San José State University Academic Council Records, 1961-1972

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Summary

Title:
San José State University Academic Council Records
Dates:
1961-1972
Creators:
San José State University. Academic Council
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.
Extent:
4 boxes (5 linear feet)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

San José State University Academic Council Records, MSS-2009-02-04, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition 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 .
Processing information:

Collection processed by Kevin Turner and Mary Ellen Petrich. Finding aid EAD encoded by Mary Ellen Petrich. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.

Arrangement:

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.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
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.

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.

About this collection guide

Date Prepared:
© 2009
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Mary Ellen Petrich. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: July 22, 2009.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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:

San José State University Academic Council Records, MSS-2009-02-04, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

Location of this collection:
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0028, US
Contact:
408-808-2062
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Website