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SF State opens Downtown Campus at Westfield Centre

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS
Ellen Griffin
SF State Office of Public Affairs & Publications
(415) 338-1665
elleng@sfsu.edu

Press Release published by the Office of Public Affairs & Publications

 


New location to house graduate business and extended learning programs

SAN FRANCISCO, January 24, 2007 -- San Francisco State University today opens its doors to an impressive new Downtown Campus located in the heart of the newly renovated Westfield San Francisco Centre. SF State's new location –- nearly 110,000 square feet on the fifth and sixth floors of 835 Market St. –- combines the retail energy of the centre with the business acumen of the nearby Financial District, creating a stimulating environment for learning, innovation and collaboration. The new campus will house the University's graduate business and extended learning programs.

"For more than a century, SF State has reflected the forward-thinking vitality and intellectual capital of this city," said Robert A. Corrigan, president of the University. "With our new Downtown Campus, we are perfectly located to expand our central role in development of the Bay Area's work force, contributing to job creation, economic vitality and quality of life. We believe this is indeed a smart move -- one that will help us take San Francisco into a strong and vibrant future."

Configured around a vertical, glass-enclosed atrium, the SF State Downtown Campus offers dramatic views of the shining 120-foot glass and steel dome that is the architectural hallmark of the centre. The new campus, which boasts 33 classrooms, nine computer labs, five breakout rooms, and wireless Internet access throughout, will be the home of the University's acclaimed graduate business and professional development programs. The College of Business graduate program has moved from SF State's main campus in the southwest corner of the city, and the College of Extended Learning has relocated from a 50,000-square-foot location at 425 Market St. Combined, the two colleges will serve 7,500 to 10,000 students in the new location.

The College of Business graduate program offers MBA, MSBA and Executive MBA programs, and enrolls more than 600 students annually. About 65 percent of those students are working professionals, who remain on the job while pursuing their degrees. This makes the new campus' proximity to the Financial District and public transportation options highly appealing, said Nancy Hayes, dean of the College of Business.

Dean Hayes believes the new location will allow unprecedented opportunities for interaction among faculty, students and the downtown business community. "While business executives will lend their expertise in the classroom -– for example, a course on ethics and decision-making will be co-taught by a local business executive -– the University will offer its resources and intellectual capital to help grow the Bay Area economy," she said.

The Downtown Campus also will serve 7,000 to 9,500 students enrolled in the College of Extended Learning, which offers more than 25 programs, most leading to professional and academic certificates. Extended learning students include mid-career professionals seeking to enhance their career potential, as well as lifelong learners pursuing personal development and enrichment. The College of Extended Learning offers a variety of programs including financial planning, paralegal studies and human resource management.

"Studies show that what employers want most are certificate programs in which their employees can quickly heighten and improve their skills, and return to the workplace functioning at a higher level," said Gail Whitaker, dean of the College of Extended Learning.

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Last modified January 24, 2007, by the Office of Public Affairs & Publications