About A.S.

Mission Statement

To support the mission of San Diego State University, we the Associated Students, create, promote and fund social, cultural and recreational programs and facilities both on campus and in the community, advocate for student interests, provide leadership opportunities and participate in shared governance.

Vision

AS SDSU is a unifying and empowering student-directed organization dedicated to serving and involving students at SDSU by enhancing the college experience that leads to a higher quality of life after graduation.

Values

AS SDSU values efforts by and on behalf of students that promote the following ideals:

• Professionalism
• Unity
• Growth
• Advocacy
• Communication
• Opportunity
• Commitment
• Empowerment
• Service
• Mutual Understanding
• Involvement
• Diversity
• Responsibility and Safety
• Innovation
• Voice of Students
• Community
• Campus
• Teamwork
• Respect

Partnerships:

Associated Students operates in part in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) for the Division of Student Affairs. Other administrative units under DOS include Career Services Center, Student Testing, Assessment and Research and the Student Activities and Campus Life, which houses the Center for Community Based Service Learning, Cross-Cultural Center, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership Programs, and Student Clubs and Organizations.

A.S. History:

Origins of the Associated Students of San Diego State University

San Diego State College was created by the State Legislature in 1921 by the merging of the State Normal School of San Diego, which was established in 1897, with the Junior College, established in 1914. Due to their separate beginnings, each came into the merger with their own student body organizations, including their own officers. Measures for the joint benefit of the two student bodies required the approval of each campus’ respective student executive committee, often resulting in delay. Despite the best efforts of each, it became impossible to attain effective cooperation between the independent committees of each campus.

Sensing the need for unity and a stronger spirit of cooperation among the student bodies in their efforts to facilitate student government, it was decided in the fall of 1921 to form a Central Committee to coordinate joint legislation and student programming. Although this system was effective initially, it soon proved to be cumbersome. During an election at the end of the school year, the students voiced their desire to completely fuse the student bodies into a single organization.

Under the name of the San Diego State College Student Body, the combined student bodies elected Wilbert Anderson as their first President for the 1922-23 school year. Following the relocation of San Diego State College to the current site of the campus and the continued growth of the student body, the Associated Students of San Diego State College were incorporated as a California non-profit corporation on March 7, 1932.

Today, Associated Students (AS) of San Diego State University (SDSU) is an independent student-directed corporation that provides a wide range of services and programs for SDSU students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and the general public. With an operating budget of over $20 million, Associated Students derives 25% of its revenues from student fees and 75% from revenues generated by programs it operates. AS SDSU is run by five elected student executive officers and the AS Council, the student board of directors. AS employs 90 full-time employees and over 1,000 part-time employees.

Important Milestones in the History of the Associated Students

• 1955 – Mandatory student activity fee approved by a vote of the student body.

• 1963 – Students approve mandatory fee to build a permanent student union facility (Aztec Center).

• 1968 – A.S. lease of student union approved. Aztec Center opens as the first permanent student union facility on any CSU campus.

• 1971 – Campus Childcare Center established.

• 1975 – Mission Bay Aquatic Center established in Mission Bay Park in cooperation with the University of California, San Diego. City of San Diego, Regents of the University of California and Associated Students reach agreement on 25-year lease.

• 1978 – Open Air Theater is leased and improved by the Associated Students as a venue to present major contemporary artists on the campus.

• 1982 – Associated Students celebrates the 50^th anniversary of its incorporation.

• 1985 – New Open Air Theater Hospitality House opens, built by Associated Students; Madonna is first guest artist to utilize the facility for two performances during her "Like A Virgin" tour.

• 1988 – Students approve fee for construction and operation of the Student Activity Center (Cox Arena and Aztec Recreation Center).

• 1993 – "Wall Memorial" permanent tribute to student activism of the early 90’s is created and installed in Peiffer Lounge.

• 1992 – Associated Students constructs and opens the Faculty-Staff Children’s Center as a service to SDSU faculty and staff.

• 1995 – Following nearly six years of litigation, ground is finally broken and construction begins on Student Activity Center.

• 1996 – A.S. lease for the operation of the Student Activity Center is approved, becoming the only student body organization in the U.S. to operate a major on-campus university arena facility.

• 1997 – The long-awaited Student Activity Center (Cox Arena and Aztec Recreation Center) opens its doors in time for the SDSU Centennial celebration.

• 2001 – Cox Arena is the site of the Western Regional, 1^st and 2^nd rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (March 15-17).

• 2001 – Cox Arena is the site of the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships (December)

• 2001 – AS Government Affairs Office establishes in Aztec Center relocation of student Executive Offices and creating a new center for student government programs.

• 2001 – $2.6 million Children's Center replacement project approved by AS Council. Construction to begin in March 2003

• 2001 – AS Council approves creation of a new Executive Officer position. The AS Vice President of University Affairs will assist to improve student advocacy in campus affairs.

• 2001 – Cox Arena receives "Prime Site Award". It is the 3rd consecutive year Cox Arena has been selected by 'Facilities & Event Management' magazine. Cox Arena is one of only three California arena facilities receiving the distinction, and the only university facility in California, to win the award.

• 2002 – Student fee referendum conducted in March, resulting in approval of fee increases for Student Health Service (SHS) programs, a new SHS facility and enhanced student access at the Love Library.

• 2002 – Aztec Center Satellite Cyber Lounge opens in September at the West End Plaza to provide enhanced computer lounge service needs for students on the west side of campus.

• 2002 – Cox Arena receives the "Prime Site Award" from 'Facilities & Event Management' magazine for the 4th year in a row. Cox Arena also receives local recognition from the San Diego Reader as the venue with the 'Best Concert Sound'.

• 2002 – AS Council approves establishment of coffeehouse program and facility modifications to the Peiffer Lounge in Aztec Center set to open for fall 2003.

• 2003 – New Cross–Cultural Center in the Aztec Center opens in January and officially was dedicated in April.

• 2003 – Cox Arena awarded as Western Regional site for first and second round of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

• 2003 – Aztec Recreation Center remodel completed providing enhanced services to members and administrative efficiencies.

• 2003 – Experienced a record number (1+ million) entrances to the Aztec Recreation Center for the first time.

• 2003 – Cox Arena receives the "Prime Site Award" from 'Facilities & Event Management' magazine for the 5th consecutive year and was recognized by the America Online City Guide as San Diego's "Best Place for Live Music".

• 2003 – Opened Aztec Café – Starbucks in the Aztec Center in September and added additional café–style seating on the mezzanine.

• 2004 – Opened new state–of–the–art Children's Center facility in March that now matches the high quality educational program that AS has been delivering for 30 years.

• 2004 – Support of a student referendum funding a new swimming pool and aquatics facility, a proposal which was subsequently passed by the student body.

• 2005 – With the intention of providing more entertainment and social opportunities and creating tradition on campus, with the collaboration of AS Executive Officers and CASE, created a music festival called "Azfest" that featured live bands, vendors selling wares, food, and beverages. The day ended with a concert in the Open Air Theatre, attended by students, alumni, and community members.

• 2005 – Initiated the "@State" electronic newsletter along with the University. The e–newsletter is emailed to all registered SDSU students on the first of every month and can be accessed at anytime on the SDSU website. It informs students of vital information and updates from a variety of sources.

• 2005 – Aztec Center facilitated and completed the renovation of the Bowling & Games Center restrooms to make them ADA compliant.

• 2005 – Campus Recreation selected a pool architectural firm to work with student leaders, recreation board members, athletic coaches/administrators, CSU officials and campus–based staff to develop a working construction document for the new pool.

• 2005 – Children's Center established a major collaborative project with on–campus and off campus support for our "A is for Art Exhibition & Gala" highlighting the capabilities of young children.

• 2005 – In conjunction with the Athletic Department, the Cox Arena designed and implemented new VIP and Media seating system providing table seating for 148 people on three levels of riser and ample access for food service and ingress and egress.

• 2005 – Cox Arena receives recognition from the AOL Online City Guide as the 2005 City's Best Place for Live Music.

• 2005 – Cox Arena successfully hosted 141 events days that resulted in 335,203 guests visiting our venues. Included in this event total were 35 SDSU basketball games, 20 concerts including sold–out performances by Elton John, George Lopez, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Beastie Boys, Prince, and Incubus, four days of commencement, and 16 days of conference bookings.

• 2005 – In partnership with the San Diego International Sports Council, Cox Arena successfully booked and hosted the United States Olympic International Festival basketball games.

• 2005 – Mission Bay Aquatic Center's youth water sports programs enjoyed record attendance for the year with 6,050 youth participating in sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, surfing, kayaking, rowing, and marine science activities.

• 2005 – Mission Bay Aquatic Center continued to be a national model facility for water sports education serving over 15,000 participants in the widest range of water sports of any facility in the nation.

• 2006 – Successfully marketed and passed a student fee referendum to expand the Aztec Center Student Union.

• 2006 – Welcomed five new co–sponsors to the SDSU Children's Center's "A is for Art" Exhibitions and Gala Evening of Art Project. The Office of the University President, Aztec Shops, KPBS, the SDSU Library, and CASE joined us to expand participation throughout the campus and into the larger SDSU community.

• 2006 – Hosted 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the COX Arena.

• 2006 – Broke ground and began construction on the long-awaited new SDSU swimming pool facility, the Aztec Aquaplex.