The California State University system recently agreed to pay out twelve million dollars to settle a discrimination lawsuit brought by two women who worked at Cal State San Bernardino. According to the reporting, these employees alleged they faced gender-based harassment and discrimination from the university's president and a former dean. Now, as the president steps down, the Cal State Board of Trustees is considering whether to grant him a transition plan that would keep him employed by the university in a different role while continuing to pay his salary and benefits.
The outgoing president, whose compensation last year totaled over six hundred fifty thousand dollars in salary and benefits, is being considered for an emeritus position. The board will vote this week on whether to approve this new arrangement and the associated compensation package. According to the university's spokeswoman, details about the specific position and salary will be announced at Wednesday's board meeting.
The two women who filed the lawsuit, who held senior administrative positions on campus, came forward in the academic year of 2021-22 when they raised concerns about wage gaps and sexual harassment in their workplaces. One woman was pressured to resign to avoid what she feared would be professional retaliation, while the other refused and was subsequently terminated. Both women have submitted public comments to the board urging them to carefully examine the president's reputation before approving the transition plan.
The allegations in their lawsuit painted a troubling picture of the president's leadership style, describing patterns of yelling, excessive criticism, intimidation, and applying unfair standards. This wasn't the first time concerns had been raised about his management. Years before this lawsuit, a campus survey showed that over sixty percent of employees felt the work environment had deteriorated under his leadership, and the faculty senate documented concerns about toxicity, fear, and distrust among the staff.
The university continues to maintain it did nothing wrong, even as it resolved the case through the settlement. The former dean involved has been granted emeritus professor status, a title typically awarded to recognize service to the institution. Both administrators appear positioned to maintain favorable relationships with Cal State going forward.
What I'm seeing in my local market is how these kinds of institutional issues can affect trust in organizations and their decision-making. When people see leadership transitions handled in ways that seem to reward rather than hold accountable those at the center of serious allegations, it sends a message about an institution's values. For families and professionals considering where to work, study, or invest in our region, these governance decisions matter as much as any economic indicator. The Bay Area and East Bay communities deserve institutions that take accountability seriously.
