In Case You Missed It…
Last week the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Ed Mills sent this special message to students, congratulating them on their tenacity and spirit, and encouraging them to keep up the hard work through the remaining weeks of the semester.
As the seasons change around us and the year draws to a close, it is important to acknowledge our personal and shared stresses, remembering that we are all in this together.
Let’s keep up the hard work as we enter the important weeks ahead.
Stingers Up!
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Click to submit a question or comment for next month's Ed Talk.
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Calling All Submissions For the Buzz Around Student Affairs
The last edition of the Buzz Around Student Affairs for 2020 will be published on Monday, December 21.
As we close out the year together, Student Affairs Marketing & Communications is collecting stories of positivity and hope, celebrating our accomplishments through adaptation as we navigated the stresses and anxieties of 2020. If you or your department have a story of how you overcame personal or professional adversity in 2020, or know of staff or student(s) who have, SA Marketing & Communications would love to highlight their accomplishment. Share your stories with us through the link below.
Student Affairs Marketing & Communications is requesting that all stories for the December Buzz, be submitted by Monday, December 14 at 5 p.m.
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To Submit a Story to The Buzz, Click Below!
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STAR Awards: Save the Date!
On December 11th starting at 2 p.m, Student Affairs will host the Annual Holiday Celebration and Year-End Star Award Ceremony. During this event, you can expect fun, prizes, and awards! We will have a few competitions, Student Affairs water canteens, and back by popular demand, Sacramento State blankets for the winners. After the fun, we will be announcing the Year-End Star Awards.
There are seven year-end awards that are nominated by you. Winners are selected by the Student Affairs Leadership Council.
- The Excellence in Student Service Award (Individual and Team) which recognizes the contribution of a staff member or team who works to make procedures, services, and/or the general Sacramento State learning environment a welcoming, efficient, and high-quality experience for students.
- The Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes the effort of staff who strive to promote understanding and appreciation of diversity in its multitude of forms.
- The Outstanding Mentoring Award recognizes efforts to support others in a way that maximizes potential, develop skills, improves performance, and encourages one’s talents and potentialities.
- The Outstanding New Professional Award recognizes a full-time professional in the Division who has had exemplary performance in their role.
- The Star of the Year Award is presented to an individual whose actions or work performance stands out as an exceptional reflection of our divisional values.
- The Vice President’s Award is selected by the Vice President for Student Affairs and presented to a staff member who has performed admirably in some capacity.
The deadline to submit a peer nomination for the awards above is Friday, November 20th! Please submit your nomination at the link below:
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The Division of Student Affairs is asking, in the spirit of giving, please consider participating in this year's "Wish Upon a Star" Gift Drive.
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Wish Upon a Star Gift Drive
The Sacramento State University Union is now holding its annual Wish Upon A Star event virtually this year! Sunburst Projects has set up an Amazon wish list where students, staff, or faculty can contribute by purchasing from the wish list, by purchasing gift cards to select stores, or by donating cash (virtually).
The University Union has been working with Sunburst Projects since 2000. The program was originally called “The Giving Tree”. Since then, the University Union estimates that they have received about 9,500 donations in total and helping 40-50 families each year on average. This year, gifts will go to 48 families with children ranging from 4-18 years old. Last year, the event helped about 40 families and received over 550 gifts that included basics like diapers, wipes, socks, and other essentials to toys, art supplies, etc.
Unfortunately, the Union won’t be holding the big gift wrapping party this year. All items purchased from the wish list and gift cards will be sent directly to Sunburst Projects and their staff will handle wrapping all the gifts.
For all information and how to donate, please click the link provided below:
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2020 Presidential Election Recap
This year, 2020 has implemented change on many levels. Along with this change, came this year’s Presidential Election. Throughout election week, we saw many students, faculty, and staff come together to do something in particular: exercise your right to vote. As ballots were finally counted, it has been determined that Democratic candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the new President-elect and
Vice President-elect of the United States.
After every presidential election, there are highs and lows of emotion fluctuating throughout the country and among students right here on campus. This is why departments on campus such as the MLK Center, and many more held post-election wellness forums and virtual gatherings to express their thoughts and feelings while residing in a safe, non-judgmental space.
More than 40 students and staff members attended the First Gen Institute’s Voter Debrief zoom event on November 4, 2020. The goal of the event was to create a center for meaningful discussion, debriefing, and support for all students and staff, no matter the desired candidate.
Chao Vang of Student Academic Success and Education Equity says “many students felt a call of ownership to participate in the next election at the local, state, and national level, although their parents may not have historically voted. More importantly, many students express the need for more student-friendly outreach, literature, brochure, info to explain the measures, propositions, etc., and how it directly affects them.”
The MLK Center, Student Health and Counseling Services, University Housing, and Strategic Student Success Programs all hosted Post-Election events to support the many emotions that came with the consequential 2020 Presidential Election.
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ASI Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive
For this Thanksgiving season, Associated Student, Inc. (ASI) has been fully committed to serving the Hornet community by distributing baskets filled with traditional foods to Sacramento State students in need. They also partnered with non-profits in the Sacramento region that support families in need. Davin Brown was a former ASI Student Engagement and Outreach Staff member and initiated this tradition of giving annually. Supporting non-profit communities was the initial concept; nevertheless, ASI has helped students who have faced food insecurities over the years.
More than 150 decorated baskets filled with canned pie filling, graham cracker pie crust, boxes of mashed potatoes, and stuffing mix boxes accumulated in last year's Thanksgiving donation drive. Melissa Marquez, Student Engagement Coordinator, and Elizabeth Villalobos, ASI Food Pantry Coordinator, hope to exceed the number of donations they receive each year, particularly in times like these. They aim to safely arrange a drive-thru donation and drop-off location while minimizing physical interaction with their donors.
As a result of the campus closure, Marquez, Villalobos, and the ASI team have also provided food baskets for Sacramento State students who have been forced to relocate. "I am motivated to help the Hornet Community by my passion for helping students reach their fullest potential and succeed in college. Thank you for supporting our students and the Sacramento community. 2020 has been extremely challenging for so many, and I am so grateful that we can lend a hand for the holidays," said Villalobos.
The Food Basket Drive has ended, but the ASI Food Pantry is still taking donations. Click the link below to learn more about how you can donate.
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Sac State’s Got Talent
The University Union’s UNIQUE Program is excited to host its 4th annual Sac State’s Got Talent event – virtually on Zoom. This year's event will take place on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. Performers were chosen after applying online and auditioning live via Zoom to a panel of UNIQUE student volunteers in early November.
The talent competition will feature current Sac State students, faculty, and staff showcasing various talent live, including but not limited to singing, dancing, spoken word, and more. Prizes will be awarded to the top three competitors, as determined by the student judges. A $100 Visa gift card will be given to 1st place, $50 Visa gift card to 2nd place & $25 Visa gift card to 3rd place. Competitors will be judged on several factors including originality, quality, screen presence, time, and audience response. The purpose of this event is to provide a platform for Sac State students to showcase their unique talents, with an opportunity to gain experience performing in front of a live audience, and bring the campus community together to support them. This will be the first year the competition will be open to Sac State staff and faculty.
The event is free and open to the public. For more info and a Zoom link to view the event, please visit Sac State UNIQUE webpage or call (916) 278-6997.
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The HirEd Podcast!
In case you have missed it... The HirEd Podcast is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube. Officially launched in September as a way of bringing the conversation of career and professional development to students and alumni, The HirEd explores all aspects of the dynamic journey to professional success.
Season One has featured guests:
- Hornet Football's Head Coach, Troy Taylor
- CARES Case Manager, Danielle Munoz
- Sac State's Director of Talent Acquisition, Mellonie D. Richardson
Listeners can join hosts Emma Wadiak and Melissa Muganzo Murphy each week and listen to members of the Hornet family and the Sacramento Business Community, as they debunk career myths, explore new industries, and uncover the secrets to career and professional success!
Season Two is now recording with plans to launch in Spring 2021.
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A Time for Giving Thanks
Saray Aguirre '22 (Sociology)
The holidays are quickly approaching, which means students are looking forward to them more than ever. With post-elections creating uncertainty for most individuals and a pandemic affecting their mental health, they anticipate a well-deserved break. Saray Aguirre is a Student Assistant for the Serna Center and continues to inspire students through a virtual world in the midst of these adverse disruptions, all while ensuring that her network expands.
Prior to her current position as a student assistant, Aguirre struggled with public speaking and found herself lacking confidence in presenting in front of a large crowd. That all changed when she began working for the Serna Center a year ago. This department focuses on hosting campaigns, services, and events that impact students by teaching them leadership skills. Aguirre was required to present in front of large crowds, which intimidated her. She eventually built the courage to approach prominent leaders in the department and felt prepared to speak in any setting.
Beyond her contribution to the campus, she is grateful for the support system that she receives from her family. Although they are miles away, they continue to motivate her. She also likes to spread motivation to her peers and adds, “It is really important that in times like these we are looking out for ourselves… I once heard of thinking of your body as if it were your phone — you need to charge it in order to work.” Aguirre would like to thank her supervisor Noel Mora, Maribel, and the Strategic Student Support Programs (SSSP) staff for helping her grow her network.
The Chicanx/Latinx Recognition Ceremony will be held virtually on December 6th. Applications are now open for students graduating Fall 2020.
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Keep Your Computer Safe & Improve Its Performance
A quick and easy way to optimize your university-owned device is to ensure it’s up to date. Make sure to connect to Global Protect VPN every Thursday, that’s when software updates and security patches are pushed to all university-owned devices.
These updates are important for programs such as Zoom, Avayam OnBase, and Office to work properly, which can't be done on your own.
When you see the Sacramento State Desktop Alerts, be sure to click “Ok” to be up to date! Keep in mind that if a Reboot Alert appears, you must restart your computer to finalize the update.
If you do not see this Desktop Alert on Thursday's contact SA-IT for updates.
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Comments, Questions, Concerns?
Don’t hesitate and reach out via any of the following ways:
- Email: sa-it@csus.edu
- Phone: (916) 278-2745
- Microsoft Teams, Skype4Business or Zoom chat: sa-it | stdaf-01
- FaceTime, Google DUO or WhatsApp: 916-984-5354
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To Submit a Story to The Buzz, Click Below!
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