Description
The Collection of the Board of Trusteed contains records dating from 1937 -1998. All
records pertain to actions, events, and consequences brought about by the CSU Board of
Trustees. The collection is divided into 4 series. The records are arranged
alphabetically within each series.
Background
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. Under present California Law there are
twenty-four voting Trustees. Currently, there are nine standing committees on the Board:
Audit; Campus Planning, Buildings, and Grounds; Collective Bargaining; Educational
Policy; Finance; Governmental Relations; Institutional Advancement; Organization and
Rules; University and Faculty Personnel; The Donahoe Act -which grew out of the
recommendations contained in A Master Plan for Higher Education in California, 1960 -1975
-was added to the California Education Code as Division 16.5. Along with Division 18 of
the Code, it defines the composition, appointments, terms, powers, and functions of the
Board of Trustees. By operating within the parameters originally determined by the
Donahoe Act of 1960, the actions of the State Legislature, and the California Education
Code, the CSU Board of Trustees continues to effectively govern the California State
University system.