Yesterday’s Senate had a packed agenda which saw major updates on budget priorities, staffing concerns, and the potential for a vote of no confidence in CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia and the CSU Board of Trustees.
Senate Considers a Vote of No Confidence Over Board of Trustees and Chancellor’s Conduct
Senators discussed the possibility of a vote of no confidence for the CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia and the board of trustees
They will be holding three forums on May 1st, 5th, and 6th. These forums will take place via Zoom.
Senator Arya Alami explained that the major issues stem from the misattribution of funds, leaving campuses hundreds of millions of dollars short in funding to key areas. This is especially true of faculty wage increases, which the California State Legislature fronted the money for and which the Chancellor’s Office continues to insist is responsible for the necessity of current extreme austerity measures.
This is exacerbated by a lack of transparency from the Chancellor and CSU Board of Trustees.
“This has caused more division and infighting within the campuses or between the campuses,” Alami says. “This is not leadership.”
Other Senators voiced their displeasure at feeling like their hands have been forced by the current Chancellor to war with the CSU’s administration and possibly face retaliation for their vote.
“This is painful, and quite frankly, it sucks,” Senator Steven Filling says. “Look at the people who just aren’t getting the job done.”
Filling cited concerns such as the Chancellor’s Office’s lack of consultation with faculty or consideration of faculty in their recent $16 million AI deal.
He also made light of Chancellor Mildred Garcia’s antagonistic interactions with state legislators.
“She interrupts legislators, she laughs at legislators,” he said, “She shows utter disdain for the people who develop our budgets.”
Filling shared his opinion that Mildred Garcia is “literally damaging our ability to fulfill our mission.”
Senator Nakano says that a vote of no confidence is one of the strongest ways for faculty to rebuke an administrator or an entire administration. Nakano says that it will not only “send a message to the Chancellor herself, but also to other stakeholders,” such as the state legislature or the local community.
A vote of no confidence would call for a referendum of all faculty.
Union Frustrations Continue over Failure to Begin Negotiations
In yesterday’s CFA report, given by its Chapter President Dr. Colnic, gave an update on budget issues. He raised concerns and frustration about how the bargaining team is being treated.
“The Chancellor’s Office will not even come into the same room as us,” Colnic said.
No progress has been made between the CFA and the Chancellor’s Office, even after hiring a mediator. It has been nearly month since the union last heard from the Chancellor’s bargaining team.
“To me, that speaks volumes,” Colnic said.
This upcoming Thursday morning, May 1st, all the campus unions will be meeting for a May Day campus rally at 10 a.m., near the Rose Garden, near the MSR building.
Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (FCETL) to Be Revived
FAC Chair Marina Gerson presented an item to the Senate floor to take action to rebuild FCETL inside both the John Stuart Rogers Faculty Development Center and on the Stockton Campus.
In short, Chair Marina Gerson made their difficulties known about balancing the high budget plan of the ad hoc committee that was appointed to investigate how best to restructure and reopen the center.
Chair Gerson’s plan calls for the immediate increase of support and staffing before the Fall 2025 semester begins and the assignment of administrative staff and a director to work at FCETL and begin programming there as soon as possible.
Debate over GE Courses—Should They be Double-Listed in Multiple Areas?
UEPC Chair Mechelle Perea-Ryan presented an item pertaining to GE courses which would prevent one course from being listed in two or more GE areas. This would mean courses that would typically fall under two GE areas will now have to choose only one area.
Senator Keith Nainby called for support of cross-listing, allowing courses to be listed in more than one area of the GE course list, but does not support cross-counting where courses under more than one GE area satisfy both areas. The current GE program, implemented by EO1100, does not allow for cross-counting.
Brian Morsoney, on behalf of the General Education subcommittee, did raise some concerns pertaining to logistics and how cross-listing can confuse advisors and students when figuring out their degree pathways.
Multidisciplinary departments such as Ethnic Studies, represented by Senator Xamuel Banales, were also concerned about issues with staffing and the ability to populate their courses without being listed in multiple areas, but saw the future long-term benefit of the plan if their department were given the budget to develop more courses in a wider variety of areas.
Senate Discusses Budget Priorities, Pushing Back Against Faculty and Staffing Cuts
FBAC Chair Dave Colnic introduced a Sense of Senate Resolution to push against generalized austerity measures.
Colnic wants to invest more in the hiring of more faculty and in CAPS. FBAC’s plan also wants to ensure that academic programs have the needed support for growth and maintenance, and calls for the financial support for the Community Equity Research Center (CERC) and for the Warrior Cross-Cultural Center (WCCC).
Layoffs Spark Concern Across Campuses
In another Sense of the Senate resolution, FBAC Chair Dave Colnic introduced a resolution that addressed both substantive and process issues pertaining to how recent staff layoffs are being handled by the administration.
Dr. Colnic questioned the CFO and Provost’s decision not to provide any sort of warnings of the layoffs they were pursuing.
“I believe we were activating consistently with CSUEU and HR Policy around confidentiality,” said Provost Richard Ogle.
Senator Marina Gerson brought up major concerns as to how they do not know the number of people who have been laid off, and how there is even some confusion as to who is currently holding certain positions, what positions are filled and who are taking care of those tasks.
Senator Annie Guichard also shared the Psychology department’s experience, as they currently teach about 1,000 undergraduate students, a number which is difficult for a single administrative staff member to be responsible for after the firing of their second staff member.
