19th Century edit

In 1857, the San Francisco Board of Education created the San Francisco Weekly Normal School,^[13][14] also known as the Minns' Evening Normal School.^[15] In 1862, it became the California State Normal School, the first postsecondary institution established by the state.^[14] Only six students were enrolled on its first day. By 1866, enrollment had increased to 384.^[16]

In 1867, the principal of Girls' High School and Normal School, Ellis Holmes, realized that the California State Normal School wasn't meeting demand for teachers. The city approved the addition of a new year-long teacher-training program to his high school's curriculum, for girls who wanted to pursue a career in education. This program is what would eventually become San Francisco State University. When the California State Normal School was moved to San José in 1871, Girls' High became the only publicly-supported teacher-training institution.^[16]

In 1895, the teaching program was split from the school and became San Francisco City Normal School.^[16] Due to a lack of funding, the school closed in 1898.^[13] A group of teachers, students, and supporters pressured the California State Legislature to convert it into a state-funded institution.^[16]

On March 22, 1899,^[17] the California State Legislature approved the creation of the San Francisco State Normal School, with an appropriation of $10,000. Frederic Burk was appointed as the first president. The school rented^[16] space in a building on Powell Street between Clay and Sacramento Streets and 31 women were enrolled in the first year.^[18][19]

20th Century edit

The 1906 earthquake and fire forced the school to relocate from Nob Hill to a temporary campus at the Grant School in Oakland.^[19]

In 1921, the school began offering Bachelor's degree options and was renamed San Francisco State Teachers College.^[16][20] Teachers Colleges in California received authorization to grant Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1923.^[14]

Also in 1921, construction for a new campus started at a property bound by Laguna, Haight, Buchanan and Hermann Streets. The campus consisted of four Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings designed by George McDougall, a California state architect.^[21][22]

In the 1930s, overcrowding became an issue at the campus. It had been designed for 1500 students, but had to accommodate about 3000. When the Hetch Hetchy project was completed in 1934, the city no longer needed land near Lake Merced for a reservoir. By 1939, the land had been acquired to build a new campus, but plans were paused due to World War 2. Many students took part in the war, causing enrollment to decline.^[23]

During the 1920s and '30s, State Teachers Colleges expanded beyond being only vocational schools to train teachers. They were formally authorized authorized to offer four-year liberal arts curriculums and renamed State Colleges in 1935.^[24] So, the school became known as San Francisco State College.^[20]

When veterans started returning in 1945, the Vets Village, a housing complex, was built. Some students commuted from there to the campus at Buchanan and Haight Streets.^[23]

In 1949, Master's degrees were authorized to be offered.^[10]

In 1951, the Gymnasium building was the first major building to be completed at the current campus near Lake Merced. The Creative Arts building was built second. The campus opened for classes for Fall 1953, before it was formally dedicated in October 1954.^[25]

San Francisco State College became part of the California State College system established under the Donahoe Higher Education Act in 1960.^[16]

In Fall 1965, the Experimental College was started by students Cynthia Carlson, Donna Michaelson, Sharon Gold, and James Nixon, in an effort to teach nontraditionally. In 1927, over 2000 students enrolled in courses offered by the Experimental College.^[16] The university's original Experimental College stopped operating after 1969.^[26]

Demonstrations of the 1960s edit

1967 edit

On May 2, 1967, 60 students staged a sit-in protest in President John Summerskill's office, opposing the practice of providing students' academic standing to the Selective Service System. On June 22 of the same year, students and faculty picketed administrative offices to protest the California State College Chancellor Glenn S. Dumke's directive to continue providing students' academic standings.^[27]

On November 6, 1967, James Vaszko, the campus editor of the Gater, the university's newspaper at the time, was assaulted by members of the Black Student Union.^[28] This event became known as the Gater incident. In an interview the day after the assault, Vaszko said he had no idea why it happened, but something was said during the incident about the Gater not running a photo of the BSU candidate for homecoming queen. However, the Gater had included a photo of the candidate. The District Attorney's office issued arrest warrants on November 9 for Ben Stewart, George Murray and Jack H. Alexis.^[29]

About 450 students participated in a protest on December 2, against Summerskill and the Vietnam War.^[27]

On December 6, students protested against the suspension of students in the Gater incident. During the protest, students broke into the Administration building.^[27]

1968 edit

President Summerskill announced his resignation, effective in September, on February 22.^[27]

The Third World Liberation Front was a coalition of the Black Students Union, the Latin American Students Organization, the Filipino-American Students Organization, and El Renacimiento. They occupied the university's YMCA office on March 23.^[27]

On May 21, in the Administration building, approximately 400 students held a sit-in protesting various issues, including an end to AFROTC on campus and the hiring of nine minority faculty members. After nine hours, police were called to remove the students. 26 people were arrested.^[27]

Students protested again on May 23. On the following day, Chancellor Dumke asked President Summerskill to resign immediately. Robert Smith, a professor of education, was appointed president on June 1.^[27][16]

On September 10, George Mason Murray, a graduate student in English and Black Panther Minister of Education, was hired as a teaching assistant to teach introductory English classes for 400 students.^[27]

President Smith announced the creation of a Black Studies Department and named Professor of Sociology, Dr. Nathan Hare as acting chair on September 18.^[27]

On September 26, after Murray allegedly made inflammatory remarks at Fresno State College and San Francisco State, California State College Trustees voted to ask President Smith to reassign George Murray to a non-teaching position.

President Smith refused, causing Chancellor Dumke to order him to suspend Murray on October 31. On the same day, the Black Student Union Third World Liberation Front threatened to strike on November 6 and presented their 15 demands.^[27] The demands weren't met and a lengthy student strike erupted. It was the longest student strike in American history and ended on March 21, 1969.

In December 1968, two bombs were discovered on campus. One was in the Administration building and the other was in the Psychology building (now Ethnic Studies and Psychology building)^[30]

1970s and onwards edit

In 1972, the State Colleges system was designated "The California State University and Colleges." 14 colleges met the criteria established by the Board of Trustees and the Coordinating Council for Higher Education, including San Francisco State, which was renamed California State University, San Francisco.^[14] This name wasn't popular with students and the university was soon renamed San Francisco State University in 1974.^[16]

The Student Union building (now Cesar Chavez Student Center) was opened in 1975.^[16] It was designed by Paffard Keatinge-Clay.

President Paul Romberg secured a permanent federal lease for 25 acres of shoreline in Tiburon for just $1 in 1978.^[31] The Romberg Tiburon Campus would eventually expand 53 acres.

On May 14, 1985, a pipe bomb in a purse was found in the Business/Ethnic Studies Building (now Business Building).^[32][33] A US Army bomb disposal team arrived to remove it.^[34] In September that year, Coy Ray Phelps was arrested and charged for the attempted bombing.^[35] Phelps had also planted bombs in four other locations in San Francisco, but only one exploded at the offices of the local Humanist Party.^[36][37] On September 17, 1986, Phelps was placed in a psychiatric facility after being found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was released in 1999, but after starting a website to advocate for murdering Black people and Jewish people, a panel of three judges ruled that he shouldn't have been released in the first place, and he was rearrested in 2002.^[37] He appealed the ruling, but his case was dismissed in 2004.^[38] On September 23, 2015, he was released from the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners.^[39][40]

In 1993, the College of Extended Learning (now College of Global and Professional Education) opened the Downtown Center in San Francisco's Multimedia Gulch, at 425 Market St ^[16][41]

In 1994, a mural depicting Malcolm X was painted on the Student Union building, commissioned by the Pan-African Student Union and African Student Alliance. The mural's border contained yellow Stars of David and dollar signs mingled with skulls and crossbones and near the words "African Blood." The next week, after demonstrations on both sides, the university's administration had the mural painted over, and subsequently sand blasted.^[42] Two years later, a new Malcolm X mural was painted, without the controversial symbols.^[43]

In 1995, San Francisco State alumni Geoff Marcy and Paul Butler discovered two new Jupiter-sized planets within 35 light-years of Earth, including one that could contain elements for organic life. They discovered another planet about 40 light years away less than three months later.^[44][45]

21st Century edit

In 2007, the Downtown Campus was opened at 835 Market Street, replacing the Downtown Center. The campus had nearly 47,000 square feet of classroom space in Westfield San Francisco Centre. The campus was used for courses in the College of Extended Learning and Lam Family College of Business.^[46]

In 2013, the Science Building was found to have "unsafe levels" of airborne mercury, lead and asbestos in the basement as a result of reports that pesticide-laden Native American artifacts were previously stored with a material now known to be highly hazardous. As a result of the contamination, over $3.6 million was spent for remediation of the pervasive contamination. University Administration terminated several employees who reported the contamination, resulting in several wrongful termination and whistle-blower lawsuits, including one by the recently hired director. In July 2014, Cal/OSHA cited the university for various health and safety violations in the Science Building, which included SFSU failing to locate asbestos in the building and warn employees about the hazards of mercury.^[47][48] SFSU previously ran into trouble with its Environmental Health and Safety program when the director prior, Robert Shearer, was accused of taking bribes from a waste disposal firm in exchange for at least $4 million in university funds.^[49]

In response to the College of Ethnic Studies being underfunded since 2008, four students held a ten-day hunger strike from May 2–11, 2016, resulting in one hospitalization. The strike ended when President Leslie Wong agreed to commit nearly $500,000 to the college and meet a part of their demands.^[50]

The Experimental College was revived in Fall 2017. One-unit courses are created and taught by students.^[26][51]

Also in 2017, a group of Jewish students and local residents accused SFSU of encouraging antisemitism, and excluding Jewish student pro-Israel activist groups from campus activities.^[52][53][54] The students filed two lawsuits focusing on the disruption of a speech by Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat in 2016. One suit was dismissed by a federal judge in 2018.^[55] Another lawsuit was settled in 2019 and included provisions for a $200,000 university fund to promote viewpoint diversity, a new coordinator of Jewish Student Life position for at least four years, and an independent consultant to review the university's non-discrimination policies.^[56]

In May 2019, Lynn Mahoney became the first woman to become president of San Francisco State in a permanent capacity.^[57] Mary Ward had served as an acting president in the summer of 1927, after the death of Archibald Anderson.^[58]

On September 23, 2020, SFSU faculty Rabab Abdulhadi and Tomomi Kinukawa hosting a discussion on Zoom called "Whose Narratives? Gender, Justice, and Resistance."^[59] The event's speakers included Leila Khaled, a Palestinian political activist and plane hijacker, Laura Whitehorn, an American political activist and domestic bomber. Zoom and YouTube canceled the broadcast due to Khaled's history of violent actions towards civilians. Facebook also removed a page for the event.^[60][61][62] The event brought SFSU into a tense national news debate. President Lynn Mahoney wrote a letter about the incident. A second event titled "Whose Narratives? What Free Speech for Palestine?" was scheduled for April 23, 2021, and was also blocked. The event had nine speakers scheduled, including Khaled, Whitehorn, Sekou Odinga, an activist and former Black Panther, and Sean Malloy, an author and professor at UC Merced.^[63][64]

In 2022, the new Downtown Campus opened on two floors of 160 Spear Street, replacing the Downtown Campus at 835 Market Street.^[65] Classrooms are located on the fifth floor and offices are located on the twelfth floor.

On April 6, 2023, former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines visited SFSU for a Turning Point USA student chapter event and spoke publicly about her campaign against transgender athletes in women's sports.^[66][67] Protesters attended the event and were peaceful. After the event concluded, more protesters arrived.^[68][66] Gaines was escorted by university police officers to shelter in a classroom.^[68][66] Video clips were posted to social media, including by Gaines, that appear to show protesters chanting, shouting, and holding signs.^[68] After the event, Gaines said she had been physically struck twice by a person during the protest.^[69][68] Soon after the event, the university police stated that no arrests have been made, and an investigation is ongoing, and PEN America, a literary and free expression advocacy organization, called the incident a "disaster."^[69]

On September 11 of the same year, about 300 students rallied and marched against the CSU system's proposed tuition increase.^[70] The CSU system is facing a $1.5 billion budget deficit. On September 15, CSU's Board of Trustees voted in favor of the plan to reduce the deficit with annual tuition increases of 6%, starting from the 2024–2025 academic year to the 2028–2029 academic year.^[71][72]

After years of declining enrollment, budget cuts were announced on August 31, totaling $11 million.^[73] The university is also facing a $9 million budget deficit. A plan to eliminate the deficit calls for cutting the equivalent of 125 full-time positions.^[74] The California Faculty Association said it would result in the layoff of about 325 part-time lecturers.^[75] On October 11, the CFA held a practice rally against the tuition increase and possible layoffs.^[76] On October 26, the CFA and the university Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter led about 300 students and faculty in a rally and march against layoffs and the tuition increase.^[77] The CFA led another rally against layoffs on November 15.^[78]

In response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas War, hundreds of students walked out and rallied on October 25, calling for a ceasefire.^[79] It was part of a nationwide walkout organized by Students for Justice in Palestine.^[80]

On November 14, Teamsters Local 2010 held a one-day strike across all 23 CSU campuses, seeking higher pay.^[81] San Francisco State skilled laborers marched through the university before joining the picket line at the university's 19th Ave and Holloway entrance.^[82]

Students walked out and protested on November 28, in response to 655 courses being cut and over 300 faculty members being laid off in the Spring 2024 semester.^[83]

One-day strikes led by the CFA were held across four CSU campuses from December 4–7, including San Francisco State on December 5.^[84] Faculty and students picketed against budget cuts and possible layoffs and are seeking a raise of 12%.^[85]

Milestones edit

• 1901 – First graduating class consisting of 36 women.^[19][10]
• 1923 – First Bachelor of Arts degree awarded^[10]
• 1930 – Became four-year school^[4]
• 1929 – Grace Hackett became the first known African-American to graduate from the school^[19]
• 1949 – Master's degree first offered^[10]
• 1972 – Received university status
• 1974 – Renamed San Francisco State University^[20]
• 1975 – Cesar Chavez Student Center opened its doors to students^[16]
• 1999 – Celebrated 100th birthday^[86]

Presidents edit

The university operates on a semester calendar. Students generally enroll in courses during the Fall and Spring semesters, but courses are also offered during the Summer semester and Winter session.^[94] Winter courses are not eligible for financial aid.^[95]

The student-faculty ratio at SFSU is 23:1, and 27.1 percent of its classes have fewer than 20 students.^[96]

The university's seven colleges are:

• College of Liberal & Creative Arts^[97]
• Lam Family College of Business^[98]
• College of Ethnic Studies^[99]
• College Health and Social Sciences^[100]
• College of Science and Engineering^[101]
• Graduate College of Education^[102]
• College of Professional & Global Education (formerly College of Extended Learning)^[103]

In Fall 2022, the university had 1,905 instructional faculty, of which 807 (or 42 percent) were tenured or on the tenure track.^[10]

Undergraduate programs edit

SFSU offers 119 bachelor's degree programs across five colleges: College of Liberal & Creative Arts, Lam Family College of Business, College of Ethnic Studies, College Health and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Engineering.

The most popular undergraduate majors are Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology, Engineering, English, Communication Studies, Psychology, Criminal Justice Studies, Sociology, and Cinema.^[104]

Experimental College edit

The original Experimental College, known as E.C., was created in 1965 and lasted until 1969. The revived Experimental College, also known as EXCO, allows students to create curriculums and teach one-unit courses about any topic.^[26]It's similar to Oberlin College's ExCo program and University of California, Berkeley's DeCal program. Recent course offerings include BDSM 101, Lucid Dreaming, Adventures in SF, Thematic Analysis of Studio Ghibli Films, and United States Foster System.^[105][106] EXCO is part of the Department of Undergraduate Education and Academic Planning.^[107]

Blended Master's programs edit

SFSU offers 34 blended bachelor's and master's degree programs, called San Francisco State Scholars programs.^[108] The programs provide students an accelerated path to a graduate degree by allowing students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior years.

Graduate and professional programs edit

The university offers 105 master's degree programs across six colleges: College of Liberal & Creative Arts, Lam Family College of Business, College of Ethnic Studies, College Health and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, and Graduate College of Education.^[109]

The Graduate College of Education offers two doctoral programs: Ph.D in special education, in partnership with University of California, Berkeley and Ed.D in Educational Leadership.^[110]

The College of Health and Social Sciences offers a DPT program in partnership with University of California, San Francisco.

The Graduate College of Education also offers 22 teaching credential programs.^[9]

Accreditation edit

The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.^[111] The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).^[112] The School of Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).^[113]

Admissions and enrollment edit

In Fall 2022, SFSU's total enrollment was 25,046. This included 21,868 undergraduate students and 3,178 postgraduate students. In-state students comprised 96% of undergraduate students enrolled at the university.^[114]

SFSU uses Cal State Apply, the centralized application system for all 23 CSU campuses. There is a $70 fee per application, but fee waivers are available.^[115]

The university does not use school rank, personal statements and essays, letters of recommendation, legacy status, or standardized test scores in the admissions process.^[116]

Rankings and distinctions edit

In 2020, SFSU was ranked the 19th top university in the United States by PayScale and CollegeNET's Social Mobility Index university rankings.^[124] In 2022, the Philosophical Gourmet Report listed San Francisco State University as one of the top eight universities to earn a terminal MA in philosophy.^[125] SFSU was one of the first California State University campuses to offer a doctorate of education. It was also instrumental in the establishment of the International University of Kyrgyzstan (1993).^[126] The university is the only one in California to offer a bachelor's degree in technical and professional writing.^[126] It is also the only university in the California State University system to offer a master's degree in Classics.^[127]

In 2011, SFSU ranked 18th among the top 20 undergraduate schools whose alumni went on to be admitted to the State Bar; many subsequently ran for public office.^[128] The university's College of Extended Learning offers the only American Bar Association-approved paralegal studies program in San Francisco.^[126]

The Cinema Department, in the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, was named one of the world's best film schools by Variety in 2019.^[129] SFSU was also listed as one of the nation's top 25 film schools by The Hollywood Reporter, having produced many leading filmmakers, with over 13 Academy Award wins among its alumni.^[130][128]

The Sutro Library, located within the J. Paul Leonard Library, houses the largest collection of genealogical records west of Salt Lake City.^[131]

In 2021, SFSU was ranked fifth for diversity nationwide and third for diversity in the western U.S. by the Wall Street Journal.^[132][133]

SFSU has the second largest Asian and Filipino American enrollment percentage in the CSU system.^[134]

Academic buildings^[135] edit

• Burk Hall (BH)
• Business (BUS)
• Creative Arts (CA)
• Ethnic Studies & Psychology (EP)
• Fine Arts (FA)
• Health & Social Sciences (HSS)
• Hensill Hall (HH)
• Humanities (HUM)
• Liberal and Creative Arts (LCA)
• J. Paul Leonard Library (LIB)
• Science (SCI)
• Science & Engineering Innovation Center (Under construction)^[136]
• Sutro Library (in LIB)
• Thornton Hall (TH)
• Marcus Hall (MH)

Residence buildings, communities, and services^[135] edit

• City Eats Dining Center (DC)^[137][138]
• Manzanita Square (MZS)^[139]
• Mary Park Hall (MPH)^[140]
• Mary Ward Hall (MWH)^[140]
• Towers Junior Suites (TJS)^[141]
• The Towers at Centennial Square (TCS)^[142]
• The Village at Centennial Square (VCS)^[143]
• University Park North (UPN)^[144]
• University Park South (UPS)^[145]
• West Campus Green Residential Building (Under construction)^[146]

A dormitory building, Verducci Hall, was imploded in 1999, having sustained damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.^[147]

Conference and event facilities^[135] edit

• Seven Hills Conference Center^[148]
• Student Life Events Center/Annex I (SLEC)^[149]
• Towers Conference Center (TCONF)^[150]

Student and administrative services^[135] edit

• Administration (ADM)
• Cesar Chavez Student Center (CCSC)^[151]
• Corporation Yard (CYD)
• Gator Health Center (Under construction)^[146]

• Early Childhood Education Center (formerly Child Care Center) (A.S. ECEC)^[152]
• Mashouf Wellness Center (MWC)
• Student Health Center (SHS)
• Student Services (SSB)

Athletic facilities^[135] edit

• Cox Stadium
• Gymnasium (GYM)
• Maloney Field

Gallery edit

•  

  Marcus Hall

•  

  Burk Hall

•  

  Administration Building

•  

  Mashouf Wellness Center

•  

  Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building

•  

  J. Paul Leonard Library

•  

  J. Paul Leonard Library seating area

•  

  The Quad

•  

  Open24

•  

  Thornton Hall and Hensill Hall

•  

  Humanities Building

•  

  Student housing
  

In addition to the main campus, the university also has three satellite campuses.

Downtown Campus (DTC) edit

The Downtown Campus located 160 Spear Street, in San Francisco, California.^[153] It's used and managed by the Lam Family College of Business and the College of Professional & Global Education (formerly College of Extended Learning). Classrooms are located on the fifth floor and offices are on the twelfth floor.^[153][154] The campus is approximately 15,850 square feet.^[10]

SF State has maintained facilities in Downtown San Francisco since the 1950s. The current Downtown Campus replaces the previous, underused campus that was located in the San Francisco Centre.^[155] The old Downtown Campus was a replacement for the Downtown Center located at 425 Market Street.^[41]

The campus has a student lounge, a computer lab, and study rooms.^[156]

Sierra Nevada Field Campus (SNFC) edit

The 7.1-acre Sierra Nevada Field Campus is located in Sierra County, near Yuba Pass and the Sierra Valley, at 35400 Hwy 49 in Calpine, California.^[10] It's over 200 miles north of the main campus.^[157] The current director of the campus is Darrow Feldstein.^[158]

The campus offers three to seven-day courses and workshops to students as well as the general public.^[159][160] Accredited, one-unit courses are processed by the College of Professional & Global Education. Workshops are not for credit and processed by the University Corporation.^[160] The campus is also used for research by graduate students of the College of Science and Engineering.^[161]

Due to its remote location, there is no cell service and extremely limited internet access at the campus. Accommodations at the campus consist of tents with mattresses. Students and visitors can to bring their own tents or vehicles to sleep in, or stay off campus.^[162][163] The campus has a moderately high elevation of about 5522 feet or 1683 meters.^[164][165]

The campus is supported by Friends of Sierra Nevada Field Campus, a non-profit organization.^[166]

Buildings edit

There are three buildings at the campus.^[167]

• Director's Cabin
• Staff Cabin
• Dining Hall

Romberg Tiburon Campus (RTC) edit

The Romberg Tiburon Campus is a 53.7-acre research campus located in Marin County, at 3150 and 3152 Paradise Drive in Tiburon, California. It's home to the only marine and environmental science lab on San Francisco Bay.^[10][168] Katharyn Boyer is the interim executive director of the Estuary & Ocean Science Center and manages the campus.^[169][170]

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the offices for the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve are also located there.^[171]

The campus was a former U.S. Navy base. SF State has operated a marine lab on the site since 1978, when it began acquiring the land from the federal government for $1, under the condition that the site be used for education.^[16][171]

A master plan is being currently being drafted for the campus. It has never had a master plan formally prepared and adopted by the campus or the CSU Board of Trustees. An approved master plan and certified environmental impact statement are required before the university can begin significant construction projects at the campus.^[172][173]

The campus is at risk of closing due to financial struggles.^[171][170]

Buildings edit

There are eight occupied buildings at the campus.^[174][175]

• Bay Conference Center (BCC)^[176]
• Delta Hall
• Estuary Hall
• Farallon Hall
• Greenhouse
• Ohrenschall Guest House
• N. Barracks
• S. Barracks

The university's intercollegiate athletics teams, the Gators, compete in NCAA Division II and are a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (wrestling competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference). SF State fields twelve sports: men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's baseball, wrestling, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and softball.

The Gators have also produced thirteen National Football League players, including Billy Baird, Elmer Collett, Maury Duncan, Carl Kammerer, Douglas Parrish, and Floyd Peters. Mike Holmgren got his collegiate coaching start as the team's Offensive Coordinator in 1981. The football program ended in 1995.

SF State has produced three Major League Baseball players, two of which became All-Stars (former Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson, and former Brewers and Red Sox outfielder Tommy Harper). The soccer program has had one player enter the professional ranks. Jared MacLane played in the soccer Professional First Division in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

SF State Wrestling sent a wrestler to a national championship meet every year from 1963–64 to 2016–17.^[177]

As of 2019, the Gators have earned one NCAA team championship at the Division II level, a 1997 wrestling championship.^[178][179]

Mascot edit

In the early 20th century, collegiate sports at SF State became more popular, creating a need for a team name. The university's newspaper at the time, the Bay Leaf, asked for suggestions for a mascot. Students suggested an alligator named "Golden Gater" in reference to the Golden Gate.^[180] Students voted in favor of the name, but after numerous misspellings by the newspaper, use of "Golden Gator" stuck. The mascot's name was eventually shortened to the Gator.^[181][182] In 2023, the Gator became Alli the Gator and was redesigned.^[183]

Intramural Sports edit

Intramural sports at SF State include indoor soccer, costume dodgeball, and badminton.^[184]

Sport Clubs edit

Sport clubs are student organizations that exist to develop and promote interest in sports.^[185] As of 2023, there are 16 sport clubs at the university, including Judo club, Ultimate Frisbee club, and Cheer club.^[186]

As of 2023, SFSU has 247 formally recognized student organizations.^[187] In order to receive funding, student organizations must be formally recognized by the Office of Student Activities & Events.^[188]

49 Greek life organizations are formally recognized^[189] and include chapters of Alpha Phi, Sigma Pi Alpha, and Phi Sigma Sigma.

Housing edit

SFSU has three on-campus housing neighborhoods: the Central Neighborhood, the North Neighborhood, and the South Neighborhood. These neighborhoods are further divided into housing communities.^[190] Also Parkmerced, a planned neighborhood consisting of high-rise and low-rise apartments, is located to the south of the university.

First-year student accommodations edit

The Central Neighborhood consists of housing for first-year students. There are two residence halls available: Mary Ward Hall and Mary Park Hall. They're colloquially known as the Maries. In the Fall 2024 semester, a new residence hall will be completed and open to students.^[146] The Towers at Centennial Square has full and partial high-rise suites. The Village at Centennial Square has apartments. The difference between suites and apartments is that apartments are available to be leased year-round, but suites are only available during the academic year.

Non-first-year student accommodations edit

The North Neighborhood has high-rise and low-rise garden apartments in the University Park North community. This neighborhood is closest to Stonestown Galleria, a shopping mall.

The South Neighborhood consists of University Park South and Manzanita Square. University Park South offers townhome-style apartments. Manzanita Square is a LEED Gold certified apartment building. It's owned and operated by American Campus Communities.^[191]

Health edit

Student Health Services edit

Student Health Services, or SHS, operates out of the Student Health Center. Primary care, vaccinations, x-rays, pharmacy services, and gynecological services, are some of the services provided. Many of the services are low-cost or provided at no charge.^[192][193] Every CSU campus has Student Health Services.^[194] Students who are eligible for services at SFSU can receive services at other campuses, at no additional charge.^[195] SHS is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.^[192]

Counseling and Psychological Services edit

Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, operates of the Student Services Building. Professional, licensed therapists provide personal counseling, group counseling and workshops, crisis counseling, and telepsychiatry.^[196][197] Mental health professionals supervise the Peggy H. Smith Graduate Training Clinic, which is sponsored by CAPS and provides individual, couples, and group counseling.^[198][199]

Basic Needs Initiatives edit

The Basic Needs Initiatives include programs that provide emergency meal cards that can be used at City Eats Dining Center, free diapering supplies, free personal care kits, one-time emergency funding for students experiencing financial crises.^[200][201] The Zen Den pilot program was launched in 2019 to provide students sleep stations in mornings and afternoons. It was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[202] The university has five lactation rooms.^[203]

• Mashouf Wellness Center, room 115
• Marcus Hall, room T336
• Cesar Chavez Student Center, room T116
• Administration Building, room 229
• J. Paul Leonard Library, room 26

Recreation edit

The main recreation facility at SF State is Mashouf Wellness Center opened in 2017.^[204] It's named after Manny Mashouf, who donated $10 million towards the $86.5 million construction costs.^[205] The LEED Platinum certified, 118,700-square-foot facility features two heated pools, a hot tub, a sauna, a 41-foot climbing wall, fitness studios, exercise equipment, an indoor running track, a racquetball court, a two basketball courts, a multipurpose activities court.^{[204][206][207]}

In addition, the university's Gymnasium building has a pool. The building is mostly used for basketball, volleyball, badminton, and indoor soccer events.^[208]

The Campus Recreation department hosts student-led camping, hiking, and climbing trips, called Gator Outdoor Adventures. The trips are one to four days long and have varying levels of difficulty.^[209][210]

Associated Students edit

The student government of San Francisco State is known as Associated Students Inc. of SF State.^[211] Associated Students provides funding for student organizations and operates the Cesar Chavez Student Center, the Early Childhood Education Center, two food pantry programs, a weekly farmers' market, and many other programs.^[211][212]

The Cesar Chavez Student Center is where the bookstore and many of the university's restaurants are located. Event spaces in the building include Rosa Parks A–C, Rigoberta Menchú Hall, and Jack Adams Hall.^[213] There's also a prayer and reflection room.^[214]

The art gallery in the Cesar Chavez Student Center is staffed by students and features work by students, faculty, and other artists. There are eight to ten exhibits and pop-up shows per year. In addition, monthly receptions are hosted during the Fall and Spring semesters.^[215]

The Early Childhood Education Center provides year-round childcare services, primarily for parents who are students of the university. Childcare tuition is determined on a sliding scale. Student parents are charged less than non-student parents.^[216]

A walk-in food pantry program is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. A reservation-only food pantry program called Gator Groceries is available on Thursdays and Fridays.^[217]

Every Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Associated Students Farmers Market is hosted between the Humanities and Fine Arts buildings.^[218]

Associated Students hosted the annual San Francisco State College Folk Festival from 1962 to 1970.^{[219][220][221][222]}The 2nd Annual Folk Festival included Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter.^[223]

GatorFest! edit

At the start of every academic year, the university hosts GatorFest!, a collection of events spanning August through October. Events include tours of San Francisco, student organization events, and food tastings.^[224][225]

Media edit

Golden Gate Xpress edit

Golden Gate Xpress is the university's online newspaper and publishes stories almost daily, year-round.^[226] The university's newspaper has changed names several times, but its history can be traced back to 1927.^[227] The paper is managed and operated by Journalism students.^[228]

Xpress Magazine edit

Xpress Magazine is published during the Fall and Spring semesters. Four issues are published per semester, two of which are also printed. The magazine was originally known as Prism and dates back December 1969. In October 1999, the magazine was published for the first time under its current name.^[229] The magazine is managed and operated by Journalism students.^[228]

Radio Station edit

KSFS is a college radio station run by Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) students, streaming online, at 100.7 on Comcast Cable radio in San Francisco, and at 88.1 FM near or at the main campus.^[230][231]

Alumni Magazine edit

SF State Magazine is published by the university's Strategic Marketing and Communications department. The semiannual publication is mailed to over 80,000 alumni.^[232][233]

Literary Journals edit

The university's Department of Creative Writing runs two publications.^[234]

Fourteen Hills edit

Creative Writing graduate students have published Fourteen Hills, an international literary journal, since 1994.^[235]

Transfer Magazine edit

Since 1950, undergraduate students in the Creative Writing department have published Transfer Magazine, featuring literature and art by SFSU students.^[236][237]

Women and Gender Studies Publications edit

Since 2006, capstone students of the Women and Gender Studies department have created semesterly publications.^[238]

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• Bay Area Television Archive
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• Official website
• San Francisco State Athletics website

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