Academic Success

Overview: 
The Career Development Center is dedicated to equipping students with the skills and experience needed for lifelong career success. It offers a wide range of services to help students explore career paths, gain real-world experience, and develop professional skills. Two key services are internship opportunities and resume-building assistance, which provide students with the tools they need to thrive in the workforce.

In 2022-2023, 820 students enrolled in an internship course and participated in an unpaid internship, and in 2023-24, it was 753 students. While unpaid internships provide valuable hands-on experiences, many students are unable to accept them due to financial constraints. Likewise, many nonprofits and small businesses struggle to offer internship opportunities because of limited funding. Expanding financial support for internships would help bridge this gap, ensuring more students can gain meaningful professional experience while easing the burden on employers.

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase for the Career Development Center could provide the Career Development Center with increased annual funds to support internships and résumé-building licenses. 

Rationale and Benefits: 
This additional funding can provide minimum-wage support for 850 internships that are currently unpaid, helping nonprofits and small businesses host Fresno State interns. This would expand internship opportunities, strengthen student engagement with community organizations, and provide financial support for students with unmet financial needs.

Overview: 
The Collegian, the university’s student-run newspaper, has faced chronic underfunding since 2010, when the current student fee was capped at $11 a year with no adjustment for inflation or rising costs. Over the past 15 years, this stagnation has been compounded by a 106% increase in the state’s minimum wage. By 2015-2016, the fee was no longer sufficient, and in 2017-2018, The Collegian operated at a deficit of approximately $25,595. Temporary relief came during the COVID years (2020-2022) due to halted printing and reduced student hours. In 2023-2024, we scaled back from 24 to just four print issues annually (plus ethnic supplements), providing a small financial reprieve.

The financial shortfall has translated to reduced student employment opportunities, a cut in print editions from more than 80 per year to just four, and diminished opportunities to produce impactful, high-powered journalism. While The Collegian continues to publish stories online, an increase in funding would allow it to recover financially and continue its tradition of successfully competing at a national level. As a leader in student journalism, The Collegian has been recognized with awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA). This funding would empower student journalists with hands-on training and the resources needed to deliver relevant, timely and engaging reporting for the Fresno State community and region.

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase could double the annual funding to The Collegian, enabling it to serve students and meet the demands of 21st-century dynamic journalism. Funding would directly support additional student positions and additional hours for existing positions. It would also provide funds for marketing and promotions, photo services, travel to events and equipment replacement.

Rationale and Benefits: 
Increasing funding for The Collegian could significantly enhance its multimedia and digital news coverage, expanding reporting on Fresno State, the local community, and the Central Valley—especially as professional local media declines. Additional positions would further strengthen the program, including:

• additional reporter and editor positions, along with extended hours, which would increase news coverage
• a dedicated webmaster that would oversee and update The Collegian website
• a public relations position that would oversee promotional efforts
• an advertising advisor that would help grow The Collegian's advertising reach and train students in the field

Funds may also support promotional activities, travel for athletic and event coverage, high-quality photography, and the ethnic supplements Uhuru Na Umoja, La Voz de Aztlán, Hye Sharzhoom, and Asian Pacific Review. Additionally, funding may cover future benefit costs for the financial manager and replace outdated equipment. With this investment, the Fresno State community would be better informed, student journalists would be empowered in building their careers, and the region would have a thriving source of independent student journalism. 

Overview: 
The Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning is founded on the belief that students gain invaluable personal, professional, and academic benefits through service to others. With over a dozen programs available, the center provides numerous opportunities for students to get involved and make a meaningful impact. Three programs face a growing need for financial support to increase the number of students able to take advantage of this valuable learning opportunity:  Scholars in Service, Jumpstart Fresno, and Fresno State College Corps (FSCC).

Scholars in Service provides students with an immersive community service experience in partnership with designated community benefit organizations. Currently, the program is funded through financial aid derived from student fees, supporting only 21 students per year. Recruitment remains challenging as the student grant offered falls below minimum wage, making participation less accessible for many students.

Jumpstart Fresno is a grant-supported program that trains and equips up to 90 Fresno State students to deliver language, literacy, and social-emotional development programs for preschool children from underserved communities in the Fresno area. Students are compensated with an hourly wage through the Financial Aid Work-Study program. While this funding source is helpful, it limits our ability to recruit students who do not qualify for Federal Work Study funds.

The Fresno State College Corps (FSCC) program offers students the opportunity to complete 450 hours of community service while gaining valuable personal and professional development experience—all while earning money for college. Each FSCC Fellow is eligible for a $10,000 financial aid package, which includes a living allowance and an education award upon completing their service hours. This program is open to all students, including Dreamers. However, while funding is available to support up to 30 AB-540 students (who are not eligible for Cal Grant B), financial constraints limit the number of additional students we can recruit. Additional funding would allow the program to support additional AB-540 students.

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase for the Jan and Bud Richter Center would grow the number of students, community benefit organizations, and individuals served by the Scholars In Service Program, Jumpstart Fresno, and Fresno State College Corps.

Rationale and Benefits: 
The additional funding from the student fee increase would support 60+ additional students who engage in community service and career development, and serve over 15 community organizations. More specifically, it would support students in the following ways: 

Scholars in Service:

• Increase the program to 30 students per year, providing  $2,550/year in financial aid support not available via their Federal Financial Aid package.
• Provide 30 students with a community service experience that would positively impact their academic development, personal skill enhancement, and career development/career readiness.
• Provide a minimum of 15 community benefit partners with assistance from students who would help them address significant community issues including hunger, poverty, K-12 academic support, environmental improvements, and more.

 Jumpstart Fresno:

• Increase the number of students participating to 100 annually.
• Recruit students who aren’t qualified for Federal Work Study funds.
• Reach and serve additional preschool classrooms and preschool children.

 The Fresno State College Corps: 

• Extend the program to up to 20 AB-540 Fellows (who are not eligible for Cal Grant B), thus increasing program access to more students.

Overview: 
One of the most effective and highly valued academic support resources on the Fresno State campus is the Learning Center. The Learning Center advances student success by improving content understanding and course grades through a three-pronged approach: Supplemental Instruction (SI), Tutoring, and Academic Success Coaching (ASC).

The academic support provided by the SI program has long been considered a high-impact practice on the Fresno State campus and across the state, due to documented data analysis showcasing student usage impact on critical student success markers. Two statistics reflecting its positive impact on student success are: 

• Grade analysis showcased students who regularly attended SI earned a mean final course grade of 3.23, compared to non-SI student users at 2.39. In other words, SI was found to increase student grades by nearly a full letter grade.
• Regular SI student users earned a 96.77% mean course passing rate, compared to non-SI students at 77.37%. 

Tutoring is a subject-based academic support service between a student who sets the goals and a peer tutor who applies effective strategies for learning. Tutoring is offered in-person and online, by appointment and drop-in. The tutoring program offers course-based support and specialized skill support (i.e. writing citations, Excel, SPSS, computer-aided design, and Canvas navigation). 

ASC offers individualized support to address unique student needs, especially for students on academic probation and disqualification. Coaches connect students to campus resources and teach them valuable skills, such as time management, study strategies, and ways to effectively mitigate procrastination and lack of motivation, to ensure they excel in their courses.

Across all three programs, within the 2023 – 2024 academic year, the Learning Center served 6,257 unique student users and 27,120 total visits. 

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase for the Learning Center would allow the center to serve nearly 50% of all Fresno State students – thus increasing pass rates in difficult subjects and high DFW courses. This Center plays a crucial role in supporting academic success, and expanding its services would enable more students to progress toward their Fresno State degree and graduate sooner.

Rationale and Benefits: 
Through the requested expansion, the Learning Center would be able to serve the academic needs of an additional 4,152 students. This impact also includes adding Supplemental Instruction for 59 more courses, adding 10 tutors and 12 academic coaches. 

Overview:
Library services play a vital role in academic student success by providing essential resources, research support, and a conducive learning environment. The Fresno State Library offers access to a vast collection of books, academic journals, digital databases, and multimedia materials that support coursework and independent research. Additionally, it provides quiet study areas, group collaboration spaces, and access to technology, ensuring students have the basic tools they need to complete their coursework. 

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase for library services would expand essential services for Fresno State students.

Rationale and Benefits: 
Increased funding for Library Services from the proposed student fee increase would directly support student success by expanding resources, improving accessibility, and creating a more conducive learning environment. As a central hub for student learning and engagement, the Fresno State Library would be able to enhance essential services, and create a more inclusive, resource-rich environment that fosters academic achievement and long-term student success.

Overview: 
The Bulldog Testing Center plays a crucial role in supporting student success by providing a secure, accessible, and distraction-free environment for exams. It offers flexible scheduling options, ensuring students can complete assessments outside of class time, and provides accommodations for those with disabilities. With resources for exam preparation and a structured environment that minimizes stress, the testing center enhances the overall academic experience, helping students achieve their educational and professional goals.

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase for the Bulldog Testing Center would expand the center’s ability to meet the growing demand for testing services for students. 

Rationale and Benefits: 
Increasing funding for a university testing center would significantly enhance its ability to support Fresno State students. With additional resources, the center would increase staffing and support, ensuring greater flexibility and reduced wait times for students.

Overview: 
It is the mission of the Continuing and Global Education (CGE) Study Abroad Office to assist Fresno State students in learning about and participating in international activities both on-campus and abroad. The program’s goal is to equip our graduates with the knowledge and skills that they need to function within our increasingly diverse and globalized economy. Through this office, Fresno State maintains international student exchange partnerships with more than 60 universities throughout the world, participates in a number of study abroad consortia (including CSUIP, CIEE and USAC), and promotes and assists faculty-developed international experiences for Fresno State students. Study Abroad helps students travel abroad in order to gain valuable educational experiences that will help them become more globally aware and competitive in our worldwide marketplace. 

Due to a decline in state support, General Fund money is no longer allocated to office operations and travel grants are now partially funded by Instructionally-Related Activities (IRA). Students rely on the IRA funded travel grants to offset the high cost of both traveling and studying abroad. 

Proposed Solution: 
Increased funding from the proposed student fee increase for Study Abroad would help to establish consistent baseline support and expand access through additional travel grants for Fresno State students. 

Rationale and Benefits: 
By offsetting the cost of travel and study abroad experiences, more students would have greater access to transformative international experiences, fostering academic, personal, and professional growth. Additional funding would also support the essential operations of the Study Abroad Office, including:

• Additional office staff, including student assistants, who will be responsible for office operations including recruitment and advising of students, course approval and articulation, course setups, orientations and more.
• Increased risk management, improved enrollment experience and improved pre-departure orientations for all students.
• Increased promotions of study abroad opportunities for Fresno State students.
• Increased engagement of former students through an ambassadors program that encourages students to stay involved.