California State University

California State University
Name	California State University
Established	1857 (San José State)
Type	Public university system
Chancellor	Mildred García
Headquarters	Long Beach, California
Students	457,992 (Fall 2023)
Campuses	23
Affiliations	Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Website	calstate.edu

California State University. It is the largest four-year public university system in the United States, comprising 23 campuses and eight off-campus centers. The system traces its origins to the 1857 establishment of the Minnesota State Normal School at San Jose, which evolved into San José State University. Governed by the California State University Board of Trustees, the system is a cornerstone of the state's Master Plan for Higher Education.

History

The system's foundational institution, the Minnesota State Normal School in San Jose, was created in 1857, marking the birth of public higher education in California. This school later became San José State University. In the early 20th century, a network of state normal schools and teachers' colleges expanded, including institutions that would become San Diego State University and San Francisco State University. The Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960 formally established the system, bringing together these individual colleges under a single governing body. Key historical figures in its development include Governor Pat Brown and Clark Kerr, architect of the Master Plan for Higher Education in California.

Campuses

The 23 campuses are spread across the state from Humboldt in the north to San Diego State University in the south. The largest campus by enrollment is California State University, Fullerton, followed by California State University, Long Beach and California State University, Northridge. Other significant campuses include California State University, Sacramento, the capital campus, and Cal Poly Pomona. The system also includes the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo and the newest campus, California State University, Channel Islands, which opened in 2002. Several campuses, such as San José State University and San Francisco State University, are located in major urban centers.

Academics

The system awards bachelor's and master's degrees, along with joint doctoral degrees through partnerships with institutions like the University of California and private universities. It is a national leader in conferring degrees to Hispanic and Asian American students. Notable academic programs include the engineering colleges at Cal Poly Humboldt and California State University, Long Beach, and the film program at California State University, Northridge. The system is also a major contributor of graduates to fields such as nursing, education, and business administration. Research initiatives are conducted through entities like the Agricultural Research Institute at Cal Poly Pomona.

Administration and governance

The system is governed by the California State University Board of Trustees, whose members are appointed by the Governor of California. The board appoints the chancellor, currently Mildred García, and the campus presidents. The system's headquarters are located in Long Beach, California. The statewide faculty is represented by the California Faculty Association, which engages in collective bargaining. The system's budget is approved by the California State Legislature and is part of the annual state budget signed by the governor. It operates alongside the University of California system and the California Community Colleges system under the state's Master Plan.

Student life and athletics

Student life across the campuses is diverse, with hundreds of student organizations, including chapters of national Greek letter organizations. Many campuses have historic student unions, such as the University Union at Sacramento State. In athletics, most campuses compete in the NCAA's Big West Conference, with some in the Mountain West Conference and others like San Diego State University in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Notable athletic programs include the football team at San Diego State University and the baseball program at Long Beach State. The system also hosts the annual CSU Student Research Competition.

Notable alumni and faculty

The system's alumni include prominent figures such as Congresswoman Maxine Waters, NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, and filmmaker Steven Spielberg. In business, alumni include eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and former McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook. Notable faculty have included anthropologist Gregory Bateson at San José State University, poet Maya Angelou at California State University, Sacramento, and computer scientist Timothy Huang at California State University, Los Angeles. The system has also produced numerous Pulitzer Prize winners, Academy Award recipients, and professional athletes like Major League Baseball player Stephen Strasburg.

Category:California State University Category:University systems in the United States Category:Public university systems in California Category:Educational institutions established in 1857