Back to School '22: What You Need to Know About SDSU Support Services

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, San Diego State University continues to invest in support services for students, faculty and staff, and remains committed to addressing physical, mental and emotional concerns of its community.  

Last year, the university expanded counseling and psychological services, and health care resources. This fall, students, faculty and staff will be able to download “SDSU Safe,” a new, free phone-based app designed to address and promote personal safety both on and off campus. 

Here is some important information and resources for students, faculty and staff in need of support:  

HEALTH

Facial Coverings Required
All faculty, staff and students are required to wear a facial covering in instructional settings regardless of vaccination status. This includes classrooms, instructional labs, spaces being actively used in an instructional capacity, and the University Library. This policy will be in place until Thursday, Sept. 15. Our university will continue to monitor COVID-19 and communicate updates to the campus community as we approach that date.  

Instructional faculty, teaching assistants and interpreters who are fully up to date with their vaccinations can remove their facial coverings when teaching as long as students are masked in the classroom.

Facial coverings will continue to be required for all individuals in limited environments that have licensing or other requirements, such as the Children’s Center and Student Health Services. 

Facial Coverings Recommended
Facial coverings are recommended indoors when gathering for events, meetings and other functions with others, to include non-instructional settings, such as offices. As possible, alternate modes of meeting are encouraged, including the use of outdoor spaces and virtual meetings. 

Individuals may still voluntarily mask either when in non-required indoor settings or outdoors if they wish to do so.

Continue to Take Other Precautions
As a reminder, never come to campus for classes, work or events if you are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms and/or test positive. Individuals experiencing symptoms must wear a facial covering if they are on campus to seek testing or as they exit campus to return home if they have onset of symptoms while on campus.

Each of us has a personal responsibility to help stop the spread of any illness, including COVID-19, and every member of our campus community is encouraged to practice good hygiene and cleanliness.

Vaccinations
The California State University (CSU) system’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement remains in effect for fall 2022. All students, faculty and staff are required to have a COVID-19 vaccination and booster when eligible on file to access campus facilities and programs.

The CSU COVID-19 vaccination requirement allows for students, faculty and staff to seek an exemption based on medical or religious grounds. Information on submitting an exemption request is online. 

As always, the university continues to monitor COVID-19 and will update this guidance and the campus community as needed.  

Monkeypox
Monkeypox is rarely fatal and does not spread as easily or rapidly as other viruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19. As of the start of Fall 2022, the current risk of getting monkeypox remains low for the general public, however, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates the monkeypox virus is spreading quickly enough that it warrants general prevention. In an effort to be proactive, SDSU is providing information and guidance related to monkeypox to help ensure students, faculty and staff are well informed about prevention and symptoms.

STUDENT SUPPORT 

The Student Success help desk serves as a “first stop” for students and visitors who are unsure of where to go for help and who may need referrals to other campus offices. Students can email [email protected] if they have questions or to seek assistance. Virtual support will be provided during the fall 2021 semester, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the virtual help desk information will be posted online.

Additional resources include:

Academic support
Education Opportunity Program (EOP) undergraduate students can receive academic counseling and tutoring, access to an exclusive computer lab and study lounge, and additional services aimed at helping them achieve academic success and stay on track to graduation. The Office for Graduate Life and Diversity offers personal, professional, financial, and social resources to enrich the graduate experience and promote success in graduate training.  

International students who are attending SDSU on a student visa and have questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the International Student Center using any of their online services, or by calling 619-594-1982. There, students can receive additional support and guidance. Also, the International Affairs Complex offers international students advising, assistance with forms and document requests and optional practical training (OPT) applications, and publishes a weekly newsletter, “In the Know.”

Community resources
SDSU’s cultural centers provide welcoming and safe gathering spaces for students from a variety of backgrounds and identifications. Additional information can be found online for the Black Resource Center, Native Resource Center, Pride Center, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Resource Center, Latinx Resource Center, and Women’s Resource Center.   

Counseling
Counseling & Psychological Services is an important resource for students in need of individual counseling, couples counseling, group therapy, workshops and specialized programs. The ASPIRE program assists students dealing with alcohol and drug use. Additional services offered include biofeedback, the Bounce Back retention program for students on academic probation, a Center for Well-Being, and a Successful Community Living program.   

Financial and basic needs help
The Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) can help any SDSU student connect with resources, both on and off campus, to help with an immediate food, housing, or financial crisis. Students can request assistance at the ECRT website or by emailing [email protected].  

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships provides information and counseling to help meet the costs of attending SDSU. A link to its virtual help desk can be found here.

SAFETY

SDSU Safe 
SDSU Safe is the official safety app of San Diego State University. It is the only app that integrates with SDSU’s safety and security systems. Campus security has worked to develop a unique app that provides students, faculty and staff with added safety on the SDSU campus. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources.  

Emergency phone locations
The SDSU Police Department maintains around 100 “blue-light” emergency/duress phones throughout the campus. The phones provide immediate access to Police Department Dispatch (no need to dial 9-1-1).

LGBT student safety
Safe Zones works to ensure a campus atmosphere that is welcoming, supportive, and safe for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex and ally (LGBTQ2IA) students and all members of the campus community.  

Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) System San Diego State University has partnered with San Diego Project Heart Beat and provides over 50 AEDs on campus. An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable defibrillator that can be used in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs are available in 43 locations around campus as well as each SDSU Police car. For a mobile view of each AED at SDSU download the Pulse Point AED app to your iPhone or Android. 

FACULTY AND STAFF SUPPORT

Career support
Faculty members can contact the Office of Faculty Advancement by emailing [email protected] or calling 619-594-6111. The Office of Faculty Advancement supports career-long faculty academic personnel processes that include academic recruitment, evaluation, J-1 and H-1B Visa Immigration, leaves of absence and retirement/resignation. Complete information is available on the Faculty Advancement website.  

Staff can contact the Center for Human Resources at 619-594-6404.   

SDSU Research Foundation employees can email [email protected] with support needs.  

Personal concerns and workplace issues
The Employee Assistance Program offers SDSU faculty and staff confidential support for a variety of concerns, including emotional, relationship, health, legal and workplace issues. Information, resources and tools are available by calling 1-800-367-7474 or visiting the EAP website. 

Teaching and tech support
For faculty support related to teaching, the Center for Teaching and Learning offers many resources and related materials, including opportunities for both one-on-one consultation and classroom observation. Faculty can contact the CTL by emailing [email protected], and to request support, seek a consultation online.  

Also, the Instructional Technology Services (ITS) support team is standing by to assist with a variety of academic technology needs, including designing and delivering instruction via Canvas, leveraging the technology available within the SDSU Connected Classrooms, and all of the associated software and services. This support is available to faculty within the Faculty Instructional Technology (FIT) Center in Adams Humanities 1109 and virtually via Zoom, as outlined on the ITS support webpage.  

The User Services (ITUS) support team is ready to help with various applications, including SDSUid, Email, Google Workspace, O365, Networking, Duo, ServiceNow, and WiFi (eduroam). Support is available via telephone at 619-594-5261, Zoom in the Virtual FIT Center, or ServiceNow. ITUS also provides desktop support to a number of areas on campus. To confirm your area’s desktop support and other college and divisional IT help, visit https://it.sdsu.edu/help.