Chancellor meets supporters, detractors

Manuel Nunez (right) of International Student Services and Programs asked Chancellor Reed about the CSU's EPT and ELM testing policies during a reception on campus.

by Tom Uribes

Dr. Charles Reed's recent whirlwind three-day visit to Fresno took him from the excitement of a Bulldog football upset victory to the passions of a faculty union imploring the California State University chancellor to meet its collective bargaining proposals.

Throughout the chancellor's visit, Oct. 3-5, teachers were the centerpiece. Reed also plugged Proposition 1A, the $9.2 billion bond measure on the November ballot that would provide $832 million to the CSU system.

"In the next five years, California will be at a crossroads for public higher education," Reed said at one of his many stops, the "Celebration of Giving" dinner hosted by the School of Education and Human Development Oct. 4.

"Fresno State has a major responsibility in this state to prepare the teacher work force," he said. "The quality of the teacher is important. A good teacher makes a difference in a child's education."

President John D. Welty credited Reed with making a difference in a number of areas, particularly teacher preparation, since he took over the 23-campus system in March.

"He generated more than $11 million in appropriations for teacher preparation in the system," Welty said. "He got the board of trustees to deal not only with teacher shortages but the quality of teachers also."

Fresno County Schools Superintendent Dr. Pete Mehas called the chancellor "clearly a man of vision who does not mince words."

"He understands and articulates the CSU's mission - to prepare teachers for the work force," Mehas said. "As a K-12 educator the past 36 years, I was very gratified to hear the chancellor of one of the largest education systems in the nation say that system needs to work closely with K-12."

Mehas said Reed asked his staff questions about the partnership between county schools and the university at a reception with area superintendents.

Reed, who previously served 13 years as chancellor of the State University System of Florida, also stressed the role of California's state universities in all disciplines, saying he was attracted to the CSU by its mission - to educate tomorrow's work force. He noted that the CSU system currently produces 65 percent of the state's teachers, 60 percent of its engineers, and 70 percent of its nurses.

Reed made several stops on campus and in the community, including his most public appearance Oct. 3. when he was honored at half-time of the BYU football game.

The chancellor got an earful from the California Faculty Association, which demonstrated against an impasse in contract negotiations by staging two informational rallies on campus Oct. 5.

The union wants a 4.75 percent pay raise and changes to the merit pay system; CSU is offering the faculty a 2.5 percent general pay increase and a $16.2 million merit-pay pool. The contract expired in June but its terms have been extended while the two sides are in mediation.

Dr. Chandra Brahma, an engineering professor and president of the faculty union, said the chancellor is collegial, personable and sociable.

"On that level, I have profound admiration for him. Other than labor issues, he seems good to deal with," Brahma said.

He doesn't believe Reed will move from his labor stance very quickly.

"He needs to be educated about the culture of the California State University since he's coming from a different state and style of doing things," Brahma said. "He needs to learn we do things differently here. There is a 180 degree difference between Florida and here."

The chancellor left a favorable impression on others in the campus community.

"I like that he characterizes us as being strong in our own right," said Dr. Vivian Vidoli, dean of graduate studies, who attended the Administrative Roundtable meeting with him Monday morning. She added that Reed is the first chancellor who made her feel he "will do something positive for graduate programs."

Manuel Nunez, International Student Services and Programs counselor, who is a member

of the Fresno Unified School District board

of trustees, said the chancellor was "very amenable" on the issue of allowing high school students to take the EPT and ELM tests prior to their senior year.

"He told me he would talk to someone about seeing if that test could be taken at the end

of the sophomore year, which would help us address concerns of remedial education," Nunez said, noting that Provost Michael Ortiz has previously discussed this with the chancellor.