SDSU's 2007 Campus Master Plan Receives Unanimous Approval

Plan provides for growth in a smart, planned manner over the next two decades

Contact:
Jack Beresford
Asst. Vice President, Marketing & Communications
San Diego State University
Jack.Beresford@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO (Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007) — The California State University Board of Trustees unanimously approved San Diego State University’s 2007 Campus Master Plan at their meeting today. This comprehensive plan will increase access to higher education and allow SDSU to do its part to meet the region’s need for a highly trained workforce well into the 21st century.

"The 2007 Campus Master Plan is the result of an extensive 10-month dialogue between university representatives and the community and civic leaders," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber. "While today’s approval concludes the public environmental review process, SDSU remains committed to working closely with the community and local jurisdictions as this plan is implemented."

Key elements of the plan were changed in direct response to community input. These changes include substantially increasing on-campus student housing, decreasing the number of homes proposed for the Adobe Falls faculty and staff housing project, and inclusion of a request for $6.4 million to pay for SDSU’s fair share of mitigations anticipated as a result of the plan on nearby streets and intersections.

Weber said SDSU is committed to working cooperatively with local public officials and government agencies to secure the fair share mitigation funding identified in the plan.

In September 2005, the California State University ("CSU") Board of Trustees unanimously approved the SDSU 2005 Campus Master Plan, but a California Supreme Court decision in July 2006 - City of Marina v. Board of Trustees of The California State University - required the CSU Board of Trustees to decertify the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the SDSU plan and set aside its approval. The court decision encourages the CSU to negotiate in good faith with impacted localities regarding fair share of mitigation costs for off-site impacts that may result from university development. It also directed the CSU to seek funding for its fair share amount through the state budget process. This decision applies to the entire California State University system, including SDSU.

As a result of the approval of the Campus Master Plan, the CSU will make a request through the state budget process for more than $6.4 million to pay for SDSU’s fair share of mitigations needed on streets and intersections in the City of San Diego and the City of La Mesa. In addition, SDSU will support Caltrans’ efforts to seek $10.1 million for improvements to freeway interchanges that are impacted as a result of campus development.

"We are pleased that SDSU's Campus Master Plan received approval as it is critical to our region’s efforts to meet the growing demand for university-educated workers in our economy," said Scott Alevy, Vice President of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. "It will ensure that SDSU can continue to produce the qualified workforce that our region needs to remain competitive, while at the same time offer mitigation for potential impacts in the surrounding areas."

The 2007 Campus Master Plan will allow SDSU to provide increased academic space, student housing and services, and faculty housing to meet growing student demand. It is expected to increase SDSU’s enrollment capacity from 25,000 full-time equivalent students to 35,000 by 2025.

Last year, SDSU attracted a record 58,000 undergraduate applications for the Fall 2007 semester – which ranks it among the top universities in the U.S. for applications received. SDSU’s economic impact on the San Diego region is estimated to be $2.4 billion annually.

For more information on SDSU’s 2007 Campus Master Plan visit SDSU’s website at www.sdsu.edu/masterplan.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s  approximately 35,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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