This position is represented by the Stanford Deputy Sheriff's Association (SDSA) and the collective bargaining agreement between the university and the SDSA governs the terms and conditions of employment. Founded in 1891, Stanford University is among the top academic institutions in the country, excelling in a wide range of fields from the humanities to information technology to the health sciences and medicine. The university is located near Palo Alto, 35 miles south of San Francisco, on an 8,800-acre campus.