In 1960 the Donahue Act was implemented. It recognized three segments of higher education, the community colleges, open to all students; the California State colleges, open to the top one-third of the high school graduates; and the University of California, open to the top one-eighth of the high school graduates. Since the University of California is established in the State Constitution, the Board of Regents continued governing the university. A Board of Trustees was created by the Act to govern the state colleges. Besides ex-officio members (four), it provided for eighteen members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate to serve eight year terms. It also created an advisory body to the legislature composed of members representing all three segments of higher education plus private colleges and the public which in turn established its bureaucracy to make studies and provide reports to the legislature. The Board of Trustees established the Office of Chancellor with its ever growing bureaucracy. Prior to this time, President McPhee represented the college to the Governor, Department of Finance and the Legislature. He dispatched one administrator to lobby in Sacramento when the legislature was in session. As a service for a legislator's vote, the lobbyist composed bills for introduction upon request, becoming an expert.
For Cal Poly, the Donahue Act has had far reaching effects, The institution has been forced to fit into a common mold of the system in many areas. The free wheeling mode of operation ceased, making it more difficult for it to accomplish its self-determined objectives. At this time faculty tenure was imposed by the system. It had been common to all campuses except Cal Poly. President McPhee secured Trustee Amendment of Title V granting Cal Poly certain exceptions within the system, essentially guaranteeing the preservation of the objectives as stated in the Enabling Act of 1901. He also convinced the Trustees that academic departments should be administered by Department Heads appointed by the President. He felt this was crucial; with the establishment of academic senates on campuses and for the system. All the other campuses had the more traditional academic chair. The Chancellor's Office apparently has not thought it worth the effort to force compliance on the other seventeen campuses in this matter. With the rise of collective bargaining that became a mute question for them, but a major administrative shift for Cal Poly and Cal State Poly.
The Master Plan initiated in 1960 called for the establishment of a State Academic Senate and local campus senates. Professor Anderson, from the EE Department faculty, was a founding member of the State Senate and served for six years. He also was the first chairman of Cal Poly's Academic Senate, Serving in that capacity for two terms, he set the tone of the senate and the direction in which it was to go.
In 1959 Clarence Radius, head of the Electronic Engineering Department, in honor and recognition of Dean Knott, set up the outstanding graduating senior award. Professor Radius had been a pioneer in the field of electronic engineering. A separate and distinct degree in electronic engineering was totally new in 1946, and like most new concepts faced hurdles for acceptance. He possessed the vision, energy and enthusiasm required to build a department with a new major to a status where it was not only recognized and respected in California, and adjacent western states, but also nationally as well. It set records because of its special blend of "know why and how" instruction. However, Professor Radius' almost total occupation with his work took its toll, exacting his life while he was still in his early fifties.
In 1963-64, quoting the President's Annual Report: "Industry support in funds and equipment totaled $74,550 during the year. The major gift, made to the Electrical Engineering Department, was a Burroughs 205 computer from the General Electric Company and accessory equipment from the Burroughs Corporation valued at $50,000. . . . Vigorous attention was given to placement problems to offset cutbacks in defense spending resulted in an excellent placement record in a problem period."
The two departments continued in the 1950's and 60's competing for excellence. The 1960's brought a very steep student growth curve in electronic engineering. Professor Radius was building a strong faculty, loyal to the educational principles on which success depended when he was suddenly stricken by a fatal heart attack in September, 1964.
The responsibility for continuing the progress in curricular development, student growth and physical facilities came to Professor Fred Steuck, when with the faculty's recommendation he was appointed Department Head by President McPhee. Professor Steuck very ably carried the burden for five years when his request to return to the classroom was honored and Dr. E. R. Owen was appointed as his successor, July 1, 1969.