Cultural Academic Resource Centers

Our Commitment: The Cultural Academic Resource Centers (CARC) serve as vital resource hubs, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive community. These centers support students throughout their academic journeys, providing affirming spaces that celebrate their experiences and foster a strong sense of belonging. By empowering students to pursue their academic and career goals, the CARCs play a pivotal role in shaping their college experience—helping them grow as engaged scholars and future leaders.

• Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Center (Lassen Hall 2200)
• Dreamer Resource Center (Lassen 3003)
• Esak’timá Center (Library 1010)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (Lassen Hall 2201)
• Multicultural Center (Library 1000A)
• PRIDE Center (University Union 2230)
• El Centro Serna (River Front Center 1031)
• SWANA Center (AIRC 1012)
• Women’s Resource Center (University Union 2250)
• Jewish Life and Resource Center (Modoc Hall 1010) - Partnering affiliate

Cultural Academic Resource Centers Map

Cultural Celebrations

Save the Date

Save the date for the following Cultural Celebrations.

BSW and MS Counseling Internships

CARC partners with BSW and MS Counseling internship programs to embed interns across the centers.

BSW interns will focus on gaining experience within CARC that aligns with core social work values such as service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, and the importance of human relationships. Interns may engage in responsibilities such as:

• Providing student-centered support and resource navigation (e.g., basic needs, mental health referrals, campus services)
• Facilitating workshops or support spaces that promote identity development, belonging, and wellness
• Engaging in outreach and advocacy for historically underserved student populations
• Supporting community-building programs that foster connection and peer support

MS Counseling interns placed within CARC centers will primarily focus on career counseling, career exploration, career development, and facilitating workshops and programming that support student success and professional growth.

The MS Counseling internship partnership requires a significantly more active role from each participating center. Each center director will be expected to:

• Lead and participate in the interview process
• Create and manage a Sonia account through the MS Counseling program
• Attend all required trainings
• Oversee additional administrative and program responsibilities related to supervision and placement coordination

For timeline and placement availability updates, please contact carc.centers@csus.edu

Student Success Programs

• Asian Pacific Promoting Educational Excellence (APPEX) (Lassen Hall 2200)
• Parents & Families (Union 2250)
• The College Assistant Migrant Program (River Front Center)
• The High School Equivalency Program (River Front Center)
• The Veterans Success Center (Lassen Hall 2302)

Strategic Partnerships

• Center for First-Generation Student Initiatives
• Partnerships To Advance the Value of Education
• Project HMONG (Lassen Hall 2200)

Faculty Scholars

Faculty scholars are essential partners of the Cultural Academic Resource Centers, offering their expertise and leadership to support student success. Through career advising, mentorship, research skill development, and graduate school preparation, they play a vital role in guiding students along their academic and professional paths. Their active engagement with the CARCs ensures that our student scholars not only thrive at the University but are also well-prepared to seize opportunities beyond campus. Additionally, we partner with the University Library to promote information literacy, collaborating with librarians to identify resources and tools that support student research and academic achievement.

Academic Advising

Integrated academic advisors, in partnership with the Academic Advising Center, provide holistic support and resources to students through the Cultural Academic Resource Centers. This collaborative approach enables advisors to tailor guidance to each student’s unique needs, empowering them to make informed choices as they develop academic, co-curricular, extracurricular, and career plans to reach their goals.

Academic Tutoring

In partnership with the Peer Academic and Resource Center (PARC), students have access to subject-specific tutoring designed to meet diverse learning needs. Tutors are trained in culturally responsive strategies that honor varied learning styles and language backgrounds. Academic support services include drop-in tutoring, scheduled appointments, peer-led study groups, and embedded in-class support, all facilitated by PARC.

Career and Professional Development

The Cultural Academic Resource Centers collaborate with the Career Center as well as extend our reach beyond campus, partnering with the broader community to deliver career services, resources, and programs that expand students’ academic and professional opportunities. These collaborations prepare students for a successful transition into the workplace while supporting them in achieving their educational goals and aspirations. Working alongside a network of mentors, employers, and industry leaders, CARC is committed to equipping students with the eight career readiness competencies outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Mental Health and Wellness

The Cultural Academic Resource Centers partners with Student Health, Counseling, & Wellness Services and faculty scholars across the campus to enhance outreach and education around holistic mental health and wellness. Together, we aim to raise awareness, normalize help-seeking, and break down the stigma surrounding mental health by centering student voices and lived experiences. Through this collaboration, students have access to resources, programs, and supportive services that equip them with the tools they need to persist, thrive, and succeed in college.

Cultural Connections: A think Tank

"A think tank to advance student success and academic excellence"

Housed within the Division of Student Affairs and led by the Cultural Academic Resource Centers (CARC), Cultural Connections is a think tank that brings scholar-practitioners together to exchange ideas and integrate evidence-informed and promising practices that promote educational equity and meaningful engagement with stakeholders across campus and within the broader community. Grounded in collective action and cross-cultural understanding, the think tank fosters interpersonal and interprofessional connections that advance shared learning and impact.

The purpose of the Cultural Connections think tank is to convene thought partners who are committed to:

• Provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, exchanging best practices, and generating ideas that inspire collaboration across disciplines, departments, and divisions.
• Foster understanding by engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds through dialogue, reflection, and active participation.
• Advance career, academic, and lifelong excellence for all students, their families, and communities.

To join the standing committee or attend quarterly meetings, please email carc.centers@csus.edu.