Programs & Services

Centro Community & Study Space 

Centro is a dedicated community learning space for Chicanx/Latinx students at SJSU. All SJSU students are welcome to utilize the space to build community, study, make connections, engage in healthy and productive dialogue, receive personal and academic support, and learn about various on-and-off campus resources and opportunities. 

Peer Support 

Centro’s Student Success Leaders (SSLs) are student employees who offer personal and academic support to their peers. SSLs create a welcoming and safe environment at Centro to engage their peers by offering opportunities to explore campus life and involvement and learn about the various academic & support services at SJSU.

SSLs develop positive and healthy relationships with their peers by listening to understand each of their unique lived experiences and make appropriate referrals as needed. SSLs have a deep understanding of Chicanx/Latinx student experiences given their own lived experiences as Chicanx/Latinx students at SJSU and can offer tips and strategies for success.

Learn more about our Student Success Leaders here.

Adelante Mentoship & Leadership Program

The Adelante Mentorship & Leadership Program is a First-Year-Experience Program designed to support Latinx/a/o First-Time-Frosh with their transition from high school to college. As a mentee, student participants are paired with a mentor who will guide and support their journey at SJSU during their first year. In addition to peer mentorship support, Adelante mentees receive access to academic advising, faculty mentorship, personal counseling, career preparation, academic skills workshops, community-building activities, and leadership development opportunities. 

To learn more about Adelante, including eligibility and application dates and deadlines, visit our Adelante Program page for detailed information. 

Personal Counseling

In collaboration with the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Celinda Miranda, LCSW, is a CAPS representative that holds office hours at the CLSSC twice a week. Consultations with our CAPS Counselor are on a drop-in basis and typically can be shorter than consultations held at CAPS. Our CAPS Counselor can also help students learn more about CAPS services and resources. 

Spring 2025 Hours: Tuesdays 12pm-1pm and Thursdays 2:30pm-3:30pm

Students seeking counseling support outside of the drop-in hours at the Centro are encouraged to visit the CAPS office between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm in the Student Wellness Center, Room 300B or by scheduling an appointment at 408-924-5910. Learn more about CAPS and their services here.

Career Advising

Career Center Counselor Sandra De Leon, counselor for diverse students, holds office hours at Centro bi-weekly on Wednesdays, on a drop-in basis. Typical consultations are 10-15 minutes long and topics covered can include, but not limited to resume reviews, cover letter reviews, and mock interviews. Students needing longer appointments, can schedule a 30-minute appointment directly with Sandra, or other Career Center counselors by logging into SJSU Handshake, clicking on "Career Center" from the top menu and selecting "Appointments".

Drop-in Hours with Sandra for Spring 2025:

  • Bi-weekly on Wednesdays, 11am-12pm
    • 3/12, 3/26, 4/16, 4/30, 5/7

If you would like to learn more about the SJSU Career Center, please visit their website here.

Faculty Community Building Hours

Centro offers Community Building Hours with Latinx Professors from various departments at SJSU. Every semester, Professors share space and engage with students at Centro to talk about anything related to students' personal, academic, and professional experiences. 

Each Professor hosts their themed Community Building Hours at Centro on a weekly, "drop-in" basis. Even if not enrolled in their class, Profes at Centro are there to build community with students, listen, and offer any support and guidance needed.

Spring 2025 Faculty Community Building Hours: 

  • Dra. Christine Vega, Chicana/o Studies: Tuesdays (Bi-Weekly), 11:30am-12:30pm
  • Dra. Kimberly Miranda, Chicana/o Studies: Tuesdays, 2-3pm
  • Dra. Jessica Castillo Vardaro, Ecology & Evolution: Tuesdays, 12-1pm
  • Dra. Sonia Cuellar, Chemistry & Biology: Wednesdays, 2-3pm
  • Dr. Esteban Garcia Bravo, Art & Art History: Wednesdays, 12-1pm
  • Dr. Jose R. Torres-Ramos, Ethnomusicology & Mariachi: Thursdays, 11am-12pm
  •  Essy Barroso-Ramirez, Research and Social Sciences Librarian: TBD

Learn more about our Faculty Community Building Hours on our Centro Instagram : @Centro_sjsu.

 

Student Panels

Centro offers visiting schools and pre-collegiate programs the opportunity to learn more about our story, space, services and resources through student panel presentations. Student panels are an opportunity for prospective students to learn about the experiences of current Latinx student at SJSU.

For Spring 2025, student panels will only be offered on Fridays. If you are interested in coordinating a student panel with Centro, please fill out our Student Panel Presentation Request Form with a minimum of FOUR weeks in anticipation of your visit. *Please note groups will not be accepted without the completion of this form. 

If your group's demographics include other identities you would like to learn more about, please inform us of your group's population and we may be able to collaborate with other departments to cover the needs of your group. 

At the moment, our department is unable to lead any campus tours, if you would like to request a campus tour we recommend that you reach out to the SJSU Student Outreach and Recruitment (SOAR) department.