Giving to the College of Education

Dean Ric A. Hovda

Our College
San Diego Normal School was founded in 1897 with the primary mission of educating teachers. As the school evolved into San Diego State University, the commitment to this original mission remained intact. Today, our College of Education attracts and serves a student population reflective of California's diversity through programs, curricula, instructional practices and high caliber instructors, all of which meet rigorous standards of excellence. In fact, our college is now the largest public teacher-training institution in San Diego County – more than 80% of graduates from our credential program teach in San Diego, and more than half are employed in the San Diego Unified School District.

Our Vision
We believe that in order to ensure our students' future career success, our college must develop their knowledge, skills and dispositions to a high level of proficiency. We must also provide support to other educational institutions, enabling them to implement and sustain effective practice, especially for previously underserved populations. By preparing educators, applying technologies in learning contexts and meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners, we believe we can effectively transform our schools, families and communities.

Our Fundraising Focus

• National Center for Urban School Transformation: Under the direction of renowned educational leaders, NCUST works to understand the issues that both impede and promote education in urban schools by initiating focused, long-term partnerships with urban school districts to help create model, high-performing schools. Serving as a national clearinghouse on best practices, NCUST uses this information, along with its partnerships, in preparing educators to assume leadership roles.

• Improving Student Achievement Mathematics: Funded in part by the QUALCOMM initiative, ISAM is an innovative approach to improving students’ understanding of mathematics by enhancing teachers’ content knowledge and teaching effectiveness in grade school. The urgency of this program was recently underscored when 41 San Diego County school districts declared that improving student performance in mathematics was their number one priority.

• SDSU Literacy Center: Located in the Dee Dee Alpert Center for Community Service in City Heights, this program develops partnerships that serve a variety of literacy needs in our society for children and adults. Activities at the center include direct services to schools and the community, literacy research and teacher preparation and development.

• Universal Design Project: The Interwork Institute seeks to create a Center for Universal Design to serve as a venue for architects, builders and product manufacturers to learn about, and experiment with, universal design in order to address the unique needs of individuals (which may require specialized adaptations and/or assistive technology). The center will include demonstration areas to experiment with accessible products and assistive technology devices/services while also incorporating design, research, education and training for all aspects of universal design.

• Faculty Development: Since faculty are our most important resource, faculty development is essential for our college's continued growth and prosperity. Our faculty members deserve support, encouragement and opportunities for enhancing their skills and abilities, as well as recognition for their efforts.

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