Trustees OK Phase 2 of CSSM

The California State University Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a $37.5-million second phase of construction at the San Marcos campus.

The vote, which came at the trustees’ monthly business meeting at CSU headquarters here, allows the San Marcos campus to more than double its student enrollment.

The system’s continuing money problems, which have led to class cutbacks and threatened layoffs throughout the state, do not block the San Marcos project because construction is financed partly from a bond measure approved by California voters in June.

The second phase of construction at the newest Cal State campus includes three new academic buildings, expected to be ready by June, 1996. The buildings will house the departments of foreign language, psychology, English writing, social sciences, business, visual and performing arts, sciences and mathematics.

The first permanent buildings at the 304-acre San Marcos campus opened their doors to faculty and students this fall.

Existing classrooms support an enrollment of about 1,700 students. With the new space, that figure will increase to 4,300, according to Jon H. Regnier, acting assistant vice chancellor for physical planning and development.

After about a year and a half for developing working drawings, construction is scheduled to begin in September, 1994.

A third stage of construction is expected to include a permanent library and physical education facilities, Regnier said. San Marcos eventually is expected to have 25,000 students.