Armiņana faces no-confidence vote
Press-Democrat 5/11/07
The Academic Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a referendum on Armiñana's 15-year tenure, during which some faculty members have contended that he has not done enough to support academic programs, does not consult with faculty and has not properly managed funds.
"What this resolution is about is the decision-making for our core academic mission," said Elaine McDonald, chairwoman of the Academic Senate.
"It has to do with allocating resources," said Noel Byrne, a sociology professor and author of the resolution calling for a no-confidence vote.
Armiñana made a brief statement defending his tenure before the issue was brought up but left before the referendum was discussed.
"There are a lot of things you feel, and I agree, should be supported, but they are not because of budget cuts," Armiñana said. "I share your frustration but your anger should be directed to the state of California for the poor funding of higher education in the past decade."
Armiñana said that he had the support of the CSU chancellor and trustees and was not going to leave Sonoma State.
"If anyone hopes that this vote will push me to retire or resign," he said, "let me assure you that it will not happen."
The resolution passed in a 27-7 vote. It will put the question to the faculty next week, asking whether Armiñana has provided appropriate levels of funding to teaching, handled the university's finances wisely and consulted properly with faculty.
The Academic Senate rejected requests from some members that Armiñana be allowed to submit a rebuttal statement with the ballot, offering instead to let the Academic Senate Web site be used as a voters pamphlet by allowing the posting of comments and opinions.
"We want to be fair, but we will have opportunity for discussion," said Rick Luttmann, a mathematics professor who was one of the 44 faculty who signed the resolution.
Eduardo Ochoa, the university provost, argued that the referendum already has harmed the school, hurting its standing with the community and donors and causing students to stay away.
"My concern is it's not going to accomplish anything," Ochoa said after the meeting. "The outcome will be negative for the university. It creates confusion among the supporters of the university."
Tim Wandling, an English professor, said regardless of the effect on the university, it was important to get the grievances aired, and he was disappointed in Armiñana's response.
"It's disheartening to hear the attitude that whatever the outcome, he doesn't care," Wandling said.
McDonald said that 454 full- and half-time faculty will be eligible to vote. Ballots will be given out Monday, the voting will last through Friday and the returns announced May 21.
Votes of no confidence are rare, but have occurred before at Sonoma State.
In 1982, faculty members gave then-President Peter Dimandopoulos a vote of no confidence, largely over his handling of the university's budget. Dimandopoulos resigned the following year under pressure from CSU trustees, ending his six-year tenure.
No-confidence votes were given last month by Sacramento State faculty, in 1998 at Cal Poly Pomona and in 1992 at San Diego State.
"They don't come about all that often, and it is hard to assign meaning to them," CSU administration spokeswoman Claudia Keith said. "There are usually other things that the faculty are unhappy with."
Keith said it doesn't trigger any action by the CSU trustees or chancellor, who she said support Armiñana.
"We do presidential evaluations," she said. "The faculty doesn't hire presidents. It has no bearing on anything. We do evaluations based on the criteria set out for the presidents."