from Dateline (February 13, 2003)
CSU Completes Evaluation
of President Gordon
The California State University began a review
of President Milton A. Gordon last fall. CSU trustees require that
campus presidents be reviewed every three years. A report of the
results follows.( February 5, 2003)
During the fall 2002 term a six-year review of Dr.
Milton A. Gordon, President of California State University, Fullerton,
was conducted. The review took the form of collecting and summarizing
letters and bringing a four-person team to the campus. The review
concluded on January 28, 2003, with discussion of the review by
the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees and I appreciate the
contributions of those who worked with us on this review.
Criteria established by the Board of Trustees in 1984
and updated in 1994 were used to assess the performance of President
Gordon and the progress of the university. These measures included
the overall management of the university, relations on campus and
within the system, educational leadership, community relations,
major achievements of the campus and the president, and personal
characteristics of the president. Faculty, staff, students, and
community representatives were invited to submit written comments
responding to the trustees' criteria.
The visiting team consisted of Dr. John C. Hitt, president
of University of Central Florida; Mr. Jerry A. Aspland, president-emeritus
of the California Maritime Academy; Dr. Debra S. Farar, representing
the Board of Trustees; and Dr. Ronald Kroman, professor-emeritus
of biology, CSU Long Beach. Following advance preparation with resource
material, the team spent one full day on November 14, 2002 interviewing
a selection of the campus community.
The major findings of this review are:
President Gordon is appreciated for his openness and his communications.
Members of the campus community respect and trust President Gordon
making positive reports about his performance as university president.
He anticipates reactions of constituent groups and builds consensus
and collaboration. There is a sense of teamwork among the senior
management. The university budget is openly discussed.
President Gordon anticipated the need for fiber optic cable to integrate
the technology of the campus.
Student interest in attending CSU Fullerton is outpacing the physical
capacity of the main campus. Much of the student pressure is local,
Orange County based. The opening of the El Toro campus is viewed
as a huge accomplishment. It was done on a short-time line, it relieved
enrollment pressure for the main campus, and it signified a great
deal of coordination on the Fullerton campus. Shuttles run between
the main campus in Fullerton and the El Toro facility. Stress on
university access, student parking, class schedules and on-campus
student housing are noted as significant issues to monitor.
Another highly touted acquisition is the multi-story College Park
building across Nutwood Avenue. It has become the important home
of the School of Communications and its faculty offices.
Through his work over a dozen years, Dr. Gordon has
created and sustained a sense of pride among faculty, staff and
students in belonging to CSU Fullerton.
President Gordon and the university maintain very positive relations
with local, state, and national office holders.
Anticipating a difficult and complex state budget
for the next several years, many of those who met with review team
members expressed confidence and trust in Dr. Gordon.
President Gordon and I have discussed the information
collected in the review and concluded with the following goals for
the next few years:
1. Continue the successful practice of open communications
with campus constituent groups.
2. At the time of the review hiring of an experienced
person as vice president for University Advancement was paramount
in the minds of some; this has been resolved with the appointment
of Pamela Hillman.
3. Continue efforts to manage enrollment.
4. Initiate discussions with the City of Fullerton
about the possibility of permanent
closure of Nutwood Avenue and changing its function to a pedestrian
mall.
5. Communicate to the campus community the purpose
and advantages of international agreements and collaboration.
6. Continue to provide considerable expertise to CSU
initiatives.
Milton Gordon is a natural, outstanding university
leader. He is articulate, calm, collegial, graceful, and confident
as a spokes- person and representative for California State University,
Fullerton. Dr. Gordon makes himself available for various CSU systemwide
assignments. His national leadership as a member of the executive
committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is appreciated
by the CSU Trustees.
The next formal review will be conducted in the 2005-06
academic year.
With kind regards,
Sincerely,
Charles B. Reed, Chancellor
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