The materials in this series document the rich history of the SJSU Academic Senate and its role in campus governance. The Senate has and continues to play a primary role in establishing standards for faculty recruitment, retention, and promotion, as well as policies governing student performance and student life. During the Civil Rights movement, issues related to student activism and protest led to more diverse policies that addressed housing discrimination and equity on campus. Following the tumult of this era, SJSU witnessed a steady growth in enrollment and today the Academic Senate continues to provide important leadership to the campus community and in the California State University system.

The Academic Senate administrative files contain meeting minutes, committee files, budget records, and correspondence. This series also includes files related to the Athletic Department's programs, including the elimination of the fencing program and other program decisions made during the tenure of President Gail Fullerton (1978-1991). Of special note, the materials documenting the Koehmstedt civil rights case, which challenged the university's accommodation policies for students with learning disabilities, will be of interest to scholars tracing the history of disability policies in the academic environment.