California State Universities

The administrative system of the California State University is directly mandated by the state law of California. Its Board of Trustees is composed of 25 representatives whose positions are named by the Chancellor of the university system. The California State University Chancellor acts as the chief executive officer of the university organization and is the overall head of all the presidents coming from every campus. Campus presidents on the other hand are heads and chief executive officers in their respective domains.

Aside from the Board of Trustees, there is the Academic Senate of the California State University which is composed of representatives of faculty groups from every campus. These representatives are elected by the members of their respective faculty associations. Their main responsibility is to formulate and endorse policies and guidelines for the academic supervision of the university. Such policy recommendations are forwarded to the Board of Trustees via the University Chancellor.

The appointment and tenure of the 25 members of the California State University are enumerated and described below:

• Sixteen members are named by the State Governor of California through the endorsement of the Senate.

• Two student representatives from the university are designated by the State Governor.

• One representative of the Faculty Group is appointed by the Governor, which appointment is based on the list of names recommended by the Academic Senate.

• One overall representative of the alumni associations is picked by the California State University alumni council for a two-year tenure.

• Five ex officio members are appointed as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and CSU Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The CSU Chancellor is a legislated position and is filled in upon the resolution endorsed by the Board of Trustees. The official resolution naming the Chancellor of the California State University system is entitled: “Statement of General Principles in the Delegation of Authority and Responsibility”, based on the first legislation enacted on August 4, 1961.