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Cal State University of Fresno

Fresno State serves the richly diverse region
of Central California. The U.S. Department of Education designates our university as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.

106 years of excellence

Fresno State has roots dating back to 1911, when the doors of the Fresno State Normal School opened to 150 hopeful students. Today, the student population is more than 25,000 and the University has garnered national attention for its rise in college rankings.

With majors in 66 bachelor's, 44 master's and three doctoral subject areas, Fresno State has come a long way from its modest beginning.

To date, more than 180,000 graduates — and thousands of others who have had a Fresno State educational experience — have migrated to every state in the nation and across the globe. They are prominent leaders, innovators and critical thinkers in every industry, transforming our region and communities across the world.

Our commitment to the region

Nestled in the center of California, in one of the richest agricultural valleys on the planet and one of the most culturally-diverse regions in the country, Fresno State is a place where students grow from high-impact practices.

This is a fertile place to boldly equip and empower our students for success. And the success of our students – the next generation of leaders in our region and beyond – is of utmost importance.

Our community ties are strong because we believe this region can thrive when the community and university work as one. That's why we show our commitment to the community through providing millions of hours of service, partnering with local organizations and spreading Fresno State pride across the Valley.

Discover for yourself

We know the Bulldog spirit is infectious. Whether you're a prospective student, community member, parent or you're already part of the campus community, we invite you to explore what Fresno State has to offer and consider the University as you plan for the future!

Institute for Media and Public Trust presents First Amendment forum

Fresno State's Institute for Media and Public Trust will present a First Amendment forum from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center. This free event is open to the public.

The forum will feature an expert panel that will explore free-speech issues on university campuses throughout the country. The panel will also discuss how the First Amendment, academic freedom, tenure and collective bargaining relate to the topic. In addition, the subject of free speech will be discussed on a broader scale, including recent challenges in K-12 schools in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Institute for Media and Public Trust, established in June, studies media literacy and “fake news” and develops strategies to restore trust in all forms of media. The Institute is housed in the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism in the University's College of Arts and Humanities . Jim Boren, the former executive editor of The Fresno Bee, is the executive director of the Institute.

“We believe this forum is important to the ongoing community conversation, not only to add to the knowledge base, but to also model ways to have civil conversations on some of the most divisive issues of our times,” said Boren, who will be the moderator for the panel. “We can passionately disagree on these issues, but do it in a way that we hear the arguments being made on the other side. Too often, the conversations on social media and other platforms have adversaries speaking past one another.”

Panelists for the forum are:

• Thomas Holyoke, chair of Academic Senate
• Demi Wack, ASI president
• Diane Blair, president Fresno State Chapter of the California Faculty Association
• Wen Fa, attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation
• Michael E. Smith, founding partner of the Lozano Smith law firm

A key goal of the Institute is to increase media literacy among news consumers. Through community engagement and outreach activities, the Institute aims to increase public knowledge, acceptance and expectations for consuming news content.

The First Amendment forum is the Institute's first event of the semester.

“We plan to engage our experts and community members in this dialogue,” Boren said. “This is the first of many programs aimed at improving media literacy, developing strategies to fight fake news and bridging the gap between media organizations and news consumers who in many cases have lost trust in the media.”

For more information about the Institute for Media and Public Trust, call 559.278.2087.

The University

California State University, Fresno was founded as Fresno State Normal School in 1911, became a teacher's college in 1921, and has offered advanced degrees since 1949. The university's popular nickname is "Fresno State." Our mascot is the Bulldog.

Affiliation

Fresno State is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University, one of the largest systems of higher education in the world.

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the California Board of Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It has 26 nationally accredited departmental programs, among the highest number within the CSU system.

Enrollment (Fall 2016)

The university enrolled more than 24,400 students, and over 5,000 students completed work for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees by Commencement 2016. ( Information provided by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.)

Faculty and Staff (Fall 2015)

2,334 full- and part-time; 96 percent of the tenured faculty hold doctoral or other terminal degrees in their areas of study.

Location

Fresno State's 388-acre main campus and its 1,011-acre University Farm are located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range. The surrounding San Joaquin Valley is one of the richest agricultural areas in the world, and Fresno is the fifth largest city in California. The university is within an hour's drive of many mountain and lake resorts and within a three- or four-hour drive of both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Academic Schools and Divisions

Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; College of Arts and Humanities; Craig School of Business; Kremen School of Education and Human Development; Lyles College of Engineering; College of Health and Human Services; College of Science and Math; College of Social Sciences; Division of Graduate Studies; Continuing and Global Education.

Academic Calendar

Fall semester: late August through December. Spring semester: mid-January through mid-May. The university also offers shorter sessions in summer.

Costs*

See www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/academic-regulations/fees.htmll for fee information.