Spring Break
Gonzalez speech tackles budget crunch, campus community
President Gonzalez stresses cooperation among the campus constituencies in light of imminent funding cuts.
Todd Wilson
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News
In a reformatting of the traditional spring address, Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez said the entire campus community needs to work together to overcome Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts and implement the university's strategic plan.
Rather than give a long address, Gonzalez said in a 15 minute speech on Thursday that he wanted to share the stage with Provost Joseph Sheley, Faculty Senate President Bruce Bikle, Associated Students Inc. President Christina Romero and Syracuse University professor Vincent Tito, underscoring his goal to work closely with all of the campus' constituencies.
Economic downturns and budget cuts are cyclical and everyone in the Sac State community needs to work together to get through the next couple of years to get through the current crisis, Gonzalez said.
"We need to continue to plan and behave in such a way that we are going to be able to do what we can to provide the best education we can to our students," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he viewed the budget crisis as both a challenge and opportunity. He noted, however, that there are three areas where budget cuts will have a negative impact on the university: access to the university, retaining Sac State workforce and bringing in under represented students.
Budget cuts will not affect the building of the Science II facility that is to be completed in 2010. Money is already in place for the project, and is not contingent on Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed 2008-2009 budget, Gonzalez said.
On a positive note, Gonzalez said, enrollment is up for the spring semester, as well as higher rates of applications and acceptance for next year.
The university is also forming a partnership with the City of Sacramento that will increase the university's presence in the downtown area in the next few months, Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez also said that the university was able to raise $16.4 million dollars last year with much of that money going into student scholarships.
Rather than give a long address, Gonzalez said in a 15 minute speech on Thursday that he wanted to share the stage with Provost Joseph Sheley, Faculty Senate President Bruce Bikle, Associated Students Inc. President Christina Romero and Syracuse University professor Vincent Tito, underscoring his goal to work closely with all of the campus' constituencies.
Economic downturns and budget cuts are cyclical and everyone in the Sac State community needs to work together to get through the next couple of years to get through the current crisis, Gonzalez said.
"We need to continue to plan and behave in such a way that we are going to be able to do what we can to provide the best education we can to our students," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he viewed the budget crisis as both a challenge and opportunity. He noted, however, that there are three areas where budget cuts will have a negative impact on the university: access to the university, retaining Sac State workforce and bringing in under represented students.
Budget cuts will not affect the building of the Science II facility that is to be completed in 2010. Money is already in place for the project, and is not contingent on Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed 2008-2009 budget, Gonzalez said.
On a positive note, Gonzalez said, enrollment is up for the spring semester, as well as higher rates of applications and acceptance for next year.
The university is also forming a partnership with the City of Sacramento that will increase the university's presence in the downtown area in the next few months, Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez also said that the university was able to raise $16.4 million dollars last year with much of that money going into student scholarships.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Stryker
posted 1/26/08 @ 5:04 PM PST
Hey guys, increase the space between each line of text. This is pretty hard to read.
natalyesaurus
Natalye
posted 1/28/08 @ 12:05 PM PST
Sounds like Gonzalez has been hanging out with his PR guy more.
Also, the new site design is sexy.
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