History of San Diego State University

Due to the increased student enrollment, the college was relocated to its current location at the east side of Mission Valley, with classes beginning in February 1931.

In the 1960s and 1970s the campus saw increased enrollment, the accreditation of its professional schools, multiple incidents of student activism, and on January 1, 1974, a new name: San Diego State University (SDSU).

Recently, the university has worked to improve its academic rankings, and faced adversities including a school shooting and a large drug bust.

As the university continues to grant numerous degrees in various fields, it has developed several construction plans for replacement of some of its older buildings and infrastructure.

In the late 1890s, San Diego officials believed that a normal school should be established to help the town grow and increase certification of teachers.

[2] San Diego had to compete with Fresno, Los Angeles, and several other cities for a school, and its first attempt to establish one in 1895 was vetoed by California governor James Budd.

[2][3] On March 13, 1897, Governor Budd changed course and signed legislation appropriating $50,000 to allow for the establishment of a state normal school in San Diego, to be located in University Heights.

[2] They appointed Samuel T. Black, who had previously served as the California state superintendent of public instruction, as president of the new school by unanimous decision on October 1, 1898.

[5][6] During the building's construction, the first classes were held at the Hill Block on the southwest corner of 6th and F street in downtown San Diego beginning on November 1, 1898.

[8] In 1910, Samuel Black resigned, and was replaced by Edward L. Hardy, who had previously served as the principal of San Diego High School.

[19] On June 30, 1923, the legislature allowed the college to begin granting Bachelor of Arts degrees, which included accountancy, agriculture, and industrial engineering.

[23] By June 1928, the Bell-Lloyd Investment Company offered 125 acres (51 ha) at Mission Palisades, $50,000, and a promise to build a road connecting the site to El Cajon Blvd.

[41][42] ...exists in its present form because the people of our community and our state have recognized the tremendous importance of teaching and of the increased need for teachers of broad education and high professional competency.

Its present program has developed, also, because of the demand and need for college education that is economically available to every high-school graduate of demonstrated ability regardless of occupational goal.

San Diego representatives persuaded the California legislature along with Governor Earl Warren to attempt to remove him from his teaching position.

[50][51] On July 1, 1961, as a result of the Donahue Act, SDSC became a part of the California State College system which included a new set of regulations for the school, along with a statewide board of trustees and a chancellor.

He reflected on San Diego State's progress in a Time magazine article: "Though we are called a college, we are in deed and in fact a university.

Significant speakers visited the campus during the time including Cesar Chavez, Jane Fonda, Angela Davis, Donald Freed, Joan Baez, and Jerry Brown.

He served from 1972 to 1977, and although he did not implement any mainstream changes as prior presidents had, he was instrumental in bringing in qualified administrators who would improve the school during its upcoming years.

When Proposition 13 passed, the school faced budget issues and Day proposed abolishing some departments, combining others, and laying off approximately 80 faculty members.

Due to the overwhelming number of students and available facilities and majors, the California State University Board of Trustees decided to limit enrollment to 33,000.

The ranking was determined on a number of factors including the education offered at the university, social opportunities, the male–female ratio, and off-campus activities located near the campus.

[75][76][77] Yet again in Spring 1992, the CSU and UC systems were facing another round of severe budget cuts and dramatic student fee increases by the state government.

[78] Under heavy student, teacher, and public pressure, the conclusion of these events ended with CSU Chancellor Barry Munitz eventually reversing President Day's deep and narrow approach, saving the majors and programs in Fall 1992.

[75] Central and parallel to the SDSU student protest movement was an 8 foot high wooden construction fence that encircled a new campus building.

The next morning, word quickly gathered on campus about the arrests and dozens of student rushed to sit in front of the wall ultimately stopping the painters.

The station connected students and faculty with other areas in San Diego county and helped to combat the low availability of parking around campus.

Two kilograms of cocaine were seized, along with 50 pounds of marijuana, 350 Ecstasy pills, hash oil, methamphetamine, other drug paraphernalia, three guns, and $60,000 in cash.

[81] In May 2011, University of Maryland Baltimore County senior vice president Elliot Hirshman was named by the CSU Board of Trustees to replace Weber.

On May 29, 2020, the city council gave conceptual approval to sell 135 acres, including the stadium, to San Diego State for $88 million.