Student Academic Support Services

CSULB believes that ALL students are capable of achieving academic success and thus provides a broad range of educational and student support services to assist them in their academic endeavors. Faculty and professional staff from all areas of the university work together to assist students in reaching their academic potential. The following programs compliment and support classroom instruction.

Career Development Center

The Career Development Center is located in Brotman Hall, Room 250. For information, call (562) 985-4151, log onto www.careers.csulb.edu, or stop by the office.

The Career Development Center provides resources and strategies for choosing a college major, developing career plans, finding internships and full-time jobs and making successful career transitions. Career decision-making facilitates a student’s definition of his/her personal career goals and objectives based on an understanding of one’s self and the world of work. The Center provides students with the most current career data and information delivery systems.

Career Planning, Selecting a Major, and Job Search

Career counselors assist students in exploring career and academic major options and in developing effective job seeking skills through one-to-one counseling and workshops. Counselors also provide assistance with résumé writing, interviewing techniques, job search techniques and other facets of the job search process including such topics as networking, accepting or rejecting a job offer, and negotiating a salary.

Once a student has carefully assessed his/her interests, skills, and values, the next step is to discover what professions might best suit them—that is, what major might lead to their desired career path. Career exploration does not entail making one, unalterable decision, but is instead a process that will open up several possible pathways. The Career Development Center provides individual counseling sessions designed to assist students along every step of the career planning process.  Additionally, the Career Resource Library contains information about hundreds of career-related topics including choosing a major, internships, résumé writing, job market trends, international jobs, interviewing, job search, employers, and graduate school.

The Career Development Center receives thousands of job listings every year for positions relating to majors in the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the Arts. Current listings are maintained for student use in the Career Resource Center and available via BeachLINK an on-line 24-hour job listing service that provides students with access to all of the part-time and full-time job vacancies received by the Center.

The Center also offers an On-Campus Recruiting Program for graduating seniors and graduate students. Through the OCR program, employers visit the campus each year to conduct interviews. The employment opportunities in this program are generally in the areas of accounting, banking, computer science, engineering, finance, government, general management training, insurance, retail management, sales, and marketing.

Career fairs provide excellent opportunities for students to meet representatives from the companies in their industries of choice and establish a network of contacts. Career Counselors help students research the employers beforehand and provide tips so they are prepared to engage recruiters effectively.

Internship Program

The Internship Program offers students paid and volunteer internship experience in business, industry, government and the non-profit sector. This practical and professional work experience is directly related to a student’s academic major or career goal. Students may alternate full-time work periods with full-time academic periods or they may work part-time while simultaneously attending the University. Upper-division Internship courses are available for up to six units of elective academic credit. Contact the Career Development Center Internship Coordinator at (562) 985-4151 for more information.

Careers and Disabilities

Careers and Disabilities is a Career Development Center program designed to help students with disabilities meet the challenges of career planning and job placement. A student with a visual, hearing or speech impairment, a learning disability or limited mobility can learn strategies in this program that will help build bridges to meaningful employment. For information about Careers and Disabilities, call (562) 985-8468

Center for Community Engagement

The Center for Community Engagement is located in the Academic Services wing of the Librarry, Room 120. Call (562) 985-7131 for more information.

The Center was established to institutionalize service learning at CSULB. Service Learning is a teaching method that allows students to see and experience the relationship between theory and practice. It integrates and enhances both community service and academic instruction; engages students in responsible and challenging community service; and emphasizes active learning in different environments. Its mission is to develop awareness, understanding, and commitment to service learning by creating a physical and virtual resource center that facilitates interactions between faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, student services staff, and community partners.

The Center works actively to serve educational institutions, government and non-governmental organizations, community agencies, and the CSULB campus community by organizing educational and training tools to aid the development and implementation of service learning activities across disciplines. The Center works with faculty to support student learning objectives as well as developing successful approaches to establish service learning teaching strategies through existing networks, mentors, and resources. The Center is a member of a growing national community that appreciates service learning as an academically effective and socially beneficial pedagogy and therefore supports exploration in service learning through student theses and faculty research. The CSLC actively participates in campus, system, statewide, and national movements to promote service learning as a means for social and intellectual development.

Disabled Student Services

Disabled Student Services (DSS) is located in Brotman Hall 270. Call (562) 985-5401 or visit www.csulb.edu/divisions/students2/dss/ for information.

DSS provides appropriate services and accommodations for students with disabilities, including registration assistance, note-taking, sign-language interpreting, reading, test proctoring, academic advising and scholarship information.

The High Tech Center (HTC) provides computer support services for students with disabilities and maintains a consultant relationship with faculty and staff. The HTC staff can provide one-on-one training and small group demonstration sessions for students, faculty and staff members to develop their knowledge about and skills in the use of adaptive technology and access devices. For students who have a print disability, the HTC staff will assist the student in acquiring accessible instructional materials in a format the student can use - for example, Braille, electronic text, or large print. Students who are required to take compulsory exams such as the writing proficiency exam, ELM/EPT, GRE, MSAT, LSAT, etcetera, and need accommodations for taking the exam, can arrange their accommodations at the HTC in LA 5 - 173. The Stephen Benson Learning Disability Program which provides support services for students with learning disabilities. Graduate counselors within the program provide disability related support services for the academic and personal needs of students identified with learning disabilities. Staff, trained in the assessment for learning disabilities, are available to provide prospective students testing and evaluation for specific learning disabilities.

The WorkAbility IV Program, in conjunction with the Career Development Center, provides career planning, placement and job search assistance. Call (562) 985-8038 for more information.

Clients of the Department of Rehabilitation may call DSS to verify the receipt of authorization for tution and parking payment at this office. DSS also assists with disabled parking.

It is recommended that students with disabilities attempt to modify their schedules, as necessary, to lessen the impact of a disability. Students with disabilities, however, may request to enroll in a unit load commensurate with their ability. Reduced unit load is defined as less than 12 units for undergraduates and less than 8 units for graduates. Such requests must be made to DSS prior to each semester affected. If approved, the student will be entitled to all benefits, services and activities governed by the University accorded to full-time students. Eligibility for benefits, services and activities outside the University’s control will be governed by each separate external agency based upon actual unit load.

Educational Equity Services

The Office of Educational Equity Services (EES) assists in the admission and retention of first generation college students and academically and economically disadvantaged students some of whom might not otherwise be enrolled in the University. Programs currently under EES include the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), and the federally sponsored TRIO programs, Educational Opportunity Center, Educational Information Services/Talent Search, Student Support Services Program, McNair Scholars Program and Upward Bound.

College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)

The CAMP office is located at Liberal Arts 3 Room 202 and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. The telephone number is (562) 985-2006 or FAX (562) 985-2003.

The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) is designed to serve students who themselves or whose parents are migrant or seasonal farm workers. Work may include production, transportation, packaging or canning of crops, dairy products, poultry, livestock, cultivation or harvesting of trees (nurseries), or fish farming. The goal of CAMP is to provide outreach and recruitment services to eligible students by assisting them in completing their admissions and financial aid applications. Also offered are parent workshops on motivating their children to enroll in and graduate from college.

The ultimate aim of CAMP is to provide migrant students with the necessary support services to help them transition easily during the first year in college. The project provides a student-centered array of academic and personal support services geared toward enhancing each student’s learning opportunities and quality of life. Also provided are tutoring, academic-skill building instruction; peer and faculty/staff mentoring; assistance with registration; a grant if eligible; exposure to cultural events; and academic programs not usually available to migrant youth.

Educational Opportunity Center

The Educational Opportunity Center is located at the Career Transition Center, 3447 Atlantic Avenue 2nd Floor, Long Beach California 90807 (cross streets Atlantic Avenue and East Wardlow Road). Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday. The telephone number is (562) 570-3710 and fax (562) 570-3713.

The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a federally funded program designed to identify and assist low income, first-generation adult participants who want to enter, re-enter or continue in a program of postsecondary education. Adults enrolled or interested in enrolling in a high school diploma or GED program are encouraged to seek services.

The mission of the EOC is to assist program participants reach their educational and career goals by providing quality information, advisement and services. EOC provides free services to individuals who meet the program criteria.

Participants are required to be at least 19 years old; a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident; reside in one of the target communities: Artesia, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens, Long Beach, Lynwood, Norwalk, Paramount, Willowbrook and Wilmington; attend school or receive services from a site in the target area, and have a need for one or more of the program services.

The EOC provides academic advisement, career advisement, financial aid information, postsecondary advisement, assistance in completing college admissions, testing and financial aid applications. The program also conducts college admission and financial aid workshops.

Educational Talent Search

Educational Talent Search is a federally funded program housed at California State University, Long Beach. Its purpose is to identify, select, and assist low-income, first-generation individuals between the ages of 12 to 27 to continue in and graduate from secondary school and enroll in a postsecondary educational program. Services offered include postsecondary admission and application assistance, financial aid information and application assistance, academic advising, and career exploration and planning.

McNAIR Scholars Program

The McNAIR Scholars Program provides academic support services, research opportunities and involvement in scholarly activities for 25 low-income, first-generation college students to increase their likelihood of enrollment and success in doctoral programs. The program consists of the Summer Research Internship, which concentrates on a research project to be conducted by the McNAIR Scholar with the guidance of his/her faculty mentor, and the Academic Year Scholarly Experience to provide continuation of the summer research project; academic support and assistance in seeking admission to graduate programs; and assistance in obtaining graduate financial aid. The Scholars’ papers are collected in a publication, the CSULB McNAIR Journal.

Summer Bridge Program

The Summer Bridge Program provides an intensive six-week residential summer experience for selected first-time freshmen EOP students entering for the fall semester. The program provides English and mathematics instruction, tutoring, orientation to the campus, study skills workshops and enrichment activities to prepare students for the challenges of college. Participants are required to reside in campus housing for the full six weeks and must successfully complete the program to enroll at the university.

Upward Bound Program

The Upward Bound Program is a federally funded college preparatory program designed to assist first generation, low-income high school students who have the potential to pursue postsecondary education. The goal is to assist participants in their efforts to complete high school successfully and obtain a college education.
The program provides summer and weekend academic instruction, tutoring, academic, personal and career counseling, cultural activities and college application and admissions assistance.

International Student Services

International Student Services is located in the Center for International Education in Brotman Hall, Room 201
International Student Services serves some 1,300 non-immigrant students, representing over 90 countries, by assisting them with their academic, personal, and cultural growth and development during their years at CSULB. This is accomplished through professional counseling and advising; assistance with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, paperwork processing, and documentation; student orientation activities; and assistance with registration. The ISS staff also serves as the University liaison with consulates, embassies, businesses, foundations, and community organizations concerning international students at CSULB.
In addition, the ISS staff works with international students, faculty, and members of the community to encourage and support international programs. International students are encouraged to participate in University and community programs. During the academic year, the ISS staff works with the International Student Association, the International Peer Advisors, and the International Community Council of Long Beach to plan and organize cross-cultural events such as the Annual International Dinner and Culture Show, International Faire, and other major events. These groups add a special dimension to student life on campus by hosting various cultural events and providing leadership training opportunities for their members.