CSUF Faculty Gives Chancellor Vote of No-Confidence

Cal State Fullerton’s Academic Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution of no-confidence for embattled Chancellor Ann Reynolds, criticizing her for lack of leadership and fiscal responsibility in managing the California State University system.

The resolution, similar to those adopted by 10 other Cal State campuses, read: “The Academic Senate has lost confidence in both the current chancellor and in the California State University central administration as it is currently structured.”

The resolution said Reynolds and her top administrators have “failed to provide the kind of leadership necessary to advance the common mission of the campuses” of the Cal State system. “We request that trustees and the central administration be sensitive to the need for consultation and accountability to the public, students, staff and faculty.”

The resolution was adopted unanimously by the 30 academic senate members in attendance at Thursday’s meeting in the campus library, CSUF Academic Senate Chairman John Bedell said.

The Fullerton faculty’s main concern with Reynolds and her staff has been her refusal to let campus faculty members assist in background checks of potential successors to CSUF President Jewel Plummer Cobb, who retires in July.

The campus academic senate at one point refused to participate on the presidential search team unless their representatives were involved in the process, raising the specter of a president selected by Cal State system administrators and the Board of Trustees being forced on the Fullerton faculty.

The situation was so serious that Reynolds made a rare surprise appearance on campus to offer a compromise that would allow more faculty input in the process. The senate agreed to work with the search team, but Bedell said Thursday’s vote was evidence that bad feelings linger.

“I think the whole style of leadership, as reflected in the way we were treated on the desire to be involved in the background checks, symbolized an attitude that some people felt was all too common in the central administration: ‘We know what’s best for you.’ ”