San Diego State University

Infobox University


image_size = 152px
name = San Diego State University
motto = Minds that move the world
established = 1897
type = Public
Space Grant
president= Stephen L. Weber
city = San Diego
state = California
country = USA
students= 34,500
staff= 1,684
campus = Urban
former_names = San Diego Normal School (1897-1923)
San Diego Teachers College (1923-35)
San Diego State College (1935-70)
endowment= ~$120.3 million (permanent)
mascot = Aztec Warrior
affiliations= California State University system; Mountain West Conference (NCAA Division 1)
footnotes=
colors= scarlet (red) and black color box|#FF2400color box|black
website= [http://www.sdsu.edu sdsu.edu]

San Diego State University (SDSU), founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area (generally the City and County of San Diego), and is part of the California State University system. It is the third-oldest university in the California State University system, and one of the oldest universities in California. SDSU has a student body of approximately 34,500 (as of the beginning of the Fall 2006 academic year) and an alumni base of more than 200,000.

The Carnegie Foundation has designated San Diego State University a "Research University with high research activity." SDSU is the only California State University campus with this classification, which places it among the top 200 higher education institutions in the country conducting research. [ [http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/sub.asp?key=748&subkey=13612&start=782 Carnegie Foundation: San Diego State University] ] Notably, pursuant to the "Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index" (FSP Index) released by the Academic Analytics organization of Stony Brook, NY, SDSU is the number one small research university in the United States as of the last two academic years, for both 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. [ [http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/5/prweb529904.htm Study Ranks California's Most Productive Universities (May 31, 2007)] ] [ [http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/02/news/sandiego/14_57_336_1_07.txt SDSU named most productive small research school (North County Times) (June 1, 2007)] ] [ [http://www.sdsuniverse.info/story.asp?id=61084 SDSU Receives Top Research Distinction for Second Straight Year (SDSUniverse.com) (Nov. 26, 2007)] ]

San Diego State University awards bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees (Ph.D., Ed.D, and Au.D) in a total of 151 fields. SDSU offers the most doctoral degrees of any campus of the California State University system, currently in sixteen academic and research disciplines.

San Diego State University is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the Southwest Border Security Consortium, and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a national organization of universities that promotes science and technology education and research.

History

Established on March 13, 1897 San Diego State University first began as the San Diego Normal School, intended to educate local future female elementary school teachers. Curriculum in a normal school was limited to what would "normally" be taught in schools. In 1923, the San Diego Normal School became San Diego State Teachers College, "a four-year public institution controlled by the state Board of Education." In 1935 the school became San Diego State College. In 1960, San Diego State College became a part of the California College System, now known as the California State University system. Finally in 1970 San Diego State College became San Diego State University (SDSU).

One in seven San Diegans with a college degree attended SDSU, [ [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/news/sdsufacts.html SDSU Significant Rankings and Distinctions] ] making SDSU a primary educator of the region's work force. Committed to serving the diverse San Diego region, SDSU ranks among the top ten universities nationwide in terms of ethnic and racial diversity among its student body, as well as the number of bachelor's degrees conferred upon minority students. [ [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/news/sdsufacts.html SDSU Significant Rankings and Distinctions] ]

San Diego State University has achieved the prestigious "Research University" status granted by the Carnegie Foundation. [ [http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/sub.asp?key=748&subkey=13612&start=782|Carnegie Foundation (http://www.carnegiefoundation.org) database entry and article on San Diego State University] ] University faculty consistently attract hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars annually in grants and contracts for research and program administration, and SDSU's research and graduate degree programs lead all other campuses of the California State University system. [ [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/news/sdsufacts.html SDSU Significant Rankings and Distinctions] ]

For the beginning of the 2006-2007 academic year, SDSU expanded its classrooms and support space by more than convert|200000|sqft|m2 with the opening of three new buildings, the College of Arts and Letters, the Calpulli Center and BioScience Center. The buildings, respectively, feature high-technology classrooms, upgraded health and wellness facilities, and scientific research laboratories.

SDSU's Astronomy Department owns the Mount Laguna Observatory located in the Cleveland National Forest. It operates the observatory concurrently with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [Mount Laguna Observatory]

John F. Kennedy, then the President of the United States of America, gave the graduation commencement address at San Diego State University on June 6, 1963. [ [http://sdsuniverse.info/story.asp?id=6269 Forty Years Later, the Magic of JFK Lingers on the Mesa] , Coleen L. Geraghty, "SDSUniverse" (May 12, 2003)]

ignificant rankings and distinctions

:"See [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/news/sdsufacts.html SDSU Significant Rankings and Distinctions] "
* For two years in a row, SDSU has been ranked the No. 1 most productive research university, among schools with 14 or fewer Ph.D. programs based on the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index. --Academic Analytics, 2007
* SDSU has been designated a "Research University" with high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation.
* Since 2000, SDSU faculty and staff have attracted more than $1 billion in grants and contracts for research and program administration.
* SDSU is the largest university in San Diego and the fifth largest in California.
* One in seven adults in San Diego who holds a college degree attended SDSU.
* SDSU is home to the first-ever MBA program in Global Entrepreneurship. As part of the program, students study at four universities worldwide, including the United States, China, the Middle East, and India. Corporate partners include Qualcomm, Invitrogen, Intel, Microsoft, and KPMG.
* In 1970, SDSU founded the first women's studies program in the country.

chools and colleges

* College of Arts & Letters
* College of Business Administration
* College of Education
* College of Engineering
* College of Health & Human Services (and Graduate School of Public Health)
* College of Sciences
* College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts
* College of Extended Studies (and American Language Institute)

Notable alumni and faculty

Endowment

:"See also San Diego State University Research Foundation for additional information"

The permanent financial endowment of San Diego State University (SDSU) is currently valued at $120.3 million U.S. dollars (USD) as of the end of the 2007 academic year. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080212/news_1n12funds.html "Raising the fundraising bar" San Diego Union Tribune, February 12, 2008] ]

The primary philanthropic arm of San Diego State University is [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/tcf/index.html The Campanile Foundation] , controlled by the [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/index.html University Advancement division] of the university. The San Diego State University Research Foundation, an auxiliary corporation owned and controlled by the university, is the manager and administrator of all philanthropic funds and external funding for the university and its affiliated and auxiliary foundations and corporations.

As of June 30, 2006, permanent assets of the SDSU Campanile Foundation totaled $134 million. [ [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/tcf/download/Campanile_05-06%20final.pdf The Campanile Foundation: Financial Statements June 30,2006] ]

For the 2004-2005 academic year, SDSU received over $157 million USD in external funding from grants and contracts, as well as an additional $57 million USD in donations and charitable giving. [ [http://www.calstate.edu/UA/0405externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml 2004-2005 Annual Report on External Funding, California State University] ] For 2005-2006, SDSU received $152 million USD in grants and contracts to support research. This is followed by $47.7 million USD in donations, gifts and other charitable giving. [ [http://www.calstate.edu/ua/0506externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml 2005-2006 Annual Report on External Support to the CSU -- San Diego State University] ]

An auxiliary to [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/tcf/index.html The Campanile Foundation] is the [http://goaztecs.collegesports.com/boosters/boosters-static-info/booster-overview.html Aztec Athletic Association] , which primarily raises funds for the student athletes in the San Diego State University athletics programs (see discussion of Athletics below and at SDSU Aztecs).

In addition to its permanent endowment, San Diego State University raises over $55 million U.S. dollars per year (approximately) in philanthropic gifts to support its research and academic affairs. [ [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/news/releases/fall2005/pr100705b.html "San Diego State University Reports $55.2 Million in Philanthropic Gifts for 2004-05" Official SDSU Press Release, Oct. 7, 2005"] ]

Academic and research affairs

San Diego State University is the leader in the California State University system in awarding Ph.D. (joint with UCSD [ [http://www.sdsu.edu/academicprogs.html San Diego State University's Academic Programs ] ] ) or Ed.D degrees, currently awarding such degrees in 16 academic disciplines. As a result of recent statutory changes (SB 724), SDSU intends to expand the scope and number of doctoral degree programs that it offers its graduate students.;Research institutes and centers
*American Language Institute [http://www.americanlanguage.org (Link to American Language Institute homepage)]
*International Consortium of Advanced Technologies and Security (ICATS) [http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/icats/ (Link to ICATS)]
*California Institute for Transportation Safety (CITS)
*Center for Bio/Pharmaceutical and Biodevice Development at SDSU
* [http://geography.sdsu.edu/Resources/Labs/cesarlab.html Center for Earth Systems Analysis Research (CESAR)]
*Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education
*Center for International Business Education & Research
*The Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology]
*CMI Coastal and Marine Institute
*Computational Science Research Center
*Entrepreneurial Management Center - ( [http://www.sdsu.edu/emc Homepage] )
*The Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace
*Interwork Institute
*International Security and Conflict Resolution Program (ISCOR)
*Institute for Public Health
*June Burnett Institute
*Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory (PERL)
*Regional Science Laboratory (REGAL)
* [http://geography.sdsu.edu/Resources/Labs/sallab.html Richard C. Wright Spatial Analysis Laboratory (SAL)]
*Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming (SITG)
**The Research Center at SITG
*The SDSU Global Change Research Group

;Research consortium
*California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2)
** [http://www.calit2.net/index.php Official Calit2 Site]
** [http://www.calit2.net/partners/academic.php Calit2 Membership Page]
*California Space Grant Consortium
** [http://calspace.ucsd.edu/casgc/index.html Official Site]
** [http://calspace.ucsd.edu/casgc/affiliates.html Membership Page]
*Southern California Earthquake Center
** [http://www.scec.org Official SCEC site]
*Southwest Border Security Consortium
* [http://www.scerp.org Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research & Policy (SCERP)] Renowned Facilities
*The SDSU Campus Library - [http://infodome.sdsu.edu/ The Infodome]
*Chemical Sciences Laboratory
*Coastal Waters Laboratory
*Facility for Applied Manufacturing Enterprise
*SDSU Biological Field Stations
**Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
*SDSU BioScience Center
*SDSU Michrochemical Core Facility
*Social Science Research Laboratory (SSRL)
*The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation Center for Earth Systems Analysis Research (CESAR)
*SDSU Center for Information Technology and Infrastructure (CITI)
**The SDSU Visualization Center

;Observatory
* Mount Laguna Observatory
** An astronomical observatory owned by SDSU and operating concurrently with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
*** SDSU is the only institution in the California State University system that offers a complete academic program in Astronomy, including the awarding of graduate degrees.

;High-speed computing
* The SDSU campus is a backbone node of the High Performance Research and Education Network (HPWREN).
* [http://geoinfo.sdsu.edu Gateway of Geospatial Information Technology at SDSU]
** SDSU hosts and manages the data network for San Diego County, California (NOTE: no access; password protected)

;Southern California wildfiresSDSU's high-speed computing facilities and Department of Geography are host to [http://map.sdsu.edu/ MAP.SDSU.EDU] , a web-based mapping, wiki, and geographic information database concering the October 2007 California wildfires and the October 2003 California wildfires, managed by the San Diego GIS force group, a volunteer group of SDSU faculty and students.
* [http://map.sdsu.edu/ MAP.SDSU.EDU webpage]
* [http://map.sdsu.edu/firenet/ FireNet webpage hosted by SDSU]

Media, newspapers, and magazines

;SDSU media and publications
* [http://sdsupress.sdsu.edu San Diego State University Press]
** The oldest university press in the California State University system with noted specializations in Border Studies, Critical Theory, Latin American Studies, and Cultural Studies.
* [http://hype.sdsu.edu Hyperbole Books]
** Hyperbole Books
*KPBS Public Broadcasting TV/FM
** Television, digital television, and FM radio for the San Diego community
** [http://www.kpbs.org Official site of KPBS]
** An affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) network
** "A Broadcasting Service of San Diego State University"
*KCR (AM)
** Student-run broadcast station
* [http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/360/index.htm 360 Magazine]
** The quarterly SDSU alumni and San Diego community magazine

;Official SDSU campus newspapers
* [http://www.sdsu.edu/news-media.html The SDSU News & Media webpage]
* [http://www.sdsuniverse.info SDSUniverse news service]
** News and information for the SDSU community
* [http://www.thedailyaztec.com The Daily Aztec Newspaper - Serving the SDSU Community]
** The largest daily collegiate newspaper in California, publishing daily since 1960.

;Other
*"The Koala" is a student-run humor publication.

DSU Transit Center

*SDSU Transit Center (San Diego Trolley station)

Extracurriculars

Athletics

SDSU competes in NCAA Division I FBS. Its primary conference is the Mountain West Conference; its women's water polo team participates in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and its men's soccer team participates as an Associate Member of the Pacific Ten Conference (the "Pac-10" Conference). The ice hockey team competes in the ACHA with other western region club teams (www.sdsuhockey.com). The crew team's championship regatta is in the WIRA (Western International Rowing Association). The university colors are scarlet (red) and black, SDSU's athletic teams are nicknamed "Aztecs", and its current mascot is the Aztec Warrior, historically referred to as "Monty - Montezuma". Athletics revenues have been down recently. [citation
url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080222/news_1s22azbudget.html
title=Football shy of dollar goal at SDSU
newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune
accessdate=2008-02-25
last=Schrotenboer
first=Brent
date=February 22, 2008]

;Football
* The football team plays at Qualcomm Stadium (formerly known as "Jack Murphy" Stadium). See also [http://goaztecs.collegesports.com/facilities/sdsu-trads-qualcomm.html The Q] They are also the Big Brother team to the Brisol Aztecs [http://www.bristolaztecs.co.uk Aztecs] .

;Basketball
* The basketball teams play at Cox Arena (see also [http://www.cox-arena.com Cox Arena website] ) on the SDSU campus.

;Baseball
* The baseball team plays in Tony Gwynn Stadium on the SDSU campus, named after the SDSU baseball and basketball player and current head coach, Tony Gwynn.

;Volleyball
* The women's volleyball team plays in Peterson Gym on the SDSU campus.
* The men's volleyball team won the NCAA Championship in 1973, but the team has since been disbanded.

;Soccer
* Both the men's and women's teams both play at the Sports Deck on the SDSU campus. The women compete in the Mountain West Conference while the men compete in the Pacific Ten Conference (Pac-10).

;Other sports
* The new $12 million dollar aquatic sports complex (known as the [http://goaztecs.cstv.com/genrel/032107aaa.html Aztec Aquaplex] ), includes an Olympic-size swimming pool, a separate recreational pool and beach, and a hydrotherapy spa. This facility is home for the swimming and diving teams, in addition to providing recreational use for all SDSU students and community members.
** [http://arc.sdsu.edu/pool/index.php SDSU Campus Recreation pool web page]
* In conjunction with the UCSD, the [http://as.sdsu.edu Associated Students] organization of San Diego State University runs the [http://goaztecs.collegesports.com/facilities/sdsu-mission-bay.html Mission Bay Aquatic Center (MBAC)] in Mission Bay, California, just a few miles west of the main campus. See also the [http://www.missionbayaquaticcenter.com MBAC homepage] . The MBAC provides for all manner of outdoor activities and sports for SDSU students, administration, and faculty.

Clubs

:"See [http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/studentinvolvement/studentorgs/list.html student organizations] "

tudent body and Greek life

:"For more information, go to [http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/cfsl/index.html SDSU Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life] "

Fraternal organizations have been a core component of the campus community since 1899. Currently there are over 48 social fraternities and sororities, including both general and culturally based organizations, represented by four governing councils.

;Fraternities (IFC)
**Alpha Epsilon Pi
**Delta Sigma Phi
**Delta Upsilon
**Kappa Alpha Order
**Kappa Sigma
**Lambda Chi Alpha
**Phi Kappa Psi
**Phi Kappa Theta
**Sigma Alpha Epsilon
**Sigma Alpha Mu
**Sigma Chi
**Sigma Nu
**Sigma Phi Epsilon
**Sigma Pi
**Theta Chi
**Zeta Beta Tau

;Latino fraternities (USFC)
**Nu Alpha Kappa
**Gamma Zeta Alpha
;Sororities (Panhellenic)
**Alpha Chi Omega
**Alpha Epsilon Phi
**Alpha Phi
**Delta Gamma
**Delta Zeta
**Gamma Phi Beta
**Kappa Alpha Theta
**Kappa Delta
**Pi Beta Phi

Traditions

* See [http://goaztecs.cstv.com/trads/sdsu-footbl-trads.html SDSU Traditions]

* The San Diego State Marching Aztecs and Pep and Varsity Bands are often seen at many sporting events including Football, Basketball and even Volleyball ( [http://bands.sdsu.edu The University Bands] ).

* The San Diego State University (SDSU) campus is known as "Montezuma Mesa", as the university is situated on a mesa overlooking Mission Valley and is located at the intersection of Montezuma Road and College Avenue.

Notable events and popular culture

Film and television

* The two main characters from the 77th Academy Awards (2004) Academy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-winning comedy/drama film Sideways were roommates during their college days at SDSU.
* The SDSU campus is the setting of Hearst College, the fictional university in The CW television network show "Veronica Mars". [http://www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2006/07/31/City/veronica.Mars.Lands.At.Sdsu-2135096.shtml?norewrite200610021532&sourcedomain=www.thedailyaztec.com (link)]
*The exterior shots of Rancho Carne High School in the movie "Bring it On" were mainly filmed at San Diego State University
*Portions of "" were filmed around the SDSU campus
*A few former "" cast members currently attend SDSU.Fact|date=January 2008
*SDSU is mentioned by Bart Simpson in "The Simpsons" episode "The President Wore Pearls (Season 15, 2003)". Lisa becomes president of Springfield Elementary and unknowingly strips the school of all of its recreational activities, leading Bart to say, "Lisa, you made this school even worse. And it wasn't exactly San Diego State to begin with."

1996 campus shooting

The San Diego State University shooting occurred on August 15, 1996. A thirty-six year old graduate engineering student, while apparently defending his thesis, shot and killed his three professors, Constantinos Lyrintzis, Cheng Liang, and D. Preston Lowrey III, at San Diego State University. The shooter, who was suffering from certain mental problems, was convicted on July 19, 1997 and was sentenced to life in prison. As a memorial, tables with a plaque of each victim's information and contributions have been placed ajacent to the College of Engineering building.

2008 student drug arrests

On May 6, 2008, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the arrest of 96 individuals, of which 33 were San Diego State University students, on a variety of drug charges in a narcotics sting operation dubbed Operation Sudden Fall. [cite web|url=http://www.cbs8.com/misc/SDSU_mug_shots.pdf|title=Mug Shots from Operation Sudden Fall|publisher=CBS News 8|accessdate=2008-05-06|format=PDF] It was originally reported that 75 of the arrested were students, but the inflated number included students who had been arrested months earlier, in some cases for simple possession. [cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080508-1041-bn08arrests.html|title=Officials differ on number of SDSU students snared in sting |publisher=San Diego Union Tribune|accessdate=2008-05-08] The bust, which was the largest in the history of San Diego County, drew a mixed reaction from the community. [cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080508-9999-1n8sdsu.html|title=SDSU drug sting draws scorn, praise |publisher=San Diego Union Tribune|accessdate=2008-05-08]

tudent housing

;Residence Halls

;West Side
* Chapultepec Hall, or "Chappy", 11 stories, houses 550 students
* University Towers, "UT", 9 stories, 550 students
**formerly known as "El Conquistador" or "El Conq""East Side"
* Cuicacalli Suites, "Cuic", houses 686 students
** Tepeyac, 6 stories
** Tacuba, 6 stories
* The Living Learning Center, "LLC", houses 426 students
** Maya, 3 stories
** Olmeca, 3 stories
* Tenochca Hall, "Tenoch", 8 stories, houses 380 students
* Zura Hall, "The Zoo", 9 stories, houses 585 students

;Apartments
* Aztec Corner, "AC", formerly College Manor, furnished, houses up to 600 students.
* Piedra del Sol, Unfurnished, 66-Units, houses up to 225 students"This is NOT a residence hall but university owned student housing - it has leases rather than license agreements and no RA's"
* Villa Alvarado, "VA", Furnished Apartments, 90-Units, houses 360 students

;Former residence halls
*Queztal (women only)"Opened in 1937 as the first residence hall. It was next to present day Aztec Center."
*Templo del Sol, Zapotec, Toltec & Tarastec Halls"This complex was on the west side of the campus next to Tony Gwynn Stadium across from Chapultepec. Currently it is the site of a new Softball stadium and tennis court complex. They were the same red brick design and floor plan as Maya and Olmeca halls on the east side of campus."

Branch campuses

*Imperial Valley Campus
** Located in Calexico, California
** Additional campus in Brawley, California along with research park and related facilities
** Upper division, teacher certification, and graduate classes only
*North County Campus
** Formerly located in northern San Diego County
** Closed; converted to California State University, San Marcos
*South Bay Campus
** Formerly located on the first floor of the parking structure across from the Holiday Inn in National City, California.
** Shared facilities with Southwestern College.
** Closed indefinitely.

Notes

** See also, [http://www.calstate.edu/UA/0405externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml 2004-2005 Annual Report on External Funding, California State University]
** See also, [http://www.calstate.edu/UA/0304externalreport/campus/san_diego.shtml 2003-2004 Annual Report on External Funding, California State University]

ee also

* [http://books.google.com/books?as_brr=0&q=San+Diego+State+University Google Book Search "San Diego State University"]

External links

* [http://www.sdsu.edu/ San Diego State University Official Website]
** [http://www.sdsuniverse.info/ "SDSUniverse" Campus Information Website]
** [http://www.sdsualumni.org/ SDSU Alumni Association]
** Official [http://www.csumentor.edu/ CSUMentor] information about San Diego State University [http://www.csumentor.edu/CampusTour/Undergraduate/21/San_Diego_State_University/San_Diego_State_University1.html CSUMentor SDSU webpage]
* [http://www.goaztecs.com/ Official SDSU athletics site]
**SDSU Aztecs
** [http://www.AZTECTALK.org/ AztecTalk]
* [http://www.thedailyaztec.com/ The Daily Aztec student newspaper]
* [http://www.sdsumonth.com/ SDSU Month] The yearly SDSU-sponsored event celebrating San Diego State University and its role in the community.
* Unofficial information sources:
** [http://www.nbcsandiego.com/campusconnection/index.html NBCSandiego.com Campus Connection]
* Official Maps:
** [http://www.sdsu.edu/map Map, Location, and Directions]
*** Official campus map (large GIF [http://www.sdsu.edu/map/campusmap.giflink] )
* External reviews and information sources:
** [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drextras_1151_brief.php SDSU Review] – US News, “SDSU at Glance”
** [http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/06/full_time_profiles/sandiego1.htm SDSU's College of Business] – Business Week Review