Board of Trustees Meeting Agendas and Minutes

History of the CSU

The California State University System, formally established in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. It is the nation’s largest university system, with 23 campuses and seven off-campus centers, more than 400,000 students and 42,000 faculty and staff. 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). Since 1961 more than 2 million alumni have received a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral (Ph.D. and Ed.D) degrees from the university system. It offers more than 1,800 degree programs in some 240-subject areas.

Today's California State University 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 master plan 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).

In adopting the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960, the State Legislature established the Board of Trustees of the California State College (designated "The California University" on January 1, 1982) to "succeed to the powers, duties and functions with respect to the management, administration, and control of the State Colleges." Prior to this, the State Board of Education had jurisdiction over separate colleges. The Board of Trustees governs the California State University system by: Developing broad administrative policy for the campus; Providing broad direction and coordination to campus curricular development; Overseeing the efficient management of funds, property facilities, and investments by the system and the campuses; Appointing the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellors for the system, and the Presidents for the campuses as chief executives with certain delegated responsibilities; Communicating to the people of California an understanding and appreciation of the current effectiveness and the future needs of the California State University.”

Function of the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University. The Board adopts rules, regulations, and policies governing the California State University. The Board has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities, and fiscal and human resources management.

Currently, California law requires 25 trustees for the California State University, all of whom are full voting members. There are five ex officio members: the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Chancellor. Sixteen trustees are appointed by the governor, confirmed by the State Senate, and serve eight-year terms. Trustees confirmed by the Senate remain on the Board until a replacement is named or 60 days after their term expires whichever comes first.

Additionally, the CSU Alumni Council appoints an alumni trustee, while the governor appoints a faculty trustee from nominees proposed by the Academic Senate of the California State University. The alumni and faculty trustees serve for two years. The governor also appoints two student trustees from nominees proposed by the California State Student Association. Student trustees serve staggered two-year terms. The student trustees remain on the Board until their replacement is named or January 1 of the year after their term expires, whichever comes first. Terms for alumni trustees expire at the end of their term. The faculty trustee remains on the Board until a replacement is named or one year after their term expires, whichever comes first.

The governor is designated as the President of the Board, while the CSU’s General Counsel serves as Secretary, and its Chief Financial Officer as Treasurer. Other officers, including the Board’s chair and vice chair, are elected by Board members for one-year terms.

Currently (July, 2024) there are nine standing committees of the Board: Audit; Campus Planning, Buildings and Grounds; Collective Bargaining; Educational Policy; Finance; Governmental Relations; Institutional Advancement; Organization and Rules; and University and Faculty Personnel.