What's in a Name?

Dr. Lori Varlotta

My name is Dr. Lori Varlotta, and I am the Vice President for Student Affairs here at California State University, Sacramento.

Our school's formal name is quite a mouthful, so we typically use one of two nicknames -- Sac State or Sacramento State -- when referring to ourselves. You will see both throughout these websites, but regardless of which name we use, one thing is certain: At Sacramento State's Division of Student Affairs, students come first!

As the name of our Division, "Student Affairs," suggests, our work is primarily with students. We are the outreach staff who talks to prospective students during high school visits and college fairs, the professionals who read your application and grant your admission to the University, and the financial aid counselors who remind you to complete the FAFSA that assists you in securing the financial aid dollars that help you pay for school.

Student Affairs is also the "place" where most of you access academic and career advising. Visiting both of these offices early in your college years will help you obtain the timely and important information that keeps you "on track" with your studies. Staff in these offices will help you identify a major, choose the academic course work that satisfies graduation requirements, and assist you in formulating the career plans that will help place you in a meaningful job. If you are interested in graduate school and need to take one of the preparatory examinations, our testing office is a site for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT and other tests.

Once you've been admitted, advised and registered, we hope that you will augment your academic experience by becoming involved in one or more of the exciting co-curricular activities we offer. To start, you may choose to live in one of the five residence halls on campus. Resident and commuters alike, however, join and lead the 225 student organizations alive at Sacramento State. For those of you who are sports and recreation minded, Student Affairs supports a vibrant club and intramural program. Meanwhile, the Athletic Department oversees intercollegiate teams for students who wish to compete at the NCAA level.

Given the rich diversity of our student body, our Multicultural Center, Women's Resource Center, University Union, and PRIDE Program sponsor a wide variety of lectures, films and workshops. We believe that our offerings are directly in sync with the needs and interests of our current students. Why don't you attend some of these programs and let us know?

If your head is spinning after reading about the multitude of Student Affairs programs and services, fear not. We also have some of the best physical and mental health services available to college students. Whether you would like to speak with a therapist about test anxiety, homesickness, the numerous responsibilities you are juggling, or some other more serious mental health condition, you may drop in to speak with a trained mental health professional at Psychological Counseling Services. Likewise, if you are not feeling well or have a medical concern, stop by one of the Student Health Centers on campus and talk confidentially with a doctor, nurse, or health educator.

As you might guess, I am very proud of the depth and breadth of services offered in this Division. If you would like to learn more about the specific programs and services supported by the 19 departments and programs included in Student Affairs, I encourage you to check out the plans and goals that are part of Destination 2010 (Download: word   pdf). Granted, it is a long document, but reading it will give you understanding of what we would like to accomplish on your behalf.

I hope you find this website useful. More importantly, I hope you find the programs and services it describes a rewarding part of your collegiate experience.