San Diego State Unveils Plan for New Education Center

San Diego State University announced plans Monday to construct its first privately financed building, a $6-million education and research center geared toward the study of entrepreneurial business, the Far East and Mexico.

The Gateway Complex, to be located at the campus entrance at the intersection of Campanile Drive and Hardy Avenue, will bring six existing campus programs into one building where students can more easily take courses in all of them.

In recognition of the growing importance to California of relations with Mexico and the Far East, the 38,000-square-foot center will provide training to students, offer continuing education to the business community and serve as a setting for faculty research, officials said Monday. It will also foster student understanding of customs and culture in other parts of the world.

“I think the project will move us to a different plateau of activity, both as seen by ourselves and as seen by the community--and, for that matter, the world,” SDSU President Thomas Day said at a news conference Monday.

The fund-raising technique will also be a first for the 89-year-old university. Rather than place the complex on the long list of requests for state funding, SDSU will ask San Diego businesses--which are expected to work closely with the faculty in the complex--to be major donors. Alumni and others also will be asked for donations.

“If we were to wait for the state to assist us in the project, I’d be surprised if we got this completed by the year 2000,” said Lee Grissom, president and chief executive officer of the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce and a co-chairman of the fund-raising committee. “And I don’t think this opportunity should have to wait until then.”

Japanese businessman Masao Shiga, founder of Tesco Educational Systems, has pledged a $500,000 donation, part of $2.4 million in pledges already collected, said Ron Fowler, president of Liquid Investments Inc. and chairman of the fund-raising committee.

Fowler said committee members hope to raise $6 million in pledges within 12 months and open the building in three years. Buildings now housing the campus psychology clinic and some faculty offices will be torn down to make room for the Gateway Complex.

Programs to be housed in the complex include:

- The Entrepreneurial Management Center, which will be dedicated to the study of creative approaches to business and organizational development by faculty, students and local entrepreneurs.

- The American Language Institute, which teaches English to foreign students.

- The Japan Studies Institute, which coordinates research and instruction on Japan and an exchange program with Japanese colleges.

- Professional Development Programs, which offer continuing education instruction for professionals and corporate training seminars.

- Satellite and television instruction programs, which can receive and broadcast seminars and provide facilities for teleconferences using KPBS Television equipment.

- The Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias, which focuses on California-Mexico border issues.