Welcome back to The Buzz Around Student Affairs!

The Fall 2025 semester is well underway, the weather is finally starting to cool and the leaves are starting to change colors! Sac State's tree canopy is always so gorgeous in the fall. 🎃

You may have noticed The Buzz has a refreshed look! We also have several new features and updates! This month's newsletter has lots of news, highlights, important reminders, and fun updates, so read on for the latest from our division.

"The light that shines at Sac State is far greater than the darkness of our times."

– President Luke Wood, Fall Address 2025 

Going forward, The Buzz will usually be sent the first Wednesday of every month. Your partnership is the heartbeat of The Buzz, and we’re eager to hear how we can elevate this newsletter.

Please share your thoughts, feedback and ideas with us. 💌

Don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram for a peek into campus life! 📸

This semester has been a historic one, and I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you.

Your preparation, commitment, and care have positioned us to meet an extraordinary moment. We have welcomed the largest student body in Sacramento State’s history. This milestone reflects the trust students place in us, and it comes with a responsibility to meet the growing needs of our students in a time of political, economic, and emotional uncertainty. Our students are navigating real challenges, and they are turning to us for support and guidance.

The launch of our Basic Needs Resource Center could not have been timelier, given that CalFresh benefits for students were reduced on September 30, 2025. We know the ASI Food Pantry will be a critical resource in the months ahead.

We have also welcomed a new member to our community: Duke, our campus emotional support dog, thanks to Charles Nelson’s work in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. We are also proud to celebrate Dr. Jeanne Harris Van Dahlen who was honored as MPP of the Year for her outstanding leadership and commitment to student well-being. Through a new partnership with John Burton Advocates for Youth, we have added a fellowship opportunity that is reserved for former foster youth.

The Cultural Academic Resource Centers have onboarded 46 new employees since May to expand wraparound services. Many thanks to SABR for their continued support with recruitment, and to Dr. Marcellene Watson-Derbigny for helping lead the development of our new internship program.

The Black Honors College is now serving 422 students and continues to grow! Campus Life is energizing the community with the introduction of our new squirrel mascot, Mei Wei, the Glow Party, and the return of Apollo Night. In October, Union WELL will open the new Relaxation Station and our Event Center, two spaces our students are very excited about!

This is just a snapshot of the work underway and the impact you are making. Every action, every program, every moment of care helps create a campus where students are seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Thank you for showing up. Let’s keep going. Our students are counting on us.

With gratitude, 

Aniesha Mitchell, J.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

The University reaffirms its enduring commitment to advancing and amplifying our designations as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a Black-Serving Institution (BSI), and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). We remain steadfast in fostering a campus community that is inclusive, safe, and welcoming for all students.

This month, we proudly recognize and celebrate Latine Heritage Month, Filipino American History Month, LGBTQIA+ History Month, and Diwali. We encourage all members of our Hornet Family to participate in the events and gatherings hosted by our Cultural and Academic Resource Centers, in partnership with campus collaborators, as we continue to honor the diverse identities and cultural traditions that enrich Sacramento State.

From Our Perspective: Our Student Assistants help keep the office running. They ensure everyone feels welcome. They greet visitors with a smile, answer calls, and point people in the right direction. They also jump in on projects, help with scheduling, and keep things organized behind the scenes.

Along the way, they build professional skills—like communication, organization, and problem-solving—that will benefit them long after their time in our office.

Read below to learn a bit about each of our current Student Assistants. 

Name: Joi-lyn Haulcy 
Major: Heath Science  
Expected Graduation: Spring 2028
Career Goal: Registered/travel nurse.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: The overall positive vibe we have here.
Fun Fact: I attended a medical high school.

Name: Kassandra Vela Hernandez 

Major: Psychology

Expected Graduation: 2028

Career Goal: To become a clinical psychologist.

Favorite Thing About Sac State: The library and resources on campus.

Fun Fact: I love the Twilight movie series!

Name: Ulisses Hernandez
Major: English
Expected Graduation: 2026
Career Goal: Teacher, professor.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: My favorite thing about Sac state is the life that comes from the campus. 
Fun Fact: I am a first-generation, second-language college student. 

Name: Cheyenne Mosley
Major: Film
Expected Graduation: 2026-27
Career Goal: To work in animation or create my own.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: The trees - they add to the welcoming environment that Sac State provides.
Fun Fact: I love reading the Bible; It's very interesting and life-changing for me.

Name: Amaya Rios

Major: Biological Sciences (CLS concentration)
Expected Graduation: Fall 2026
Career Goal: Forensic pathologist.
Favorite Thing About Sac State: The AIRC.
Fun Fact: I’m from SoCal!

From the Student Perspective: Being a Student Assistant is more than just an on-campus job—it’s a chance to be part of a team and grow in many ways.

We get to meet lots of people, help them find what they need, and assist with projects to keep the office running smoothly. It’s a friendly environment where we can practice the skills we're learning in and out of the classroom, all while making campus feel a little more welcoming for everyone.

The Buzz is the new home of the STAR Awards! We don't have a STAR Award winner to highlight just yet, but in future editions, we'll announce the monthly winner with a photo, a few sentences and a link to read their full biography.

As we work to reduce the number of emails being sent to staff, faculty and students, this will replace the current, separate STAR Awards SacSend.

We encourage you to visit the STAR Awards webpage to nominate the next STAR, view past winners and learn more about the STAR Awards! 

The Staff Talent Appreciation & Retention (STAR) Awards program acknowledges the exemplary performance and contributions of staff members within the division.

Head to our submission form below to NOMINATE the next STAR of the Month!

SAVE THE DATE: Our annual holiday celebration is fast approaching and it's time to nominate your co-workers for our yearly awards!

Annual award nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, November 12.

Annual STAR Awards include the following:

Introducing Honey, Wings & Stings!

The Buzz now highlights members of the Student Affairs family who have been promoted (Honey 🍯), newly hired (Wings 🦋), and those who are leaving our division, including retirees (Stings 🐝).

Join us in celebration as we congratulate these outstanding employees on their next adventure. Please give them a shout out if you see them around!

COMING SOON: This section will recognize our staff who have been promoted to new roles, including details on their current role and new position.

Wings recognizes new hires, with a list of names, titles and start dates. We welcome our newest division members, who started between July 1 and September 30!

COMING SOON: This section will recognize members of the Hornet Family who are departing the division, including our retirees.

Our upcoming, dedicated Honey, Wings & Stings webpage will feature biographies and photos so you can learn more about our Student Affairs family.

Have a co-worker you think we should highlight? We'll soon share a Honey, Wings & Stings submission form so you can tell the division about them!

Congratulations to the staff in Student Health, Wellness, and Counseling Services on the successful launch of the Basic Needs Resource Center (BNRC) on Sept. 2.

Located in The WELL, Room 1031, the center, which held its grand opening on Sept. 23, provides students with free food, clothing, toiletries, parenting supplies, and couch-surfing kits, along with assistance accessing CalFresh and housing resources.

Students can schedule weekly appointments through their student health portal. The BNRC is designed to ensure students have access to essential resources while promoting dignity and well-being.

Take a look at some of the coverage the BNRC received as part of its launch:

Did you know? Learning & Development offers a wide variety of employee professional development trainings, events, and activities each month. Here are some October events and trainings we recommend checking out.

Each has multiple sessions, unless noted.

See the full calendar below for more events, additional information, and to request accommodations and register.

⌛ Open Enrollment is available through October 10, so now’s the time to review your benefits and make any changes for 2026. If you don’t want to make updates, your current elections will continue, but you must re-enroll if you want to keep Health Care or Dependent Care Reimbursement accounts. All changes will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

🚨 Sac State will participate in a test of the campuswide Emergency Notification System (ENS) on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 10:16 a.m. As part of “The Great California Shake Out,” a statewide earthquake preparedness event, the Sac State Police Department will send a non-emergency test message through the ENS. Students are automatically enrolled to receive ENS alerts, while faculty and staff must register to receive cellphone notifications.

🏈 The Homecoming football game between the Hornets and Northern Colorado is Saturday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. and faculty and staff can claim up to FOUR FREE tickets for the game and post-game fireworks show! Use the link below to select “Athletics Events,” and then “Football,” and finally “Sac State Football vs. Northern Colorado.”

📲 Don't forget to sign up for your FREE ChatGPT account. The CSU's systemwide license for OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu plan aims to support accessibility and innovation. 

“We see this as an opportunity to lead educational innovation and shape the future of AI in higher education.”

– Ed Clark, chief information officer for the CSU

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the global workforce, California State University is taking bold steps to ensure its students and employees are prepared to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape. The CSU took its most significant step toward embracing AI in February when it announced a first-of-its-kind public-private initiative to make AI tools and training available to all 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty and staff.

Visit the resources below to learn even more about the CSU's support of AI.

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14. All campus-managed PCs must be upgraded to Windows 11 as soon as possible.

Beginning Oct. 14,  any remaining Windows 10 devices will be quarantined and will not be usable. Don’t delay – follow the Windows 11 upgrade instructions or respond when a system pop-up appears on your desktop.

Our records indicate that we have successfully upgraded all compatible Student Affairs devices to Windows 11, but if you have a device that has not been powered on in some time, it may not have been included in our process. If you encounter such a device, please report it to us immediately.

Thank you again for your collaboration and for helping us ensure all systems remain secure and compliant.

Hornet Weekly – Sac State's Briefing-inspired digest newsletter for students – launched in September in an effort to reduce the number of emails in students' inboxes while keeping them better informed. It is sent on Tuesdays and includes news, events, resources and more. Take a look back on our first six editions:

We appreciate your support, as we cannot produce Hornet Weekly without submissions from our Student Affairs staff and all of our campus partners.

Want to keep up with the latest editions of Hornet Weekly or have items to include? Click the buttons below to learn more, submit your items and visit the archive.

Upload your events to Trumba, Sac State's event management platform. It's designed to help organize, share and promote campus events with ease. Uploading to Trumba only takes a few minutes and is an easy and efficient way to keep students up-to-date on all the exciting events we have planned!

Have you heard? We have a brand new way to request campaigns, emails and more. Use our new forms to request graphics, photos, videos and targeted SacSends!

We are here to help. Let us guide you on the best practices and platforms for reaching students. Planning ahead streamlines communication pathways, helping you connect with your target audience. Contact us today!

Thanks for reading the October 2025 edition of The Buzz Around Student Affairs!

The Buzz is usually sent the first Wednesday of the month. Please submit updates for the next newsletter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22. 🐝

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6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 278-6011  |   www.csus.edu