By Jennifer K. Morita

January 23, 2026

The new year is giving positive vibes for Sacramento State. 

President Luke Wood projected another record-breaking enrollment year, teased plans for a landmark downtown campus, a state-of-the-art forensic lab in Placer County, and reported a cautiously optimistic budget outlook during his 2026 Spring Address on Jan. 22. 

Wood, who declared 2026 the year of the arts, said Sac State made great strides toward his four imperatives for the 2025-26 academic year. 

“We have navigated difficult times and more challenges lie ahead,” Wood said. “But I can tell you, we’re doing well. We’re growing, we’re thriving. 

“... We’re the North Star of the West for many reasons. While other universities across the nation and in our own state turned away from the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, we remain steadfast.” 

The Spring Address, followed by Convocation in the evening, kicked off the start of the Spring Semester. 

Wood outlined his four imperatives during his Fall Address in August which include: 

• Providing students with an education that leads to greater economic mobility, or a return on their investment (ROI) 

• Achieving financial sustainability and independence from state and economic downturns 

• Making Sac State a national brand 

• Creating an environment of hope and dignity for students, faculty, and staff 

Earlier this month, Sacramento State earned the prestigious Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for 2026, the fourth time since 2010, a national designation recognizing the University’s long history of providing students with hands-on learning experiences in the community. 

Each year, Sac State students engage in over 914,000 hours of community-engaged research and service projects, a gift of over $36.5 million to the region. 

“Our community engagement practices not only contribute to improved retention and graduation rates, but they regularly pave the way for employment post graduation,” he said. 

Wood also praised the work of the Career Center, which supported more than 13,700 students despite a substantial loss in federal funding, and emphasized the University’s commitment to find other ways to finance the center. 

The planned Sacramento State Placer Center is another way the University is providing students with experiential learning opportunities, Wood said. 

In December, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved spending $2.5 million to start the design-build phase of a state-of-the-art forensic science lab on the future campus. 

Once completed, students will be learning and working in an active crime lab. 

“Our students will learn from the front row, simultaneously building career-ready skills and life-changing relationships with influential professionals in the field,” Wood said. 

Wood reported encouraging budget news. Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget includes $366 million for the California State University system. 

“If approved, this funding strengthens our ability to do what we do best. Drive economic mobility, fuel regional growth, and prepare our workforce, particularly for the first generation, low-income, and historically underserved students who are the heart of our mission,” Wood said. 

But Wood cautioned the proposed budget could still change. 

Guest speaker Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra had a call to action for Hornets. 

“Higher education is under attack nationally,” said Guerra, a Sac State alumnus. “It’s time for us to pull together to remind people so close to our state capital, so close to many of our federal officials, that higher education is critical to not only creating hope and opportunity, but to moving our state forward, to addressing our economic challenges.” 

Sacramento State’s enrollment continues to climb, Wood said.

“Art supercharges creative and critical thinking." -- Sacramento State President Luke Wood

“We are on track once again to break records for enrollment,” Wood said. “We are meeting and exceeding our enrollment goals, which is wonderful since enrollment growth is an indicator of institutional health and progress towards our financial sustainability. 

“It’s also bucking the trend in terms of what’s taking place in Northern California with other universities.” 

Enrollment growth and making Sac State into a national and international brand are critical to gaining financial independence from the state.

“Name recognition matters,” Wood said. “It translates into support for the funding sources that allow us to offer our students our very best across all measures.” 

Sac State’s plan to establish a Downtown Sacramento campus is moving forward. Wood called it a “landmark” project that would include public and private uses for education, housing, workforce development, and hospitality. 

Wood cited Sacramento State’s Film and Criminal Justice programs, as well as Capital Fellows and Sacramento Semester as draws for prospective students, including alum and filmmaker Joe Carnahan ‘94 whose latest movie The Rip is the No. 1 movie on Netflix. 

Wood also called for a focus on the arts, starting with art-driven discourses on campus and weekly dance and music performances around campus beginning in February. 

“Art supercharges creative and critical thinking,” he said. “It boosts emotional intelligence. It promotes civic engagement and cultural awareness. 

“These are the characteristics we want in our graduates. If we want to create an environment of hope and dignity, we must embrace the arts and the way art absolutely explodes the vocabulary we can use to counter dominant narratives.” 

Wood pointed to alum Ryan Coogler ‘07, whose film Sinners made Oscar history with a record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations this year. 

“Sinners is a sermon on cultural appropriation, the forgotten figures of the Jim Crow South, and the transcendent properties of the Juke Joint Blues,” Wood said. “It's also a master class on media technology and entertainment industry politics. It's a work of art that sparks discussions ... and uncomfortable truths. At Sacramento State we pride ourselves in our willingness to engage in these conversations to confront falsehoods and to empower truth tellers.”s 

Wood concluded by announcing that he has a full, permanent cabinet for the first time since becoming president in July 2023. 

Later in the day, Sac State held the Spring Convocation, a rite of passage signifying the start of students’ academic careers. 

Jasmyne Bradford, a transfer student from Folsom Lake Community College, attended the evening ceremony with her mom and 10 year-old brother. 

“I’m the first person in my family to go to university, so I thought it would be cool for my mom to see everything that I’m doing and I get to experience,” said Bradford, who wants to be a psychologist helping underserved communities. 

“I also have a younger brother, and I think it’s important that he sees that I’m pursuing my education.”