By Nin Garcia |Staff Writer|
Chancellor Charles B. Reed announced Thursday he is retiring after 14 years of leading the CSU system.
“Throughout my time here, the CSU has grown by more than 100,000 students, and I have been honored to sign more than a million diplomas. I take great pride in the CSU’s mission to serve California’s students, and I am proud to have played a role in carrying out that mission during these critical years,” said Reed in a press release cited by the Contra Costa Times.
CSU Board Chair Bob Linscheid commended Reed for his ability to handle the “enormous job” of serving as chancellor for the 23-campus system.
“Charlie has persevered through the worst budget crisis in the history of California, and has had to deal with deep budget cuts to the CSU. He has a deep desire to do what is best for students,” said Linscheid in the release.
According to calstate.edu, since being under Chancellor Reed’s leadership, the CSU has pursued strategies to serve more students from minority groups who come from homes where English is not spoken or who are the first in their families to attend college.
The CSU system now works closely with community organizations to assist Latino, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American students and parents, as well as veterans to attend the college.
Calstate.edu cites that over the past four years, Reed has had to manage severe state budget cuts to the CSU totaling more than $1 billion while addressing increased enrollment demand.
During Reed’s tenure, the CSU system has grown by 100,000 students to a current total of 427,000 and has added the Channel Islands campus in Camarillo, CA.
Reed has also worked to pass a state law that allows community college students to transfer to the CSU once they have completed 60 units.
The transfer degree law, which was passed in 2010, is expected to save millions of dollars and enable colleges and the CSU to serve 54,000 more students.
“Charlie Reed is an outstanding leader in American higher education. He has left an indelible imprint upon CSU,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott in the release.
According to the Press-Telegram, Reed was the target of criticism over student tuition hikes and presidential salary increases while also facing critique for his own salary of $421,500 plus $30,000 annually from the CSU Foundation.
In response to the news of Reed’s retirement, the California Faculty Association (CFA) said it hopes Reed’s retirement will bring a new era of better relations between faculty, students and administrators.
“The CSU has seen devastating budget cuts, and students have borne much of the burden. Student fees have more than quadrupled since 2002. This ‘changing of the guard’ provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the direction of the CSU, and to improve the quality of education at the nation’s largest university system,” said the CFA.
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