Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

SFSU celebrates completion of residence hall, health center and dining commons

Matt Itelson — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:03:34 +0000

SFSU celebrates completion of residence hall, health center and dining commons

Author: Strategic Marketing and Communications

April 25, 2025

Photo Credit: Juan Montes

These expertly developed buildings create more spaces on campus that foster community, enhance student living and wellness

SAN FRANCISCO – April 25, 2025 – Earlier today, San Francisco State University (SFSU) held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of its latest construction project: two state-of-the-art buildings designed to enhance student living and health and wellness on campus.

The new buildings, designed by EHDD and constructed by McCarthy Building Companies, were intentionally built next to each other on the west side of campus, an area with a high concentration of buildings and facilities that support residential living and well-being.

One of the newly constructed spaces, West Grove Commons, is a first-time freshman residence hall that provides more than 700 beds. The other is a mixed-use building that includes the Gator Student Health Center, where students can receive a wide array of health services, and the Yerba Buena Dining Hall, which provides diverse meal options to meet dietary needs.

“This is historic both in that it addresses the need for housing, and it addresses a critical need to enroll and graduate students,” SFSU President Lynn Mahoney said at the celebration. “It addresses the state’s need to have a highly educated workforce.”

The design and construction process intentionally considered the space so West Grove Common residents have convenient access to key amenities. Residents can easily visit the Yerba Buena Dining Hall for a nutritious meal, pick up prescriptions at the health center and attend a workout class across the street at the Mashouf Wellness Center — all within a short, walkable distance.

“Using a collaborative progressive design-build approach allowed the project to be completed in record speed. We were awarded the project in August 2022 and within eight months of design and preconstruction, construction commenced to ensure the residence hall would be completed in 16 months to welcome first-time freshman in August 2024. The Gator Student Health Center and Yerba Buena Dining Hall was completed shortly after in April 2025. The timeline underscores a commitment to delivering results efficiently,” said Jack Carter, vice president at McCarthy Building Companies. “By aligning our efforts with SFSU’s vision, we delivered student spaces that are both functional and sustainable — promoting wellness, community and connection — all delivered on an expedited schedule and within budget.”

“Our whole team takes great pride in contributing to a project with the potential to so positively impact the San Francisco State community,” said Lynne Riesselman, principal at EHDD Architecture. “Meeting the accelerated schedule required deep collaboration from the broader group of design consultants and trade partners. I’m happy to say that through the process, we kept focus on strengthening the campus fabric, fostering community and prioritizing student success.”

West Grove Commons first-time freshman residence hall

The first-time freshman residence hall is a 120,000 square-foot, six-story, all-electric building that provides over 700 beds and was developed using a cluster concept, a design strategy intended to help students form tight-knit communities. This approach fosters natural communities by grouping triple rooms with a dedicated lounge, all gender bathroom facilities and a resident advisor. As students adjust to their first home away from home, this gives them space to socialize, sleep, study and dine within the comfort of an intimate community grouping.

This residence hall addresses the critical need for affordable student housing and was brought to market with remarkable speed and efficiency. As the first project completed under the California Affordable Student Housing grant, SFSU received $116 million to create an affordable housing program and build West Grove Commons.

The affordable student housing program offers students an approximate 25% reduction in room fees, compared to SFSU’s standard rates. Eligible students for this program can apply the reduced rate to any SFSU housing options for the academic year, including West Grove Commons.

Key design elements include:

Community Focus: The housing is designed to form natural communities of 30-35 students, each sharing common spaces to promote interaction and a sense of belonging.
Student Choice: A variety of lounge and amenity spaces cater to different student needs, from intimate pockets to large indoor and outdoor social spaces at the ground floor. By offering variety in furnishing and spatial quality, students may find variety within their own building.
Inclusive Space: The planning of the ground floor is designed to benefit the broader campus by welcoming a blended community of residents and commuter students.
Biophilic Design: Emphasizing natural light, fresh air and views of the landscape to improve student well-being.
Sustainable Features: The project includes all-electric buildings and a focus on healthy material selection and is tracking to achieve LEED Gold Certification.

Photos by Juan Montes

Gator Student Health Center and Yerba Buena Dining Hall

The new Gator Student Health Center enhances student wellness by consolidating medical services, mental health counseling and health education and promotion programs into a single, accessible location. Previously, units under the University’s Gator Health and Student Well-Being arm were spread across campus. With the new health center, the units are now under one roof, creating a one-stop location offering comprehensive and holistic health services to students.

The Gator Student Health Center also features a full-service pharmacy and a Health & Wellness Hub where students can study, socialize and pick up wellness items and health materials and information. The center also has rooms for health education workshops and events. In addition to centralizing services for students, the new health center is designed to increase student engagement and build community.

The Yerba Buena Dining Hall is a modern, light-filled space that offers a variety of nutritious, inclusive meals that cater to diverse dietary needs. With its open layout, flexible seating and focus on sustainability, the dining commons serves as a hub where students can gather, refuel and connect throughout the day.

Visit the SFSU website to learn more about the overall project.

###

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a public university serving students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across California and around the world, with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. About 19,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its nearly 300,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,800 world-class faculty members — SFSU proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu.

About McCarthy

McCarthy is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with more than 150 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 19th largest domestic builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2023). With approximately 7,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Austin, Channelview, Dallas, and Houston; and San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About EHDD

Founded in 1946, EHDD is a West Coast architecture firm with offices in San Francisco and Seattle. The firm is credited with pioneering the net zero energy building concept more than 20 years ago. Today, they are leading the way through built projects and applied research to collaboratively decarbonize our built environment. With a mission to create transformative places of belonging and impact, EHDD works with a range of clients with a focus on higher education, arts and education non-profits, visitor-serving institutions including aquariums and parks, and leading-edge corporations dedicated to leadership in sustainability and social impact. Learn more at www.ehdd.com and follow EHDD on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Tags

SFSU students gain unlimited free rides on Bay Area public transportation

Matt Itelson — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:16:55 +0000

SFSU students gain unlimited free rides on Bay Area public transportation

Author: Matt Itelson

September 24, 2024

Photo Credit: Steve Babuljak

Gator Pass serves as a passport for students to travel within San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area

With just a tap of their student ID card, San Francisco State University students now have the keys for traveling throughout the Bay Area for free.

San Francisco State students now enjoy free unlimited rides on public transit throughout the Bay Area during the fall and spring semesters. All they have to do is tap their SF State One Card when boarding.

As of Aug. 26, the expanded Gator Pass covers 22 transit agencies spanning all nine Bay Area counties. Attention, all Gators from the East Bay: Yes, it includes free Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), AC Transit and even the San Francisco Bay Ferry. And to the South Bay Gators: Yes, you can ride CalTrain for free, as well as Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). Previously, the Gator Pass only included unlimited rides on San Francisco Muni and SamTrans, plus a discount on BART.

Even with all of the new benefits, the Gator Pass student fee is now cheaper: $130 per semester, which is $50 less than previously.

“Having majority commuter students, we see how beneficial it is already having the previous benefits,” Associated Students President Brandon Foley said. “We have a lot of students coming from all around the Bay Area and beyond, so we wanted to make sure that everyone is getting affordable transportation.”

Students enjoy significant savings from the Gator Pass, as an adult pass for unlimited rides on Muni costs $81 per month. According to data from SF State’s Office of Sustainability, commuting 10 miles to campus four times a week by car costs $250 – $325 per month.

Foley commutes to SF State from San Bruno, taking BART and Muni. He does not own a car.

“I always love exploring around San Francisco. I love West Portal and Embarcadero, just going and finding new spots to eat around there,” he said. “I really love public transportation and I’m a super big advocate for high-speed rail. I’d love to see that in California.”

The free rides are a result of student feedback and advocacy from SF State’s Associated Students, which surveyed students about expanding the Gator Pass in lieu of introducing a voter referendum. Associated Students was the original driving force behind establishing the Gator Pass, passing a transit pass resolution in 2015. The Gator Pass went into effect in fall 2017.

Visit the SFSU One-Card website to activate your Gator Pass and learn more.

Tags

SFSU partners with SFUSD and CCSF to guarantee admission for eligible students

Kent Bravo — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:34:54 +0000

SFSU partners with SFUSD and CCSF to guarantee admission for eligible students

Author: Strategic Marketing and Communications

October 23, 2025

The partnership ensures eligible local high school, community college students a clear path to SFSU

SAN FRANCISCO — Oct. 23, 2025 — San Francisco State University (SFSU) is finalizing a partnership agreement with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and City College of San Francisco (CCSF) to create a guaranteed admission pathway for local high school seniors and community college students who meet eligibility requirements. The new program eliminates the uncertainty of the application process and expands opportunities for students seeking an SFSU degree. The partnership represents a major expansion of the long-running SF Promise initiative, the University’s commitment to creating educational opportunities for families in the City and County of San Francisco.

“SFUSD, CCSF, and SFSU are deeply committed to providing S.F. residents with high-quality education and access to upward mobility. Together, we fuel the workforce, innovation and success of the City and the Bay Area,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “This agreement will strengthen our commitment to San Francisco students and families by guaranteeing that higher education — and the opportunities it creates — remains within the reach of all.”

“This partnership is an incredible opportunity for our students,” said SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su. “By knowing in advance that they have a guaranteed path to SFSU, our graduates can plan with confidence and focus on their academic success.”

“We are excited to offer our graduates a guaranteed pathway to SFSU,” said CCSF Chancellor Kimberlee Messina. “This agreement provides CCSF graduates with the certainty of admission, ensuring they can continue their educational journey seamlessly and achieve their goals.”

The new initiative is part of SFSU’s ongoing efforts to remove barriers for prospective students. The University already guarantees admission for eligible military veterans and foster youth via the Guardian Scholars Program.

"For San Francisco to be a world-class city, we need a world-class education system. Our residents and families deserve that," said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. "I am proud to announce this initiative that will transform the path to higher education for thousands of San Francisco students. This program is the result of true collaboration, and I want to thank the leadership at SFUSD, City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State for coming together with one goal in mind: our students' success."

To qualify for guaranteed SFSU admission, SFUSD graduates will need to complete the required A–G high school courses with a grade of C or better and earn at least a 2.5 GPA in those courses taken in grades 10–12. Transfer students from CCSF will need to complete at least 60 transferable units with a minimum 2.0 GPA across all colleges attended and finish the “Golden Four” core courses — Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking and Math/Quantitative Reasoning — with a grade of C- or better.

SFSU is a public university in the California State University system committed to preparing students for meaningful careers and bright futures. SFUSD is the seventh-largest school district in California, serving more than 50,000 students across the city. CCSF is one of the largest community colleges in the nation, providing affordable and accessible education to more than 40,000 students each year. Together, these three women-led institutions are strengthening access to higher education for San Francisco students.

Visit the SFSU Guaranteed Admission website for more information.

###

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a public university serving students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across California and around the world, with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. About 20,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its nearly 300,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,900 world-class faculty members — SF State proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu.

About SFUSD: San Francisco Unified School District is the seventh largest school district in California, educating over 50,000 students every year. San Francisco is both a city and a county; therefore, SFUSD administers both the school district and the San Francisco County Office of Education (COE). This makes SFUSD a “single district county.” Visit: www.sfusd.edu.

About City College of San Francisco

Since 1935, City College of San Francisco has offered instruction opportunities, serving more than 40,000 students annually at six locations throughout San Francisco. The College offers an affordable opportunity to earn associate degrees, prepare for transfer, pursue career and technical education, and personal development and enrichment. Visit: www.ccsf.edu.

Tags

Major expansion of Presidential Scholars Program launches at SFSU, honoring Maryam Mirzakhani

Kent Bravo — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:52:56 +0000

Major expansion of Presidential Scholars Program launches at SFSU, honoring Maryam Mirzakhani

Author: Strategic Marketing and Communications

September 22, 2025

A gift from alumna Neda Nobari expanded the Presidential Scholars Program to specifically support STEM students’ part of the program. Pictured is the inaugural cohort.

SFSU alumna Neda Nobari’s gift expands Presidential Scholars Program to support first-gen STEM students, honoring Maryam Mirzakhani

SAN FRANCISCO – Sept. 22, 2025 – San Francisco State University (SFSU) has announced the start of a major expansion for the University’s Presidential Scholars Program (PSP), which supports first-generation, low-income students with high GPAs from the San Francisco Bay Area by covering the costs of tuition, housing, books and more for four years. This expansion creates a cohort of Maryam Mirzakhani Scholars named in honor of the late distinguished and internationally recognized mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani, who was the first woman and first Iranian to earn the prestigious Fields Medal. Iranian American businesswoman, community leader, philanthropist and alumna Neda Nobari (B.S., ’84) gave a gift to PSP to specifically support STEM students and to honor Mirzakhani’s inspiring legacy. The inaugural cohort started this fall 2025 semester.

“Neda’s enduring commitment to San Francisco State has had a profound impact on our campus,” SFSU President Lynn Mahoney said. “We are truly thankful for her generosity, which opens doors for countless students — particularly those overcoming financial challenges as they pursue brighter futures.”

Graduating from SFSU with a Computer Science degree, Nobari has a profound passion for helping STEM students like she once was. “My hope is that these scholarships will prioritize students pursuing careers in STEM, fields close to my heart as one of the few women in my computer science cohort over 40 years ago,” Nobari said. “My goal is that these scholarships can further diversify STEM fields, benefitting students who have tremendous ability to make a difference and to honor the legacy of Professor Mirzakhani’s extraordinary accomplishments.”

About Neda Nobari

As a proud SFSU alumna and lifelong advocate for education, Nobari has a deep connection with the University and has served many roles on the SFSU Foundation Board since its inception.

“Having served as an inaugural director, chair of its investment committee and board chair during its strategic planning process, I have developed a clear understanding of the University’s priorities and the growing challenges our students face. By repurposing my endowment, I am putting our students first,” Nobari said. “SFSU is very dear to me. I spent some of my most transformative years there, and because of its impact on my life, I want to continue giving back to the University and, most importantly, to the students.”

In 2020, Nobari was named the SFSU Alumna of the Year and was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. She also established in 2022 the Azar Hatefi Graduate Student Fellowship in Iranian Diaspora Studies, honoring her late mother’s legacy.

Additionally, Nobari was pivotal in founding the Student Sustainable Investment Fund to provide students hands-on experience in sustainable investing and funding scholarships for students participating in that program. This transformational investment in PSP is also the culmination of her long trajectory of consistently supporting student fellowships and scholarships at SFSU.

About Maryam Mirzakhani

Maryam Mirzakhani was the first woman to win the prestigious Fields Medal, the highest honor in mathematics, and the first Iranian to be so honored. Admired by her peers as a brilliant and fearless scientist who took on the most challenging questions, Mirzakhani’s legacy continues to inspire generations of young women in STEM to pursue their dreams.

While attending an all-girls high school in Tehran, Mirzakhani earned gold medals in consecutive years as the first female to compete on Iran’s International Mathematical Olympiad team. Mirzakhani went on to earn her Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University and spent four years as an assistant professor and Clay Mathematics Institute Research Fellow at Princeton University. During that time, she was named one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” extraordinary scientists.

Mirzakhani served as a professor of mathematics at Stanford University from 2009 until her death in 2017 at the age of 40. In 2018, the International Mathematical Union, in collaboration with the Women’s Committee of the Iranian Mathematical Society, established Mirzakhani’s birthday, May 12, as International Women in Mathematics Day to celebrate her inspirational life and legacy.

About the Presidential Scholars Program

PSP, supported by the Division of Student Life, promotes exceptional learning and adheres to the highest standards of academic quality in the spirit of inclusive excellence. Each year, scholarships are awarded based on academic merit to an entering freshman cohort. The program not only provides financial support but also fosters a sense of community among the scholars through various events and cohort-building activities.

Founded in 1995, the program currently serves about 20 students per year, with about four to five students in each class at any given time. With the additional funds from Nobari, the program will serve 30 more students.

Learn more about the Presidential Scholars Program.

Tags

SFSU creates new pathways that guarantee admission for transfer students

Kent Bravo — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:31:32 +0000

SFSU creates new pathways that guarantee admission for transfer students

Author: Strategic Marketing and Communications

August 19, 2025

The expansion provides 83 new tracks students can follow to transfer and earn their bachelor’s degree within four years

SAN FRANCISCO – August 19, 2025 – San Francisco State University (SFSU), the premier public university that educates and equips students to thrive in a global society, has added 83 new Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathways. This significantly expands opportunities for guaranteed admission to SFSU for California Community College (CCC) transfer students.

The new ADT pathways, which provide transfer students a detailed plan to earn their bachelor’s degree in four years, span six key academic departments: Apparel Design and Merchandising, Race and Resistance Studies, Child and Adolescent Development, Communication Studies, International Relations and Journalism. With the expansion of 83 new pathways, SFSU now offers a total of 264 pathways. This makes SFSU among the California State University (CSU) campuses that offer the most pathways.

“With this expansion, we are making it even easier for transfer students to come to SFSU,” said Vice Provost of Academic Planning and Dean of Undergraduate Education Lori Beth Way. “These pathways provide a clear, step-by-step roadmap so that students know exactly what to do from the time they step foot at a community college up until they transfer and graduate from SFSU.”

How ADT pathways work

The Associate in Art for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) are types of associate degrees that students may earn at a California community college that guarantee admission to a CSU campus, including SFSU. ADT pathways are the advising pathways students follow at their respective community college to earn an AA-T or AS-T.

For example, one pathway is earning an AA-T in English and then transferring to SFSU to complete a B.A. in English. Another pathway is pursuing that same AA-T but completing a B.A. in Creative Writing. By providing many different pathways into multiple majors, SFSU can meet each student’s unique needs, education goals and career aspirations.

“The beauty of what we’re trying to build is that students should have choice and freedom,” said University Articulation Administrative Analyst Christopher Sugarman, who coordinates with academic department chairs to develop new pathways. “The more pathways that our departments are able to accept means more opportunities for a student to come to SFSU and chart their own unique future.”

For each ADT pathway, students will spend two years at a community college to earn their AA-T or AS-T by completing 60 units, typically courses in general education in addition to some courses devoted to lower-division major curriculum. Once they earn their ADT, they can transfer to SFSU and enroll in a bachelor’s program similar to their associate degree. At SFSU, students will spend another two years to earn their bachelor’s degree by completing 60 more units, typically with a specific set of courses geared toward their major of choice. Learn more about the different routes students can take after completing their ADT of choice.

“The Associate Degree for Transfer is a proven pathway that empowers students to reach their educational goals. It removes barriers, guarantees CSU admission and offers a clear, affordable route to a baccalaureate degree, which remains one of the most powerful drivers of economic mobility and lifelong opportunity,” California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs James Todd said. “Ensuring that all students have a fair chance to earn a bachelor’s degree is central to the California Community Colleges’ mission and guides the work in our strategic plan, Vision 2030.”

This expansion also aligns with California’s efforts to streamline the transfer process and improve four-year graduation rates. In 2010, California passed the STAR Act, which allows community colleges and CSU faculty to create ADTs and form pathways.

Visit the SFSU Undergraduate Education and Academic Planning website to learn more about the ADT program and its different pathways.

Tags

SFSU hosts free open house for prospective and admitted students on Oct. 19

Matt Itelson — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:00:08 +0000

SFSU hosts free open house for prospective and admitted students on Oct. 19

Author: Matt Itelson

October 17, 2024

Photo Credit: Kevin Perez

‘Discover SF State’ is the annual fall event to tour campus, meet students and faculty, explore academics and more

Do you want to be a San Francisco State University Gator? Visit campus for the annual fall open house on Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The free event, “Discover SF State,” is an opportunity for prospective students, newly admitted students and their supporters to meet peers and faculty, take a tour, explore the cutting-edge academics and facilities, and learn about housing, financial aid and Gator life.

"Discover SF State is all about giving prospective students a firsthand look at what makes our university such an incredible place. From exploring our campus and connecting with faculty to meeting current students and sharing a meal where they’ll dine as part of our community, we want them to truly imagine life here," said Camille Rieck-Armstrong, director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment. "Our goal is to ensure students feel welcomed, informed and supported throughout their college search journey."

For 125 years, San Francisco State has been preparing the educators, workers and leaders California needs. Just this year The Wall Street Journal ranks SF State as the nation’s 20th best university for social mobility. The U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” list places SF State in the top 120 public universities nationwide and No. 204 overall. SFSU’s more than 280,000 alumni include numerous Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winners, notable social justice activists, scientists and business and civic leaders.

Please visit the “Discover SF State” page to register for the event and for more information.

SFSU Admissions

SF State is now accepting applications for admission in fall 2025. The deadline is Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.

Apply to SFSU

Tags