Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez has recently formed a new program called the President’s Circle to help bolster fund raising efforts on campus.

Donations to join the President’s Circle begin at $1,500 and go to $10,000 and above.

Membership includes privileges such as personal visits with the president at his home, courtesy parking when on campus, special campus identification, a newsletter, invitations to special events and a designated campus contact. “Gonzalez’s ideas are bigger than in the past,” said Karyn Domich, special assistant to the president for stewardship programs. “Money is harder to come by, so we have to be creative.”

The program has collected about $12,000 since it was established last October. “People have seen and heard the president, and they like his direction for the campus,” Domich said.

Domich said the money raised through the President’s Circle goes into an unrestricted fund, which the president can spend at his discretion. The money will be used for events or special projects as they come up. Funds will be used to help finance events such as the upcoming trip to Carnegie Hall by the Sac State wind ensemble.

The formation of the President’s Circle is not related to Gonzalez’s plan to make Sac State a flagship campus, Domich said.

Fund raising efforts to help finance Gonzalez’s plan will take place under a new vice president for university advancement, who will report directly to the president.

The university has placed a national advertisement for the position, with an anticipated start date of June 2004. A committee is currently reviewing a pool of applicants, Ann Reed of Public Affairs said.

The master plan envisioned by Gonzalez includes on campus housing for 5,000 students, new classroom buildings, a new 3,200 space parking structure, a performing arts center, new arena and a wellness center. Gonzalez received approval for his plan from the Board of Trustees in January.