San José State University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
San José State University
Motto	Powering Silicon Valley
Type	Public; Space-grant;
Established	1857
Academic affiliations	California State University system; WASC; AASCU
Endowment	$150.1 million (2018)
Budget	$372 million (2018)
President	Mary Papazian
Provost	Joan Ficke (Interim)
Academic staff	2,037 (Fall 2018)
Administrative staff	1,305 (Fall 2018)
Students	32,828 (Fall 2018)
Undergraduates	27,271 (Fall 2018)
Postgraduates	5,557 (Fall 2018)
Location	San Jose , California , United States ; 37°20′07″N 121°52′53″W / 37.3353°N 121.8813°WCoordinates: 37°20′07″N 121°52′53″W / 37.3353°N 121.8813°W
Campus	Urban, 154 acres (62 ha) on main campus and 62 acres (25 ha) on south campus
Colors	Blue and Gold;
Nickname	Spartans
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS; MW; WAC; MPSF; GCC;
Mascot	Sammy Spartan

San José State University is a public university in San Jose, California. The university, part of the California State University system, has about 31,280 students. It was founded in 1857. The current president of the university is Don W. Kassing. The university was originally called the Minns' Evening Normal School before the California legislature voted to change the school's name to San Jose State University in 1974.

Sports

The athletics teams of the university are called the Spartans. They have 12 varsity teams and they compete in the Mountain West Conference.

Images for kids

A view of South Campus, stretching from the parking lot west of CEFCU Stadium to the golf course.
SJSU Marching Band Drum Major conducts during a football game at Stanford University.
Spartan Squad official logo
An 1880s lithograph of the original California State Normal School campus in San Jose.
The California State Normal School Bell, forged in 1881, still graces the San Jose campus.
Aerial view of San Jose State campus.
Tower Hall
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.
Tower Hall
Boccardo Gate - San José State University
California State Normal School football 1910
Utah vs. San Jose State at Spartan Stadium – 2009
Helder Antunes — Senior Director for Cisco; Chairman of OpenFog Consortium.
John Carlos — 1968 Olympian and bronze medalist.
Michael Deaver — Former Deputy White House Chief of Staff, Reagan Administration.
Ray Dolby — Founder of Dolby Laboratories.
Harry Edwards — Sociologist and civil rights activist.
Jeff Garcia — NFL quarterback; four-time Pro Bowl selection.
Lou Henry Hoover — Former First Lady of the United States.
Juli Inkster — LPGA golfer; two-time U.S. Women's Open winner (1999 and 2002).
Tom Johnston — Guitarist and vocalist; member of The Doobie Brothers.
Edwin Markham — American poet; Poet Laureate of Oregon from 1923–1931.
Gordon Moore — Co-founder of Intel Corporation and author of Moore's Law.
Stevie Nicks — Musician best known for Fleetwood Mac.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell — Former U.S. Senator from Colorado; 1964 Olympian (judo).
Tommie Smith — 1968 Olympian and gold medalist.
Henry Suzzallo — Former president, University of Washington.
Amy Tan — Novelist; author of The Joy Luck Club.
James E. Thompson — Founder and chairman, Crown Worldwide Group.
Peter Ueberroth — Major League Baseball Commissioner; U.S. Olympic Committee chair; Time magazine "Man of the Year."
Bill Walsh — NFL head coach; winning coach, Super Bowl XVI, Super Bowl XIX and Super Bowl XXIII.
Hamza Yusuf — American Islamic scholar and a co-founder of Zaytuna College.