In 2004, a plan for the future of Sacramento State was put into action. It is a six-year development plan called Destination 2010. As the time line for the end of the initiative approaches, some projects are being completed, while others are just taking shape. A few projects have fallen by the wayside.

Alexander Gonzalez, president of Sac State, said despite hard financial times, the campus has made significant improvements in line with the goals of Destination 2010.

“It is still a work in progress,” Gonzalez said. “I think you can point to some of the successes, for example, mandatory student advising, mandatory orientation, the numbers of students visiting our campus has gone way up.”

Improving the image of Sac State by creating a welcoming campus is a goal of Destination 2010.

Ron Richards, associate vice president of facilities services, said several projects on campus have helped to achieve this goal.

“We improved the signage throughout campus to help people navigate,” Richardson said.

The signs are part of a system that include ‘You are here’ maps, as well as directional pointers to various points on campus.

Gonzalez said when he first came to Sac State, getting around was confusing because of the lack of signs.

The use of signs on campus may be taken even further in the future, Richardson said. Associated Students Inc. and the Sac State division of Information, Resources and Technology are planning the installation of several digital television monitors on campus and in the AIRC building.

The completion of the electronic sign near Highway 50 contributes to the goals of Destination 2010 as well. The electronic sign runs advertisements for campus events, and helps to attract public attention to campus events.

Other noticeable projects that have come from Destination 2010 include the Eli and Edythe Broad Athletic Fieldhouse, the new bookstore and a student housing project on 65th Street and Folsom Boulevard called the East Side Lofts. The construction of new student housing on campus is well underway, and is expected to open next summer. The recent ground-breaking of the Recreation and Wellness Center began a project that will extend beyond 2010.

Tight budgeting by the State of California has led to delays in funding to improve educational areas of campus, Gonzalez said.

“We have classrooms and faculty offices that need a lot of work,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot more than Destination 2010. Because of the budget reductions and bad economy, it’s really going to force us to look at being much more efficient in how we deliver our programs.”

Lack of funding has led to the temporary suspension of work on the Science II complex. Science II is being designed as a state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom building housing a planetarium.

The project originally included a natural history museum which was canceled after controversy arose surrounding the killing of red-listed animals in Tanzania.

Science II was once a top priority for funding by the California State University system, but has lost support following a report by the former state budget analyst declaring the project unnecessary.

The Recreation and Wellness Center escaped the fate of the Science II project because the construction is being funded through University Enterprises Inc.

ASI President Miguel Cervantes attended the Recreation and Wellness Center ground-breaking ceremony this semester. Cervantes said collaboration between many groups on and off campus were needed to get the center underway.

Another project being designed in the late stages of Destination 2010 is the tram system. The city and the university have teamed up to design and build a shuttle connection from the 65th Street light rail station to the campus. The tram would provide convenient use of public transportation to many students and help reduce pollution and traffic in the Sacramento area.

The campus has continued to move forward with the tram system, while the city has stalled on planning the connection because of tight budget restrictions. Kevin Johnson, the newly-elected mayor of Sacramento, said during his campaign that he would push to move forward with the tram project, as well as the redevelopment of the region around Sacramento State.

Future plans call for cost-efficient faculty housing near campus as well. The city intends to encourage growth in the area surrounding Sac State by supporting infill projects along 65th Street and Folsom Boulevard.

Gonzalez said fundraising has increased dramatically as a result of efforts put forth in response to Destination 2010.

“The last piece of Destination 2010 is getting community support,” Gonzalez said. “We have made some real headway in that as well.”

Gonzalez said fundraising for Sac State had gone from about $3 million a year to between $16 and $17 million a year as a result of outreach efforts. Endowments to the college have also increased by 100 percent since 2004.

“The vast amount of that money goes into our student scholarships,” Gonzalez said.

The addition of new academic programs was made a goal with Destination 2010. Sac State has launched several new programs designed to help students achieve a superior education. One of these programs, called Troops to College, helps veterans return to campus after leaving the military.

In May, Sac State became one of the first CSU campuses to offer a doctorate in education.

Businesses have been contributing to the advancement of the campus. IBM recently began collaboration with the college of Engineering and Computer Science to develop several courses.

SunEdison and the State of California have partnered with Sac State, as well as other CSU campuses, to install solar panels to reduce the use of energy.

Discussion on campus is expected to begin in the spring about the future of Destination 2010. Gonzalez said the issue will remain the same as it was in 2004, “How do we best meet the demands of the community?”

Derek Fleming can be reached at [email protected]