Title: News and Public Relations of the California State University Collection

Creator: California State University

Extent: 4.5 linear feet

Repository: California State University Archives

California State Library, Dominguez Hills

Language: English.

All materials are open to the public unless specific restrictions are imposed.

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.

[Identification of item], News and Public Relations of the California State University Collection, Courtesy of the California State University Archives. California State University, Dominguez Hills.

The California State University System, formally established in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act, has chronicled its growth and development through documentation emanating various sources within the University's infrastructure. From the time of the CSU's inception, an effort has been made to increase public awareness about the events taking place within this formidable public educational system, through the means of formal press releases, newsletters, and public relations publications. Additionally, the CSU has received a great deal of press coverage from a number of local and national newspapers. One major source of public relations material within the CSU is the Office of Public Affairs. This office, currently under the direction of Colleen Bentley-Adler, operates within the framework of the CSU Chancellor's Office. It's key functions consist of providing consultation and advice to the Trustees, Chancellor, and other staff; overseeing publications; and providing general information about the California State University's educational system in general. The Chancellor's Office also has been historically responsible for a great deal of publicity materials dealing with the entire 22-campus CSU system. Another key source of public relations materials within the CSU has been the Academic Senate, a council of fifty-one faculty members elected by their colleagues for the purpose of recommending academic policies to the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor. The Senate was founded in 1963 and operates throughout the year as an agency of CSU Faculty governance, from its offices at the CSU Headquarters in Long Beach. The news and publicity materials generated by the Office of Public Affairs, the Chancellor's Office, and the Academic Senate, as well as the news articles emanating from the popular press, have helped shape the public perception of the California State University.

The records contained in the Collection of the News and Public Relations of the California State University date from 1964 to the present. They measure 5 linear feet and are currently growing. These records provide insight into the historical development of the entire CSU system, from an internal, official point of view, as well as from an external point of view generated by various newspapers and other press sources.