Guide to the San José State University Academic Council Records
SJSU Library Special Collections & Archives
© 2009
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
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the San José State University Academic Council Records
Collection number: MSS-2009-02-04
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0087
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:
- Kevin Turner
- Date Completed:
- 2009
- Encoded by:
- Mary Ellen Petrich
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Title: San José State University Academic Council Records
Dates: 1961-1972
Collection number: MSS-2009-02-04
Creator:
San José State University. Academic Council
Collection Size:
4 boxes
(5 linear feet)
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The Academic Council Records, 1961-1972, document the history and administrative responsibilities of the Academic Council,
a precursor to the Academic Senate. The records consist of council budgets, correspondence, meeting minutes, assorted California
State University (CSU) information bulletins, and a CSU faculty morale survey administered in 1972. The collection is arranged
into two series: Series I. Academic Council Meeting Minutes and CSU Information Bulletins, 1961-1972; and Series II. CSU Faculty
Morale Survey, 1972.
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
The collection is open for research.
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.
San José State University Academic Council Records, MSS-2009-02-04, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
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.
Collection processed by Kevin Turner and Mary Ellen Petrich. Finding aid EAD encoded by Mary Ellen Petrich. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
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 in the CSU system. Its
purpose was to serve as an official channel between the faculty and the administration. The original membership included 18
members, with 15 faculty representatives. In 1963, the Faculty Council was renamed the Academic Council, and its new charter
described the council as the official representative body of SJSU faculty. Through the years more members were added including
students. In 1970, with 63 members the council was considered to be too large to be effective.
In 1974, the Academic Council became the Academic Senate and adopted a new constitution, with a reduced membership of 37.
As of 2009, the San José State University Academic Senate has 55 members: 36 faculty from seven colleges; the president of
the Associated Students and six other students appointed by the Associated Students; nine administrators including the president,
provost and college deans. The Academic Senate duties consist of formulating university policy and communicating recommendations
to the university president on such matters as faculty affairs, curriculum, instruction, student affairs, finances, and other
matters relevant to the welfare of San José State University.
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.
Norton, T. M.
"Notes on the History of the Academic Senate." 1999.
http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/Notes.htm (accessed 06/30/2009).
San José State University.
About SJSU.
http://www.sjsu.edu/about_sjsu/ (accessed 06/30/2009).
Walsh, James P.
San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José, California: San José State University, 2003.
Academic Senate Records. SJSU Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt5k4034vh/
Dean of Academic Planning Records. SJSU Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt709nf26q
Academic Deans' Council Records. SJSU Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt229032vb/
Scope and Content of Collection
The Academic Council Records, 1961-1972, document the history and administrative responsibilities of the Academic Council.
The records consist of council budgets, correspondence, meeting minutes, assorted California State University (CSU) information
bulletins, and a CSU faculty morale survey administered in 1972.
The collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Academic Council Meeting Minutes and CSU Information Bulletins, 1961-1972;
and Series II. CSU Faculty Morale Survey, 1972.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
San José State College. Academic Council -- History
San José State College. Academic Council -- Records and correspondence
San José State University. Academic Senate -- History
San José State College. Faculty Council -- History
San José State University -- History
San José State College -- History
California State University, San José -- History
California State University and Colleges -- History
College teachers -- California -- San José
Universities and colleges -- California -- San José
Teacher morale -- California -- San José
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
Series I: Academic Council Meeting Minutes and CSU Information Bulletins 1961-1972
Physical Description: 3 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of Academic Council budgets, correspondence, and meeting minutes. Topics include early registration,
academic tenure policies, faculty resignations and other administrative issues. The records also contain information bulletins
from academic councils at other California State University (CSU) campuses from 1962-1972. Also included in this series are
Academic Council shorthand notebooks for academic years 1967-1972 (34 notebooks total) documenting the Grievance Committee
(1968-1969), Executive Committee (1967-1972), and Academic Council meeting minutes (1967-1972).
This series is arranged chronologically by date and subject.
Box 1
Academic Council Records and Shorthand Notebooks 1963-1972
Box 2
Academic Council Meeting Minutes 1964-1969 (bulk 1967-1969)
Box 3
Information Bulletins 1961-1963
Series II: CSU Faculty Morale Survey 1972
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of a California State University (CSU) faculty morale survey administered in 1972. Respondents were asked
to record answers on a scantron sheet. The survey lists 100 questions with such topics as professional development, academic
freedom, salary, and opinions about administration and students. The series also includes question note cards used to generate
the survey, as well as 19 separate tracking folders for each CSU campus participating in the survey.
This series is arranged by subject.
Box 4
CSU Faculty Morale Survey 1972