Lawmakers seeking to reform CSU system
Bakersfield Californian 3/2/07
"Most of these positions have been made behind closed doors, with no public input," said Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada-Flintridge, during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. He co-authored Assembly Bill 1413, "The California State University Reform, Trust and Responsibility Act," with Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica. The legislation was introduced Feb. 23.
In July, investigative reports in the San Francisco Chronicle revealed compensation packages that included transition pay, professorships and special benefits for top system administrators.
For example, former Cal State Bakersfield President Tomás Arciniega, who retired in June 2004, will have earned $540,744 by the time his three-year contract ends this June.
Arciniega is doing special projects for CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed; he advises Reed on outreach to underserved communities and represents the CSU system on the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, said Clara Potes-Fellow, a system spokeswoman.
In 2006, his first year as a "trustee professor," former CSU Chancellor Barry Munitz earned $163,000 to teach an English class at Cal State University Los Angeles, Potes-Fellow said. He also did fundraising work for a new science center.
He's now earning $112,558, the equivalent to the top salary of a full professor.
Portantino, chairman of the assembly's higher education committee, said the compensation deals were brokered while student fees were raised 76 percent over a four-year period.
He wants to help win back the public's trust in the state education system.
"When the public sees the decisions are made in sunshine and with good business practices, that wins back that trust," he said.
Brownley said the system's priorities are "upside down when a handful of top administrators receive raises when faculty are struggling to get a contract." On Jan. 24, the system's board of trustees gave its 23 campus presidents, chancellor and members of the chancellor's staff a 4 percent salary adjustment. The increase is retroactive to July 1, 2006.
The legislation includes the following proposed reforms:
* Prevent secret agreements by requiring the board of trustees to approve all executive salary contracts in public session by revealing all benefits. Under the current system, only salary and housing benefits are disclosed.
* Make two legislative appointments to the board. The state Senate and Assembly would be allowed one appointment, which would help the legislators who deal with the budget have continuity and oversight, Portantino said.
In addition, ex-officio members -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell -- may designate representatives to attend the trustees' meetings on their behalf. Reed is also an ex-officio member.
* Pay executives who are offered "trustee professorships" only for actual teaching. This compensation can't exceed the amount a full-time professor in the CSU system would earn for similar teaching duties.
* Require regular reporting from the California Postsecondary Education Commission about funding levels of its employees.
Potes-Fellow said Wednesday that the system doesn't yet have a position on Portantino's legislation.
The legislation may be heard in the higher education committee by late March or early April.