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Center for Science & Math Success College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics

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Commit to Study

Commit to Study Commit to Success logo

Who We Are

Commit to Study is a peer mentoring program dedicated to helping students taking classes in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to improve their study skills. Commit to Study offers one-on-one peer mentoring sessions to students in improving their study skills and efficiency. Commit to Study utilizes an assessment tool called the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (or LASSI) that covers ten different categories to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. In this way, the Peer Mentors can tailor the curriculum to best fit student needs.

Weekly Presentations Information

Workshop recordings available on Canvas: C2S has a Canvas course that lists all upcoming workshops, past workshop recordings, and additional resources on study skills. Please fill out the form to be added to the Canvas course.

Signing Up For an Appointment

You can make your appointment online. From the series of pull-down menus:

  1. Select "Advising", then "Center for Science and Math Success", and then "Commit to Study". Then click on the "Next" button.
  2. Once again select "Center for Science and Math Success" and when it asks you to pick a staff member, just leave it as "any staff".
  3. You'll then have options for picking days and time periods. We've been filling up quickly, so you may need to scroll out a few weeks before you find any that are not marked "N/A" (not available).
  4. Once you have a time/date selected, click on the "Next" button one last time.

In-person and virtual appointments are currently available. Zoom links will be emailed after an appointment is made.

Get One-on-One Study Support

Meet the Commit to Study Program Director

Dr. Sayonita Ghosh Hajra

Dr. Sayonita Ghosh Hajra

Dr. Ghosh Hajra is an associate professor of mathematics in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Sacramento State. sayonita.ghoshhajra@csus.edu

Meet the Commit to Study Mentors

Zarina

Zarina

Pronouns: She/Her

My name is Zarina Zaki and I’m currently a Biology major wanting to concentrate on Biomedical Sciences. I’m hoping to pursue a career in healthcare in the future. I became a part of Commit to Study as a peer mentor because I met with one of the commit to study mentors freshman year and they were so motivating, and it inspired me to implement that towards other students. I would recommend scheduling an appointment and coming to our workshops because we have a supporting, and motivating community to keep you on track with your studies. A fun fact about me is that I like fashion and coffee.

Ally

Ally

Pronouns: She/Her

Hello, I am Ally! I am majoring in Biology with a concentration in Clinical Lab Science, and I am looking forward to a career working in a research lab. My decision to become a Commit to Study peer mentor stems from my passion for creating, sharing various learning techniques, and team building ways which enhance the learning experience. Being able to share with others supporting resources such as, effective note taking, time management, and tips to prevent anxiety helps students to be more successful in college and to enjoy the overall experience. Activities that I enjoy outside of studying are bike riding, reading, and taking day trips to explore the Northern California coast and its unique beach towns.

Jesus

Jesus

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Hello Everyone, my name is Jesus and I'm a third-year transfer. I'm currently double majoring in Mathematics with an emphasis on pure mathematics and Physics. I became a peer mentor for the Commit to Study program to share the resources and strategies I learned with other students to succeed in their classes. Feel free to make an appointment with any of the peer mentors. Fun fact I enjoy biking, I play goalkeeper and I watch anime.

Ruqshana

Ruqshana

Hello everyone! I am studying Mechanical Engineering and learning how the world around me works. I see Mechanical Engineering as a combination of creativity, knowledge, and the right tools to turn any idea into reality. This major requires a lot of math to sharpen your skills, and by the end of my studies I will also earn my minor in mathematics. I hope to teach others that some of these challenges with STEM are fun to learn and overcome, and that the world around us is a plethora of knowledge that we can ascertain within the pursuit of STEM studies.

Saniya

Pronouns: She/Her

Saniya

Hey there !! My name is Saniya Patel and I am international student from India. I am pursuing my bachelors degree in computer science with minor in mathematics. With the passion for technology and love for problem solving , I knew that STEM career is right path for me. I will be your mentor to help you support academically and provide mentoring sessions and our team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table with various backgrounds. I love travelling and I know two more languages which are Hindi and Gujarati.

Miren

Miren

Hi, I am a pre-med student, a standing junior majoring in Biological Sciences. Since childhood, I was cultured in an environment where everyone has a background and life that revolves around healthcare professions, and growing up I started to find medicine and physiology interesting. I can think of no other professional avenue more challenging, rewarding, and evolving. My role as a peer mentor for Commit to Study will not only encourage me to greatly support your academic development but also provide you with the rewarding experience of having a positive influence in your life. My entire team has the potential to tailor the curriculum in accordance with each student's areas of strength and need, ensuring individualized support which fosters a constructive learning atmosphere. Fun fact, MESSI is the G.O.A.T.

Uyen

Uyen

Hi everyone! I'm currently a Biology major with a minor in Chemistry. My goal is to become an optometrist, which fuels my passion for academic excellence. This is why the Commit to Study Mentor role caught my attention. I've personally felt the challenges that come with rigorous studies, and I'm eager to share practical learning approaches and valuable insights with my peers. Being part of the Commit to Study program would not only let me assist fellow students but also contribute to building a thriving academic community. Fun fact: I love to bake and experience new recipes, but my favorite treats are profiteroles and cookies!

Thu

Pronouns: She/Her

Thu

Hi everyone! I’m currently a Biology major with a Clinical Laboratory concentration. My goal is to become a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) in the future. I became a peer mentor of Commit to Study because I too can feel the challenges of taking classes and juggling between other commitments. I want to share my experience as a peer and a companion on your academic goal. A fun fact about me is that I love crocheting and playing/listening to music.

Cristian

Cristian

Hello everyone, my name is Cristian Garcia and I'm currently a Senior. I'm currently majoring in Mathematics with an emphasis on Teaching Preparation. After graduation, I'm hoping to get my teaching credentials and start teaching Mathematics at the High School level. I joined Commit to study to help others and gain valuable experience that I'll be able to use in the future.

Reham

Reham

"Hi everyone! My name is Reham. This is my last year at Sac State as a biology major with a concentration in biomedical sciences. I’ve always been deeply passionate about the physiology of the human body, and this passion is steering me toward a future in healthcare. The prospect of contributing to the health of others and delving into the complexities of the human body is not just a career choice for me; it's a calling that I am excited to pursue with dedication and compassion. As a Commit to Study peer mentor, I'm dedicated to offering support and assistance to other students. Recognizing the significance of help during the semester, I aim to be a source of encouragement, ensuring that no one gives up on their dreams.

Max

Pronouns: He/Him

Max

Hello everyone, I’m Max! I’m studying computer engineering at Sacramento State. I took the discipline-specific C2S mentor position because although I’m not a physics major, I love physics and love helping students with it. Plus, I am passionate about moving with others through the learning process and seeing them grow. Outside of class, I enjoy all types of board games, card games, and video games, and love taking road trips. Let’s have a great journey at Sac State together.

What We Do: Appointments Structure

Commit to Study requires two appointments – virtual or in-person. If virtual, the student will be given a Zoom link once they schedule an appointment. In-person meetings are held in Sequoia 320.

During the first appointment, lasting 1 hour, the student will:

  • Discuss the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) which covers topics such as time management, anxiety, motivation, and test strategies.
  • Select 2-3 LASSI worksheets on areas that you want to work on before your next appointment.
  • Develop a concrete plan for improvement using strategies discussed with your peer mentor.
  • Set SMART goals so that you and your peer mentor will have a marker for measuring success.

During the 30-minute follow-up appointment, the student will reflect on the impact of the completed LASSI worksheets and decide whether there is a need to set up additional appointments.

LASSI Worksheets

Commit to Study utilizes the 10 domains from the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (or LASSI) to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement, and thus tailor the curriculum to best fit students’ needs.

  1. Anxiety addresses the degree to which students worry about school and their academic performance. High levels of anxiety can help direct attention away from completing academic tasks (for example: Worrying about doing poorly interferes with my concentration on tests). Students with high anxiety may need to develop techniques for coping with anxiety and reducing worry so that attention can be focused on the task at hand.
  2. Attitude addresses students' attitudes and interest in college and academic success. It examines how facilitative or debilitative their approach to college and academics is for helping them get their work done and succeeding in college (for example: Do I feel confused and undecided as to what my educational goals should be). Students struggling with attitude may not believe college is relevant or important to them and may need to develop a better understanding of how college and their academic performance relates to their future life goals.
  3. Concentration addresses students' ability to direct and maintain attention on academic tasks (for example I find that during lectures I think of other things and don't really listen to what is being said). Students who struggle with concentration may need to learn to monitor their level of concentration and develop techniques to redirect attention and eliminate interfering thoughts or feelings so that they can be more effective and efficient learners.
  4. Information Processing addresses how well students' can use imagery, verbal elaboration, organization strategies, and reasoning skills as learning strategies to help build bridges between what they already know and what they are trying to learn and remember, i.e., knowledge acquisition, retention, and future application (for example I translate what I am studying into my own words). Students who struggle with information processing may have difficulty making information meaningful and storing it in memory in a way that will help them recall it in the future.
  5. Motivation addresses students' diligence, self-discipline, and willingness to exert the effort necessary to successfully complete academic requirements (for example: When work is difficult I either give up or study only the easy parts). Students who struggle with motivation need to accept more responsibility for their academic outcomes and learn how to set and use goals to help accomplish specific tasks.
  6. Selecting Main Ideas addresses students' skill at identifying important information for further study from among less important information and supporting details (for example: Often when studying I seem to get lost in details and can't see the forest for the trees). Students who are not able to select main ideas may need to develop their skill at separating out critical information on which to focus their attention. Tasks such as reading a textbook can
    be overwhelming if students focus on every detail presented.
  7. Self-Testing addresses students' use of reviewing and comprehension monitoring techniques to determine their level of understanding of the information to be learned (for example I stop periodically while reading and mentally go over or review what was said). Students who struggle with self-testing may need to develop an appreciation for the importance of self-testing and learn effective techniques for reviewing information and monitoring their level of understanding or ability to apply what they are learning.
  8. Test Strategies addresses students' use of test preparation and test-taking strategies (for example: In taking tests, writing themes, etc., I find I have misunderstood what is wanted and lose points because of it). Students who haven’t developed strong test strategies may need to learn more effective techniques for preparing for and taking tests so that they are able to effectively demonstrate their knowledge of the subject matter.
  9. Time Management addresses students' application of time management principles to academic situations (for example I only study when there is the pressure of a test). Students who struggle with time management may need to develop effective scheduling and monitoring techniques in order to assure timely completion of academic tasks and to avoid procrastination while realistically including non-academic activities in their schedule.
  10. Using Academic Resources addresses students' willingness to use different academic resources such as writing centers, tutoring centers, and learning or academic support centers when they encounter problems with their coursework or performance (for example I am not comfortable asking for help from instructors in my courses). Students who are not using academic resources may need help identifying and effectively using resources like the need for learning assistance becomes apparent.

SMART goals video describing the concept and theory behind it

Signing Up For A Class Presentation

Do you want a Commit to Study Peer Mentor to stop by and offer your class a presentation? Fill out the short form below:

C2S Class Presentation Form