Sacramento Semester marks 50 years with new impact report

The Sacramento Semester Program at Sacramento State is marking its 50th anniversary with a new report showing broader student outcomes and expanded scholarship support. The 2026 cohort included 29 students from seven CSU campuses, and most participants landed internships, jobs, graduate school admits or other opportunities after the program.

Why it matters: - The Sacramento Semester Program has spent 50 years giving California State University students direct experience in state government and public service. - The program’s latest report shows continued student placement outcomes and more financial support for participants. - The 2026 cohort reflects the program’s reach across the CSU system and its role in expanding access to capital-based experiential learning.

What happened: - Sacramento Semester at Sacramento State released its 2026 Annual Impact Report as the program marked its 50th anniversary. - The report highlights student outcomes, program reach and scholarship support. - The 2026 cohort included 29 students from seven CSU campuses. - Three students continued their experiential learning in Washington, D.C., through CSU DC Scholars. - The report is available on Sacramento State’s College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies page: the 2026 impact report

The details: - The vast majority of participants reported an extended internship, a job offer, graduate school acceptance or another professional or academic opportunity. - Twenty-one students were eligible for scholarship support. - All nine visiting students received $7,000 relocation and housing awards. - The California State Legislature provided $137,000 in additional scholarship support. - Alumni-supported hardship stipends and the $3,500 Jonas Minton Water Preservation and Environmental Scholarship also backed the program. - Dr. Jaime Jackson said the program has attracted high-achieving scholars for more than five decades and has opened access to decision-making spaces in California’s state capital.

Between the lines: - The report suggests Sacramento Semester is doing more than placing students in internships. It is also helping students convert that experience into jobs, graduate study and other next steps. - The scholarship mix points to a program that is increasingly relying on layered public and alumni support to keep experiential learning accessible. - The Washington, D.C. pipeline through CSU DC Scholars shows the program’s influence extends beyond Sacramento.

What's next: - Sacramento Semester says it will continue expanding access to experiential learning for CSU students. - The program will keep preparing students for public service and other high-impact careers as it moves beyond its 50th year. - The online report gives the public a benchmark for future enrollment, funding and outcomes.