Cal State Chief Defends Faculty Merit-Pay Plan

California State University Chancellor Barry Munitz zapped technophiles who advocate teaching via computers, and got in a few digs at the University of California as well, during a talk Thursday before Cal State Fullerton faculty members.

Munitz displayed his characteristically blunt speaking style. At one point he warned the gathering of nearly 100 professors that his forthcoming remarks on salaries would “really piss you off here.”

In fact, issues of pay dominated Munitz’s hourlong meet-and-greet before the Academic Senate, his first visit with the group since becoming chancellor nearly six years ago.

But Munitz did slip in a few comments about education issues, such as his skepticism over the efficiency of teaching via information technology.

When asked about the use of the Internet and information technology as a way to improve professors’ efficiency, Munitz voiced caution.

“You’re talking to a former professor of classics and comparative literature who does not own and hopes to die having never owned a computer. I’m a charter member of the Luddite society,” he said.

“I’m a long way from convinced that technology is the secret to efficiency,” Munitz said.

He promoted Cal State’s emphasis on teaching over research and vowed never to use graduate “teaching assistants” to the level they are used at Cal State’s big sister, the University of California.

“I run around saying the fundamental difference between UC and us is we don’t do it,” Munitz said.

He also emphasized the importance of winning state dollars for the system, predicting an increment for the system but not venturing a guess as to how much.

On the issue of faculty pay, Munitz made good on his promise to anger the faculty with his no-retreat stance on the merit-pay plan that the university adopted last year. Under that plan, faculty members who want a raise beyond a minimum cost-of-living increase must submit an application for review and recommendation by their peers and the campus president. The university defended the provision as a commonplace performance incentive.

But it has drawn much ire from faculty, who fear politically unpopular but outstanding professors would be overlooked.

Michael Russell, a philosophy and human services professor who did not get a merit raise, stood in anger to complain that nobody has made clear the criteria for deciding who gets the raises.

Munitz’s answer captured the chancellor’s style of conceding his shortcomings as well as his knack for soothing critics.

Munitz acknowledged that “a measure of the muddle is coming from the top.” He said more work needs to be done to refine the merit program and looked to the faculty to suggest improvements.

Russell rose again, but this time to thank the chancellor and call his candor “enormously healing.”