CSUS passes review, but criticized for faculty-admin rift

TURLOCK -- An important review of California State University, Stanislaus, found a lot to like at the campus: an impressive graduation rate, a commitment to learning and student success, an emphasis on undergraduate research.

But it took the university to task over tensions between faculty and administration that boil over into student life and threaten the campus' success.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted the university a full accreditation. That means the university is in good standing academically through 2019, and students remain eligible for federal financial aid.

But WASC President Ralph A. Wolff and the report note "long-simmering" tensions between the faculty and the administration on campus, saying they "have risen to levels of potential disruption to academic operations."

Acrimony between the faculty and the administration reaches back over several years, but it has risen recently, with controversies over the elimination of the school's winter term, the release of a popular dean and changes to school hiring practices.

In November, the faculty overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence in Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani.

Faculty representatives said the administration pushed them out of their role in decision-making; Shirvani said the faculty was overstepping the bounds of its authority.

Shirvani would not agree to discuss the accreditation findings. Through spokeswoman Eve Hightower, he referred questions to Provost James Strong.

Strong, who started work as the university's top academic officer the month after the WASC March visit, said he was aware of the problems and is committed to working through them.

"We absolutely have to work even harder to reach out to faculty," he said. "Every faculty has some level of conflict; we have to make sure it stays in the functional realm."

Hightower said the WASC team visited March 2-4; on March 4, Stanislaus State students and faculty participated in a statewide demonstration against cuts to higher education. The local effort also focused on the elimination of winter term and frustration with the administration.

Strong said he has met with faculty representatives and pledged to involve them in decision-making as appropriate.

"But sometimes the administration has to make a decision after consulting with them that some folks don't agree with," he said.

He said in this case, his lack of his-tory on the campus is an advantage, and he views the new school year as an opportunity to start with a clean slate.

Last year, the faculty complained the administration wasn't forthcoming with budget documents requested when the university was considering cuts. Strong said that won't happen on his watch.

"My experience has been that you're always better off to put your cards on the table," he said.

He said the WASC finding, coming from an objective third party, is a good starting point.

"Some experts from the outside come in, it can galvanize all the stakeholders," Strong said.

Faculty points to upcoming hires

Speaker of the Faculty Kelvin Jasek-Rysdahl, an economics professor, said he was glad to hear Strong's plans.

"I'm glad to hear the provost feels that way," Jasek-Rysdahl said. "But it can't just be the provost."

He said the university has some key positions to fill, including two dean posts, and he hopes the faculty has a role in the selection process.

"If that happens, I think it's a key step," he said.

Jasek-Rysdahl pointed out out that the WASC report commends the whole campus -- the staff, faculty and students.

"We have a lot to be proud of," he said. The graduation rate is especially impressive given that the university serves a high percentage of low- income, first-generation college students.

The WASC team plans a "special visit" in fall 2011 "to ensure substantial progress in matters related to leadership and governance," Wolff wrote.

Strong and Jasek-Rysdahl said the university can make that progress if both sides remain focused on the highest priority: the students.

"Students need to know the institution can still work for their benefit," Jasek-Rysdahl said.

Strong's take: "All stakeholders involved are passionately committed to students' success. It's good that people are emotionally engaged and care."

Bee staff writer Patty Guerra can be reached at pguerra@modbee.com or 578-2343.