The California State University System

INDEX

• Overview
  • A Tradition of Excellence for More than Six Decades
    • Facts
    • CSU Historical Milestones
  • The California State University System​
    • ​CSU Campuses Map
    • Directory of CSU Campuses
  • Officials of the California State University
    • Governance
    • Trustees of the California State University
      • Trustees of the CSU Ex Officio Trustees
      • Officers of the Trustees
      • Appointed Trustees
    • Office of the Chancellor
• Procedure for the Establishment or Abolishment of Campus-Based Mandatory Fees
• Student Complaint Procedure (Complaints Regarding The CSU)​

  THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Overview

The California State University (CSU) is the nation’s largest and most diverse four-year public university. With 23 unique universities and seven off-campus centers, the CSU serves approximately 460,000 students and employs more than 56,000 faculty and staff.

Each year, the university awards nearly 130,000 degrees, changing the trajectory of students’ lives by opening doors to opportunities for upward mobility. Nearly one-third of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

For one of the most affordable tuitions in the country, students learn from world-class faculty, gain valuable hands-on experiences and receive strong career advising, empowering them to become leaders in the changing workforce.

CSU graduates are serving as leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality and health care. To learn more, visit the California State University website.  

A Tradition of Excellence for More than Six Decades

Since 1961, the CSU has provided an affordable, accessible and high-quality education to millions of Californians. While each university is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All CSUs are fully accredited, provide a high-quality, broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in university life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs and service learning.

Facts

• Today, one in every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate.
• 1 in every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate.
• The CSU’s network of more than 4 million alumni is larger than the population of 23 U.S. states.
• The CSU awards nearly half of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California.
• The CSU awards more than one-third of California’s undergraduate nursing degrees.
• Between 2016 and 2021, the CSU prepared more of California’s teachers than any other state institution.
• About four percent of the nation’s teachers graduate from the CSU.
• In 2021-22, CSU students earned more than 20,000 business degrees and more than 7,500 engineering degrees.
• The CSU offers more than 4,000 degree programs that align with the state’s workforce demands.
• The CSU’s online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other universities in the CSU system.
• Through CSU community engagement centers, 52,000 student volunteers participated in service-learning, contributing 2 million hours of service in 2021-22.

CSU Historical Milestones

The individual California State Colleges were established as a system with a Board of Trustees and a chancellor in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. In 1972, the system was designated as the California State University and Colleges, and in 1982 the system became the California State University (CSU). Today, the CSU is comprised of 23 member universities, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities and, since July 1995, the California State University Maritime Academy, a specialized university.

The oldest university - San José State University - was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest - California State University Channel Islands - opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003. And in 2022, the CSU in Humboldt became became California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as the state’s third public polytechnic university.

In 1963, the CSU’s Academic Senate was established to act as the official voice of CSU faculty in university-wide matters. Also, the California State College Student Presidents Association - which was later renamed the California State Student Association (CSSA), was founded to represent each university student association on issues affecting students.

Through its many decades of service, the CSU has continued to adapt to address societal changes, student needs and workforce trends. While the CSU’s core mission has always focused on providing high-quality, affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, over time the university has added a wide range of services and programs to support student success - from adding health centers and special programs for veterans to building student residential facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience.

In 2010, in an effort to accommodate community college transfer students, the CSU, in concert with the California Community Colleges (CCC), launched the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), which guarantees CCC transfer students with an ADT admission to the CSU with junior status. The ADT has since proven to be one of the most effective paths to a CSU for community college transfer students. In 2023, the CSU will launch the Transfer Success Pathway program to guarantee future CSU admission to high school graduates who are entering a California community college and who commit to transferring within three years.

Always adapting to changes in technology and societal trends to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CSU Fully Online, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSUs, expanding enrollment opportunities and providing more educational opportunities for students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.

The CSU marked a significant educational milestone when it broadened its degree offerings to include professional doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) , Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD) , Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)  and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree programs. Additionally, the CSU was recently authorized to offer the independent Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). A limited number of other doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and private institutions in California.

The CSU strives to continually develop innovative programs, services and opportunities that will give students the tools they need to meet their full potential. In 2016, the CSU system launched Graduation Initiative 2025, a bold plan to support students, increase the number of California’s graduates earning high-quality degrees and eliminate achievement and equity gaps for all students. Through this initiative, the CSU is ensuring that all students have the opportunity to graduate according to their personal goals, positively impacting their lives, families and communities.

By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. More than 4 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.

The California State University System

Check out the CSU website (www.calstateapply.edu) for the entire California State University. You will find helpful hints, frequently asked questions, campus tours, and general information about all 23 campuses. The phone number listed for each campus is for the Office of Admission.

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Officials of the CSU

Governance

The CSU is governed by the Board of Trustees, most of whom are appointed by the governor and serve with faculty and student representatives. The CSU chancellor is the chief executive officer, reporting to the board. The presidents serve as the university-level chief executive officers. The trustees, chancellor and presidents develop university-wide educational policy. The presidents, in consultation with the CSU Academic Senate and other university stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.

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Trustees of the California State University

Office of the Chancellor

Procedure for the Establishment or Abolishment of Campus-Based Mandatory Fees

The law governing California State University provides that specific campus fees defined as mandatory, such as a student body association fee and a student body center fee, may be established. A student body association fee must be established upon a favorable vote of two-thirds of the students voting in an election held for this purpose (Education Code, Section 89300). The university president may adjust the student body association fee only after the fee adjustment has been approved by a majority of students voting in a referendum established for that purpose. The required fee shall be subject to referendum at any time upon the presentation of a petition to the university president containing the signatures of 10 percent of the regularly enrolled students at the university. Student body association fees support a variety of cultural and recreational programs, childcare centers, and special student support programs. A student body center fee must be established upon a favorable vote of two-thirds of the students voting in an election held for this purpose (Education Code, Section 89304). Once bonds are issued, authority to set and adjust student body center fees is governed by provisions of the State University Revenue Bond Act of 1947, including, but not limited to, Education Code sections 90012, 90027, and 90068. A student success fee may be established or adjusted only after the university undertakes a rigorous consultation process and a fee referendum is held with a simple majority favorable vote (Education Code, Section 89712). The student success fee may be rescinded by a majority vote of the students only after six years have elapsed following the vote to implement the fee.

The process to establish and adjust other campus-based mandatory fees requires consideration by the campus fee advisory committee and a consultation or student referendum process as established by California State University Student Fee Policy, Section III (or any successor policy). The university president may use consultation mechanisms if they determine that a referendum is not the best mechanism to achieve appropriate and meaningful consultation, and referendum is not required by the Education Code or Student Success Fee policy. Results of the referendum and the fee committee review are advisory to the university president. The president may adjust campus-based mandatory fees but must request the chancellor to establish a new mandatory fee. The president shall provide to the campus fee advisory committee a report of all campus-based mandatory fees. The university shall report annually to the chancellor a complete inventory of all campus-based mandatory fees.

For more information or questions, please contact the System Budget Office in the CSU Chancellor’s Office at (562) 951-4560.

Student Complaint Procedure (Complaints Regarding The CSU) 

The California State University (CSU) takes very seriously complaints and concerns regarding the institution. If you have a complaint regarding the CSU, you may present your complaint as follows:

1. If your complaint concerns CSU’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards, you may present your complaint on the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) website. WASC is the agency that accredits the CSU’s academic program.
2. If your complaint concerns an alleged violation by CSU of any law that prohibits discrimination, harassment or retaliation based on a protected status (such as age, disability, gender (or sex), gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity (including color, caste, or ancestry), religion or veteran or military status), you may present your complaint as described in Section XVI (Nondiscrimination Policy).
3. If your complaint concerns an alleged violation by the CSU of other state law, including laws prohibiting fraud and false advertising, you may present your claim complaint to the university president or designee at 323-343-3030 (https://www.calstatela.edu/president/contact-us). See Procedure for Student Complaints-Executive Order No. 1063 for details regarding the complaint requirements and complaint process.
4. Other complaints regarding the CSU may be presented to the university dean of students, who will provide guidance on the appropriate university process for addressing your particular issue.

If you believe that your complaint warrants further attention after you have exhausted all the steps outlined by the university, or by WASC, you may file an appeal with the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs (or designee) at the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

This procedure should not be construed to limit any right that you may have to take legal action to resolve your complaint.