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The Division of Research Administration and Technology Services is responsible for the institutional approval of all funded grant proposals and contracts relating to sponsored research, instruction, and service agreements; administration of research regulatory and intellectual property services; administration of faculty grants-in-aid, fellowships and other institutional research support programs; administration of university cost-sharing; administration of computing and information services for the Office of Graduate and Research Affairs; coordination of SDSU Foundation/University liaison.
The Vice President for Research is the chief administrator of the Division of Research Administration and Technology Services which is supervised by the Associate Dean for Research. The Vice President for Research is responsible for the development, improvement, and administration of research activities at the University.
The importance of research in graduate instruction is recognized by the faculty, and all graduate programs provide for research on the part of the graduate student. Graduate students involved in thesis or other research at the University must comply with all applicable university research policies, including those related to the use of human and animal subjects in research.
Among the facilities for research that students may utilize are those provided in organized bureaus, centers and institutes located on the campus; specialized off-campus research facilities and field stations; inter-institutional, consortia and other cooperative research facilities.
Specialized Research Facilities
San Diego State University operates the Mount Laguna Observatory which is located 45 road miles east of the campus at an elevation of 6100 feet. The research telescopes at the observatory include three reflectors with apertures of 40, 24 and 16 inches. The 40-inch telescope is operated jointly with the University of Illinois. Auxiliary equipment for the telescopes includes photoelectric photometers, spectrographs, and CCD camera for direct imaging. A dormitory for observers and a shop-laboratory building complete the main research facilities at the observatory. Additionally, each telescope dome has a PC for data collection and on-line reduction. A central, general-purpose, Sun Sparc station computer provides on-line data bases as well as reduction and analysis capabilities. Associated with the observatory is the Awona Harrington Visitor Center which provides facilities for educational programs and for visiting astronomers.
The Social Science Research Laboratory (SSRL) was founded in 1974 to support academic computing and social research within the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), the University, and the regional community. SSRL is organized into seven units: Instructional Services, Research Services, Systems Support Group, CAL Help Desk, Data Resources, Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC Operations) and South Coastal Information Center (SCIC). Each unit develops and administers programs, within the overall context of SSRL's mission, that serve the University and the community. The department employs ten full-time staff and over sixty part-time employees classified as teaching associates, graduate assistants, laboratory consultants, research assistants and data collection/reduction specialists.
Instructional Services works closely with faculty to assimilate technological resources into the curriculum and to support academic computing among students and faculty. This is accomplished through four programs: (1) Social Science 201A, 201B, 201C, 201D courses on the use of the statistical package for the social sciences, database, spreadsheet, and Internet resources, (2) non-credit workshops on the use of selected software applications, (3) class presentations at the request of faculty to support computer-related instructional assignments, and (4) on-demand consultation for individual users of open-access computing laboratories.
Research Services offers a complete range of public opinion polling and survey research services, including sample design, data collection, data reduction, and data archiving. The section maintains computer systems to support faculty research. Undergraduate internships and research assistant positions are available.
Data Resources assists faculty and students in the use of archived research, datasets from a variety of on-line information resources, and provides database programming services for specific applications. Principal sources of archived and electronically accessible information include the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the Social Science Database Archive (SSDBA), the U.S. Census, Field Institute California Polls, the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and Lexis/Nexis. Assistance is provided for locating, downloading, installing, and subsetting datasets for instructional or research use.
Systems Support Group provides network administration and technical infrastructure support for College of Arts and Letters computing systems. Services include managing computer classrooms, network design, implementation and administration, installing software applications, electronic mail, Internet related software, interfacing peripherals, virus diagnosis, file recovery, disk management, operating systems, and procurement advice. Faculty and staff requests for assistance are initiated and tracked through an on-line work order system.
Help Desk serves as the point of entry for faculty and staff who need assistance with computer related problems. Work order requests for hardware, software, and peripheral problems are logged into an on-line database used to schedule technical services. The Help Desk also conducts an extensive software coaching program for individual faculty and staff in their office.
South Coastal Information Center (SCIC) contracts with the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) to provide information management for all cultural resources in San Diego County. SCIC is a source of valuable research data for archaeologists, historians, and architects. Databases in historic resources and prehistoric and historic archaeology are maintained and constantly updated. Site data and building information are electronically stored, and over 3000 historic and archaeological reports are available. Geographic information system software provides accurate mapping of archaeological site data. Student interns master the basics of historic preservation laws and regulations, while learning effective cultural resource information management.
The SSRL is located in Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Room 140.
The College of Sciences manages three natural reserves that are available for research and educational activities in biology, ecology, soils science, hydrology, geology, geography, and other field sciences.
The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, about 4200 acres in area, is located on the San Diego-Riverside County line near Temecula, and includes the spectacular gorge of the Santa Margarita River. The recently established Philip C. Miller Field Station, located on the north rim of the gorge, has laboratory and dormitory facilities, a weather station, and experimental eucalyptus plantings. The site lies in rugged hills and is a mosaic of riparian vegetation, oak woodlands, grasslands, coastal sage scrub, chamise chaparral, and mixed chaparral. Elevations range from 500 to 2300 feet. Abundant wildlife typical of chaparral and woodland areas is found on the reserve, including mule deer and mountain lions. The Santa Margarita River, a perennial stream, offers opportunities for study of stream and riparian systems.
The Sky Oaks Biological Research Station (4400 acres) at about 4000 feet elevation, is located near Warner Springs in northern San Diego County adjacent to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Cleveland National Forest. Dormitory and basic laboratory facilities are located on this site. A diversity of community types is found on the station including several types of chaparral, extensive oak woodlands, grasslands, riparian communities, and pine forest. This station has been the site of several research projects on the effect of fire on natural vegetation, and stand of chaparral of a variety of post-fire ages are available for study. Currently, several major projects studying aspects of global climate change are underway. Dormitory and basic laboratory facilities are available on this site.
The Fortuna Mountain Ecological Reserve consists of 500 acres within the city of San Diego a few miles from the campus within Mission Trails Regional Park. The reserve is covered by a mosaic of chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland, and is adjacent to riparian areas along the San Diego River.
Persons interested in conducting research at one of the ecological reserves or using them for instructional purposes should contact the director through the campus Biological Field Stations at (619) 594-2896 or inquire at the Biology Department, (619) 594-5504.
The centerpiece of San Diego State University's manufacturing endeavors is the Facility for Applied Manufacturing Enterprise. FAME was planned as an interdisciplinary center-of-excellence dedicated to science and technology in the area of manufacturing. Its mission is to provide students with a complete and emersive product development environment in which to augment their job experiences with next-century tools and strategies. This facility evolved from the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) center founded in 1988. Since then, it has grown considerably in physical size and scope. FAME resources include 3000 square feet of dedicated floor space in the Engineering and Engineering Laboratory Buildings and another 2000 square feet for student projects. Manufacturing-related equipment includes plastic injection, compression, extrusion, pultrusion, resin transfer molding and vacuum forming equipment, a composite repair station, ultrasonic scanning equipment, platen presses, mechanical testing machines, ovens, CNC lathe and mill, automated parts bin, and four multi-axis robots. A 3" diameter by 15" long, high-pressure and temperature autoclave facility is currently under construction.
The Donald I. Eidemiller Weather Station serves as a teaching and research resource. The station receives surface, upper-air and forecast weather maps via satellite from the National Weather Service. The station also archives monthly and annual data published by the National Climatic Data Center and has been observing and recording local weather information for more than 35 years.
The Microchemical Core Facility (MCF) is a component of the California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB). The MCF is a full-service, state-of-the-art facility that provides DNA synthesis, sequencing, and purification services for cell and molecular biologists associated with any of the 22 CSU campuses. In addition, the MCF provides for CSU faculty access to the most recent advances in computer-assisted analyses of molecular structure. Located in the Biology Department at SDSU, the MCF provides state-of-the-art molecular analyses and characterization to CSU scientists for the lowest possible cost, as well as fostering the training of university faculty at all levels in the most recent techniques available in the molecular life sciences. Funding for the establishment and maintenance of the SDSU MCF is derived from the National Science Foundation with matching funds provided by the State of California. Call (619) 594-1669 for more information.
Administered by the Department of Communicative Disorders, the Clinic provides assessment and remediation services for SDSU students, staff, faculty, and the community. Comprehensive diagnostic and treatment programs are available for children and adults in the areas of delayed speech/language development, voice, fluency or articulation disorders, aphasia, cleft palate, cerebral palsy, loss of communication function, hearing loss and deafness. Also provided are services for bilingual/multicultural clients and speakers of English as a second language. Audiologic services provided by the Clinic include hearing assessment, hearing aid evaluation and selection, assistive listening device evaluations, earmolds, ear protectors, hearing conservation and speech reading/aural rehabilitation therapy. In addition, the Clinic offers opportunities for research, consultation, supervised field internships, continuing education, and other service activities. The clinic is located at 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120-4917, (619) 594-6477.
National and Regional Research
Resource Centers
The Center for Latin American Studies seeks to encourage teaching and research related to Latin America. It has primary responsibility for the administration of the Latin American undergraduate and graduate degrees. The U.S. Department of Education has designated the center as one of thirteen "National Resource Centers for Latin America," in consortium with the Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies at the University of California, San Diego. In conjunction with this award, the Center administers programs that focus on a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and research activities focused on Latin American studies; the development of innovative methods of instruction in Spanish and Portuguese; the provision of informative and in-service training programs for elementary and secondary school teachers; and the provision of services for the general public through the sponsorship of conferences, workshops, lectures and films. The Center also assists in the development of the University library's Latin American holdings.
Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC Operations) provides technological resources for courses offered by the Departments of French and Italian Languages and Literatures (includes German and Russian Languages and Literatures), Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, and Linguistics and Oriental Languages.These resources include technical support staff, two smart classrooms, sixty networked multimedia workstations, and the nation's largest collection of multimedia courseware.
The Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), one of 27 such centers of excellence in the United States, was established in 1989 under the auspices of a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and is administered by the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Business Administration.
CIBER promotes (1) interdisciplinary programs which incorporate foreign language and international studies training into business, finance, management, communications systems, and other professional curricula; (2) interdisciplinary programs which provide business, finance, management, communications systems, and other professional training for foreign language and international studies faculty and advanced degree candidates; (3) evening or summer programs, such as intensive language programs, available to members of the business community and other professionals, which are designed to develop or enhance their international skills, awareness, and expertise; (4) collaborative programs, activities, or research involving other institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, professional associations, businesses, firms or combinations thereof, to promote the development of international skills, awareness, and expertise among current and prospective members of the business community and other professionals; (5) research designed to strengthen and improve the international aspects of business and professional education and to promote integrated curricula; and (6) research designed to promote the international competitiveness of American businesses and firms, including those not currently active in international trade.
The Center is located in Business Administration 428, (619) 594-6023, FAX (619) 594-7738; CIBER @ mail.sdsu.edu.
Consortia and Other Cooperative Research Facilities
The Center is an interdisciplinary center focusing on the development, manufacturing, production, processing, and marketing of biotechnological, biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, in vitro diagnostic and medical device products. As an administrative, instructional, and research entity, it incorporates faculty and programs from the Colleges of Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration, Health and Human Services, Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Education, and Arts and Letters. The Center addresses research and workforce needs of companies in their transition from research and development into manufacturing and production, with an additional focus on the overarching legal, ethical, and regulatory elements that both guide and restrict the industry. The Center has a management structure similar to a bioscience company, with section directors for regulatory affairs, biopharmaceutical marketing, bioprocessing/manufacturing, QA/QC, etc., each with research and capstone professional graduate degrees overlaying a cluster of specific certificate programs, and degree emphases, as well as continuing education programs for existing corporate employees. Activities under the Center also include the acquisition of new training and research facilities, in some cases, fermentation, cell culture, small molecule synthetic, and pilot plant scale facilities, as well as the establishment of a biotechnology business incubator. The Center employs long-distance telecommunications to corporate, government, and other university sites within California, between its academic partner, and with several international partners. The Center interfaces intensively with the California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) providing novel capstone training experiences for CSU biotechnology students.
The California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) exists to provide a coordinated and amplified development of biotechnology research and education within the university system; to foster competitiveness both on the state and national levels; to facilitate training of a sufficient number of biotechnology technicians and scientists; to catalyze technology transfer and enhance intellectual property protection; and to facilitate the acquisition and long-term maintenance of state-of-the-art biotechnology resource facilities across the university, such as the Microchemical Core Facility and the Macromolecular Structural Analysis Resource Center, both localized at SDSU. It facilitates interdisciplinary cooperative activities between the departments of Biology and Chemistry on all campuses and between faculty and from a number of allied academic and research units such as bioengineering, agricultural biotechnology, environmental and natural resources, molecular ecology, and marine biotechnology. It also serves as the official liaison between the CSU and industry, government, the Congressional Biotechnology Caucus, and the public arena in biotechnological matters. CSUPERB operates through a Director and an Associate Director, an Executive Committee of 11, and a Governing Board composed of 50 representatives of academic and research units from the 23 -campuses.
SCERP was established and funded by Congress in 1990 to address environmental issues of the U.S.-Mexico border region. The Center includes five U.S. and four Mexican higher education institutions. The five American universities are Arizona State, New Mexico State, SDSU, University of Texas at El Paso, and University of Utah. The research implemented by SCERP includes environmental areas in air quality, water quality and use, hazardous materials, and waste management.
Organized Research Centers and Institutes
The University Center on Aging offers the B.A. in Gerontology. The Center is active in the area of aging and is involved with such activities as supporting interdisciplinary educational and curriculum efforts; undertaking research, demonstration and evaluation activities; providing technical assistance and agency consultation for the community; coordinating workshops and seminars; and providing opportunities for student involvement in aging activities. The Center is also responsible for the coordination of a certificate program in conjunction with the College of Extended Studies and administers an undergraduate major in gerontology. The Center serves as a central point for the development and dissemination of minority aging data nationally.
The Allison Center has supported research in paleontology, geology, and related sciences since 1972. The Center maintains a research library containing journals, reprints, textbooks, maps, and copies of master's theses and senior theses completed in the Geological Sciences. The library is open to faculty and students. In addition, the Center houses a collection of fossil and recent vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Research space is available for students, faculty, and visiting scholars. Small grants, other funds, and equipment are available to students and faculty for research projects. The Center also publishes reports of various types containing geological information related to the southern California and northern Baja regions.
The Center for Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary organization in the College of Arts and Letters. Drawing upon faculty members from many fields, campuswide, it performs such services as (1) developing and administering the Asian studies program and relevant curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels; (2) organizing symposia and seminars on Asian topics; (3) securing and administering grants and other support for research and development in Asian studies; (4) coordinating and publicizing the activities of faculty engaged in Asian-centered studies; (5) responding to campus and community requests for information and services; (6) fostering campus and community interest in Asian studies.
The Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies is housed at 9245 Skypark Court, Suite 221, San Diego, CA 92113. The Center, formerly known as The Center for Behavioral Medicine, was established in 1982 for the purpose of promoting research and academic programs relevant to the applications of behavioral science principles to medicine and health care. Administratively, the Center has three co-directors who report to the deans of the College of Sciences and the College of Health and Human Services. The interdisciplinary center encourages participation from all colleges and departments of the University. Currently, active investigators come from the Departments of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Psychology, and the Graduate School of Public Health. Current Center projects involve collaboration between scientists and physicians from a variety of specialties as well as a variety of other institutions, including Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, and the Children's Hospital and Health Center. Funding for the Center comes from federal and private foundation grants including several National Institutes of Health agencies. Current sponsors include the American Heart Association, Department of Defense, National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the State of California Department of Health Services, and the University of California Tobacco Related Disease Research Program.
The Center provides important research experience to students who intend to pursue related careers and offers opportunities for project staff and graduate students to participate in community interventions.
The purpose of the Institute for Built Environment and Comparative Urban Research (BECUR) is to: (1) study the impact of culture on the design and shape of the urban built environment; and (2) understand how cities in different cultural settings are being transformed by global processes. BECUR provides a forum for research and dialogue among SDSU faculty and students on the cross-cultural nature of urban space and urban place. The Institute is administered by the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. Among its activities, the Institute promotes public lectures and conferences, research projects, and networking among urbanists, social science, planning, design and architectural scholars both in the region, as well as in other parts of the world. The Institute is located in Professional Studies and Fine Arts 177, (619) 594-6964.
The purpose of the Institute is to promote understanding between the United States and Central and Eastern European countries through student and faculty exchanges, seminars, and educational programs. Another goal is to contribute to the process of economic growth and development in Central and Eastern Europe by making available appropriate human capital. The Institute has established a formal relationship with the Warsaw School of Economics and is in the process of doing the same with the Prague School of Economics, Czechoslovakia National Academy of Sciences, as well as similar institutions in Albania. The purpose of these relationships is to exchange faculty and students and to effect appropriate technological diffusion. Students and faculty can obtain more information by calling the Institute Office at (619) 594-5503, Nasatir Hall 318.
The June Burnett Institute was created in 1985 at the San Diego State University Foundation from a $1.5 million bequest from the estate of June Estelle Burnett. The Institute is dedicated to developing the potential of all children, youth, and parents in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to cultural, social, and economic differences and needs. The Institute fosters cooperation and collaboration through interdisciplinary/interprofessional approaches which promote the well-being of children, youth, and families through prevention, intervention, and volunteer-based services and which incorporate training and evaluation as integral elements. An advisory board composed of SDSU faculty and community members directs the activities of the Institute in cooperation with 15 core staff, 30 project staff, 117 stipended volunteers, eight doctoral level consultants, three graduate interns, and 19 subcontracts with community service organizations.
The Institute's Prevention Services Division coordinates the Families and Schools Together Program (FAST) for parents of elementary students and Home/School Partnership for parents of Middle School students. Both parent projects entail collaborative partnerships with community agencies, ethnically identified organizations and PTA's.
The Institute's Volunteer Services Division administers the California YMCA/CSU PRYDE AmeriCorps Consortium (a collaboration of five urban YMCA's and CSU campus training partners in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland/East Bay and San Francisco), the Safe Zones for Learning-AmeriCorps Evaluation Project (a collaboration of 15 agencies in the Mid-City/City Heights area of San Diego), and an evaluation project focusing on Mid-City for Youth, a collaboration of over 100 organizations in the Mid-City area.
The Institute's Intervention Services Division, in cooperation with the San Diego Juvenile Court, the County of San Diego, and the Weingart Foundation, coordinates the San Diego Choice Program which serves between 250 and 500 court-involved delinquent youth annually who are referred by the County departments of Probation and Social Services, and who reside in the areas of Mid-City/City Heights, National City, Chula Vista, Escondido, and Vista.
The Burnett Institute Faculty Fellows Program, in conjunction with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and each fellow's college dean, sponsors between four and six faculty members who wish to assist the Institute strengthen service, training or evaluation efforts in the community. The institute is located at 6310 Alvarado Court, San Diego, CA 92120, (619) 594-4756.
The China Studies Institute coordinates and supports on-campus teaching and research related to China. The Institute develops and fosters faculty and student exchange programs with Chinese universities and institutions of higher learning. Various cultural programs on China and activities on campus and in the community promote cultural awareness and understanding. The development of Chinese publications, audio-visual materials, periodicals, newspapers, and other resources on campus fosters relationships between San Diego State University and the Chinese community, as well as nurtures friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.
The Coastal and Marine Institute provides a focus for oceanography and marine studies at SDSU. The Institute assists departments within the University in the development of instructional, research, and public service aspects of coastal and ocean-oriented programs and provides special supporting services including advising students, assistance to faculty and students in research, preparation of manuscripts, operation of the SDSU Marine Laboratories and boats at Mission Bay, and liaison with other institutions and the community. The Institute is operated as a special unit of the College of Sciences and is administered by a director and an advisory council consisting of faculty members elected from participating departments. Additional information about marine studies is available from the Coastal and Marine Institute office, or from the Office of the Dean of the College of Sciences.
This Institute supports educational and research activities in communication systems with an emphasis on radio frequency and digital signal processing aspects. Faculty, students, and industrial partners participate in developing cores of expertise in specific related areas meaningful to the technical community such as R-F circuitry, modems, receivers, transmitters, synthesizers, A-D and D-A converters, digital signal processing algorithms and hardware, antennae, and networks. Specific activities include tutorials, product development, and other research and development activities.
The Center for Computer Simulation pursues research opportunities involving the creation of complex simulations, particularly those addressing challenges in the public sector. The diversity of fields in which computer simulation now plays a role allows the Center to provide research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in a wide variety of academic majors.
The Center supports an extensive collection of simulation software under site license, and maintains cooperative relationships with prominent public and private sector simulation software developers to ensure that the Center's capabilities keep pace with the state-of-the-art.
Currently the Center includes members from the faculties of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, and Statistics. The Center is administered by a director appointed by the Dean of the College of Sciences, and resides in facilities provided by the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. For information, call the Center for Computer Simulation office at (619) 594-7238.
The Concrete Research Institute supports educational needs in the civil engineering curriculum and concrete research performed for sponsors from industry and governments. The Institute encompasses a wide range of topics. The emphasis is currently on concrete materials and structures. Civil and environmental engineering faculty members are involved with finding optimum design solutions in bridges, seismic resistant structures, residential buildings, and retaining walls.
The Center for Counseling and School Psychology is a unit within the College of Education designed to provide support for activities such as (1) securing and administering grants and other support for research and development in counseling and school psychology, (2) encouraging cooperation with faculty members from other relevant disciplines such as anthropology, economics, psychology, social work, sociology, and Counseling and Psychological Services, and (3) conducting programs or rendering services designed to promote counseling and school psychology at San Diego State University. The Center is administered by the Department of Counseling and School Psychology; fiscal matters are coordinated through the San Diego State University Foundation.
The Center for Economic Education is a unit within the College of Education. The center is affiliated with Economics America, California Council on Economic Education, and the National Council on Economic Education and has the mission to provide the following services and functions: (1) inservice training for teachers at both the elementary and secondary levels; (2) curriculum development and consultation with school district personnel; (3) development and distribution of media and materials on economic education; (4) research in economic education; (5) consultation with other university faculty as requested; and (6) workshops, speakers, and materials on economic education for adult constituencies from business, labor, social, and professional organizations. The service area for the center encompasses both San Diego and Imperial counties.
The Energy Engineering Institute has supported educational and research activities in energy related areas since 1985. Undergraduate and graduate students and faculty from the mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering departments are involved in obtaining solutions to problems presented by industrial sponsors. Institute research projects cover a wide range of areas from optimizing energy resources to international energy studies.
The San Diego State University Center for Energy Studies (CES) facilitates, promotes and supports research and academic programs relating to energy, with particular emphasis on energy matters of concern to the San Diego and local southwest region including the international border with Mexico. The Center encourages interdisciplinary research and instructional programs in the broad areas of energy modeling, technology assessment of energy systems, local energy policy planning and data collection relating to energy usage in the San Diego region. SDSU offers through the Center an interdisciplinary minor in energy studies. Completion of the minor will give the student a broad understanding of the technical, economic, social and political aspects of energy issues. For more information call the Center at (619) 594-6240 or (619) 594-6155. The Center works closely with local and state agencies concerned with energy policy and planning, and serves as a community resource in matters concerning local energy issues and the impact of energy use of the environment.
The Entrepreneurial Management Center (EMC) serves the emerging growth sector of the regional business community. The growth, development, and success of new business ventures is essential to the future of the San Diego region. The mission of the EMC is to assist this sector of the economy through educational programming focused on the application of the underlying principles and perspectives of entrepreneurship offered to students, organizations, and individuals.
The range of entrepreneurial programming offered includes: (1) support for entrepreneurial academic degree programs, (2) individual knowledge and skill development, and (3) organizational consulting and development programming. The entrepreneurial topics presented include the outcomes of the entrepreneurial process: the creation of wealth, new enterprises, innovation, organizational change, increased firm value, and organizational growth. The EMC focuses programming on both the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial process which results in a variety of outcomes essential to economic development.
The EMC sponsors an annual Nasdaq-SDSU Business Plan Competition which provides students with an opportunity to present their business ideas to a distinguished panel of judges. The competition currently involves students from colleges throughout North America.
Administered by the Department of Communicative Disorders, the Center is a multidisciplinary training, research, and service facility which promotes educational and research opportunities for SDSU faculty and students in health and human services fields. The Center's Interdisciplinary Assessment Program teaches students the skills of interdisciplinary collaboration as they assess the behavioral, cognitive, communicative, and educational problems experienced by clients birth to three years. The Assistive Device Assessment Program provides language, cognitive, and technical assessments related to augmentative/assistive devices and systems for individuals who have communication disabilities.
Administered through the Office of the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, the purpose of this International Institute is to respond to the urgent global need for human resources development, particularly in the fields of health and human services. Specific activities include the development of education and training programs; promoting relevant research and model demonstration programs and projects; encouraging technical cooperation with developing countries; promoting exchange of information and experience at the international level; and engaging in the convening of conferences. The Institute also provides a comprehensive, centralized source of data and information on human resource development, linking it to- -internationally recognized networks, and serving as a repository and a clearinghouse for information in this field.
The International Center for Communications draws upon the resources of the University, the community, and the communications industry to provide the nation's international focal point in the Pacific in which academic study, innovative research and practical experience among the private and public sectors are joined to help solve critical issues confronting the Pacific region. The Center serves two major purposes: 1) to initiate dialogues leading to new understanding among the diverse cultural and community interests of the region; and 2) to link communications and community in the new relationships essential to fulfilling the promise of the Pacific world.
The goals of the International Center are to establish an institutional approach to learning, problem-solving and practical work focusing on the critical issues of communication and information; to create a new and dynamic partnership in San Diego between business and industry, government and academia, redefining and building a sense of community; and to develop a forum and agenda for research, discussion and collaboration with other organizations in the Pacific leading toward the establishment of a -permanent "Pacific Dialogue on the Media." In 1995 a Japan-U.S. Telecommunications Research Institute was founded within ICC to facilitate and foster improved understanding of new technologies affecting the Pacific Rim community.
The Institute will provide a forum for U.S. and Japan telecommunications industries - computer, communications, entertainment, broadcasting, cable and other information industries - to share common interest and concerns about trends in technology and public policy; and where possible, cooperate on developing an agenda leading to the creation of new communication infrastructures - particularly in the development of so-called "smart communities" - both in Japan and in the U.S., and importantly throughout the Pacific.
In 1996, the International Center for Communications launched a separately-funded California Institute for SmartCommunities to continue the work it initiated in the early `90s for Mayor Susan Golding's "City of the Future" Commission, and other communities throughout the State.
The Center for the Study of International Education is a unit of the College of Education. It promotes faculty and graduate student research, explores study abroad and exchange possibilities for faculty and students, and disseminates information about international education to interested persons in the San Diego area. It also seeks to complement regular course offerings through sponsorship of lectures, conferences, and the development of bibliographic resources.
The Center seeks to foster not only a network of interested faculty within the College of Education but also encourages faculty involvement from other colleges on campus as well as from other organizations and universities in the San Diego region.
The International Population Center (InterPop) promotes applied demographic research and the provision of technical assistance and consulting, especially focusing on population issues and policy within the San Diego/Tijuana region.
Although it is located in the Department of Geography, InterPop is a multidisciplinary facility, linking Center faculty from several departments on campus with Center associates from other organizations and universities in the San Diego region. The telephone number for the center is (619) 594-8040.
The SDSU Institute for International Security and Conflict Resolultion (IISCOR) encourages and facilitates teaching and research in the multidisciplinary area of international security and conflict resolution. Topics such as nuclear armaments, international and intranational conflict, sociopolitical violence, and global environmental issues as they relate to security are covered.
The Institute is a joint effort of the Colleges of Arts and letters, Professional Studies and Fine Arts, and Sciences. IISCOR is administered by two co-directors, advised by an executive committee consisting of faculty members representing the different disciplines who are interested in the study of international security and conflict resolution.
The Institute promotes teaching and research by organizing public forums, faculty and student seminars, developing appropriate curricula for undergraduate and graduate instruction and facilitating research and scholarly activities. SDSU offers, through IISCOR, a multidisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution. More information is available by calling the IISCOR office at (619) 594-6240.
The Institute's efforts focus on promoting the integration of individuals including those with disabilities into all aspects of school, work, family, and community life through maximum participation. The Institute conducts research, training, and education using a variety of strategies including distance learning technologies. Educational and research efforts involve organizations and individuals in the states, the Pacific Basin, and Europe. Faculty and staff associated with the Institute are uniquely prepared to promote the meaningful participation and productivity of each member of the community. The Institute's mission is supported through local, state, federal, and international organizations. The Institute's facilities are located at 5850 Hardy Avenue, Suite 112.
The Japan Studies Institute coordinates and encourages research and instructional programs on campus concerning various aspects of Japan and nurtures ties between the University and organizations and individuals in the greater San Diego region interested in Japan and United States-Japan relations. It develops and fosters student and faculty exchanges between San Diego State University and Japanese institutions of higher learning; tuition-free exchange arrangements exist at present with seven public and private universities located throughout Japan. The Institute works closely with Japanese and American business, industrial, and banking establishments in San Diego, addressing research of mutual interest and drawing support for relevant Japan-focused courses, seminars, cultural events, lectures, forums, and workshops offered by the University. The multidisciplinary Institute also oversees the Liberal Studies Major- Emphasis in Three Departments with a focus on Japan Studies.
The Institute supports the development of Japanese holdings in the University Library and Instructional Technology Services. The Institute operates under the jurisdiction of the College of Arts and Letters, but it draws faculty from across the campus.
The Center's faculty and staff conducts research on the design and use of technology-based systems for enhancing human learning and performance, monitors trends in advanced applications of educational technology and allied disciplines, and evaluates the effectiveness and usability of educational products and services.
The Center consults with corporations, agencies, and SDSU affiliates on the design of products for education and training, arranges for on-site and electronic delivery of professional development courses and seminars by the nationally recognized faculty of SDSU Department of Educational Technology, and coordinates fieldwork and internship opportunities for advanced graduate students.
The Center also offers the services and capabilities of the College of Education's Educational Design Research Laboratory to clients who are interested in rapid prototyping and formative evaluation of educational products and services. A principle focus of the EDRL is the use of high technology video and computer systems to capture and analyze data about the usability and learnability of prototype products.
The Institute for Leisure Behavior is the research and community service unit within the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism at San Diego State University. It is primarily concerned with conducting leisure related research, promoting professional development, disseminating specialized publications, organizing conferences, seminars, lectures and workshops.
The Institute is governed by a Board of Directors which, in turn, is advised by a group of thirteen individuals from park and recreation and related fields. The Advisory Council has been instrumental in providing valuable information to the Board concerning the needs and direction of the leisure services field.
The Institute administers a variety of service programs within San Diego County. Camp Able at Coronado, an aquatic based camp for disabled children and adults, operates ten weeks during the summer at Silver Strand State Beach. The Spring Valley Park and Recreation District within the San Miguel County service area (San Diego County) contracts for recreation services from the Institute for all its residents. Additionally, the Institute conducts research for local park and recreation entities as well as the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the United States Forest Service.
The Institute publishes monographs focusing on important issues relative to leisure services delivery. These are available to the public as well as park and recreation practitioners. Research projects under the direction of the Institute focus on local, state, national, and international problems related to leisure and park/recreation services.
The Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies, located in the College of Arts and Letters, serves to coordinate and support teaching and research in modern Jewish history and contemporary Jewish and Israeli affairs. Established with contributions from the San Diego community, the Lipinsky Institute provides financial support for an annual visiting professor from Israel, the annual Galinson-Glickman symposium on contemporary Israeli issues, and the Robert Siegel Memorial Lecture. It also complements regular course offerings by sponsoring lectures, developing library resources, fostering research and conducting other activities that will promote the advancement of Judaic studies in the University and in the San Diego community.
The Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education (CRMSE) is an interdisciplinary consortium of faculty interested in research on substantive questions related to the learning and teaching of science and mathematics. The Center currently has members from the faculties of Biology, Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physics, Psychology, and Teacher Education. It is administered by a Director appointed by the Dean of the College of Sciences and an Associate Director appointed by the Dean of the College of Education. Through its activities CRMSE initiates, encourages, and supports the scholarly pursuit of important theoretical and applied problems in mathematics and science education. CRMSE supports faculty in their current research projects and in the preparation of manuscripts for publication and grant proposals for continued research. The Center also supports the Doctoral Program in Mathematics and Science Education that is offered jointly by SDSU and the University of California, San Diego. The Center is located at 6475 Alvarado Road, Suite 206, San Diego, CA 92120-5006; (619) 594-5090; campus mail code 1862.
The Molecular Biology Institute was established to serve interested departments of the biological and physical sciences in the coordination, support and enhancement of research and instruction in the molecular biological sciences. Interests and activities of the MBI encompass all approaches which aim to explain biology at the molecular level. The MBI sponsors a weekly seminar series that facilitates faculty and student interaction with scientists from other institutions. Currently, full members of the Institute are drawn from the departments of Biology and Chemistry, and participate in the respective Ph.D. programs. Associate members are drawn from a variety of disciplines that are cognate with the molecular biological sciences. The Institute is also constituted as the university unit authorized to administer the master's program with an emphasis in Molecular Biology. The research programs of the MBI members are supported by a variety of agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, NASA, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the California Metabolic Research Foundation. Additional information is available from the MBI office: (619) 594-7429.
Administered through the School of Nursing, the purpose of the Institute is to promote collaboration in the conduct, dissemination, and utilization of nursing research which will contribute to the quality of patient care and service. The Institute provides a forum for research interests and activities, and also fosters collaborative research efforts among Institute nurse clinicians and SDSU nursing faculty. This includes identifying research priorities for individual and multi-site research projects, and providing consultation for design, method, analysis, computer services, instrumentation, and manuscript preparation. The Institute also facilitates grant application and administration for funded research, as well as the dissemination of research findings.
The Production Center for Documentary and Drama was established to sponsor and create professional films, television programs and series, and symposia with high artistic and technical standards, documentary accuracy, and creative originality. Within the School of Communication, Production Center projects are integral to the training of senior and graduate students in the telecommunications and film disciplines who work in tandem with industry professionals to gain practical experience in location and studio production. Located in PSFA 325, the Production Center mentors graduate students and alumni in the creation of projects that are an expression of their artistic and technical growth. The Center serves local, national, and international non-profit entities such as museums, libraries, performing and visual arts groups and public service, research, philanthropic and government agencies in the development of audio-visual programs and assists other SDSU departments in documenting important projects and programs. Production Center projects are distributed world-wide, funded from grants and contracts with industry, government, philanthropy, education and business, and administered by the SDSU Foundation.
The Institute of Public and Urban Affairs is located in the School of Public Administration and Urban Studies. The Institute was established to conduct research in community and governmental affairs and to sponsor conferences, colloquia and symposia related to issues in public administration and affairs including urban planning, management, and criminal justice administration. The Institute also publishes occasional working papers and research monographs. Selected students and faculty of San Diego State University staff the Institute. An integral part of the Institute is the Public Administration Center which contains a specialized and growing collection of research materials emphasizing issues in public affairs particular to San Diego and California.
Administered through the Graduate School of Public Health, the mission of the Institute is to serve as a vehicle for the development and support of functional linkages between the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health, local public health agencies, and private organizations in the San Diego community and neighboring areas, including Mexico. These linkages expand the availability of University-based public health expertise, research and information in the areas of biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health services administration, health promotion, industrial hygiene, maternal and child health, occupational health, and toxicology. Specific activities include collaborative research, technical assistance, consultation, continuing education and professional development, student field placement, faculty/practitioner exchange, information dissemination, and various service activities. The Institute serves to bridge public health academics and practice by facilitating meaningful partnerships between faculty, students, and local practitioners. The Institute offices are located at 6505 Alvarado Road, Suite 115, (619) 594-2632.
Established in 1983, the Real Estate and Land Use Institute (RELUI) is the first systemwide research-oriented institute of its kind in the 23-campus California State University system. The San Diego regional office of RELUI is located in the College of Business Administration.
RELUI's mission is to promote education and research in real estate and land use. In support of this mission, RELUI seeks to (1) support, coordinate, and manage systemwide and inter- campus research activities; (2) assist in the development, coordination, and administration of statewide continuing education programs; (3) obtain funding sources for education and research activities: (4) promote the general well-being of undergraduate and graduate study within the CSU system; and (5) maintain liaison with government agencies, private industry, and associated organizations with interest in public policy.
RELUI maintains a research and reference center in the College of Business Administration where specialized real estate and land use related materials are available for use by students and faculty.
RELUI also sponsors an internship program for placement of qualified students with local firms to provide a combined working and learning experience. Additional benefits accrue to interns in the form of academic credits and stipends. For more information, call (619) 594-2301.
The Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias (IRSC) provides the University with a neutral forum for the investigation, discussion, and dissemination of information about the United States-Mexico border region. The Institute focuses on the three-state region of California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur and is also concerned with Mexico and important issues in the United States-Mexican relationship. IRSC also monitors border regions elsewhere in the world. Created in 1983, the Institute has undertaken multidisciplinary research projects on significant regional concerns including transborder environmental issues, policy perspectives on the California-Mexico relationship, and the maquiladora industry. The Institute also maintains a research collection on the border region and takes an active role in Latin America and Mexico-related professional organizations. IRSC publishes the Mexico Policy News for PROFMEX (The Consortium for Research on Mexico) and the Journal of Borderlands Studies, as well as papers and monographs on border-related issues and topics.
Other Institute activities include conducting binational symposia, improving communication between public and private sector representatives on both sides of the border, serving as a clearinghouse for information on transborder events, issues, and institutions, and encouraging the effective use of educational resources among the region's universities. The Institute serves as a major link between SDSU and Mexican institutions. IRSC has underway, a major project on border environmental issues and public policy. IRSC serves as the SDSU link to the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy, a -congressionally established consortium of universities for research and policy studies on environmental issues of the border. The Institute is located in Nasatir Hall103.
The Interdisciplinary Research Center for Scientific Modeling and Computation (IRC) promotes and supports an excellent environment for scientific research at SDSU. The Center facilitates the interaction between applied mathematics and other disciplines by providing the necessary infrastructure for productive research efforts.
The Center's primary areas of research are numerical methods, modeling, and simulation. Projects combine insights from theoretical mathematics and other sciences with expertise in applied as well as computational mathematics.
The Center sponsors interdisciplinary seminars, colloquia, and workshops which draw scientists from many fields. Visiting scientists come to the Center for extended periods from industries and from other universities, attracted by the conviction that science and engineering problems benefit greatly from interdisciplinary efforts.
The Center's activities significantly enhance the ties between applied and computational mathematics at SDSU by involving faculty and students in projects closely connected to practical applications. Interested students and faculty may obtain more information by calling the IRC office at (619) 594-7205.
The Center conducts training and research on issues of social equity and bilingual/multicultural policy, and provides technical assistance to districts throughout southern California. The Center houses projects funded by federal, state and private sources. Current projects include the Parent Institute, and the Social Equity project. The Center functions within the department of Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural Education at San Diego State University.
Administered through the School of Social Work, the mission of this Institute is to assist local and state, public and private sector leaders in the development of policies and programs that better meet the needs of the people of San Diego County and the State of California. This is fulfilled by examining health and human service issues and problems through conducting research and evaluations; reviewing existing studies and reports at the local, state, and national levels; and preparing recommendations for dissemination to elected officials, special commissions, task forces, business executives, community leaders, and administrators of major institutions. Results, findings, and information are communicated through published professional monographs and journal articles, professional meetings and conferences, op-ed newspaper essays, testimony to political bodies, such as the County Board of Supervisors and State Legislators, a computer web site, news conferences, and interviews with electronic media representatives. Scholars from several departments within the University individually and in collaboration lend their expertise to the analysis of regional health and human services problems. Issues of focus include children, youth, and family concerns, aging and the elderly, mental health, health care delivery, welfare reform, family violence, immigration, community economic development, diversity and discrimination, and homelessness.
Administered through the School of Social Work, the Center was established in 1985 with a primary mission of facilitating the development of knowledge and skills for the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug problems. Goals include developing and supporting projects in substance abuse research, curriculum, and community service. The Center serves as an administrative umbrella for several projects, including Student to Student, providing campus-wide substance abuse prevention, the SPAN certificate program in Human Services for persons recovering from chemical dependency and related problems, and the Central District Driving Under the Influence Program, providing education and counseling for court-ordered offenders in the central judicial district of San Diego County. Other projects have included the College Life Alcohol Prevention Project, providing awareness of issues related to family alcoholism, the Child Welfare Substance Abuse Training Project, the Neighborhood House Head Start Substance Abuse Training Project, and the production of a substance abuse training video for child welfare workers. In addition, the Center has been involved in the training of several hundred community professionals in substance abuse intervention, and participates in the San Diego Intercollegiate Consortium for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and on the professional development committee of the California Addiction Training and Resource Center at UCSD. The Center office is located at 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 101, (619) 467-6828. The Student-to-Student office is located on-campus, (619) 594-5803. The DUIP and the SPAN programs are also at Sky Park Court. DUIP (619) 467-6810. SPAN (619) 715-0860.
The California Institute for Transportation Safety is host to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), a state-wide organization devoted to increasing traffic safety awareness among companies in major metropolitan areas in California. The Institute builds on the success of the transportation program at San Diego State University and expands research into the transportation safety area and develops safety-related curriculum with funding from state and local governments. The Institute offers hands-on experience for students involved in projects in the area of transportation safety.
The Distinguished Graduate Research Lecture Series is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division and the University Research Council and is supported in part through Instructionally Related Activities funds. The Series was established for the purpose of bringing to the campus scholars of national and international preeminence to present a public lecture on a general subject related to research and graduate education. In addition to this public lecture, the distinguished lecturer provides an unusual educational opportunity for graduate students by conducting a graduate research colloquium. Each of the lecturers in the Series is published to assure increased availability to students, faculty, and the university community at large.
Past Distinguished Research Lecturers have included Dr. Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor of Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Dr. Arthur Kornberg, Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University; Dr. Nathan Glazer, Professor of Education and Sociology, Harvard University; Dr. Jane Goodall, Director, Gombe Stream Research Centre; Dr. Jonathan Miller, well-known author, stage producer and director; Dr. Stephen Jay Gould, Professor of Geology, Harvard University; Dr. Frank Sherwood Rowland, Professor of Chemistry, U.C. -Irvine, and theorist on origins of ozone depletion; Ms. Susan Sontag, one of America's best known writers; and Dr. Michael J. Novacek and Dr. Mark A. Norell, Curator and Associate Curator respectively of Vertebrate Paleontology of the American Museum of Natural History.
A project sponsored b y the University Research Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division, the Albert W. Johnson University Research Lectureship is awarded to an SDSU faculty member for outstanding achievement in research and scholarship. The purpose of the University Research Lectureship is to recognize such achievement, to foster its continuance, and to enable a -distinguished resident faculty scholar to share knowledge more broadly with the academic community and the community-at-large.
One SDSU faculty member may be designated annually as the Albert W. Johnson University Research Lecturer for the academic year. Each of the lectures in the Series will be published to assure its increased availability to the students and faculty of the university and to the community at large.
Past lecturers have included Dr. Maurice Friedman, Professor of Religious Studies; Dr. Arthur Getis, Professor of Geography; Dr. Helen Wallace, Professor of Public Health; Dr. David Ward-Steinman, Professor of Music; Dr. Robert Kaplan, Professor of Psychology; Dr. Alvin Coox, Professor of History; Drs. James Flood and Diane Lapp, Professors of Education; Dr. Catherine Yi-yu Cho Woo, Professor of Chinese; Dr. E. Percil Stanford, Professor of Social Work; Dr. Joseph Ball, Professor of Anthropology; Dr. Arthur Getis, The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation Chair in Geographical Study; and Dipak K. Gupta, Professor of Public Administration and Urban Studies.
The Committee on Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS) reviews research for the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects who participate in research conducted by or involving the faculty, students or staff of SDSU or SDSU Foundation. The Office of the Committee on Protection of Human Subjects provides administrative support to the committee in compliance with Federal and State regulations and concerning regulatory and institutional policy related to the conduct of research involving human subjects through this office.
The University Animal Subjects Committee (UASC) is the institutional animal care and use committee at SDSU and functions in accordance with Federal and State regulations and institutional policy. The Office of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee provides administrative support to this committee for implementing University policy for research, testing, or education involving the use of animals.
The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) provides a central location where faculty, students, and staff may receive advice and assistance in the commercialization of their inventions, copyrights, and other scholarly work. In addition, the TTO assists in setting up new spin-off companies and obtaining venture capital for future development. This office also reports to the SDSU Foundation.
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