San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University
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Name	San Francisco State University
Established	1899
Type	Public university
Endowment	$124.8 million (2021)
President	Lynn Mahoney
City	San Francisco
State	California
Country	United States
Campus	Urban, 141 acres
Students	25,046 (Fall 2022)
Faculty	1,736 (Fall 2022)
Affiliations	California State University
Mascot	Gators

San Francisco State University. It is a public university and a member of the California State University system, founded in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School. The institution is recognized for its historic role in social activism, notably the 1968–69 student strikes that led to the establishment of one of the first College of Ethnic Studies in the United States. Located in the southwestern part of San Francisco near Lake Merced, it offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs to a diverse student body.

History

The university traces its origins to the San Francisco State Normal School, established in 1899 for training teachers, with its first campus situated on Nob Hill. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the school relocated to the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. It evolved into San Francisco State Teachers College in 1921 and later became San Francisco State College in 1935, expanding its curriculum beyond education. A pivotal moment occurred in 1968-69 with the Third World Liberation Front leading protracted 1968–69 student strikes, demanding greater equity and resulting in the creation of the pioneering College of Ethnic Studies. It gained university status and its current name in 1972, and has since been led by presidents including Robert A. Corrigan and Leslie E. Wong.

Academics

It is organized into several academic colleges, including the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, the College of Science & Engineering, and the Lam Family College of Business. The university is particularly noted for its groundbreaking College of Ethnic Studies, which includes departments like Africana Studies and Asian American Studies. It offers numerous graduate programs through its Graduate College of Education and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity." Notable specialized programs include the BECA Department for broadcasting and the Creative Writing Department, which has produced multiple Pulitzer Prize winners. The institution also maintains a satellite campus in Downtown San Francisco's Westfield San Francisco Centre.

Campus

The main 141-acre urban campus is situated in the Parkside district, adjacent to the Stonestown Galleria shopping mall and the shores of Lake Merced. Key facilities include the J. Paul Leonard Library, the Seven Hills Conference Center, and the Fine Arts Building. The campus features the Mashouf Wellness Center and the César Chávez Student Center, named for the labor leader. Outdoor spaces include the University Park North and the SF State Quad. The university also operates the Estuary & Ocean Science Center at the Romberg Tiburon Center on the San Francisco Bay.

Student life

Student life is centered around over 200 student organizations, including cultural groups like the Black Student Union and the Asian Student Union. The Associated Students, Inc. governs student activities and publishes the newspaper, the Golden Gate Xpress. The campus has a long history of political engagement, from the 1960s strikes to contemporary activism. Residential life is housed in communities such as Mary Park Hall and Mary Ward Hall. Major annual events include the Welcome Days celebration and the Vendor Fair. The university's location in San Francisco provides students with extensive access to the city's cultural and professional opportunities.

Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the San Francisco State Gators, compete in the NCAA Division II as members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Gators field teams in sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, and track and field. They host competitions at venues like the Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza and the Cox Stadium for track. The university's baseball team plays at the Maloney Field on campus. The athletics program emphasizes the development of student-athletes, with several having progressed to professional leagues.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni include civil rights leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis, actor Danny Glover, and musician John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. In literature, alumni include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz and poet Maya Angelou. In politics, notable figures include former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and California State Senator Scott Wiener. Distinguished faculty have included poet and activist Maya Angelou, biochemist and Nobel laureate Stanley Cohen, and author and professor Kay Ryan, who served as U.S. Poet Laureate.