Full Agenda for CSUN’s New Leader

Cal State Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson recently announced that she will leave the university in June after nearly seven years to head a nonprofit educational foundation in Massachusetts.

California State University Chancellor Charles Reed and Board of Trustees Chairman William Hauck, whose opinions on a successor will carry the most weight, said they are looking for an experienced press-savvy educator and leader with vision, good judgment and a track record in raising money. CSU officials expect to install a permanent replacement by January.

KARIMA A. HAYNES asked faculty and student leaders at CSUN what challenges the new president is likely to face as leader of one of the state’s largest universities.

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JOAQUIN MACIAS

24, Northridge; CSUN Associated Students president

The most pressing challenge would be filling the vacant offices of vice president of student affairs, vice president of administration and finance, athletic director and public safety director. The person coming in should have some working knowledge of this campus, its needs and its demographics and use that knowledge in selecting people to fill those positions.

There have been a lot of issues regarding the chancellor and his approach to dealing with faculty, students and administrators. I hope the next person can put Northridge first and not succumb to what the chancellor wants.

Northridge is a unique campus. We have the most racially diverse campus in the [CSU] system. Our students’ average age is 27. What may be good for one campus may not be good for this campus. I hope the new president can see the uniqueness of Northridge and be able to represent the university adequately when dealing with Chancellor Reed.

I would also hope that the next president would have sensitivity toward minority issues--considering that we are a predominantly minority campus. Remedial education is an important issue for minority students . . . . Remediation is being addressed on a systemwide basis, but the president needs to articulate the specific needs of Northridge.

There have been a number of things that President Wilson has started, in terms of getting the campus back up to speed after the earthquake and making it better, which is her motto. I would like to see the new president come in and fulfill her legacy. President Wilson will be able to help in that transition. I hope that the next person is receptive to what she is laying out. This will ensure that there is continuity between the two administrations.

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ALBERT KINDERMAN

53, Northridge; faculty president and professor of management science

One of the biggest challenges for the new administration will be dealing with the future of the athletics program, including the football stadium and how it relates to the overall program and to the larger community.

It is not clear whether the university can continue to support a Division I program without broad community support, including financial support. The new administration is going to have to resolve the issue of athletics, one way or another.

Blenda has done a good job of laying a foundation for moving the university into the new century. I would expect the new president to continue many of the initiatives that are underway. One of the key initiatives is working with K-12 students to help prepare for college-level work.

As faculty president, I meet with the president monthly and I interact with her on . . . the CSUN advisory board, which is made up of community leaders and supporters of the university. I also work with her on the campus strategic planning governance group, which provides guidance to the campus and president on the management of the university’s strategic plan. I expect to continue these meetings under the new administration.

The faculty [members] are going to be looking for a president who can relate to them and the problems they are facing, but the president has to serve more than just the faculty.

One of the key issues for faculty is the issue of workload. We are teaching classes, meeting with students, serving on campus committees, and we are expected to research and publish. At the same time, many faculty are trying innovative techniques of instruction--using the Internet, for example--that require additional time.