President Alexander Gonzalez announced an official name change for California&s seventh largest state university on Thursday: the 300-acre campus at 6000 J St. will now be known exclusively as Sacramento State University.

Gonzalez made the decision public during his spring address to faculty and students inside the University Union Ballroom.

The decision to use Sacramento State University as the new name came after the administration conducted thousands of surveys through the campus web site, student registration and focus groups with students and faculty.

A committee consisting of students and faculty analyzed the research and recommended the name change to Gonzalez. For years the community has referred to the university under several different names: Sac State, CSUS, or Cal State Sacramento.

&Picking a consistent name is part of an overall effort to re-brand this university, to develop a clear identity that&s instantly recognizable on and off campus,& Gonzalez said in his speech.

The Board of Trustees is expected to approve the name change in its March meeting.

A new logo will also be developed this semester to accompany the new name. Details were not provided, but Gonzalez said it will be comparable to a trademark that will help to increase the university&s popularity.

&Kind of like the Swoosh for Nike,& Gonzalez said.

Along with the formal name change of the university, Gonzalez announced that the CSUS Foundation has voted to change its name to University Enterprises Inc.

The foundation, located above the Hornet Bookstore, is responsible for overseeing the bookstore, campus eateries and student jobs.

Gonzalez spent much of the speech addressing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger&s budget proposal released on Jan. 10 and its impact on the California State University system.

The $111.7 billion budget proposes $2.6 billion in spending for the CSU general fund. This is a 4.4 percent increase from the last budget, or $110.5 million.

&The CSU as a whole is working hard and the lobbying has paid off in this budget proposal,& Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez added that he believes the governor&s budget proposal honors the Higher Education compact made between Schwarzenegger and the CSU system in May 2004.

Under the compact, the governor has promised to increase funding for the next six fiscal years as long as the CSU meets accountability standards in student performance.

&This budget doesn&t restore all we&ve lost, but demonstrates a prospect for much better times ahead,& Gonzalez said.

Some new features are in the works for the Destination 2010 plan including the construction of a new bookstore, new parking structure and campus directory signs.

The first step toward construction of the Recreation, Wellness and Events Center may begin in early March when the administration will decide on an architect. Gonzalez said construction for a new bookstore adjacent to Serna Plaza would begin in the fall.

A third parking structure near Hornet Stadium will begin construction in April or June. Gonzalez explained that construction for the structure had been delayed because the price of steel &went through the roof&, so it had to be redesigned.

A hotel and conference center near the campus and student housing options are being looked at.

&We&re in the works at looking at a facility that could house 500 students initially,& Gonzalez said.

Campus directory signs to help navigate students and the public from building to building are slated to be put up around campus in the next year and a half.

Surveys have prompted the administration to also look at possibly building a faculty and staff child care center.

Before ending the speech, Gonzalez reiterated that all of the plans he mentioned illustrate that the university will be aggressive in its approach to the Destination 2010 vision he has set.

&The next few years are when we go beyond mere expectations,& Gonzalez said.