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 San José State College Academic Deans' Council was established to consider all matters pertaining to the academic programs of the college and to make recommendations to the President's Council regarding changes to curriculum and academic policy. The Academic Deans' Council is made up of college department heads, with the Dean of the College as the appointed chairman. All new course proposals are submitted to the Academic Deans' Council for approval. The council is also responsible for making recommendations for committees such as the Accreditation Committee and the Commencement Committee.
From the guide to the San José State College Academic Deans' Council Records, 1956-1964, (San José State University. Library.)
