'Community vitality, energy, and growth': Stanislaus State plans $54M expansion to Stockton facility

Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record
Updated ·2 min read

California State University, Stanislaus officials are hoping that a $54 million expansion to the university's satellite campus in Stockton will make it easier for residents to earn college degrees.

This week, construction crews broke ground on a 48,000 square-foot, two-story academic and student services facility. Beginning in the fall 2025 semester, the facility will be used for assembly space, faculty offices, labs, lectures, and study areas.

"Stan State has a unique opportunity to create a vibrant branch campus with a revolutionary impact," said Susan Borrego, interim president of Stanislaus State. "Anchor institutions are vital parts of community vitality, energy, and growth. Historically, there have been limited opportunities for place-bound scholars in Stockton. With our expansion, college-ready students don't have to make the difficult choice to leave the area to obtain an undergraduate degree."

The Stanislaus State Stockton Campus is located at 612 E Magnolia Street at University Park in Stockton on May 15, 2024.
The Stanislaus State Stockton Campus is located at 612 E Magnolia Street at University Park in Stockton on May 15, 2024.

Stanislaus State, which is 45 minutes to the south in Turlock, has had a presence in Stockton since 1974. About 1,000 students are currently enrolled at the satellite campus located at 612 E. Magnolia St. The expansion is expected to double student enrollment in Stockton, according to Donna Birch Trahan, a spokesperson for the university.

The expansion is part of Stanislaus State's five-year strategic plan for the Stockton campus, which is meant to support the long-established need for public higher education across the region, and in Stockton specifically.

"This is a young community. This is a community of hope. This is a community of opportunity," Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln said. "Every investment that we make in this space of education ... providing opportunities for students ... is an investment where we're going to see a return on those investments for the next 10 to 20 years."

The Stanislaus State Stockton Campus is located at 612 E Magnolia Street at University Park in Stockton on May 15, 2024. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD
The Stanislaus State Stockton Campus is located at 612 E Magnolia Street at University Park in Stockton on May 15, 2024. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD

The CSU Sacramento and CSU Stanislaus main campuses are more than 45 miles away from Stockton. The city has San Joaquin Delta College along with two private institutions — University of the Pacific and Humphreys University — making Stanislaus State's Stockton campus the only public higher education institution beyond community college in the city and in San Joaquin County.

The Stockton campus offers upper-division courses that earn full academic credit, leading to selected bachelor's and master's degrees and credentials. The campus currently offers bachelor's degrees in business administration, criminal justice, liberal studies, psychology, and social studies. Master's degree programs include business administration, education, and public administration.

Trahan said the new facility will allow the university to expand its master of social work (MSW) program to meet the growing behavioral health needs in San Joaquin County. She pointed to a $1.68 million congressional grant secured by U.S. Rep. Josh Harder (D-Tracy) in September 2023. The grant, Trahan said, will be used over the next three years to train MSW students and get more of them into the field.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stanislaus State plans $54M expansion to Stockton facility