The CSU System | Cal Poly Academic Catalog * Skip to Content * AZ Index * Catalog Home Search catalog Submit search 2026-2028 Catalog Toggle menu * College & Departments * Programs * Courses * Prior Catalogs * Resources & Policies * Welcome to Cal Poly * About the Catalog * Academic Standards and Policies * Graduate Education * International Education * Extended Education * Faculty and Staff * Catalog Home : * Welcome to Cal Poly : * The CSU System The CSU System 2026-2028 Edition 2026-2028 Catalog * Welcome to Cal Poly Toggle Welcome to Cal Poly * Academic Services and Programs Toggle Academic Services and Programs * Academic Advising * Cal Poly Scholars * Intercollegiate Athletics * Library Services * Office of Student Research * Office of Writing and Learning * Pre-​Health Career Advising * Transfer Center * University Advising-​Retention * University Honors Program * University Studies * Student Resources Toggle Student Resources * Campus Health and Wellbeing * Career Services * 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With 22* unique universities, the CSU serves more than 460,000 students and employs more than 61,000 faculty and staff. Each year, the university awards nearly 123,000 degrees, changing the trajectory of students' lives by opening doors to opportunities for upward mobility. More than one-quarter of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of CSU students and more than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.  For one of the most affordable tuitions in the country, students learn from world-class faculty, gain valuable hands-on experiences, and receive strong career advising, empowering them to become leaders in the changing workforce. CSU graduates are leaders in the industries that drive California's economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality, and health care. To learn more 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 millions of Californians. While each university is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All CSUs are fully accredited, provide an outstanding, broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in university life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs, and service learning. Facts * Today, one in every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate. * 1 in every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate. * The CSU's network of more than 4 million alumni is larger than the population of 23 U.S. states. * The CSU awards nearly half of the bachelor's degrees earned in California. * The CSU awards more than one-quarter of California's baccalaureate nursing degrees. * In 2024-2025, the CSU prepared more of California's teachers than any other institution in the state. * About 4% percent of the nation's teachers graduate from the CSU. * In 2024-25, CSU students earned nearly 18,000 undergraduate business degrees and over 6,300 engineering degrees. * The CSU offers more than 4,000 degree programs that align with the state's workforce demands. * The CSU's online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other universities in the CSU system. * Through CSU community engagement centers, 67,000 students participated in service-learning, contributing more than 1.5 million hours of service in each year. * Transition to 22 universities in progress (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime integrating)— official fall 2026. 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 presidents serve as the university-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 university 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 (CSU). Today, the CSU is comprised of 22 member universities. The oldest university — 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 CSU in Humboldt became California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as the state's third public polytechnic 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 university 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. The ADT has since proven to be one of the most effective path to a CSU for community college transfer students. In 2023, the CSU launched the Transfer Success Pathway program to guarantee future CSU admission to high school graduates who are entering a California community college and who commit to transferring within three years.  Always adapting to changes in technology to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CSU Fully Online, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSUs, 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 professional doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree programs. Additionally, the CSU was recently authorized to offer the independent Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). 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 2025, the CSU shared a new systemwide strategic plan, CSU Forward: Thriving Students, Thriving University, Thriving California , the system’s most comprehensive and ambitious strategic plan to transform how the CSU defines student success and fulfills its role as California’s most powerful engine of opportunity, economic mobility and inclusive excellence. The strategic plan centers on four performance objectives: economic mobility engine, sustainable affordability, employer of choice and statewide impact. With the conclusion of the 10-year Graduation Initiative 2025 and the Year of Engagement project, the CSU unveiled a new Student Success Framework to meet the needs of today's students and achieve new heights of student success. As a companion to CSU Forward, the framework aims to improve opportunity outcome gaps, strengthen career readiness and advance social mobility for all CSU students. By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. More than 4 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world. Trustees of the California State University Ex Officio Trustees The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor of California The Honorable Eleni Kounalakis Lieutenant Governor of California The Honorable Robert Rivas Speaker of the Assembly The Honorable Tony K. Thurmond State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Mildred García Chancellor, California State University Officers of the Trustees The Honorable Gavin Newsom – President Jack B. Clarke Jr. – Chair Diego Arambula  – Vice Chair Steve Relyea – Treasurer Dawn S. Theodora–Interim Secretary Patrick J. Lenz–Interim 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. * Larry L. Adamson (2028) * Diego Arambula (2028) * Raji Kaur Brar (2029) * Jack B. Clarke Jr. (2027) * Kelly M. Dermody (2033) * Andrea C. Evans (2030) * Carson Fajardo (2027)(S) * Jean P. Firstenberg (2026) * Wenda Fong (2032) * Mark Ghilarducci (2031) * Leslie Gilbert-Lurie (2030) * Jazmin Guarjaardo (2026)(S) * Julia I. Lopez (2028) * Jack McGrory (2031) * Sam Nejabat (2027) * Yammilette Rodriguez (2029) * Christopher J. Steinhauser (2026) * Darlene Yee-Melichar (2026) (F) Correspondence with Trustees should be sent to: c/o Trustees Secretariat The California State University 401 Golden Shore Long Beach, CA 90802-4210 Office of the Chancellor The California State University 401 Golden Shore Long Beach, California 90802-4210 (562)-951-4000 [email protected] Office of the Chancellor Name Title Dr. Mildred García Chancellor Ms. Dawn S. Theodora Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Mr. Patrick J. Lenz Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Dave Grant Interim Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Chief HR Officer Mr. Vlad Marinescu Vice Chancellor and Chief Audit Officer Mr. Greg Saks Vice Chancellor, External Relations and Communications Dr. Junius J. Gonzales Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Dilcie Perez Vice Chancellor, Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Dilcie D. Perez Vice Chancellor, Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Ms. Danielle Garcia Deputy Vice Chancellor for System Strategy & Operations The California State University System Ca li fornia State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022 Dr. Vernon B. Harper, Jr., President (661) 654-2782 CSU Bakersfield Website California State University, Channel Islands One University Drive Camarillo, CA 93012 Dr. Susan A. Andrzejewski, Interim President (805) 437-8400 CSU Channel Islands Website Ca li fornia State University, Chico 400 West First Street Chico, CA 95929 Dr. Stephen Perez, President (530) 898-4636 Chico State Website Ca li fornia State University, Dominguez Hills 1000 East Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747 Dr. Mary Ann Villarreal, Interim President (310) 243-3696 CSU Dominguez Hills Website Ca li fornia State University, East Bay 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard Hayward, CA 94542 Dr. Cathy A. Sandeen, President (510) 885-3000 Cal State East Bay Website Ca li fornia State University, Fresno 5241 North Maple Avenue Fresno, CA 93740 Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President (559) 278-4240 Fresno State Website Ca li fornia State University, Fullerton 800 N. State College Boulevard Fullerton, CA 92831-3599 Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, President (657) 278-2011 Cal State Fullerton Website California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt 1 Harpst Street Arcata, CA 95521-8299 Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, President (707) 826-3011 Cal Poly Humboldt Website Ca li fornia State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Boulevard Long Beach, CA 90840-0115 Dr. Loren J. Blanchard, President (562) 985-4111 Cal State Long Beach Website Ca li fornia State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032 Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, President (323) 343-3000 Cal State LA Website Ca li fornia State University, Monterey Bay 100 Campus Center Seaside, CA 93955-8001 (Vacant), President (831) 582-3