintain standards of behavior.
For the 1995-96 year, the cost for room and board is $4,700 (10-meal plan, double occupancy). Fees for Villa Alvarado, which do not include board, are $3,736 for the academic year. Rates for all halls are reviewed and adjusted annually to meet cost-of-living increases.
TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION FOR HOUSING, STUDENTS SHOULD TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO THE HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE OFFICE AT THE UNIVERSITY BEFORE THEY ARE ADMITTED TO SDSU OR THEREAFTER.
Housing applications are available in November and thereafter for the fall term of the upcoming academic year. For the spring semester, applications are available in September and thereafter. Confirmation of a room reservation is made after the following requirements have been met: (a) the student has been admitted to the University; (b) the signed contract has been returned to the Housing and Residential Life Office; and (c) the first payment has been received as specified. Though consideration will be given to a student's request for an individual hall and roommate, a specific assignment cannot be guaranteed.
During the Summer Sessions, rooms are available on a receipt-of-check date priority. Full payment must accompany the application. Students should contact the Housing and Residential Life Office in mid-April for information concerning Summer Session housing.
Off-campus housing accommodations in the San Diego area include apartments, houses, rooms in private homes, etc. Listings of available dwellings and also of students seeking roommates are located next to the Housing and Residential Life Office.
Fraternities and sororities offer students opportunities for friendship, small group living, social and recreational activities, community service projects, and development of leadership skills. At SDSU there are approximately 30 residential sororities and fraternities from which to choose. Chapter houses provide accommodations for about 25-50 percent of their members. New members should generally not plan on living in chapter houses until at least their second year.
More than 650 international students from 75 countries attend SDSU. Through the support provided by the International Student Center, these students can find assistance in reaching their educational goals. Services include prearrival advising, orientation to campus life, academic and immigration advising, and a housing referral service.
The International Student Center also coordinates a variety of activities designed to foster intercultural goodwill, understanding, and friendship. One such activity is provided by the Intercultural Ambassadors, through which selected international students make home-country presentations in San Diego schools. In addition, the ISC invites faculty, staff, and the community to become American Friends to international students new to the SDSU community and to participate in the many events listed in the ISC Calendar of Intercultural Activities. These include the International Coffee Hour, the Whole Earth Dialogue Series, the International Festival, and the Intercultural Exchange Camps.
Becoming a student at SDSU also means becoming a member of a special community which includes students, faculty, staff, and administrators. As a member of this community, students are responsible for knowing and complying with established rules and regulations.
The Ombudsmen are independent and impartial agents who help individuals and groups seeking the resolution and correction of complaints. The Ombudsmen act as liaisons between students and the University, assisting students through formal grievance procedures and functioning to mediate and reinforce other means of redress when possible. This office does not supplant existing avenues of redress. It exists to encourage appropriate and timely access to those existing processes which may best resolve the problem.
Examples of student complaints which have been resolved through this process include disputes over grades, faculty or staff conduct, academic disputes, appeals or waivers, administrative policies, and institutional compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Should a complaint not be resolved at the referral level, the Ombudsmen may act as mediators and suggest compromise solutions between parties. If the problem is still unresolved, the student may file a grievance with the student grievance committee. No student grievance can be filed with this committee later than the last day of the semester (excluding summer sessions) after the semester during which the student was allegedly aggrieved.
Involvement with inter-collegiate athletics on campus presents many challenges for students. This office provides guidance and assistance for these student-athletes in the areas of admission, registration, New Student orientation, eligibility, counseling, study hall and academic advising. This individualized program is designed to create an academic support network to insure all student-athletes comply with NCAA and University requirements.
Student Outreach Services (SOS) is SDSU's official representative in the community beyond the University, linking SDSU with other schools, colleges, and communities within the state. Through the -programs which make up Student Outreach Services-School and College Relations, the recruitment component of EOP, and Student Affirmative Action-important facts about University life are provided to prospective students. For guidance in college selection and preparation, or information about admissions requirements, academic programs, or other student services, the SOS office is the campus resource.
Specific services provided by the staff of the Student Outreach office include:
Visits to high schools and community colleges and meetings
with counselors, students, and parents-Assistance to SDSU
colleges, schools, and departments in providing information
about their programs to prospective students - Distribution of
printed information about the University to students, teachers,
counselors, and other members of the community - Support for
academic partnerships between the University and junior
high schools, secondary schools, and community colleges -
Administration of the Student Affirmative Action program which
provides recruitment for non-EOP students from underrepresented ethnic groups.
Student Outreach Services invites all prospective students and interested members of the community to take advantage of the services and programs offered. To find out how, please contact the Student Outreach Services office.
The Student Resource Center values the ability to respond to the needs of students and their families. At the SRC, questions will be answered or referrals made. Beginning with SRC's new Student Orientation Programs, SRC supports students throughout their years at SDSU in achieving academic goals and in enhancing the University experience. Students may visit the SRC for the following:
(1) Programs and services
Academic Information Day - assistance with course selection, General
Education and competencies requirements, and registration (for
freshmen and transfer students).
CONTACT - orientation to University programs, services, traditions
and history; opportunities for involvement on campus (for freshmen
and transfer students).
Freshman Success Programs - includes Academic Information Day,
CONTACT, and Emerging Leader Program. Also, the Living/Learning
Center and University Seminar (see Special Programs and Service
section for complete description)
Annual Leadership Institute - workshops and seminars presented to
students and advisers from universities throughout the Western
United States.
Emerging Leader Program - leadership skills and campus involvement
opportunities for freshmen.
Leadership and Personal Growth Workshops - sessions on a wide
variety of topics are presented by SRC staff as requested by
student groups.
Project Progress -student diversity awareness program.
Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Awards - this student service
award is presented annually to ten students and the faculty they
nominate.
Ambassadors - the University honorary and service society.
Campus tours.
Student internships for class credit.
(2) Information services
General campus and academic information.
Publications for parents, students, visitors, businesses, sponsors,
etc. News for Aztec Parents, a newspaper for parents and families
of SDSU students, is published by the SRC. To subscribe (home
delivery), call 594-5221.
Response to mail inquiry.
(3) Student activities
On campus status for clubs and organizations.
Implementation of University policies and procedures with regard to
student activities.
Approval of all on-campus clubs' activities, including fundraising
events.
(4) Parent/family and community programs and development
Parents' Association programs.
Promotions and fundraising to directly support student programs.
(5) Student services' research and evaluation
Surveys of student needs, attitudes, and behaviors.
Evaluation of SRC and other Student Affairs programs and services.
The Test Office is an important resource for the entire University community, serving both students and faculty by administering tests for the purpose of admission, class placement, competency for graduation, licenses, credentials, and career planning. A library of standardized assessment instruments is maintained for use by faculty and students in testing classes, and test scoring and analysis services are provided for classroom tests.
Test dates for San Diego State University competency and placement tests are listed in the Special Tests section of the current Class Schedule. Advance reservations as well as fee payments are required for most tests. The Test Office will provide students with test dates and registration procedures for major national examinations in the form of a bulletin of information or with the address of the testing service. Students who are interested in assessments, assisting with the counseling process, or career planning must contact Counseling & Psychological Services or Career Services. Special competency and national testing arrangements for disabled students are made through the Disabled Student Services office.
Although competency test requirements are monitored by various offices on campus, the Test Office will attempt to assist students in signing up for the required examinations or refer them to the proper agency.
Students who are eligible for veterans, dependents, or reservists V.A. education benefits should visit SDSU's Veterans Affairs Office (VAO). Services available through the VAO include assistance in applying for education benefits, coordinating the V.A. work/study program, and processing tutorial assistance paperwork.
Students planning to attend SDSU should contact the Veterans Affairs Office two months before the beginning of their first semester; they may be eligible for an advance payment of the first V.A. education check. For additional information, about the VAO or the services provided, please telephone or visit the office.
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