A San Diego State University senior administrator credited with helping the university cope with the state's steep budget cuts has received a prestigious award and $20,000.

Sally Roush, vice president for business and financial affairs at SDSU, was one of five people yesterday to receive the California State University Wang Family Excellence Award. Recipients are honored for "extraordinary commitment and dedication" within the 23-campus system.

Roush has been praised for bringing openness and transparency to the university budgetary process by sending faculty members newsletters to keep them informed.

"It's something the faculty value enormously," said Nancy Marlin, SDSU's provost. "She's put out dozens. People e-mail them across the state because she's able to very concisely put information out there that people can understand."

Roush oversees all physical improvements and additions made to the campus, often engaging with the community surrounding SDSU. One example is the $120 million trolley extension onto campus, which is expected to be completed in May 2005.

The Wang award was established by former Trustee Stanley T. Wang, who provided $1 million to reward outstanding faculty and administrators.

This year's other recipients include a rehabilitation counselor and a historian, both from Cal State Los Angeles; a marine habitat researcher at CSU Monterey Bay; and a Sonoma State art scholar.