Alumni Council Records

The California State University Alumni Council acts as the representative of the CSU's four million global alumni, playing an active role in helping to shape CSU policy and participating in strategic decision-making.

The council is comprised of alumni directors and representatives from all 23 campuses and uses its combined resources to promote and engage the CSU and its alumni, advocate for the CSU and facilitate the professional development of member associations.

Members of the Alumni Council meet regularly with CSU leaders and participate on systemwide committees to ensure that alumni are represented. The Alumni Council designates a representative to the following:

-The CSU Board of Trustees -The System Budget Advisory Committee -The California State Student Association -The Academic Senate of the CSU

The Alumni Council president and members of the Executive Committee meet the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor to discuss CSU priorities and the Alumni Council’s efforts to promote and protect the interests of the CSU.

The California State University System was formally established in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. It is the nation’s largest university system, with 23 campuses. The CSU is one of three public higher education systems in the state of California (the others are the University of California and the California Community College System). The System is the direct descendant of the California State Normal School (now, San Jose State University) established by the California Legislature on May 2, 1862. By 1895 there were four State Normal schools. In 1921, the schools were re-named the State Teacher’s Schools. In 1935 the colleges were re-named the California State Colleges and were run by the State Department of Education. With the California Master Plan for higher education was created along with the Donohue Act, the California State Colleges were placed under control of the CSC Board of Trustees. In 1972 the system was renamed the California State Colleges and Universities. The term "Colleges" was dropped in 1982.

Responsibility for the California State University is vested in the Board of Trustees, whose members are appointed by the Governor of the State of California. The Trustees appoint the Chancellor, who is the chief executive officer of the system, and the Presidents, who are the chief executive officers of their respective campuses. The Academic Senate of the California State University, made up of elected representatives of the faculty from each campus, recommends academic policy to the Board of Trustees through the Chancellor. Chancellors of the system include Buell Gallagher (1961-1962); Glenn S. Dumke (1962-1982); W. Ann Reynolds (1982-1990); Ellis E. McCune [Acting] (1990-1991); Barry Munitz (1991-1998); Charles B. Reed (1998-2012); Timothy White (2012-2021); Joseph I. Castro (2021 - 2022); Steve Relyea [Acting] (2022); Jolene Koester [Interim] (2022 - 2023); Mildred García (2023 - Present).