Chancellor's Report

to the Board of Trustees

July 11, 2001

I want to begin by thanking the outstanding CSU leaders we honored last night: Jerry Aspland; Handel Evans Ali Razi; Neel Murarka; Larry Adamson; Shaun Lumachi. Again, thank you all for your service to the California State University. I also want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Chuck Lindahl, the CSU's Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Chuck has dedicated the majority of his career to the CSU. Over the past 37 years, he has worked for every CSU chancellor. In fact, he worked at the CSU office when it was still on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Chuck is retiring, but over the next year he will be sharing his expertise with Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates. He will be working with Dell Felder, the former provost at CSU Monterey Bay. Chuck, we thank you for your many years of contributions to the CSU.

We have three new CSU leaders here today: Bill Eisenhardt, president of the California Maritime Academy; Dick Rush, president of CSU Channel Islands; Louis Caldera, CSU vice chancellor for advancement.

One final set of introductions: I want to ask Jacquelyn Kegley to introduce the newly elected Executive Committee of the Academic Senate. (Jacquelyn Kegley makes introductions)

All of these changes are a sign of a growing, dynamic university. I know our new leaders will serve us well.

I want to thank the trustees for their attendance at all of the CSU commencement ceremonies. At least one trustee attended every commencement. Altogether, this was a successful academic year. The CSU graduated more than 70,000 students.

I am pleased to report that we have reached a settlement agreement with Enron to return our universities to direct access service. The agreement provides for a two-year extension of the direct access contract. As part of the agreement, we will dismiss the lawsuit against Enron without prejudice and they will dismiss their appeal without prejudice.

Two community groups have filed lawsuits against the Board of Trustees on the CSU Dominguez Hills sports complex. The lawsuits claim that the environmental impact reports are inaccurate. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Next, we have the great pleasure of honoring the winners of the 2001 Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement. I'd like to invite Ali Razi and Chairman Gould to join me at the podium.

This award provides scholarships to CSU students who demonstrate financial need, superior academic achievement, and a commitment to community service. These students also have overcome significant personal challenges. The award was created in 1974, but its funds were depleted in 1997. At that time, Trustee Ali Razi led an effort to continue the award. By merging the Hearst Scholarship Program with the CSU Board of Trustees' Outstanding Achievement Award, we were able offer larger scholarships to more students. This year, we are honoring six students with scholarships of $3,000 apiece. I want to thank the Hearst Foundation for its generous support. I also want to thank Ali for his leadership and generosity in sustaining this program. Ali continues to serve the CSU as Chair of the Hearst/Trustee Scholarship Committee. Ali, I'd like to invite you to make a few comments.

(Ali Razi remarks)

Thank you Ali. Next we have a brief video about our winners.

(VIDEOTAPE)

It is now time to present the awards. I'd like to ask each winner to come up when I call his or her name.

Daniel Cacho: Daniel is a Sacramento State student in the master of criminal justice program with a GPA of 4.00. He is the son of immigrant parents whose struggles with immigration and citizenship fueled his desire to become a lawyer and professor. He works as a mentor and bilingual tutor. Congratulations, Daniel.

Patricia Cotter: Patricia is a junior at Chico State, majoring in agriculture with a minor in women's studies, who has a 3.56 GPA. She has confronted many challenges on her path to higher education, including homelessness, widowhood, special-needs children, and a visual disability. She serves her community by working as a mentor with the 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and Boys and Girls Clubs. Congratulations, Patricia.

Theresa Devins: Theresa is a CSU Stanislaus junior with a criminal justice-forensic science major and a 3.90 GPA. She returned to school while raising three teenagers, with a goal of becoming a forensic pathologist. She is an honors student who volunteers with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and A Women's Place. Congratulations, Theresa.

Jessica Flynn: Jessica is a senior chemistry major at Cal State San Bernardino with a GPA of 3.98. She is working toward her goal of becoming a physician by volunteering at a local health clinic serving low-income families and at a hospital emergency room. The first in her Native American family to attend college, she has earned a place in the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Program. Congratulations, Jessica.

Terese Ann Howard: Therese is a San Jose State graduate student working toward a master's in social work science, who has a GPA of 3.85. She has maintained a solid academic record while holding several jobs to help support her family. She serves her community by working with students and families at a local high school and YWCA. Congratulations, Terese. .

Julie D.R.L. Meyer: Julie is a senior liberal studies major at Sonoma State with a 3.85 GPA.A victim of poverty and domestic violence, her goal is to teach and mentor students from low-income families and multicultural backgrounds. She is an active volunteer who has worked to provide disaster relief and promote AIDS awareness in the Asian community. Congratulations, Julie.

Congratulations again to our outstanding award winners.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my report.