Guide to the San José State University Academic Senate Records
SJSU Library Special Collections and Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
© 2009
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the San José State University Academic Senate Records
Collection number: MSS-2009-03-07
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Processed by:
- Robert Donahue
- Date Completed:
- 2009
- Encoded by:
- Robert Donahue
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: SJSU Academic Senate Records
Dates: 1952-2004
Bulk Dates: 1970-1999
Collection number: MSS-2009-03-07
Creator:
San José State University Academic Senate
Collection Size:
3 Hollinger boxes, 1 flat box, 86 Paige boxes
(103.96 linear feet)
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The SJSU Academic Senate Records, 1952-2004 (bulk 1970-1999), document the history and administrative responsibilities of
the Academic Senate. The records consist of general, administrative and committee files, budget reports and correspondence,
as well as newspaper clippings and audio tapes. The records also include files from the Academic Council, the forerunner to
the Academic Senate. In addition, the Academic Senate files document the departmental and program controversies in the Economics
and Athletic departments in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the Koehmstedt civil rights case, which challenged the university's
accommodation policies for students with learning disabilities. This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Administrative
Files, 1952-2002 (bulk 1970-1999); and Series II. Economics Department, 1974-1979.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
Academic Senate Records, MSS-2009-03-07, San José State University Special Collections and Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Robert Donahue. Finding aid EAD encoded by Robert Donahue and Mary Ellen Petrich. Reviewed by Danelle
Moon and Erin Louthen.
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San José State University Library grant
project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project began in 2008. The Project Director
is Danelle Moon. The Project Archivist is Erin Louthen.
Organizational History
In 1857 the San Francisco Board of Education established Minns' Evening Normal School for current and prospective teachers
in the city. Named after its principal, George W. Minns, the institution was formally established as the first California
State Normal School by the State Legislature in 1862. A decade later, the Legislature voted to move the Normal School to San
José, and the school relocated to its new home on Washington Square prior to the fall term of 1872. After a fire destroyed
the Normal School building in 1880, the Legislature authorized $200,000 to construct a new building on the same site. Completed
in 1881, the building was commonly referred to as the Second State Normal School. After several names and curriculum changes,
Minns' Normal School is now San José State University, offering more than 134 bachelor's and master's degrees with 110 concentrations,
and is recognized as one of the top public universities granting such degrees in the West.
In May of 1952, President John T. Wahlquist (1952-1964) authorized the formation of the Faculty Council against the advice
of former SJSU President Thomas MacQuarrie (1927-1952). The Faculty Council was the first of its kind among the California
State college campuses. Its purpose was to serve as the official channel to bring faculty opinion to the attention of the
administration. The Faculty Council was renamed the Academic Council in 1963, and its new charter described the council as
the official representative body of SJSU faculty. In 1974, the Academic Council became the Academic Senate.
Currently, the San José State University Academic Senate has fifty-four members including six students, and includes representation
from the administration, including the president, provost and college deans. The Academic Senate's duties include formulating
university policy, communicating recommendations to the university president on such matters as faculty affairs, curriculum,
instruction, student affairs, and finances, and other matters relevant to the welfare of San José State University.
Bibliography
Gilbert, Benjamin F, and Charles Burdick.
Washington Square, 1857-1979: The History of San José State University. San José: San José State University, 1980.
Walsh, James P.
San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José: San José State University, 2003.
Scope and Content of Collection
The SJSU Academic Senate Records, 1952-2004 (bulk 1970-1999), document the history and administrative responsibilities of
the Academic Senate. The records consist of general, administrative and committee files, budget reports, and correspondence,
as well as newspaper clippings and audio tape. In addition, the records document departmental and program controversies in
the Economics and Athletics departments in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the Koehmstedt civil rights case, which challenged
the university's accommodation policies for students with learning disabilities.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Administrative Files, 1952-2002 (bulk 1970-1999); and Series II. Economics
Department, 1974-1979.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
San José State University. Academic Senate -- History
San José State University. Academic Senate -- Records and correspondence
San José State University. Academic Senate -- Civil rights -- Trials, litigation, etc.
San José State University. Academic Council -- History
San José State University. Academic Council -- Records and correspondence
San José State University. Athletics Dept. -- History
San José State University. Economics Dept. -- History
San José State University -- Faculty
San José State College -- History
California State University, San José -- History
San José State University -- History
Universities and colleges -- California -- San José
College teachers -- California -- San José
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
Series I:
Administrative Files
1952-2004
bulk(1970-1999)
Physical Description: 87 Boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
The materials in this series document the rich history of the SJSU Academic Senate and its role in campus governance. The
Senate has and continues to play a primary role in establishing standards for faculty recruitment, retention, and promotion,
as well as policies governing student performance and student life. During the Civil Rights movement, issues related to student
activism and protest led to more diverse policies that addressed housing discrimination and equity on campus. Following the
tumult of this era, SJSU witnessed a steady growth in enrollment and today the Academic Senate continues to provide important
leadership to the campus community and in the California State University system.
The Academic Senate administrative files contain meeting minutes, committee files, budget records, and correspondence. This
series also includes files related to the Athletic Department's programs, including the elimination of the fencing program
and other program decisions made during the tenure of President Gail Fullerton (1978-1991). Of special note, the materials
documenting the Koehmstedt civil rights case, which challenged the university's accommodation policies for students with learning
disabilities, will be of interest to scholars tracing the history of disability policies in the academic environment.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 1-25
Administrative Files
1952-1992
Note:
Athletics Department files in Box 21.
Boxes 26-27
Council Minutes
1952-1997
Boxes 28-40
Committee Meeting Files, Correspondence, and Attendance Records
1952-2002
Boxes 41-43
Administrative and Correspondence Files
1957-1997
Boxes 44-57
Meeting Minutes
1960-2002
Boxes 58-59
Academic Council
1965-1979
Box 60
Academic Senate: Retreat and Teacher Education
1966
Box 61
Senate Policy Recommendation
1975-1990
Box 62
General Files, California Propositions, Athletics Department
1977-1985
Box 63
Organization and Government
1977-1996
Box 65
Budget, General Files, Athletics Department
1982-1999
Box 66
SJSU Strategic Plan and Budget, Minutes, and Correspondence
1985-1988
Box 67
WASC Files Regarding Accreditation
1988-1994
Box 68
General Files of Statewide CSU Academic Senate
1988-1989
Boxes 70-72
Correspondence: Academic Vice President's Office
1990-1994
Box 73
Educational Equity
1990-1996
Box 74
Library Personnel Search, Koehmstedt Civil Rights Case
1990-1993
Boxes 75-76
Personnel Files
1990-1994
Box 77
Council of Deans, General Files
1991-1995
Boxes 82-84
Meeting Minutes
1977-2002
Box 85
Notes, Handbooks, Newsletter
1980-1990
Box 86
General Files, Committee Files
1994-2003
Boxes 87-88
Administrative Files, Student Related Files
1995-2000
Box 89
Files from AS Committees
1997-2000
Box 90
Budget, Accounting
2002-2004
Series II:
Economics Department
1974-1979
Physical Description: 3 Boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
The material in this series contains files and audio tapes concerning the Economics Department at San José State University
from 1974-1979. During the 1970s, the department faculty fragmented as a result of different philosophies in education and
over departmental politics. The controversy began when SJSU President John H. Bunzel (1970-1978) chose to ignore the Economics
Department's choice for department chairman, Martin Primack, and instead appointed James Willis. Due to political and ethical
issues between two factions of the department, the Economics Department had difficulties performing even basic personnel functions
such as recruiting. SJSU President Bunzel (1970-1978) subsequently appointed a special receivership committee to handle administrative
functions of the Economics Department without the authorization of the Academic Senate. The Academic Senate opposed this action
and censured Bunzel in 1975, partially because Bunzel failed to consult the Senate on such an unprecedented move.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Box 79
Testimonies, Legal Proceedings
1974
Box 80
Economics Department Investigation
1974-1976
Box 81
Testimonies, General Files
1979