1973 to present
1974
First celebration of the Annual International Festival.
1975
Broadcasts of classes through closed circuit TV were used for the first time by residents in Oroville, Marysville, and Colusa.
The Orion(opens in new window), the campus newspaper, printed its first issue during the spring semester.
1976
The Alumni Association presented the Outstanding Alumnus Award for the first time. John O'Connell was the recipient.
First Oktoberfest held at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Put on by the Alumni Association, the event was held to raise funds for University Center improvements.
1977
Campus newspaper, The Wildcat, changed its name to Chico News and Review(opens in new window) and moved off campus to become an independent publication.
1978
Bicycle riders restricted from the core of campus.
1979
President Cazier left Chico State to become president at Utah State University. Dr. Fredenburg became acting president.
1980
Dr. Robin Wilson became president of Chico State.
The Student Health Center adopted a policy of free oral contraceptives for female students.
General education requirements for undergraduates increased from 40 to 48 units.
1981
Library was named in honor of Ted Meriam and his father.
1982
The campus was officially designated an arboretum.
1985
Celebration of the 75th anniversary of Pioneer Days.
1986
Academic departments and programs, previously grouped by schools, were reorganized into colleges.
1987
Celebration of 100th anniversary of the opening of the institution, April 8.
Pioneer Days was canceled but continued as a community event under the name Rancho Chico Days.
1989
Chico State's campus newspaper, The Orion, received the National Pacemaker award.
1992
Completion of O'Connell Technology Center and Tehama Hall. This was the first major construction on campus since the early 1970s.
1993
Dr. Robin Wilson retired and Dr. Manuel A. Esteban was appointed president.
1994
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) was established in the fall of 1994 to enhance student learning as recommended by the Presidential Task Force Reports.
1996
Construction of the parking structure at the corner of West First Street and Ivy was completed.
A grant was received for the installation of a satellite to broadcast courses throughout Northern California. This expanded the capabilities of the Center for Regional and Continuing Education.
1997
Meriam Library opened a 24-hour computer lab, the first such facility in the CSU.
Chico State’s Baseball team won its first national championship (the second came in 1999).
1998
Chico State Athletics joined the California Collegiate Athletic Association, considered by many the nation’s top NCAA Division II conference.
1999
University Research Foundation bought the first of two parcels for the establishment of ecological reserves: the 3,950-acre Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and the 300-acre Butte Creek Ecological Reserve. The second parcel was purchased in 2001.
2000
The first time capsule at Chico State buried since 1969 was unearthed.
The Book in Common(opens in new window) program was started.
2001
Joanna Dunlap Cowden Lecture in history established.
Chico State engineering students won national championship designing supermileage vehicle.
President’s Mansion was rededicated as Albert E. Warrens Reception Center.
2002
BA in Modern Jewish Studies was launched.
Former President Glenn Kendall turned 100 years old.
2003
Chico first CSU to register ‘green’ building project.
Scott G. McNall became acting president.
2004
Paul J. Zingg became Chico State president.
Lantis Professorship was established following $2.1 million gift from David and Helen Lantis estate.
2005
Orion inducted into Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame.
Greek System Task Force recommendations were accepted.
2006
CSU, Chico’s Strategic Plan for the Future, written in the 1990s, was updated.
The Organic Dairy opened on the University Farm.
2007
The Concrete Industry Management program started.
Chico State biologist on Nobel-Prize winning panel.
2008
Campus named to National Honor Roll for Civic Engagement second year in a row.
Professor Emerita Valene Smith donated $3 million to Museum of Anthropology.
Regular classes in Chinese and Arabic were offered.
The Student Services Center, with offices for admissions, financial aid, and other offices, was completed.
2009
WASC granted Chico State reaccreditation for 10 years.
First high-altitude wind power conference held on campus.
Manufacturing students won fifth straight national grand prize.
The Wildcat Recreation Center (WREC) opened, providing the campus a comprehensive recreation facility.
2010
Éstom Jámani Hall residence hall was dedicated.
Gateway Science Museum opened on campus, next to Bidwell Mansion.
2011
Chico State named one of top 5 'green' colleges by Yahoo News.
Computer Science students finished fifth in nation in World Finals of 'Battle of the Brains.'
Chico State's team won both top awards at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
2012
Chico State celebrated 125 years since its founding with a yearlong celebration including a community open house, 1-2-5 aerial class photo, and a number of special events and activities.
Princeton Review named Chico State to it's Green Honor Roll, one of just 21 colleges to receive the honor.
The study abroad program ranked No. 1 nationally for student participation in the University Studies Abroad Consortium.
2013
Chico State received the best possible score on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Students took the top prize in the Western States Collegiate Sales Competition.
2014
The Associated Students Multicultural Affairs Council hosted the 40th annual International Festival.
2015
The Orion student newspaper celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Men's cross country team claimed its 14th straight conference title, setting the California Collegiate Athletic Association record for most consecutive titles in any sport in its 76-year history.
Upward Bound outreach program celebrated its 50th anniversary.
2016
Gayle Hutchinson became president.
The 90.000-square-foot multidisciplinary Arts and Humanities Building opens.
CAVE celebrates 50 years, donating more than three million hours of service since 1966.
An interdisciplinary team of students were awarded first place in deployment strategy at the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition.
2017
Chico State named a Voter Friendly Campus.
Organic Dairy reached its 10-year anniversary.
Three journalism alumni receive the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting.
2018
University breaks ground on the new physical sciences building to be completed in 2020.
2019
President Gayle Hutchinson announces the 2019–24 Strategic Plan (PDF) for the University, which focuses on the priorities of equity, diversity, and inclusion; civic and global engagement; and resilient and sustainable systems.
