Sacramento State University President Alex Gonzalez says the school is poised for many significant changes. He gave his final spring address to the school today.
He says Sac State is close to approving a new master plan. But, he won't be leading the school when many of the changes occur. He will step down July 1st.
"The master plan is currently going through the local EIR (Environmental Impact Review) process to make sure that our neighbors are okay with the impact it will have on the surrounding area and I'm very confident that they will. We are proposing more housing, additional bike lanes, signage and lockers."
He says future changes also include a new website, an increasing number of Latino or Asian students, and a new dorm along the American River.
Gonzalez says his successor will have much to do.
"Look programmatically at the future and what we're going to do, look at our programs, make sure our general education component is really up to date, look to providing maximum services to our students so that they can make progress towards their degree. That's what needs to happen. There's always something to do."
The chancellor and board of trustees have been interviewing candidates and will likely pick a new president by the end of March.Gonzalez says the school has done well raising money for future projects. It has $37 million in assets. That's an increase of $6 million from last year.
He says future changes include a new website, an increasing number of Latino or Asian students, and a new dorm along the American River.
But, he says he would like to see some things stay the same.
"As a university, we have to maintain a balance. We're not strictly here for workforce development. We still have to look at the liberal arts as the core foundation of what we do."
Sac State is planning a new science and policy center to study the region's water, energy and sustainability.
The master plan will likely be approved in May. Gonzalez will see its implementation as a member of the psychology department. He will return to teaching when his final term as president expires. He will have served 12 years in the position.
Almost 35,000 students have applied to attend Sacramento State in the fall.
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