While we reflect on Black History Month and look ahead to Women's History Month, let's appreciate what an honor it is to contribute to an institution of higher education that continues to value diversity, equity and inclusion. Embracing one another's differences – and similarities – at a time in our nation's history where we're being forced to navigate a plethora of misinformation and rampant divisiveness is essential to ensuring no one is left behind. ✊

At a time when the news cycle can be vicious, it's also important to remember to focus on the positive while remaining media literate and relying on our critical thinking and fact-checking skills. We teach our students these fundamental principles, but we must also remember to keep these ideas in mind every day.

Be vigilant, be intuitive and be independent in your thinking. 🎓

Whether its the daily challenges and successes of our roles at the University, the daily events in the state, nation and world, or our own mental and physical obstacles, we're all in this together and we can make the dream happen with support from our Hornet Family. Stingers Up! 🐝

By Daniel Wilson, Digital Communications Specialist, The Buzz Editor

"Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction."

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Buzz hits your inbox once a month. Your partnership is the heartbeat of this newsletter. We’re eager to hear how we can elevate it for you. Please share your thoughts, feedback and ideas with us. 💌

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

As we shift out of the wintry cold, I’m delighted to see all that is blooming from the incredible work happening at Sac State. The dedication of our colleagues and students who are shaping this vibrant campus deserves to see the sunlight! I hope some of our recent wins spark ideas or new partnerships.

 

This winter, we welcomed 2,400 new Hornets and their supporters through our New Student Orientation Program! Thank you to everyone who led workshops, spoke with guests and guided students. I’m proud of the Orientation team for their work across two weeks of sessions. It’s no small feat to make this magic happen!

 

Student Organizations & Leadership now has 321 recognized student organizations, the highest number since before COVID. This milestone reflects our students’ resilience, creativity and engagement.

 

Greek Life is implementing a comprehensive self-assessment rubric grounded in the pillars of our Greek community. It will help chapters set goals and align with campus expectations and benchmarks for stronger, values-driven organizations.

 

Lastly, for the first time in program history, our Sport Club student-athletes will be eligible to receive scholarships through the Athletics fee. This helps remove financial barriers that may have limited participation. Expanding access to opportunity is central to our mission, and we are incredibly proud to support students in more equitable and meaningful ways.

 

I am especially grateful for the women at the University whose leadership drives our progress. This Women’s Herstory Month, join me in recognizing the countless women who have paved the way and challenged inequities. I hope you’ll take a moment to recognize the women in your life and draw inspiration from their example as we continue advancing inclusive practices where all students can thrive.

 

Stingers Up!

Nicki Croly
Assistant Vice President for Campus Life

Senior Director for Student Organizations & Leadership

The University reaffirms its enduring commitment to advancing and uplifting 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, and in honoring national and cultural celebrations that reflect our diverse Hornet Family.

This month, we honor Women’s History Month, Lunar New Year and Holi Celebrations:

We encourage all members of our Hornet Family to participate in these 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 Sac State.

From Our Perspective: SHCWS Student Assistants are essential to a healthy Hive. Across our teams, they bring energy, care and real skill to outreach, education, events and one-on-one support. They answer questions, listen with empathy, and take time to connect Hornets to the right resources, even on busy days.

In return, they gain more than a paycheck. They build practical skills in health communication, program planning, event management, crisis response and teamwork. We are grateful for and proud of the work they do and the leaders they are becoming.

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

Name: Leila Civil
Major:  Sociology
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026 
Career Goal: School Social Worker
Favorite Thing About Sac State: All the trees and wildlife that are on campus (especially the squirrels!). I also like to lay out and study when the sun is out.
Fun Fact: I am obsessed with all things cats and am a cat-mom to a cute tortoiseshell kitty named Mittens!

Name: Brianna Gonzalez

Major: Health Science 

Expected Graduation: Fall 2026 

Career Goal: My career goal is to work in public health. 

Favorite Thing About Sac State: My favorite thing about Sac State is the community. 

Fun Fact: I enjoy baking! 

Name: Alexis Miclat
Major: Psychology
Expected Graduation: May 2026
Career Goal: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Favorite Thing About Sac State: My favorite thing about Sac State is that I was able to find my communities and have a home away from home. Also, I love the squirrels!
Fun Fact: I love cats and visiting cat cafes whenever I get the chance!

Name: Kollins Pettaway

Major: Psychology 

Expected Graduation: Fall 2026

Career Goal: Counselor/psychologist 

Favorite Thing About Sac State: The opportunity to grow.

Fun Fact: I’ve lived in both coasts of America, all before turning 21.

Name: Jeri Ripoyla
Major: Psychology
Expected Graduation: May 2026
Career Goal: Clinical Psychologist
Favorite Thing About Sac State: The community, the opportunities and the diversity!
Fun Fact: I love to crochet! I've been crocheting for about 15 years!

Name: Berta Zepeda

Major: Nutrition and Food, Dietetics 

Expected Graduation: May 2028

Career Goal: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Favorite Thing About Sac State: The community and how many trees are on campus.

Fun Fact: I have a contagious laugh.

From the Student Perspective: As Student Assistants/Interns in SHCWS, we’re at the heart of campus well-being, connecting with our peers, leading workshops, supporting outreach efforts, and serving as trusted resources for mental health and wellness. This work builds confidence, strengthens our communication and leadership skills, and provides hands-on experience in advocacy, peer support, and health programming.

Just as impactful as the work itself is our connection to our community. We collaborate with peers and staff who are invested in our success, which creates an environment where we feel supported, inspired and proud of the difference we make every day.

Thank you for joining us at the Division of Student Affairs Holiday Celebration & Annual Awards! We hope you had a wonderful time connecting, celebrating, and making memories at the event this past December.

To help us make future celebrations even more enjoyable and meaningful, we’d truly appreciate a few minutes of your time to share your thoughts. Your feedback—both what you loved and what we could improve—plays an important role in shaping our upcoming gatherings.

All responses are anonymous, and your honest input is greatly valued. Thank you for helping us make our next celebration even better!

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!

Welcome to Honey, Wings & Stings!

The Buzz 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 recognizing and congratulating these extraordinary employees!

Honey 🍯recognizes our staff who have been promoted to new roles.

Congratulations to these outstanding members of our Student Affairs family!

Wings 🦋 recognizes new hires, with a list of names, titles and start dates.

Join us in welcoming our newest division members!

Stings 🐝 recognizes members of the Hornet Family who are departing the division, including our retirees.

Join us in wishing these folks all the best in their next adventure!

By Daniel Wilson, Digital Communications Specialist, The Buzz Editor

Sacramento State is on the verge of several expansions, including a first-of-its-kind downtown economic development initiative and an investment in long-term, student-centered initiatives, such as safety training and scholarships, according to reports.

The downtown development is a two-to-five-million-square-foot, mixed-use development located steps from the State Capitol that will establish a new downtown Sacramento State Capital Campus, funded in partnership with Meta. The new campus is planned to include public- and private-use facilities that support education, housing, workforce development, innovation, hospitality and cultural vitality.

Potential uses for the new space include student housing, a new state-of-the-art School of Public Affairs, a mixed-use performing arts and music venue, an AI Center and a boutique hotel to accommodate visiting students, families, research partners and University guests.

Additionally, a $100,000 investment, in partnership with ASI, is designed to equip students with physical and psychological self-defense skills, increase confidence and situational awareness, and expand access to training seminars for the campus community.

Half of the money will fund the "Empower with Power" self-defense series. These free seminars for students—led by Combat U instructors and athletes—will be permanent offerings on campus. The other half of the money will fund Combat U scholarships. Kung fu and tai chi classes for students, faculty and staff will also be offered.

Read more about these new expansions and initiatives, as well as the announcement that Hornet Football is moving to FBS, at the links below:

By Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Services

Sacramento State is launching a campus-wide effort this March to significantly increase student participation in the National College Health Assessment, a nationwide survey that helps shape campus health and safety decisions.

In 2024, fewer than 1,000 students responded when the survey was sent to a 10,000-student sample. This year, the survey is going to all 30,000 students, and campus leaders have set a public goal of reaching at least 15% participation — more than 4,500 responses — to ensure results are more representative of the full Hornet community.

The coordinated campaign includes leadership endorsement from University administrators, targeted outreach to historically underrepresented student communities, a prize drawing incentive and on-campus “Survey & Snacks” pop-up events designed to make participation accessible and visible.

University leaders say stronger participation will allow for more reliable data to guide decisions around mental health services, prevention programming, safety initiatives, and student support resources. The effort reflects a broader institutional push toward equity and data-informed decision-making.

Learning & Development offers a wide variety of employee professional development trainings, events and activities each month. See the full calendar at the button below for events, additional information, and to request accommodations and register.

Here are some highlights for March: 

The Career Center offers a wide variety of career development and employer networking resources, trainings, events, career fairs and activities for you, your students and alumni each month.

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

💰 CSUBUY Procure-to-Pay (P2P) has several trainings applicable to your position available on its webpage. All managers are approvers in the new purchasing system, and training was recently. Missed it? Visit the P2P webpage for the recording. Also, visit the DOA webpage to learn more about the updates to the Delegation of Fiscal Authority system. The P2P application is a centralized, systemwide platform designed to standardize, streamline, and enhance procurement and payment processes across all CSU campuses. Through standardized workflows, real-time data access, and integrated tools, the P2P system helps reduce manual touchpoints, improve supplier collaboration, and support smarter, data-driven procurement decisions.

💼 The Career Center is seeking help promoting its Spring 2026 career fairs. Please share with students that more than 100 employers will be at the Spring 2026 Job & Internship Career Fair on March 2 and the Spring 2026 Education, Youth & Family Services Career Fair on March 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Union Ballroom, with early access at 10 a.m. for accessibility needs. Staff and faculty are invited to explore extra credit or assignment opportunities to encourage student attendance. The Career Center’s webpage has more information about upcoming events. Anyone who needs to to request reasonable accommodations may contact the Career Center at least five business days in advance.

“I can actually take a screenshot of [an AI output] and use it in class to have a discussion about, ‘Is this right? Is this wrong?’ What assumption did AI make to get to this answer which is incorrect? I feel like that discussion, we are having it earlier, rather than later, and it helps build critical thinking skills”

– Uma Ravat, professor of probability, statistics and data science at UC Santa Barbara

For many professors, teaching has always been about more than delivering subject-specific content. Derek Bruff, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Teaching Excellence, said the core mission of college is to help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving and judgment skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom.

But with artificial intelligence offering such a convenient tool to offload those skills, professors are re-evaluating how they approach their goals, sending ripple effects to instruction, assessments and student interactions.

The Student Affairs IT team is here to support you! Please reach out to us for any technology needs, project consultations or troubleshooting. Our goal is to ensure you have the best digital tools to serve our students effectively, so don’t hesitate to contact us whenever a tech question or idea arises. 

📨 Email us at sa-it@csus.edu
📞 Call us at 916-278-2745.
 🗨  Message us on Teams (search for stdaf-01 or Student Affairs IT)

On a bittersweet note, we are bidding a warm farewell to Ruby Espinoza, whose last day with SA-IT is Feb. 27. She is transitioning to the IRT Desktop Support Team, and while we will deeply miss her expertise and dedicated spirit, we are thrilled to see her continue her career growth within the Hornet Family. Please join us in thanking Ruby for her incredible contributions and wishing her the absolute best in her new role!

Concur will be offline for updating, per our Business Partners Round Table on Feb. 17. Concur will be unavailable from Feb. 28 through March 8. No expense reports or travel requests can be created or approved during this time. The online booking tool is also unavailable during the blackout. The system reopens Monday, March 9, with an updated interface and features.

CHRS Wave 4a Implementation: Specific processes and transactions will be paused, beginning Friday, March 13. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Please note, submissions after March 13 cannot be processed and will need to be resubmitted on March 23.

Hornet Weekly – Sac State's digest email newsletter for students – is accepting items for the Spring 2026 semester. Please submit your news, announcements, events, and resources each week to potentially reach all currently enrolled students.

See our recent newsletters:

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

Want to keep up with the latest editions of Hornet Weekly? 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 an easy 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.

Thanks for reading the February 2026 edition of The Buzz Around Student Affairs!

 

The Buzz is usually sent the final week of each month. Please submit updates for the next newsletter no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. 🐝

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