Academic Year 2007-2008

Newsletter

Message from the Director

Greetings from Dr. Howard Wray:

As Director of SSSP, I would like to welcome you back to another exciting academic year at CSULB. This promises to be one of our best years ever. In our continued effort to provide SSSP students with opportunities to enrich their college experience, we have a variety of cultural events and social activities planned. Also, you will be happy to know that we have made improvements to our computer lab and have secured additional lap-top computers, available for check-out. Your academic success is our goal, and I strongly encourage you to utilize the many services we offer to our program participants. Norman Perlas and Erika Thomas-Eddens, our Academic and Career Counselors, look forward to guiding you every step of the way—so be sure to keep up those contacts. Our Writing Tutor, Lily Salter, will be offering WPE/writing workshops and one-on-one tutoring. In addition, Program Coordinator, Justine Bellock, and Student Assistants, Quyen Tra, Joe Contant, Richard Lozano, Laura Nieto, Natalie Guardado, Ciara Baynes, Jocelyn Gomez, Karina Vega Pulido, and Lyka Carlos are always ready and willing to assist you in any way. As always, the SSSP staff is dedicated to helping you achieve your maximum potential in higher education. Have a great year, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Writing Tutor

Welcome back! As your Writing Tutor, I am here to tutor SSSP students on all aspects of writing: brainstorming ideas, organizing an essay, formulating a thesis, integrating quotes, how to proofread and edit your work, or any other concerns you have. Also, stay tuned for SSSP-WPE Workshops.

Since writing is an integral component to academic success, it is important to feel confident about your skills. If you are having difficulty composing a college-level essay, you are not alone. Many students fail to understand that writing is a process. Creating a polished essay involves: conducting research, composing multiple drafts, and allowing yourself enough time to revise your work. Clearly, time-management is key to successful writing. As you enter this new school year, make yourself a promise to improve your writing and to utilize EVERY available resource to achieve this goal. If you have not been to see me yet, please do. Call the front desk (562) 985-5637 and make an appointment. I can’t wait to start working with you!

Sincerely,

Lily Salter

BOOK TRADE

SSSP is beginning a book trade program! Students will be able to loan, borrow, or trade textbooks with each other in order to avoid extra costs. SSSP will facilitate the program to ensure quality and reliable service. Keep checking the listserv for more information.

SSSP Counselors’ Corner

As a reminder per semester, freshman and sophomore students must have at least three (3)appointments; students of junior status need to have at least two (2) appointments; and senior students must have at least one (1) appointment.  All students must meet with Erika, Laura, or Norman during the semester, or risk not being able to utilize program services and benefits.

Don’t forget to meet with your major advisor if issues or questions regarding your major arise!

In partnership with the Learning Assistance Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Career Development Center, a variety of study skills, personal growth, and careerdevelopment workshops are being conducted throughout the semester.  Please check with the counselors for dates and times of these sessions.

During the semester, we will send e-mail information regarding workshops, Student Council events, and other SSSP functions.  We encourage all of you to participate in these upcoming events.

We wish you success and look forward to seeing you!

GRANT AID

The deadline to apply will be announced. To qualify, you must be freshmen or sophomore class standing, check your financial aid award to see if you are receiving Pell funds, demonstrate need for supplemental financial assistance, complete an application, write an essay stating why you should receive grant aid, receive tutorial services, pass WPE or attend

WPE workshop or writing tutorial services, attend and complete the required SSSP activities,and get started on your check-in appointments. You must have three significant contacts to be considered for the grant.

Once you receive the award, a hold will be placed on your records and will not be removed until you complete the grant requirements.  Failure to do so will require you to pay back your award and you will no longer be able to receive future grants.

SSSP LISTSERV

Are you getting e-mail?  Stay connected with all the news, information, and events of the Student Support Services Program.  Be sure that you are on the email listserv so that you may receive all the up-to-date details of the program.  Also, please be sure that you keep your SSSP Counselor or Peer Advisor informed of any changes to your mailing address or telephone number.  Email: csulb_sssp@yahoo.com

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wicked Performance-Pantages Theatre

Join us on Sunday, December 2, 2007, (Time TBA)

for this wonderful cultural event.

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years.

WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...), WICKED is directed by 2003 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, A Man of No Importance).http://www.wickedthemusical.com/LA/

Overnight Excursion

Yosemite National Park

March 29-31, 2008, Sat.-Mon.

The Annual SSSP Graduation Recognition Ceremony TBD

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

GRE Fee Waiver

There are GRE fee waivers available at the financial aid office.  Contact financial aid to find out how to apply.

Need a Letter of Recommendation? Click on the link and scroll to the bottom of the page to put in your request.

Student Council

Hello SSSP,

Welcome back! We hope that everyone had an awesome summer. We wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to vote during our election for 2007-2008 Student Council.

Below is a list of your fellow officers:

President: Ciara Baynes

Vice-President: Natalie Garcia

Treasurer: Neang Chem

Secretary: Avis Atkins

Public Relations: Trinh Dang

Historian: Anthony Hale

We really appreciate your support and are glad that you chose us as your council. We hope to see more faces during the upcoming year. Your participation and active membership will help us succeed, therefore, we are looking forward to helping students become more involved in college life through: academics, socials, and leadership activities. So look out for some awesome events and trips! We hope to see you all at our meetings.

SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION COURSES (S/I)

Do you want to attain better grades in such classes as anthropology, biology, chemistry, economics, geography, history, math, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, or sociology?  Learn and practice study strategies you can use in any of your courses.  Make new friends.  Make learning fun.  Be confident in your abilities.  SI classes are directed study groups designed to give students the skills to succeed in courses that historically have given students difficulty. Supplemental Instructors, who have mastered the course, attend the lecture with you.  In the SI session, they help you learn to apply study strategies to course content.  Each and every semester in the schedule of classes, you can find courses that have an SI attached.