Monday night’s meeting was a short one with the Director of International Students and Scholars, Kirsten Linke, addressing the Students’ Association (SA).

OPEN FORUM

The International Students and Scholars department reaches out to students to help with their cultural transition, especially during their first two semesters. The department also oversees all international cultural organizations on campus. 

SDSU has students from 78 different countries; There are about 770 students with an F1 Visa status, and the international students and scholars department serves about 200 students on top of that. 

In regards to international student enrollment concerns, Linke said there are two countries with travel bans that normally send a large number of students, which means that SDSU will not have students from those countries for the next few years. 

“We’re working continuously with those students who are impacted and at this time not able to enter the U.S.,” Linke said.

Linke added that there has been a “small decline over the last couple of years” in international enrollment trends at SDSU. However, because of a larger class of international enrollment that came in fall 2024, she said that it has made up for the decline in the past two semesters. 

Linke talked about an event called “Thank Goodness it’s Friday” also known as “TGIF” that is held every other Friday. This is a social time for students to get together and relax from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Briggs Library room 130.  

She invites everyone to come to TGIF, and said the event is for international students and any student that wants to be involved. 

NEW BUSINESS

The Finance Committee introduced the general budget item. Both the contingency and preferred budgets will begin July 1, 2026. 

The contingency budget funded $388,925 out of the $389,620 available. The remaining $635 would go into reserves. The preferred budget funded all $435,160, leaving $0 to go into reserves. 

These budgets were introduced at Monday’s meeting, but they will not be discussed or voted on until the next SA meeting on March 24.

IN OTHER ACTION

President Spier was absent, leaving Vice President Siira to lead the meeting. He gave reminders about the Vice President and President Q & A session on Monday, March 23 between noon and 3:00 p.m. 

The SA election for next year’s association is from 8 a.m. on March 24 to 5 p.m. on March 25. There will be no SA meeting next week because of spring break.