CSUMB's Eduardo Ochoa here to stay

Eduardo Ochoa, interim president of Cal State Monterey Bay, will be interim no more.

The California State University Board of Trustees today appointed Ochoa as the permanent president of CSUMB, effective immediately. Ochoa has held the position on an interim basis since July 2012.

“I am honored by the action taken by the Board of Trustees in making permanent my appointment as president of Cal State Monterey Bay," Ochoa said in a statement. “Since arriving in July, I have been most impressed with the people I have met on campus and in the community. I believe this university is poised for great things, and I look forward to continuing to serve as its president.”

Ochoa returned to the CSU after serving from 2010 to 2012 in the Obama Administration as the U.S. assistant secretary for postsecondary education – advising the secretary on higher education issues, administering more than 60 programs and overseeing financial aid policy and accreditation.

“President Ochoa brought to Monterey Bay his unique blend of national expertise and a homegrown connection to the university mission,” said CSU Board of Trustees chair Bob Linscheid. “He has connected with students and faculty to move the campus forward on its core values of diversity, sustainability and community service.”

Ochoa grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before moving to Portland, Ore., with his family while in high school. He has earned degrees in physics, nuclear science and economics from Reed College, Columbia University and the New School for Social Research, respectively. His plans to return to work in his native Argentina were sidetracked by a military coup.

He refocused his energy in California, teaching at Fresno State as well as at California State University, Los Angeles, where he was a full professor and chair of the economics and statistics department. He also led the university’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, and served as acting dean of its School of Business and Economics.

In 1997, Ochoa was hired as the dean of Cal Poly Pomona's College of Business Administration, where he served for six years. This was followed by seven years as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Sonoma State University.

MPC's Doug Garrison nominated for a statewide award

If you read the profile I wrote about Doug Garrison, who just retired from leading the Monterey Peninsula College for six years, you'll notice no mention about his nomination for the 2013 Harry Buttimer award.

My bad. There was just so much material I had to leave out a lot. But this tid bid is important.

The award, given by the Association of California Community College Administrators, will be given in February and it honors those who excel in their administrative duties.

"Over the years this award has come to represent the highest level of excellence in administration," writes Susan Bray, executive director of the association, in a letter notifying Garrison of the recognition. "'Integrity, principle, compassion, strength in leadership, contributions to colleagues and the profession, contributions to the college and the community…' are some of the criteria that each of our outstanding nominees have possessed, and the same qualities that were outlined and detailed extensively in the many letters of nomination we’ve now received on your behalf."
 Congratulations, Dr. Garrison. Your nomination speaks to the many qualities widely attributed to your leadership.

MPC's Walter Tribley 3.5 year contract approved

Monterey Peninsula College trustees unanimously approved a 3.5 year contract for incoming president Walter Tribley. He's scheduled to begin service Dec. 17.

His annual salary will be $205,000, minus a 2 percent wage concession for 2012-13, for a total of $200,859. He'll receive similar health and other benefits as other administrators, a $625 monthly expense allowance and $625 monthly car allowance.

Tribley will be earning considerably less than his predecessor, who was hired at $215,000 in 2008 and has earned a 5 percent increase every year minus wage concessions like all the rest of the staff.

Willard Lewellyn, hired to lead Hartnell College in the summer, has a yearly salary of $225,000 plus benefits, a $450 monthly allowance for use of his personal car for college businesses and $5,000 for moving expenses.

Monterey Peninsula College trustees settle on final finalist

No final decision has been made, MPC trustees caution, but after careful deliberation, they have scheduled a visit to....

The Wenatchee Valley College District in Central Washington to gather more information about Walter Tribley. Tribley is currently vice president of instruction at the district, as well as the administrator of the Omak campus.

Tribley was interviewed by the MPC community last Thursday, and some believed he was the least likely to make the final cut because of his lack of knowledge of California community college system and the Monterey region in particular. Other candidates in the running were Larry Buckley, interim president of San Bernardino Valley College; Angela Fairchilds, president of Woodland Community College; and Kathryn Jeffrey, president of Sacramento City College. 

The results of the site visit will be discussed at the regular board meeting on October 24, 2012.

That one came out of left field for me. I wonder how others in the MPC communities see it. 

MPC employees are a bit miffed...

because they were promised they'd be able to see the candidates via video, but alas, the video did not work for the first candidate, so no video was offered for any of them.

A good 90 people showed up for each forum, but many instructors were away with teaching obligations, thus could not see who's in the running for the post.

Naivete whispered in my ear the decision would be fairly straightforward, easy to reach. Well, board members have been meeting for hours now -- Friday, Monday and today -- trying to whittle down the list to two candidates.

I hear there may be an announcement this afternoon. Stay tuned.

Monterey Peninsula College professor shares his views on superintendent candidates

David Clemens, English professor, coordinator of the Monterey Peninsula College Great Books Program, and blogger extraordinaire, attended the presentation of all four candidates for the job of superintendent.

I asked if he would share his impressions with me -- and the readers -- about the candidates, and he wrote a detailed analysis of each. Too good to reduce to a two-sentence quote, I told him, and he graciously agreed to let me share it in my blog.

Astute observations, indeed. Here they are:

The sad part is that all the candidates are in economic survival mode, and that could lead to the extinction of all small classes as well as our nationally renowned Great Books Program and our new Creative Writing Program. Literature classes are already being rationed and eliminated. Losing the traditional curriculum, I believe, is ultimately suicidal but in survival mode, no one looks past the present crisis 

Each candidate was asked to describe where they saw the community college in five years. This question was suggested by Clemens.

As (Larry) Buckley noted, the Board of Governors president doubts Proposition 30 will pass and that will mean possibly 25 colleges closing. And if the BOG provides relief by suspending regulations, that could make it even worse because it will be easier to pink slip full time, tenured faculty and replace them with adjuncts, para-educators, tutors, and software.

Angela Fairchilds
Pros: Personable, used humor, energetic, somewhat connected, some candor
Cons: Often described a problem rather than provided a solution, e.g., “we need to build back FTEs.” How? “We’ll have no money without Prop 30.” And so . . ... ? “We are no longer the institution that we were.” What are we? How do we establish criteria for filling positions? “Set priorities." Lacked experience with program discontinuance.

Kathryn Jeffrey 
Pros: Smart and funny. 
Cons: Too much flattery. (She went on and on about how great MPC is and how well the college functions) Seemed to lose steam halfway through, fuzzy response (on some contracts and financial models), not astute about online—my notes say “getting really confusing.” 

Larry Buckley 
Pros: My choice. Academic Ph.D. He was honest and candid as well as well-connected in Sacramento... He said what I’ve been saying, “what is most important to us with the resources we have?” “We have to have a new deal” (finance model). 
Buckley was straightforward, didn’t mince words, and had cogent ideas. He didn’t seem to be applying in hopes of retiring in Monterey. He was light years ahead of the other candidates in his grasp of the political and educational situation. He seems to have the guts to make the cuts. 
Cons: I doubt I would like all his decisions, especially convening a committee to do curricular triage. We did it before, the Instructional Priorities Committee, and it featured “the usual suspects,” the faculty identified as reliable who are on every important committee. It was very powerful and very political. 

Walter Tribley 
Pros: Academic Ph.D. Good scientific knowledge, apparent support of liberal arts. 
Cons: Nervous. Simply not enough knowledge of California and MPC landscape. Support for liberal arts seemed to evaporate with “funding will play a large and disproportionate role” in prioritizing. Referred to “para-educators.” Maybe too dazzled by educational novelties?

Can you judge a presidential candidate by its theatrical prowess?

And I'm not talking about Obama or Romney.

Today was day three of presidential candidate forums at Monterey Peninsula College, and like Trustee Rick Johnson said "having four qualified candidates to choose from is a good problem to have."

Not to say they're all exactly alike. How could they be? Yes, they're all highly qualified. Angela Fairchilds, Kathryn Jeffery, and Larry Buckley have all shown they have strengths. They all seemed to have done their homework about MPC. Another candidate will be interviewed tomorrow, and I expect his abilities will at least be comparable. 

They all have performed differently before a large audience, though. And you won't find anybody who tells you who's the strongest in their mind so far. They'll have to work with the winner, no matter who s/he is.

But after witnessing the forums, I wonder: will stage performance translate into good leadership?

In other words, if a candidate performs less stellarly than another, does that mean she or he is less qualified to lead?  Can a good leader be a poor stage performer?

Or is "charming personality" another characteristic we're seeking in a leader?

And I'm not talking about Mitt or Obama.

Happy birthday, MPC!

It seems fitting that MPC is interviewing candidates the same week it's celebrating its 65th birthday.

A big bash is planned from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6.  There will be music, food for purchase, demonstration of what's happening in the college, and free tickets giveaway for a football game.

The Alumni Association will host its annual BBQ. $30 per person, including a ticket to Saturday's game, MPC vs. Diablo Valley College.

For more information, click here.

It's a new year at CSUMB

students are moving in today, and some even had the opportunity to shake hands with their new president, Eduardo Ochoa.

Faculty and staff also heard his ideas during his state of the university address, delivered Thursday.

We've had the chance to talk to Dr. Ochoa, both at the editorial board and in an interview with yours truly, so I'm glad the faculty has had that same opportunity.

For those of you who've missed it, here's a transcript of his speech. Enjoy!

All the news that's fit to print

about Hartnell College you'll find them here, in the president's weekly report.

Every since Willard Lewallen arrived in Hartnell a month ago, he began putting out a weekly newsletter with tidbits of what's going on on campus -- and nationwide. Pretty informative. Check it out.

Saying hello to new Hartnell president, bidding farewell to Helm

Meet Willard Lewallen, new president of Hartnell College, at a free community barbeque at on Tuesday, July 24. The BBQ will also serve to bid farewell to retiring superintendent/president Phoebe K. Helm.

The barbeque will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the main quadrangle of the campus and will feature music, campus tours, and free parking.

For more information, please contact Sharon Eckhart at 831-755-6810 or seckhart@hartnell.edu.

Advisory group on MPC presidential search to meet

The Monterey Peninsula College advisory committee on the president's search is holding its first meeting Tuesday, May 8, at 1:30pm in the Administration Building’s Large Conference Room.

Members of the public and MPC faculty, staff and students are allowed to attend the meeting and have an opportunity to speak for three minutes at the beginning of the meeting.

There will be a presentation by Robert Griffin and Carl Ehmann of Professional Personnel Leasing on how the process will unfold.

The tea leaves on Hartnell's new president

My trusted friend Scuttlebutt tells me Willard Lewellen, president of West Hills colleges, is more likely to become Hartnell's new president, by a 4-3 vote. Wanting to please ag leaders, who are rooting for Lewallen, two female candidates and two of the males will pick him. The two Latina  females will side with Betty Inclán, president of Berkeley City College. One of the Latino males could break the male pact that's been dominating the meetings and vote with the Latinas.

Ah, the dilemma. To vote with your ethnic group or your gender? That's the million dollar question. 

And before anyone comes screaming at me because the breakdown on votes and how I'm reporting based on ethnicity/gender, etc, I want to reiterate: I'm not creating the news. I'm just reporting on it. There's some very deep divisions at Hartnell, and they won't magically go away just because I chose not to report on them, or because people decide to look the other way.

Could a Hartnell president be named Wednesday?

Hartnell trustees will discuss the presidential search at a special meeting Wednesday, May 2. I'm wondering if they'll be ready to announce the next president. 

Sources tell me trustees have visited at least two campuses in the process to vet their candidates -- Berkeley and West Hills -- and "the board plans to make an announcement of the selected candidate to assume the President/Superintendent position in early May," Hartnell Board President Erica Padilla-Chavez told me last week via an email message.

The three finalists are Willard Lewallen, president of West Hills College; Betty Inclan, president of Berkeley City College, and Christopher Villa, vice president of Student Services of Fresno City College.
 

Hartnell to have special meeting to discuss presidential search

Hartnell trustees have scheduled a special meeting to discuss the presidential search process at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. You may recall I reported last week faculty members have said the process is now tainted because Pamila Fisher, the consultant hired to find presidential candidates, helped place the president of San Joaquin Delta College when he was undergoing troubles at his previous job, and now he's been placed on leave after only nine months on the job.

The meeting appears to be scheduled after some board members expressed concern about the search process, spokeswoman Terri Pyer said. Fisher is not expected to be present, but she may phone in.

The meeting will be held at the usual place, CALL building 208.

Of Hartnell and MPC presidents...

As figure heads, college presidents evoke lots of emotion. Whether it is about how they're hired or how much they make, all involved want to have a say on their college leaders.

No, MPC's Doug Garrison did not get a raise, as a student had heard. He's still making about $240,000 a year, even after taking a pay cut like the rest of the college personnel. A reader who identified himself/herself as "lrelgart" wrote on my blog:

"Ah. Good to know. As a student at MPC and a parent of a child here, I think he should reduce his salary by a $100,000 a year so that school programs can have the funding to continue our education."

Trustees will tell you it's probably impossible to hire a college president in California for $140,000 a year. Why would anybody want to come to Monterey, one of the most expensive areas in the state, to earn that much to lead a 10,000 student organization, when they could go elsewhere and make almost twice as much? It's not going to happen. And I understand the feelings behind it -- heck, I'd love to make $140,000, but unfortunately, my credentials would not be sufficient to lead an organization like MPC.

But precisely because they make so much money, and have such a strong influence in the destinies of their institutions, is why people get so emotionally involved with the process to select them. As well they should.

Hartnell faculty say the process to hire a new president has become tainted, after they found out the consultant retained to find candidates helped place a controversial educator at San Joaquin Delta College. At Delta, teachers and employees are terribly upset with the tenure of Jeff Marsee, who was placed on leave last week after only nine months on the job.

"I am upset at the fact that the Trustees chose Dr. Marsee and didn't do their own research aside from obtaining information from the consultant(s) who recommended him," wrote Claudia Navarro, an office assistant at Delta, in an email.

The moral of the story? No matter how Hartell decides to go about finding its new president, it'd be much better if an independent investigation is conducted on the final candidates. That would be a lot better than ending up with a bad president and nine months down the drain.