It Was Quite a Year!
August 30, 2016
A strong foundation of success for the 2016-17 academic year
While it still feels like summer in San Diego, the 2016-17 academic year has started at SDSU. This year will be focused on building upon the foundation of excellence we have established over the last few years. In fact, 2015-16 was particularly excellent.
Student Success
This past academic year more than 700 PSFA students participated in a for-credit internship experience. Every major in the College has access to internship opportunities in his/her program, and each school has a designated internship coordinator. Of note, senior journalism major Quinn Owen spent his summer interning with George Stephanoplous at ABC News in New York. This fall, he will intern with Meet the Press in Washington, D.C. Nearly 350 students in PSFA traveled abroad in the 2015-16 academic year. This is a 22% increase over 2014-15, and represents nearly 25% of graduating seniors. Part of the increase is due to access to new scholarships for students pursuing international study. Additional increases are due to growth in participation of faculty-led study abroad programs, which increased nearly 35%.
Research and Creative Endeavors
As a university that values research and creative endeavors by the faculty, SDSU has established a culture in which students understand the importance of this work and seek to engage in it. Providing students access to research and creative opportunities is one key way the College fosters student success. Supported in part by a student success fee, the collaborative concert “Downtown” raised nearly $40,000 for student scholarships. Presented in partnership with the San Diego Symphony, the concert featured nearly 250 music students performing in Copley Symphony Hall to a sold out audience of more than 2,200. As part of the Arts Alive SDSU initiative to increase the visibility of the arts on campus, students and faculty created two vibrant new murals on campus buildings. Located on the south side of the art building, “Eyes of Picasso” was designed by Mario Torres, and painted by students as part of their coursework. “Circle of Knowledge” was painted in the old library entrance by students and faculty in the School of Art and Design. Working with the Sweetwater Union High School District, Dr. Alan Mobley and undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Public Affairs are developing nested, multi-disciplinary teams to support high school students in danger of suspension or expulsion. The teams use restorative justice practices and positive discipline to disrupt the negative cycle of punishment for high school students. This project expands upon Dr. Mobley’s efforts in restorative justice in the San Diego Unified School District.
Community Engagement
Dr. Mobley’s work is an example of Projects for the Public Good, research and creative endeavors in the community that link to the curriculum. Projects like these are the hallmark of the PSFA experience for faculty and students. In 2015-16, the Parker Foundation provided funding to support Dr. Mobley’s work as well as three other Projects for the Public Good: 1. After school violin instruction for youth in National City; 2. Interactive music performances focused on literacy for under-served children; and 3. Concerts and classes for organizations that serve at-risk youth, the mentally ill, and those rehabilitating from drug and alcohol use. Drawing attention to an art form designed to raise awareness of political and social issues, the SDSU Downtown Gallery organized Party Lines, an exhibition of political cartoons created during current and past presidential election years. Featuring the work of Steve Breen, editorial cartoonist at The San Diego Union Tribune, and SDSU alumnus Lalo Alcaraz, the exhibition also features six Pulitzer Prize-winners and has contributed to a significant increase in attendance at the gallery. Party Lines is on view until Sept. 4, 2016.
Donor Supported Excellence
The excellent work of PSFA faculty and students continues to be supported by generous donors. The College raised $3.8 million in academic year 15-16, a 13% increase over the previous year. Forty-four percent of those funds were gifted to an endowment, which will continue to support students and faculty in perpetuity. In fact, PSFA has the most number of scholarship and endowed funds in the university. In this last year, 130 scholarships made nearly $700,000 available for student support, this represents a 24% increase over the year before.
Looking Ahead
New this academic year, the Arts Alive SDSU initiative will introduce innovative curriculum design to campus. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Teaching courses will “stack” existing courses in the arts with courses in a variety of other disciplines. Re-designing courses to encourage a collaborative model meets multiple learning outcomes, and encourages faculty and student group projects across campus. The courses will be assessed by Ph.D. students in the College of Education, and the stacked courses will culminate in a public presentation and/or performance. Building upon the success of increased student engagement in study abroad, new international programs in Europe, Australia, Mexico, Scotland, and the Netherlands, are expected to increase enrollment in the international studies minor. Throughout the College, programs will expand offerings for students that feature entrepreneurial and innovative programs and curriculum. The School of Art and Design has obtained funding to support an entrepreneurial lecture series, the School of Public Affairs is working to create a specialization in Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship, and the School of Music and Dance will continue its success with the degree in Music Entrepreneurship. Academic year 2016-17 will poise the College to expand upon the foundation of excellence established by the University and the College strategic plans. In each core areas of the plans: student success, research and creative endeavors, and community engagement, PSFA is advancing initiatives that will allow inspire greater aspirations.
The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.
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