The Community Service  Scholarship Program (CSSP) was  established to provide funds to  financially assist students who
have been placed with nonprofit  agencies throughout the Fresno area.   Assignments in the CSSP are structured to relate to a student’s academic major. In order to provide enough time for a “real world” experience, each student performs an assignment of 150 hours with his or her agency.  Upon completion of their assignments,  students earn three units of academic credit and a
$1,500 scholarship.

For more information on the Community Service  Scholarships program, contact Aleta Wolfe, Career  Experience Counselor in Career Services, at:  (559) 278-2381.

The cold and flu season is still upon us and students should take extra
care to stay healthy as they begin the spring semester. Remind your  student to take these basic steps to avoid getting sick:

.  Eat a balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruit
.  Exercise regularly to boost the body’s immunity
.  Get plenty of sleep
.  Reduce stress

A 2004 survey of Fresno State students studied the factors that negatively impact academic performance.  Stress (30%), illness (27%) and sleep difficulties (19%) were some of the top distractions reported by Fresno State students.

Here at Fresno State our prime concern is the welfare of our students. The Wellness Services program was created to help students establish healthy lifestyles. If your student complains of illness or stress, remind them that there are a number of services available to them right here on campus. The health center is conveniently located on campus and most services are covered by the mandatory health fee that is part of registration costs. The health center can diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries.

These services are provided on a walk-in basis, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Counseling walk-in hours are from 9-11 AM and 2-4 PM, Monday through Friday.

For more information, visit: http://www.csufresno.edu/health/

It is not uncommon for students to struggle in college classes.  If your student brought home lower grades this past semester, encourage him or her to visit the Learning Center on campus.  The Learning Center  provides a number of services free of charge for
enrolled, CSU Fresno students, specifically designed to enhance their academic performance.

Tutoring sessions are free and focus on subjects like accounting, writing, math, languages, physics and more. The Learning Center also offers workshops on topics such as: how to study, note taking tips, time  management, stress relief, how to create a study
schedule and other academic enhancement skills.

The Learning Center is available  Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Due to an increasing number of student visiting the center, they recently added weekend and evening tutoring from 5-7 pm
Monday through Thursday and 10 am to 2 pm on  Saturdays. The computer lab and in-house resources are also available during those hours.

Encourage your student to take advantage of these  services. For more information visit:  http://csufresno.edu/lc

American Humanics Management Institute Preparing Students For Non-Profit Careers

Fresno State’s American Humanics Program is available for students of all majors who seek careers serving  others. Each year, the  students in the program are required to attend a three-day, intensive learning  experience in Kansas City, MO as the capstone of their coursework. It is part of the requirement to graduate with the AH Certificate and  eventually find a job as a director of a nonprofit service agency. This year the program director raised enough funds to send 15 of the 19 students to the seminar, but his funds fell short by some $4,000.  Together with Friends for Civic
Engagement, the Parents  Association paid for the  remaining 4 students to attend the seminar.

The Catastrophic Fund Helping Students In Need

This past semester, the Parents Fund was once again able to support a student dealing with a catastrophic event through our Catastrophic Fund. A student applied for aid in the fall after an unexpected hospital stay left her with almost $21,000 in medical bills.  While she was able to find help to cover the majority of the costs, she struggled to pay the remaining bills.  The Catastrophic Fund was able to help her by paying one of her medical bills.

The student wrote, “As a  full-time student with little income, even being left with $900 in medical bills was  a burden.  Your assistance in paying just one of the medical bills I received has been a tremendous help. The Catastrophic Fund really helped me because it lessened my  financial hardship. It is because of groups like yours that I can continue to stay in school. Thank you so much for your help and I hope you continue to help others.”

The Career Services office is available to help students  throughout their college career and beyond. Here are a few tips from the Career Center for parents to consider:

Freshman Tips:
.  Visit Career Services to explore available programs and activities
.  Meet with an academic advisor to select courses that meet your needs based upon your interests and goals
.  Develop a resume online using Optimal Resume
.  Research and pursue part-time and summer jobs in your field of interest

Sophomore Tips:
.  Take introductory courses in the majors you’re  considering and identify career options for a major
.  Begin building marketable leadership skills
.  Consider a paid internship through your department or Career Services
.  Join student clubs and organizations that interest you and match your career goals

Junior Tips:
.  Build skills through activities, volunteer, work and/or
internships
.  Meet with a career counselor to create a job or
graduate school search strategy
.  Learn about interviewing techniques
.  Join a professional association as a student member

Senior Tips:
.  Initiate your job search plan
.  Research prospective employers
.  Fine tune your resume
.  Participate in the On-Campus Recruiting program

For more information, encourage your student to visit the Career
Services office in the Joyal  Administration building, room 256
or visit their website at:  www.FresnoStateCareers.com

We have been so incredibly excited and pleased by the results of our annual Parent Phone-A-Thon.  With the help of Fresno State parents, we have raised over $45,000!  We cannot begin to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who donated. No matter if you gave $5 or $2,500, your support will truly make a difference!

This year’s annual fund has been managed here on campus with our very own students working the phone lines!  Not only does this allow students to participate in an activity that gives back to the school, but it provides valuable experience to students interested in careers in sales and/or marketing.

Parent Funds are used for important student-oriented services and programs as well as special projects like the catastrophic fund. Your gifts truly impact the lives of our students and help them to focus on their academic pursuits.  Once again, thank you for your support in helping us to serve our students.

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year!  As the new semester begins, there is much to
look forward to.  The annual Wellness Challenge, exciting sports
events, Vintage Days and commencement are just a few of the
many activities on our student calendar for spring 2008.

The New Year will also bring challenges.  The California State
University system is bracing for a shortage in funding due to the
state budget deficit.  In times like these, the university is even
more dependent upon private support.   We have been greatly encouraged by the outpouring of pledges and donations from parents and family members of current students. With your help we have raised more than $45,000 in pledges for our annual fund.   This money will have a direct impact on our students and the services they receive.

I encourage you to watch for information on our annual Student Affairs spring event that is sponsored by our Parents Association. I also urge you to visit the Student Affairs website to learn more about all of the services available to your Fresno State
student at: www.csufresno.edu/studentaffairs/

Again, best wishes for a very happy and healthy 2008 and Go Dogs!    Dr. O