San José State University. Office of the President

Organizational History

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.

Robert L. Caret assumed the responsibilities as president of San José State University on February 6, 1995. Dr. Caret previously held the position of provost and executive vice president at Towson State University in Maryland. He received his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Suffolk University in 1969, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in 1974. We wrote five textbooks on chemistry, and co-authored the book, Myths and Realities in Higher Education Administration (1990). While president of San José State (1995-2003), Caret played a major role in acquiring funds for the university, and brought a vision for SJSU as the metropolitan university of Silicon Valley. Working side by side with former San José Mayor Susan Hammer, Caret also initiated a partnership with the City of San José to create the jointly designed, constructed and managed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which opened in 2003.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, Robert L. Caret Records, 1962-2002, 1994-1999, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

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.

The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University (CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies, practices, and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as the interaction with other CSU campuses and with the CSU administration.

John H. Bunzel (1970-1978) graduated from Princton University magna cum laude in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in political science, and he received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1954. Bunzel was appointed president of San José State University in 1970, succeeding the popular President Robert D. Clark (1964-1969), and Acting President Hobert W. Burns (1969-1970). During his tenure, Bunzel gained national attention for his reasoned resistance to intimidation, and his defense of academic freedom during a time of campus unrest.

President Bunzel (1970-1978) had a tumultuous relationship with the faculty at San José State University. Bunzel's administration was also burdened by Governor Ronald Reagan's cuts to the education budget beginning in the early 1970s, which further exacerbated the tense atmosphere at the university. Bunzel exalted academic excellence, and emphasized research and publishing requirements on par with the University of California system. Many faculty members resisted this educational philosophy, arguing that according to the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, the California State University system had traditionally concentrated more on teaching than research or publication. President Bunzel clashed with the faculty again over the issue of shared governance during the Economics Department controversy during the 1970s. Due to political and ethical issues between two factions of the department, the Economics Department had difficulties performing even basic personnel functions such as recruiting. President Bunzel subsequently appointed a special receivership committee to handle administrative functions of the Economics Department without the authorization of the Academic Senate. The Academic Senate opposed this action and censured Bunzel in 1975, partially because he failed to consult the Senate on such an unprecedented move. After eight challenging years as SJSU president, Bunzel left the university, accepting the position of Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in 1978.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, John Bunzel Records, 1963-1984, 1970-1978, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

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 Jose, 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 Jose 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.

Jon Whitmore served as the President of San José State University from 2008-2010. Prior to his appointment, he was president of Texas Tech University for five years, where he also held a professorship in theatre. From 1996 to 2003, he served as provost and professor of theatre arts at the University of Iowa, and was dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin from 1990 to 1996. Before that he served as dean, Faculty of Arts and Letters, and as a professor of theatre at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Whitmore was affiliated with West Virginia University from 1974 to 1985, where he served as interim dean for the College of Creative Arts, interim director of the Creative Arts Center, faculty member, and assistant to the president. He holds a doctoral degree in theatre history from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and master's and bachelor's degrees in speech from Washington State University. In September of 2010 Whitmore left SJSU to become C.E.O. of ACT, Inc., a college entrance-exam company.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, Jon Whitmore Records, 2008-2010, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

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 bachelors and master's degrees with 110 concentrations, and is recognized as one of the top public universities granting such degrees in the West.

The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University (CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies, practices, and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as the interaction with other CSU campuses and with the CSU administration.

Hobert W. Burns was educated at Stanford University, and served as an administrator at Syracuse and Hofstra Universities before his appointment at San José State University as Dean of the College of Education in 1963. Hobert W. Burns (1969-1970) became acting president of SJSU after the unexpected departure of President Robert D. Clark (1964-1969) in May of 1969. Burns served as the interim president for one year before resigning in protest over the faculty's decision to ease academic standards in order to allow students more time to protest the Vietnam War. Previously, Burns was appointed by President Clark to the position of Academic Vice President in 1966. He returned to that post after his resignation as acting university president, and he retired from SJSU in 1983. Burns continued to support the University after retirement. He died October 14th, 2008.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, Hobert W. Burns Records, 1961-1984, 1969-1970, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

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.

The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University (CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies, practices and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as the interaction with other CSU campuses and with the CSU administration.

Dr. Gail Fullerton (1978-1991) earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Sociology from the University of Nebraska by 1950, and received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 1954. The first female president of San José State University, Fullerton served from 1978-1991. She was also the first faculty member to be promoted to the Office of President since the appointment of President Morris Dailey (1900-1918).

Fullerton began her career at San José State University in 1964, as a tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Sociology. She later served as Executive Vice President for President John Bunzel (1970-1978) before serving as university president. During her tenure, President Fullerton (1978-1991) supported the university and the Athletics Department and was a firm believer in the "student athlete" concept. In addition, she laid the groundwork for the closing of San Carlos Street between 9th Street and 4th Street, which bisected the college campus until 1996. Appointed in the late 1970s during a severe budget crisis, Fullerton also navigated several controversies and lawsuits, including one highly publicized legal case that concerned the firing of university football coach Claude Gilbert following the 1989 football season. Fullerton's tenure as president took place during a very litigious period of time at the university, and she was jokingly referred to as "the perpetual defendant." Despite several lawsuits and a bare bones budget, Fullerton had a long-term career as president, serving 13 years.

From the guide to the SJSU Office of the President, Gail Fullerton Records, 1950-1994, 1978-1991, (San José State University, Special Collections & Archives.)

Organizational History

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.

The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University (CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies, practices, and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as the interaction with other CSU campuses and with the CSU administration.

J. Handel Evans (1991-1994) served under SJSU President Gail Fullerton (1978-1991) as vice-president from 1978-1991. Following President Fullerton's retirement, Evans was appointed acting university president, a position he held from 1991 to 1994. During his tenure, Evans concentrated on advancing the university's influence beyond established relationships by building on town and gown opportunities. Evans also played a key role in the development of the CSU, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus, located on the former grounds of military base Fort Ord. Acting-President Evans left San José State University in 1994 to become a vice-chancellor for the CSU system. From 1995 to 2001, he served as the planning president for CSU, Channel Islands in Ventura County.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records, 1986-1994, 1991-1994, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

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.

Dr. John T. Wahlquist was Dean of the School of Education at the University of Utah before becoming president of SJSU in 1952, succeeding President Thomas MacQuarrie (1927-1952). During Wahlquist's twelve-year term, he took annual tours across America to recruit experienced teachers from prestigious colleges to keep pace with San José State's growing student enrollment. Over time, Wahlquist increased the faculty from 300 to 1,000 members. Wahlquist also organized the largest construction development in San José State's history, adding many buildings to the campus including Hugh Gillis Hall, Dudley Moorehead Hall, and Sweeney Hall.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records, 1937-1976, 1952-1964, (San José State University. Library.)