The California State University

THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Welcome to the California State University (CSU) the nation’s largest comprehensive university with 23 unique campuses and seven off-campus centers serving approximately 477,000 students and employing more than 56,000 faculty and staff.

Each year, the university awards more than 133,000 degrees. CSU graduates are serving as leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality and healthcare. To learn more at 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 4 million living alumni throughout California. While each campus is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and campus culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All campuses are fully accredited, provide a high-quality broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in campus life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs and service learning. Through leading-edge programs, superior teaching and extensive workforce training opportunities, CSU students graduate with the critical thinking skills, industry knowledge and hands-on experience necessary for employment and career advancement.

Facts

• Today, one of every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate.
• 1 of every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate.
• The CSU awards about half of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California.
• The CSU awards 36% of California’s undergraduate nursing degrees.
• The CSU prepares more of California’s teachers, pre-school through grade 12, than any other institution. Nearly four percent of the nation’s teachers graduate from the CSU.
• In 2020, CSU students earned nearly 25,000 business degrees and more than 9,000 engineering degrees.
• The CSU offers more than 170 fully online and 140 hybrid degree programs and concentrations.
• The CSU’s online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other campuses in the CSU.
• Over a recent four-year period, the CSU has issued nearly 50,000 professional development certificates in education, health services, business and technology, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, international trade and many other industries.
• CSU Centers for Community Engagement and Service Learning make available nearly 2,300 service learning courses.
•  38,000 students participated in service-learning, contributing 728,000 hours of service in 2020-21.

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 campus presidents serve as the campus-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 campus stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.

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. Today, the CSU is comprised of 23 campuses, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities and, since July 1995, the California State University Maritime Academy, a specialized campus.

The oldest campus-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 Humboldt campus became Cal Poly Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as that state’s third public polytechnical 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 campus 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. ADT has since proven to be the most effective path to a CSU for community college transfer students.

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 CSU campuses, 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 doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs. Additionally, the CSU was recently authorized to offer the independent Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). 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 university 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 that is so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. WIth the graduation of the Class of 2021, more than 4 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.

TRUSTEES OF THE CSU

 EX OFFICIO TRUSTEES

The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

The Honorable Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California

The Honorable Anthony Rendon, Speaker of the Assembly

The Honorable Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dr. Jolene Koester Interim Chancellor, California State University

OFFICERS OF THE TRUSTEES

The Honorable Gavin Newsom - President

Lilian Kimbell  - Chair

Wenda Fong - Vice Chair

Andrew Jones - Secretary

Steve Relyea - Treasurer

APPOINTED TRUSTEES

Appointments are for a term of eight years, except student, alumni, and faculty trustees whose terms are for two years. Terms expire in the year in parentheses. Names are listed alphabetically.

Correspondence with trustees should be sent to: c/o Trustees Secretariat, The California State University, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach, California 90802-4210.

OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

The California State University

401 Golden Shore

Long Beach, California 90802-4210

(562) 951-4000`

• Dr. Jolene Koester - Interim Chancellor
• Mr. Steve Relyea - Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
• Dr. Sylvia A. Alva - Interim Executive Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs
• Mr. Andrew Jones - Executive Vice Chancellor, General Counsel
• Mr. Larry Salinas - Interim Vice Chancellor, University Relations and Advancement
• Ms. Evelyn Nazario - Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
• Mr. Vlad Marinescu - Vice Chancellor and Chief Audit Officer

CSU CAMPUSES

California State University, Bakersfield

9001 Stockdale Highway

Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Dr. Lynnette Zelezny, President

(661) 654-2782

CSU Bakersfield Website

California State University, Channel Islands

One University Drive

Camarillo, CA 93012

Dr. Richard Yao, President

(805) 437-8400

CSU Channel Islands Website

California State University, Chico

400 West First Street

Chico, CA 95929

Dr. Gayle E. Hutchinson, President

(530) 898-4636

Chico State Website

California State University, Dominguez Hills

1000 East Victoria Street

Carson, CA 90747

Dr. Thomas A. Parham, President

(310) 243-3696

CSU Dominguez Hills Website

California State University, East Bay

25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard Hayward, CA 94542

Dr. Cathy A. Sandeen, President

(510) 885-3000

CSU State East Bay Website

California State University, Fresno

5241 North Maple Avenue

Fresno, CA 93740

Dr. Saúl Jimémez-Sandoval, President

(559) 278-4240

CSU Fresno Website

California State University, Fullerton

800 N. State College Boulevard Fullerton, CA 92831-3599

Mr. Framroze Virjee, President

(657) 278-2011

Cal State Fullerton Website

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

1 Harpst Street

Arcata, CA 95521-8299

Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr., President

(707) 826-3011

Cal Poly Humboldt Website

California State University, Long Beach

1250 Bellflower Boulevard

Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Dr. Jane Close Conoley, President

(562) 985-4111

Cal State Long Beach Website

California State University, Los Angeles

5151 State University Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90032

Dr. William A. Covino, President

(323) 343-3000

Cal State LA Website

California State University, Maritime Academy

200 Maritime Academy Drive Vallejo, CA 94590

Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper, President

(707) 654-1000

Cal Maritime Website

California State University, Monterey Bay

100 Campus Center

Seaside, CA 93955-8001

Dr. Eduardo M. Ochoa, President

(831) 582-3000

CSU Monterey Bay Website

California State University, Northridge

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330

Dr. Erika D. Beck, President

(818) 677-1200

CSUN Website

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

3801 W. Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768

Dr. Soraya M. Coley, President

(909) 869-7659

Cal Poly Pomona Website 

California State University, Sacramento

6000 J Street

Sacramento, CA 95819

Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, President

(916) 278-6011

Sacramento State Website

California State University, San Bernardino

5500 University Parkway

San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318

Dr. Tomás D. Morales, President

(909) 537-5000

Cal State San Bernardino Website

San Diego State University

5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182

Dr. Adela de la Torre, President

(619) 594-5200

San Diego State Website

San Francisco State University

1600 Holloway Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94132

Dr. Lynn Mahoney, President

(415) 338-1111

San Francisco State Website

San José State University

One Washington Square

San José, CA 95192-0001

Dr. Stephen Perez*, President

(408) 924-1000

San José State Website

California Polytechnic State University,

San Luis Obispo

One Grand Avenue

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Dr. Jeffrey D. Armstrong, President

(805) 756-1111

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Website 

California State University San Marcos

333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road

San Marcos, CA 92096-0001

Dr. Ellen J. Neufeldt, President

(760) 750-4000

CSU San Marcos Website

Sonoma State University

1801 East Cotati Avenue

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Dr. Judy K. Sakaki, President

(707) 664-2880

Sonoma State Website

California State University, Stanislaus

One University Circle

Turlock, CA 95382

Dr. Ellen N. Junn, President

(209) 667-3122

Stanislaus State Website