Paul Moore, who for 15 years has been a vice president at Chico State University, has announced his retirement.

Moore, 61, vice president of university advancement and student affairs, was the only one of Chico State's current vice presidents to have served under both President Manuel Esteban and his predecessor, President Robin Wilson.

Esteban announced this week that Moore would go on an administrative sabbatical in mid-August and will officially retire later in the year.

Moore, in an interview with the Enterprise-Record, said he and his wife, Laurie, have been thinking about his potential retirement for a long time, and their discussions became more serious around last Christmas.

"I thought about what my role would be like over the next few years and it (retirement) began to make sense," said Moore.

In March, Esteban announced he would be dividing the duties Moore had been covering to create a new vice president for university advancement.

At the time of the announcement, Esteban made a point of saying the creation of the new post was not meant to reflect negatively on Moore.

"The university owes a debt of gratitude to Vice President Moore who, when I asked him to assume the tasks of two vice presidencies, courageously accepted this challenge and has worked very hard and effectively to take university advancement to a higher level," said Esteban at the time.

Moore said Wednesday the creation of the new vice president's post was part of the discussion that led to his decision to retire.

"That entered into our thinking," said Moore. "I've enjoyed the dual role."

However, he also said, "It is good for the institution to have a fourth vice president at this point into our evolution."

Part of Moore's specific responsibilities have been working with the campus Associated Students and he has seen that role through some of the stormiest periods in AS-administration relations.

He recalled, in 1988, after he had accepted the post but before he had actually arrived on campus, he got a call from Wilson.

"I wouldn't blame you if you didn't come," he remembered Wilson saying, "but the Associated Students just sued us."

The Associated Students got into a serious turf war with the university administration when Wilson made an attempt to take over the student-owned and operated campus bookstore and food services.

Ultimately that resolved itself, and while the students maintained ownership and control of their campus businesses, Moore and the university vice president for business and finance became voting members of the Associated Students Board of Directors.

"For long years, I have worked with the AS to make the relationship between them and the institution better," said Moore. While saying he was just part of the effort, he concluded the relations between the AS and the university administration are sharply improved.

He said there are, of course, some disagreements between the students and the administration, but there is a "basic posture of respect."

He said he is proud of the improved relations, as well as the renovation, expansion and reconstruction of the AS-owned Bell Memorial Union and its associated bookstore.

Moore also said he was put in charge of the university athletic program immediately after it had $1 million slashed from its budget.

In response to the good work of many individuals, the sports program "has come back to the point where we are winning championships."

He pointed to the fact that campus intramural sports now involve more than half of the student body, and the "club sport" programs have produced nationally recognized teams in areas as diverse as women's rugby and men's lacrosse.

University housing has come under his oversight and Moore said he was pleased the campus has acquired two apartment complexes during his watch.

He said in the near future, a decision will have to be made on whether to tear down or renovate the high-rise Whitney Hall student residence, and there will be an announcement about a "major expansion" of residence halls, but he wouldn't expand on that comment.

Moore took time to praise specific members of his staff, including Joe Wills, director of public affairs and publications: "He is just flat-out good."

He cited Herman Ellis, assistant vice president for student life, for his work in the area of alcohol awareness. He said the need to deal with alcohol problems was "a labor of love on the part of a lot of people."

On that same topic, Moore said he has been pleased by the way the entire community has become involved in the effort to change the local alcohol culture.

While Moore said his intention is to entirely retire and have no official role at the university in the future, he isn't going to just disappear.

He recalled how his involvement in the bond drive to raise the money for an additional Chico high school was a wonderful experience and he sees himself involved in community projects of one sort or another in the future.

"I'm not just going to sit home and golf. I'll be busy."

Moore said, as things are now designed, Ed Masterson, associate vice president for university advancement, would take care of the fund-raising side of the office and Jim Moon, associated vice president of student affairs, would oversee that aspect.

However, he said any interim replacement will be named by acting President Scott McNall, who took over this week from the retiring Esteban.

A permanent new vice president will be named by whomever the Board of Trustees of the California State University selects to replace Esteban.

The new president is expected to be named sometime in January.