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Chancellor Reed Visits CSU, Chico

Chancellor Charles Reed visited CSU, Chico on Nov. 5 and 6, meeting with at least 10 different groups from all corners of the campus. He also met with the Alumni Association and Enterprise-Record staff.

Reed said that the overriding question in most peoples' minds seemed to be the process of selecting a new president and assurance that the new president would be as good as President Esteban. "I'd clone him if I could," said Reed.

Reed was questioned about why CSU, Chico was last in line to complete the process. "Chico is on solid ground and in good shape on almost all levels, including an upper management team," Reed explained. Pomona Polytechnic, said Reed, has serious problems with losing upper management. "CSU, Sacramento and CSU, Chico are similar in many respects," said Reed, "and, given the likelihood of a similar pool of candidates, we don't want to be in the position of one of you feeling as if you ended up with the second-best candidate. That's why we've set up the schedule as we have." He also cited the limitations of his own time, since he will be personally involved in the three selection processes at each level.

Members of the Staff Council asked Reed why there would be no Golden Handshake for the CSU system. He said that the CSU is not a state agency. Also, he explained, the state was looking for permanent reductions. What that would have meant for the CSU is not replacing people who retire. "It just wouldn't work for us -- we are growing as a system."

Staff also had questions about CMS and the choice of PeopleSoft software. PeopleSoft, said Reed, had the best overall system as determined by a large number of people involved in the selection. "When I came to the CSU, there was no human resources program in place -- we were working off of 1960 technology. I'm surprised that we all got paid each month," said Reed.

In his meeting with students, Reed was asked by A.S. President Jimmy Reed about the possibility of a rise in student fees in the future.

"If I could tell you, I'd tell you, but I don't know. The budget I presented to the trustees does not have a fee increase. On the other hand, the state is facing a $12 billion deficit, and the legislature is facing either raising taxes and perhaps raising fees and providing services, or lowering taxes and keeping fees the same and cutting services," said Reed.

Reed said that he is an optimist and that, in spite of being in for some hard times, the fact that there are fewer people in the prison system and on welfare than during any time in the last 10 years, means that costs are down in some areas. K - 12 populations are not growing at the same rate as they have been; they are now at 1 percent rather than 4 to 5 percent.

Tiffani Neal, Pan African Students Union member, asked about the retention rate of minority students at CSU, Chico. Even when students enroll, many do not stay. "Something is missing in Chico or at the university," she said.

Reed answered that retention and graduation of minority students is something that the students and public will hear more about, as he is making it a priority.

Students were also concerned about adequate representation on the presidential search committee, a graduate student differential so that graduate students can fund their education, and more financial aid for middle income families.

Kathleen McPartland