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.
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 among the California State college campuses. Its purpose was to serve as the official channel to bring faculty opinion to the attention of the administration. The Faculty Council was renamed the Academic Council in 1963, and its new charter described the council as the official representative body of SJSU faculty. In 1974, the Academic Council became the Academic Senate.
Currently, the San José State University Academic Senate has fifty-four members including six students, and includes representation from the administration, including the president, provost and college deans. The Academic Senate's duties include formulating university policy, communicating recommendations to the university president on such matters as faculty affairs, curriculum, instruction, student affairs, and finances, and other matters relevant to the welfare of San José State University.
From the guide to the SJSU Academic Senate Records, 1952-2004, 1970-1999, (San José State University. Library.)
