San Diego State University Master Plan Revision Approved
Long-term plan will increase access to higher education by 40 percent

The California State University Board of Trustees today approved San Diego State University's Campus Master Plan revision. The approval enables SDSU to meet growing student demand for higher education over the next 20 years by increasing its enrollment capacity by 40 percent and adding approximately 1 million square feet of infrastructure space.

"This is an important step forward for San Diego," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber. "We need to expand access to higher education to ensure this region doesn't shut out or send away its tremendous human potential. SDSU now has a sensible plan in place to help serve the growing number of qualified students who apply to the university each year."

San Diego business leaders hailed the decision as well.

"One of the biggest challenges our economy will face in the next decade is having enough highly trained, university-educated workers and leaders available for employers," said Julie Meier Wright, President & CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. "SDSU's plan is critical for making sure our region can keep up with that demand. As planning moves forward I have every confidence that there is a win-win for the university as well as surrounding communities."

According to the California Post-Secondary Education Commission, there will be an increase of more than 700,000 students seeking higher education in the state by 2010-11, a trend often referred to as Tidal Wave II. The California State University (CSU) has indicated that no new campuses will be built in the immediate future - requiring the system's existing 23 campuses to accommodate future student enrollment demand.

This proposal was initially considered by the CSU Board of Trustees at its meeting in July, but was delayed for two months at the request of SDSU. The university made the request to allow the trustees more time to review the complex information about the plan.

The two-month delay also allowed SDSU to hold further discussions with representatives from adjacent communities about their concerns with the master plan. "The last two months have given us the opportunity to continue productive discussions with our neighbors," Weber said. "The university is committed to work closely with the community on issues of mutual concern as the master plan is implemented over the next 20 years."

SDSU's plan calls for the university to increase its enrollment capacity from 25,000 full-time equivalent students to 35,000 full-time equivalent students by 2025. This growth will occur slowly, at about 3 percent a year, to keep enrollment in line with available budgets and facilities.

To support the increased enrollment, the plan also includes new classroom and support space, a new residence hall for undergraduate students, a new and larger student union, a hotel, and affordable housing for faculty and graduate students on university-owned land just north of Interstate 8. The approved plan focuses future SDSU development entirely on university-owned or affiliated land.

The new facilities will be built on a staggered schedule over the next 20 years, with planning and construction of the first projects (the hotel and part of the academic campus on Alvarado Road) expected to start within two years. Many of the new facilities will go through a project-specific environmental review prior to construction.

SDSU conducted a thorough community outreach program for the Campus Master Plan over the last 12 months. The plan enjoyed broad regional support, with endorsements from more than 35 elected officials, civic and community groups and individuals. Most recently, state Senator Christine Kehoe endorsed the plan after SDSU and community representatives signed a memorandum of understanding clarifying SDSU's commitments as part of the master plan.

SDSU's Campus Master Plan was developed through a collaborative effort involving a committee of SDSU faculty, staff, students and alumni. This committee worked for nearly two years to develop a plan that achieved the university's goal of supporting more students while minimizing impact to surrounding communities.

"This plan is all about increasing access to high-quality higher education," said Eduardo Valerio, president of the Sweetwater Education Foundation. "Through programs like the Compact for Success, we are telling our kids that if they work hard, they will be guaranteed admission to SDSU and can work toward a bright future. This plan will help us keep our promise to them."

Contact: Jason Foster, foster@mail.sdsu.edu, SDSU Marketing & Communications, (619) 594-2585, Cell: (619) 992-0772