Contact:

Jason Foster, SDSU Media Relations Manager
T. 619-594-2585
E. foster@mail.sdsu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDSU Fall 2001 Semester Starts Sept. 4
Student Diversity, Academic Quality Increase as University Grows

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, August 30, 2001 ­ San Diego State University enters the fall 2001 semester on Tuesday, Sept. 4, with new facilities, new academic programs and a freshman class that is the university's most diverse and best-prepared.

Approximately 7,550 new undergraduate enrollees are expected at San Diego State University this fall, pushing the campus' total enrollment above 32,500. Among the enrollees is a class of 4,500 first-time freshmen with the highest average GPA (3.36) in the university's history.

"We expect this incoming freshman class will be one of the strongest in terms of academic preparation and in diversity," said President Stephen L. Weber. "These are high priorities for San Diego State University as we prepare for 'Tidal Wave 2,' a projected large increase in new students over the next decade."

The university also projects these new students will take more classes this fall. The estimated average load for fall 2001 is 13.9 units, up from 13.2 units a year ago.

The university is adding many new facilities to help meet the growing needs of students, faculty and staff. People coming to SDSU next week will find more than $200 million in construction projects recently completed or under way. "This is the most construction we've had on Montezuma Mesa since the campus core was built in 1931," Weber said.

These projects include:

Parking Structure 6, a new parking structure on the east side of campus with 2,458 parking spaces. The structure, which opens Sept. 4, gives the university approximately 2,200 more available parking spaces than it had in December 2000.

Cuicacalli, a new dining and residence hall complex on the east side of campus and the first at SDSU to offer "suite-style" accommodations. Its first complement of 686 students began moving in Aug. 29.

The SDSU Trolley station and tunnel, part of the Metropolitan Transit Development Board's $431 million Mission Valley East extension, is under construction at Aztec Green and other locations around campus.

The Chemical Sciences Laboratory, a new 106,000-sq. ft. building at the corner of College Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive with 57 state-of-the-art laboratories, 17 faculty offices and a parking information office for campus visitors.

The Aztec Athletic Center, located west of Cox Arena on the other side of 55th Street, is scheduled to open later this fall. This includes new coaches offices and training facilities, as well as a 5,000-sq.-ft. Aztecs Hall of Fame.

In addition to the new enrollees and new construction projects, other noteworthy topics as SDSU begins its 105th academic year include:

Diversity — This year's class of new freshmen is the most diverse in the university's history. This will bolster SDSU's already high rankings for awarding bachelor's degrees to underrepresented students. Earlier this year SDSU was ranked No. 5 in the nation in degrees awarded to Hispanics, and No. 10 in the nation in degrees awarded to minorities.

New Academic Programs — SDSU is launching three new academic programs this fall designed to meet growing real-world business needs. This includes an undergraduate program in Hospitality and Tourism Management designed to assist the local tourism industry and educate a new generation of tourism industry leaders; a new master's program in Rhetoric and Writing Studies that will generate writing professionals and writing teachers; and a master's program in Public Health Administration, in which health-care executives from hospitals, non-profit health agencies and community clinics will have the opportunity to improve their abilities to run their organizations.

Research — SDSU recently announced that it received a record $124 million in grants and contracts for faculty research and community projects. This is an 18 percent increase over last year and a 45 percent increase over five years ago. SDSU now ranks in the top 7 percent of 3,800 research universities nationwide.

Community Involvement — SDSU has more than 1,500 research or community-oriented programs or projects under way, making it a university that's comprehensively engaged with this region and the world. Examples of projects making a strong impact locally include Nurses Now, a partnership with local hospitals to alleviate the nursing shortage by expanding nursing student enrollment; the City Heights Educational Pilot, in which more than 100 faculty members from departments across the university are working to raise test scores, reduce teacher turnover and improve community conditions in the City Heights area; and the Compact for Success, in which SDSU has partnered with the Sweetwater Union High School District to strengthen curriculum requirements and better prepare underrepresented students for higher education.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 61 areas and doctorates in 13 areas. Students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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