Activities to celebrate the anniversary are planned throughout the school year.
When the university was created as Sonoma State College in 1961, there were 274 students who came from the Santa Rosa Center, an extension of San Francisco State College. Classes were held in leased buildings at 265 College View Drive in Rohnert Park.
Bachelor of arts degrees were offered in elementary education and counseling. The first freshmen students arrived in the 1962-1963 school year.
A 50th anniversary celebration day planned for Oct. 29 will include library tours, wine and cheese tasting, concerts and art and science exhibits.
More information about the anniversary celebration is available at www.sonoma.edu/50th.
