California State University, Chico

Former names	Northern Branch State Normal School of California (1887–1921) Chico State Teachers College (1921–1935) Chico State College (1935–1972)
Motto	"Today Decides Tomorrow"[1]
Type	Public university
Established	1887; 138 years ago (1887)
Parent institution	California State University
Accreditation	WSCUC
Endowment	$97.9 million (2023-24) (millions)[2]
Budget	$261.8 million (2024-25)[3]
President	Stephen Perez
Provost	Leslie Cornick
Academic staff	848 (Fall 2024)[4]
Administrative staff	1,061 (Fall 2024)[4]
Students	14,581 (Fall 2024)[4]
Undergraduates	13,392 (Fall 2024)[4]
Postgraduates	1,189 (Fall 2024)[4]
Location	Chico , California , United States 39°43′48″N121°50′51″W / 39.73000°N 121.84750°W /39.73000; -121.84750
Campus	Midsize city[5][6], Central Campus: 119 acres (48 ha) Total: 3,249 acres (1,315 ha)
Newspaper	The Orion
Colors	Chico red, cornerstone gray, black, and white[7]
Nickname	Wildcats[8]
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II –CCAA
Mascot	Willie the Wildcat
Website	www.csuchico.edu

California State University, Chico (Chico State^[7]) is apublic university inChico, California, United States. It was founded in 1887 as one of about 180 "normal schools" founded by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. Some closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century.^[9] It is the second oldest campus in theCalifornia State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 16,630 students. The university offers 126bachelor's degree programs, 35master's degree programs, and four types ofteaching credentials. Chico is aHispanic-serving institution (HSI).

On March 12, 1887, a legislative act was enacted to create the Northern Branch of theCalifornia State Normal School. Less than a month later, Chico was chosen as the location. In 1887, GeneralJohn Bidwell donated 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land from his cherry orchard. On July 4, 1888, the first cornerstone was laid. On September 3, 1889, doors opened for the 90 enrolled students. The library opened on January 11, 1890, with 350 books. On June 20, 1891, the first graduation took place, a class of 15.

In 1910,Annie Kennedy Bidwell donated an additional 2 acres (0.81 ha) of land to be used for work with elementary agriculture. The next year Mrs. Bidwell donated an orange orchard lot 55 × 440 feet (130 m) as the children's playground, which is connected to the Training School.^[10] In 1921, legislation was enacted to change the school's name to Chico State Teacher's College. In 1922, Chico State Teacher's College added a junior college curriculum and awarded a certificate after two years. Also in 1922,Bidwell Mansion was turned into a women's dormitory. In 1923 the first college paper,The Collegian, was published. In 1924, the state Board of Education allowed the school to grantbaccalaureate degrees. Also in 1924, thewildcat was chosen as themascot. In 1927 a gym was built on the grounds of Bidwell Mansion. In 1929, the cornerstone for the new administration building was laid on top of Normal Building's original cornerstone.

In 1935, Bidwell Hall was turned into a recreation and student center—the first student union. Also in 1935 a legislative act changed the college name from Chico State Teachers College to Chico State College. In 1937 evening classes started on campus and athletic fields were purchased from the Chico Board of Education.

In 1948, dorms for 500 male students were set up on west side of Warner Street. The buildings were built duringWorld War II and were used as bachelor quarters for a Marine Hospital inKlamath Falls, Oregon.

In 1950, California's governor allowed state colleges to grant Master of Arts degrees. In 1951 the college reorganized from 18 departments into seven divisions with chairmen. Then in 1956 a new flagpost and sign in front of Kendall Hall was donated by the class of 1956. In the following year, 1957, a newcafeteria was built and the rose gardens were planted. In 1958 the first "telecourse" was taught, Psychology 51.

In 1972, Chico State College became California State University, Chico.

In 1975, broadcasts of classes throughclosed-circuit television were used for the first time by residents inOroville,Marysville andColusa. Also in 1975,The Orion, the campus student newspaper, published its first issue. In 1977, the other campus paper,The Wildcat, changed its name toChico News and Review and moved off campus to become an independent publication. In 1978 bike riding was restricted on campus.^[12]

In 1987, Chico State was ranked as the top party school in the nation byPlayboy.^[13]

CSU Chico opened its first sub-campus inRedding, affiliated withShasta College, in 2007.

In 2005, studentMatt Carrington washazed to death at theChi Tau (local) house, which had previously been expelled from the university in 2001 due to violations.^[14] Carrington died as a result ofwater intoxication during a hazing session involving the victim being forced to exercise and drink large quantities of water.

In 2010, the President of the Associated Student body, Joseph Igbineweka, was stabbed in a racially motivated attack.^[15]

In 2011, CSU, Chico received a Civic Learning Initiative Grant from theW. M. Keck Foundation to extend its efforts to establish civic engagement as a key component of students' academic success.^[16]

The university has more than 75 departments^[17] and offers more than 150 undergraduate degrees.^[18] It is organized into seven colleges and four schools:

• College of Agriculture
• College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
  • School of Social Work
• College of Business
• College of Communication & Education
  • School of Education
• College of Engineering, Computer Science, & Construction Management
• College of Humanities & Fine Arts
  • School of the Arts
• College of Natural Sciences
  • School of Nursing

The university's library, the Meriam Library, has several special collections ofNative American and Californian history.^[19]

According to theU.S. News & World Report 2025 college rankings, Chico State was ranked at 14th for "Best Colleges forVeterans", 11th in Top Public Schools, 23rd in Top Performers onSocial Mobility, 62nd in BestUndergraduateEngineering Programs, and 218th inNursing.^[25]

The California State University, Chico campus consists of a 119-acre main campus, the 800-acrePaul L. Byrne Memorial University Farm, and 2,330-acres of ecological reserves. These reserves include the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) and theButte Creek Ecological Preserve (BCEP).^[4]

The construction of the normal school building was begun in September 1887. It was a large brick building, consisting of three stories and full basement. It was of Romanesque design with Elizabethan gables and artificial stone trimmings. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1927. The current administration building Kendall Hall was built on the site of the normal school in 1929.^[26]

Colusa Hall, completed in 1921 is the oldest building on campus. Today it is used as a conference and public events facility.^[27]

Alfred E. Warren House, built by noted Californian architectJulia Morgan in 1922–23, serves as the university president's residence.

The Campus Arboretum is located alongBig Chico Creek.

NearbyBidwell Park includes 29 acres (12 ha) of a former arboretum, now run somewhat wild, which contains trees such as Englishoaks,hawthorn,cherry plum,bay laurel,cork oak,ponderosa,aleppo, andMonterey pines,willow,mulberry,linden,maple,catalpa,pine, andeucalyptus, collected from around the world.^[28]

Currently, the university can accommodate 2,150^[29] or approximately 13% of the student body in seven on-campus residential halls. Most buildings on campus are named after California counties.

In 1959, Chico State College Library was built. The library was expanded and renamed to the "Learning Activities Resource Center" (LARC) in 1975. It was in 1985 when the library gained another expansion and its current name, Meriam Library. A fourth floor of the library was constructed in 1985.^[30]

Associated Students, Chico is thestudent government at California State University, Chico.

Student Life and Leadership, formally the Student Activities Office, incorporates three programs: Student Organizations and Leadership Education (SOLE), Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (FSA), and Recreational Sports.

Chico State has an annual event where Chico State students gather in a public area and discuss most current policy issues with their peers. Faculty members are also involved.^[32]

The Great Debate was created to drive members of both the campus and the community to take part in a conversation about important issues. A different topic is chosen every semester.^[33]

As of May 2017^[update] Chico State has 30fraternities and sororities, making up approximately 12 percent of the student population.^[34]

Male to Female Percentage: 43:57%^[4]

CSU Chico along withCSU Bakersfield has the second largest enrollment percentage of Native Americans in the Cal State system.^[40]

KCSC Radio was founded in 1951. The university's student-run weekly newspaper,The Orion first began publishing in 1975.^[41] In 1989,The Orion won theNational Pacemaker Award, the first of nine times the paper has won the top prize in college journalism. In 2009,The Orion won the National Pacemaker Award for the 11th time at the College Media Convention.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997 Wild Oak Music Group, an independent record company, was founded and is run by the Music Industry students within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

The university's athletic teams are known as the Chico State Wildcats. The school sponsorssoccer,basketball,golf,cross country, andtrack and field for both men and women. The school sponsorssoftball andvolleyball for women, andbaseball for men. The school'sathletic director is Anita Barker. The school competes inDivision II of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in theCalifornia Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).^[42] Since 1998, Chico State's athletic teams have won 99 NCAA Championship berths, 40 CCAA titles, 24 West Region titles, and 15 NCAA national titles.^[43] The Wildcats softball team won the firstAIAW Division III national championship in 1980, led by pitcherKathy Arendsen.^[44] Chico excels in cross country and track and field in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.^[45]

The Wildcats of Chico State earned six team NCAA championships at the Division II level.^[46] NCAA Division II individual championships by Scott Bauhs (2008) Men's cross country and J. J. Jakovac (2002, 2004) and Kyle Souza (2011) Men's Golf Championships.

• Men's Team (6)
  • Baseball (2): 1997, 1999
  • Golf (1): 1966
  • Swimming and diving (3): 1973, 1974, 1976

Chico State madeThe Princeton Review's 2011 "Guide to Green Colleges", honoring campuses that "demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation."^[47]

The following persons led California State University, Chico:^[50]

No.	Image	Name	Term start	Term end	Refs.
Principals of Chico Normal School
1		Edward Timothy Pierce	1889	1893
2		Robert F. Pennell	1893	1897
Presidents of Chico State College
3		Carleton M. Ritter	1897	1899
4		Charles C. Van Liew	1899	1910
Acting		Elmer Isaiah Miller	1910	1910
5		Allison Ware[a]	1910	1917
Acting		Elmer Isaiah Miller	1917	1918
6		Charles Osenbaugh	1918	December 5, 1930[b]
Acting		Clarence Knight Studley	December 6, 1930	January 31, 1931
7		Rudolph D. Lindquist	February 1, 1931	July 31, 1931[c]
8		Aymer Jay Hamilton	1931	July 31, 1950
9		George Glenn Kendall	1950	1966
10		Robert Eugene Hill	1966	August 31, 1970	[51]
Acting		Lew Dwight Oliver	September 1, 1970	June 1971	[52][53]
Presidents of California State University, Chico
11		Stanford Cazier	1971	1979	[54]
Acting		Robert L. Fredenburg	August 1, 1979	June 30, 1980	[55]
12		Robin Wilson	July 1, 1980	July 31, 1993	[56][57]
13		Manuel A. Esteban	August 1, 1993	June 30, 2003[d]	[58][59]
Acting		Scott McNall	July 1, 2003	January 31, 2004	[60]
14		Paul Zingg	February 1, 2004	June 30, 2016	[61]
12		Gayle E. Hutchinson	July 1, 2016	June 30, 2023	[62][63]
13		Stephen Perez	July 1, 2023	present	[64]

Table notes:

• Dunham, E. Alden. "Colleges of the Forgotten Americans. A Profile of State Colleges and Regional Universities." (McGraw Hill, 1969).

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