Guide to the San Jose State College Academic Deans' Council Records MSS.2009.03.08

SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2009
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San Jose State College Academic Deans' Council Records
creator: San Jose State College
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2009.03.08
Physical Description: 2.0 boxes (2.5 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1956-1964
Abstract: The San Jose State College Academic Deans' Council Records (1956-1964) document the administrative responsibilities of the Academic Deans' Council. The records consist of new course proposals, council meeting minutes and agendas, curriculum reports, meeting minutes of the College Council, and by-laws for electing faculty representatives. The records also include correspondence from Dean Fred Harcleroad and department heads regarding changes to San Jose State College's curriculum and academic policies. This collection is arranged into one series: Series I. Administrative Files, 1956-1964.

Access

The collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been 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

San Jose State College Academic Deans' Council Records, MSS-2009-03-08, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

Processing History

Collection processed by Thomas Stamps. Finding aid EAD encoded by 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.
The San Jose State College Academic Deans' Council was established to consider all matters pertaining to the academic programs of the college and to make recommendations to the President's Council regarding changes to curriculum and academic policy. The Academic Deans' Council is made up of college department heads, with the Dean of the College as the appointed chairman. All new course proposals are submitted to the Academic Deans' Council for approval. The council is also responsible for making recommendations for committees such as the Accreditation Committee and the Commencement Committee.

Scope and Content

The San Jose State College Academic Deans' Council Records (1956-1964) document the administrative responsibilities of the Academic Deans' Council. The records consist of new course proposals, council meeting minutes and agendas, as well as curriculum reports, meeting minutes of the College Council, and by-laws for electing faculty representatives. In the 1950s and 1960s, San José State College enrollment increased rapidly and a flood of new course proposals were presented to the council to accommodate students' needs. As such, the records document whether new course proposals were approved or denied after consideration from the council. Deans' correspondence related to procedural and other administrative issues can also be found in this collection, such as correspondence from Dean Fred Harcleroad and department heads regarding changes to the curriculum and academic policies.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into one series: Series I. Administrative Files, 1956-1964.

Related Material

San José State University Academic Senate Records, MSS-2009-03-07, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
San José State University Dean of Academic Planning Records (1967-1980), MSS-2009-03-07, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
San José State University Academic Council Records. MSS-2009-02-04, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

Bibliography

Gilbert, Benjamin F., and Burdick, Charles. Washington Square, 1857-1979: The History of San José State University. San José, California: San José State University, 1980.San José State University. About SJSU. Walsh, James P. San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José, California: San José State University, 2003.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose
Deans (Education) -- California -- San Jose
College teachers -- California -- San Jose
Universities and colleges -- California -- San Jose -- Faculty
San Jose State College
San Jose State College
San José State College. Academic Deans' Council -- History
San José State University -- History
San José State University -- Faculty
San José State College. Academic Deans' Council -- Records and correspondence