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Campus
History -
An Historical Overview
CSULB, an urban, comprehensive University, is a member
of the twenty-three campus California State University (CSU) system.
The history of the institution began in 1947 when a state survey, based
on post World War II population growth, recommended the founding of
 a
state college to serve Orange County and southeastern Los Angeles County.
The college was established on January 29, 1949. Primary emphasis was
to be given to teacher education, education for occupational competence,
liberal education, pre-professional education, and regional education
service. Students registered for the first classes, held in a converted
apartment building, in September of 1949 at
a cost of only $12.50. The original Schedule
of Classes contained only twenty-five courses and a selection of
five majors for the baccalaureate degree. In the first semester there
were 169 students and thirteen faculty members.
The 50's
During the 1950s, under the leadership of P. Victor
Peterson, the campus expanded to its present site of 320 acres. In this
early era the Forty-Niner newspaper was established. It was not long
before the rabbits, meadowlarks, and sheep disappeared to be replaced
by the Language Arts, Fine Arts, Library, and Little Theatre buildings.
Enrollment increased in 1953 when freshmen and sophomores were admitted.
The 60's
Under Carl W. McIntosh, the expansion continued in the
1960s with added physical facilities,  increased
program offerings, increased faculty, and a surging student enrollment
which by 1966 had passed 20,000. The educational mission was modified
to provide instruction for undergraduate and graduate students through
the master’s degree in six schools: Applied Arts and Sciences, Business
Administration, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Letters and Science.
In 1965 an International Sculpture Symposium was held. Eight world-renowned
sculptors created permanent monumental works of art on the campus.
The 70's
The decade of the 1970s, under Stephen Horn, saw
further growth, restructuring of the University, development of a University-wide
system of academic requirements, and emphasis on the internationalization
of the curriculum. In June 1972, the California Legislature changed
the name to California State University, Long Beach and by 1973 student
enrollment reached 30,000. Additions made to the campus in this decade
included: the Student Union, the Learning Assistance Center, the Isabel
Patterson Child Development Center, the Psychology building, the Studio
Theatre, the Student Services Administration Building, and the Library
West building with its six floors and 534,072 volumes.
The 80's
The eighties represented an era of limited expansion.
Residential students in campus residence halls, however, increased to
an all-time high of 1,850. This decade also saw the acquisition of the
radio station KLON, the opening of the Loraine Huntington Miller and
Charles Elmer Huntington International House, the University Music Center,
the Engineering building, and the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.
In 1988, the Library celebrated the acquisition of its 1,000,000th volume.
At the same time, the women’s basketball team rose to national prominence.
The 90's
As the University moved into the 1990s, under the
leadership of Curtis L. McCray, its international influence continued
as the partners in the Pacific Rim increased in world-wide importance.
With the arrival of Robert C. Maxson in 1994, the University turned
its attention toward making CSULB the campus of choice for a critical
mass of academically talented students. Under President Maxson’s leadership,
the University is placing emphasis on academic programs of high quality
and service to students. This orientation is central to the President’s
commitment to enhance the national academic reputation of the University.
Today
Over the last forty-nine years, academic excellence
has been achieved through a distinguished faculty, a hard-working staff,
and an effective and visionary administration. The faculty’s primary
responsibility is to create, through effective teaching, a learning
environment where a student can grow and develop. In addition, the University
takes pride in its service to students. Over 300 clubs and organizations,
many of national stature, provide our students with a variety of co-curricular
experiences. CSULB offers theatre, dance, films, lectures, concerts,
athletics, and special events which include the International Festival,
the Blues Festival, the Odyssey Theme-Year, Kaleidoscope, Cinco de Mayo,
Women's History Month, and Black History Month. These events are open
to the local community as well as the students, faculty, and staff of
the University. The students enter the University to learn, and with
an earned degree, they go forward to serve our diverse society.
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