1957 Orange County State College established by act of the California Legislature. 1959 Dr. William B. Langsdorf appointed president by State Board of Education. Official enrollment, consisting solely of upper-division and graduate students, totaled 452. 1960 College moved to temporary buildings on permanent site. First commencement held at Fullerton College. 1961 Full accreditation received from Western College Association (later known as Western Association of Schools and Colleges). 1962 First Intercollegiate Elephant Race held on campus. Name changed to Orange State College.

1963 Letters and Science Building completed, providing space for classes and the administration. First freshmen admitted. First graduate degree programs offered. 1964 Name changed to California State College at Fullerton Performing Arts Center completed. 1965 Physical Education Building completed. School of Business Administration and Economics become youngest school in nation to win accreditation (undergraduate program) from the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. 1966 Music program become youngest in nation to receive accreditation from National Association of Schools of Music. Library (Building) completed. Dr. Louis Booker Wright awarded honorary doctorate, the first authorized in Fullerton's name by the Board of Trustees.

1967 College became a member of the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States and Western Association of Graduate Schools. Los Angeles Rams conducted summer training camp on campus for the first time. Commons (now Titan Bookstore) completed. 1968 Official enrollment surpassed 10,000 students. Program called "New Educational Horizons" launched to increase opportunities for minority and disadvantaged students to obtain a college education. College foundation acquired title to Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, formerly opertated by the San Fernando Valley Audobon Society. 1969 Humanities-Social Science Building and Visual Arts Center completed. School of the Arts formed. Alumni Association formed.

1970 Governor Ronald Reagan's appearance at the faculty-staff-student convocation resulted in attempts to disrupt him and marked the start of a semester of Vietnam War dissent and other protests on campus. Football became part of the intercollegiate sports program. Dr. William B. Langsdorf resigns as president to become vice chancellor for academic affairs of the state college system. 1971 Dr. L. Donald Shields appointed president by the Board of Trustees. Administration-Business Administration Building (later renamed Langsdorf Hall) and Engineering Center completed. 1972 Name changed to California State University, Fullerton in recognition of campus having met criteria for university status. Heritage House moved onto campus.

1973 Center for Internships and Cooperative Education established. 1974 Student Health Center completed. Enrollment surpassed 20,000. Men's athletic program moved up to NCAA Division I standing by affiliating with Pacific Coast Athletic Association (later known as the Big West Conference). 1975 President's Associates formed. 25,000th degree awarded. Professional Artists in Residence program initiated. 1976 Women's athletic program became founding member of the Western Collegiate Athletic Association. Education-Classroom Building and University Center completed.

1977 Disabled Student Center established in permanent quarters in the Library. 1978 Pacific Chamber Orchestra (later to become Pacific Symphony Orchestra) formed as professional ensemble in residence. Memorial Grove dedicated as living tribute to seven employees who were slain and two were wounded in July 12, 1976, shooting on campus. Cinderella performance by men's basketball team in NCAA playoffs attracted national attention. Continuing Learning Experience formed. 1979 Visual Arts Center addition completed. Fullerton Arboretum opened. New cohesive general education program began. President's Scholars Program started.

1980 Dr. L. Donald Shields resigned as president, effective at year's end, to become president of Southern Methodist University. 1981 Dr. Miles D. McCarthy became acting president. Name of state college system became The California State University. Dr. Jewell Plummer Cobb (on October 1) became president. 1982 50,000th degree awarded. 1983 Honors program for undergraduate students became effective. B.F.A. and M.F.A. in art offered for first time. Football team won its first NCAA championship and played Northern Illinois University in the California Bowl.

1984 Two lighted softball fields completed on campis under joint-use agreement with City of Fullerton. University became a 1984 Olympic Games venue with Titan Gym used for team handball competition. Letters and Science Building renamed Miles D. McCarthy Hall. 1985 Endowment established Women's athletic program affiliated with PCAA. 1986 Softball team won its first NCAA Division I championship. School of Engineering and Computer Science began operating. Proposition 56 passed by California voters, ensuring construction funds for Computer Science Building.

1987 New Mission and Goals Statement approved by President. Construction started on Gerontology Center, the first building on campus funded solely by contributed funds. Gerontology Center named in honor of Charles L. and Rachael E. Ruby. 1988 Founder's Quad dedicated. 75,000 degree awarded. Ronald Reagan made final Orange County public appearance as President when he spoke in Titan Gym on behalf of Bush-Quayle campaign. Proposition 78 passed by California voters, ensuring equipment funds for Computer Science Building and construction funds for a laboratory building adjacent to McCarthy Hall.

1989 First President's Medallion awarded to Leo S. Shapiro of Continuing Learning Experience. Historic El Dorado Ranch given to CSU as official residence for CSUF president. Mission Viejo Campus opened. Fullerton Marriott opened. Computer Science Building completed. 1990 Carl's Jr. opened on campus by the CSUF Foundation. Residence halls named in honor of retiring president Dr. Jewell Plummer Cobb. Proposition 121 passed by California voters, ensuring funds for working drawing for a new general classroom building and planning money for several other projects. Dr. Milton A. Gordon became president (August 9). Construction started on sports complex. 1991 Construction started on Science Laboratory Center.

1992 Expansion of University Center completed. Construction started on University Hall. Sports complex opened with alumnus Kevin Costner throwing out first ball in baseball facility and commencement being the first event in the multipurpose stadium. Proposition 153 passed by California voters, providing more than $50 million in funding for Cal State Fullerton improvements that included a four-story addition to the Library. Honorary CSU doctorate awarded posthumously to restaurant chain executive Donald F. Karcher. 1993 Los Angeles Salsa professional soccer team began using Titan Stadium as its home facility. 100,000 degrees awarded. Titan Stadium served as venue for the American Professional Soccer League championship match. Titans men's soccer team reached final four in NCAA competition. University Advancement Foundation formed. University Hall opened.

1994 A new Science Laboratory Center and University Classroom Building opened. Vision & Visionaries celebration initiated to showcase outstanding alumni and volunteers. CSUF served as a 1994 World Cup training site. 1995 The Lifespan Wellness Clinic in the Ruby Gerontology Center, the Center for Molecular Structure (the only one of its kind in the nation at a non-Ph.D. granting institution), and the Center for Children Who Stutter opened. The baseball team won its third NCAA National Championship and was honored by President Bill Clinton at the White House. The softball team won the NCAA West Regional title, while Coach Judi Garman garnered the softball college coaching record for most victories (986). Mahr House, the oldest original campus structure, is designated as the future Alumni Center.

1996 The inaugural Front & Center featured retired four-star General Colin Powell. The largest grant in CSUF's history, a $6 million from the National Science Foundation, is awarded to Dr. David L. Pagni, professor of mathematics. Softball Coach Judi Garman reached her milestone 1,000 victory. University Library-North, a $30 million four-story addition, opened. Alumni House renamed George G. Golleher Alumni House in honor of the 1971 CSUF graduate who is chairman of Ralph's Grocery Co. and a key donor for the facility renovation. 1997 W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Molecular Structure, the nation's first comprehensive X-ray crystallography facility to be located at a predominantly undergraduate institution, was dedicated. In partnership with the city of Santa Ana, groundbreaking was held for renovation of the city's Grand Central Building, where graduate students majoring in art will live, take classes and work.

1998 University Library renamed the Paulina June and George Pollak Library for longtime patrons and university supporters Dr. P. June Pollak, emeritus professor of English and comparative literature, and her husband, George. Guardian Scholars program launched in collaboration with the Orangewood Children's Foundation to encourage and support promising and motivated young people exiting the foster care system. Nine students, ages 18-23, were selected for the inaugural class of the program—believed to be the only one of its kind in California. M.B.A. program begun at Irvine Spectrum. Alumna Tracy Caldwell (B.S. chemistry 1993) was selected for the 1998 NASA astronaut training class. As a mission specialist scientist, Caldwell, who holds a doctorate in chemistry, will serve on the space station.

1999 CSUF institutes first MBA program abroad in Lima, Peru. Chinese government officials begin M.B.A. studies in accelerated CSUF program. Cal State Fullerton celebrates its 40th anniversary. Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana opens as satellite campus. CSUF granted approval for its 100th degree program, an M.S. in gerontology. 2000 California State University, Fullerton Foundation buys College Park building. Baseball stadium is named for longtime fans and donors Jerry and Merilyn Goodwin, following their $1 million donation towards the expansion of baseball and softball facilities.

2001 Joint doctoral program in education is approved as historic agreement between the California State University and the University of California is signed to create an Ed.D. degree statewide. Orange County approves the El Toro satellite campus, classes to begin in Fall 2002. Enrollment surpasses 30,000 students. CSUF is among the Top 10 of Top Public Schools in "Top Public Western Universities—Masters" Center for Nonprofit Research renamed in Harry R. Gianneschi's honor. Actor Nicholas Cage presented with honorary doctorate at Commencement. 2002 Voters approve Prop. 47, a $13 million education bond act to support construction and renovation of facilities $496 million will go to the California State University system in the next two years; of that, $17.4 million is slated for CSUF. CSUF opens its El Toro campus. More than 300 attend festivities at the grounds of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. About 2,400 students are registered for classes at the campus. The university's first online master's degree debuts in fall '02: the MS in instructional design and technology.

2003 CSUF is awarded the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities member institution award. CSUF climbs to eighth (up from 10th) among "Top Public Universities—Masters" in the West listings in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings. Campus receives Orange County Business Council's inaugural Educational Partnership Award, to recognize an institution that has shown a deep commitment to working with the private sector to achieve an educational workforce and an organization that has used its assets to address the needs of the economy and the business community. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is created with a $100,000 grant. 2004 Steven G. Mihaylo - the chairman and CEO of InterTel and a CSUF alumnus - pledges $3 million to the College of Business and Economics, the largest pledge of cash in university history. The new Kinesiology and Health Science building is dedicated. The first online master's degree program's first class of students is graduated.

2005 EL Toro campus is renamed the California State University, Fullerton, Irvine Campus. University breaks 35,000-student population mark. College of Business and Economics announces $15 million campaign to build the Steven G. Mihaylo Hall and to create endowments for student scholarships, academic programs and centers. Titan Athletics Hall of Fame is launched. Ground is broken for Steven G. Mihaylo Hall.

2006 The new 102,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center opens with an inaugural concert by international opera star and alumna Deborah Voigt. CSUF is one of seven campuses to introduce Ed.D. as part of California State University system-wide effort. Fullerton Arboretum dedicates its new $2.28 million Visitor Center. The Science Laboratory Center is renamed Dan Black Hall in recognition of an alumnus's $4.2 million gift to the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. CSUF is fourth in the nation for awarding undergraduate degrees to Hispanic students, according to the "Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education." Its rankings are based on 2005 data gathered by the National Center for Educational Statistics.