05-17-10 Spartan Daily

Serving San José State University since 1934 Monday, May 17, 2010

www.spartandaily.com

Volume 134, Issue 54

NO MORE WHITMORE

Turnover at top position becomes a trend

Resignation leaves void in presidency Ryan Fernandez Copy Editor As its 153rd year comes to a close, SJSU will prepare to search for a new president. Jon Whitmore, the 27th person to lead the university, announced his resignation in a Thursday e-mail to faculty and staff members. “I was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to head an organization that has as its mission helping people to be successful in their education and workforce development,” he said in an impromptu May 13 news conference with student media. “And it has a national and international presence and so it touches millions of people’s lives. When you’re given that kind of opportunity, you don’t pass it up.” Whitmore wrote in the e-mail that he will be taking over as chief executive officer for ACT Inc., the corporation responsible for creating and administering the ACT examination for high school students. Provost Gerry Selter said Whitmore’s departure will be a significant loss for the university, but that “Under President Whitmore’s leadership, the university has carefully planned out its operations through the coming fiscal (2010-11) year, so I think we are in good shape.” Whitmore confirmed that he will be assuming his duties as CEO beginning Sept. 1, and said he would remain at SJSU in the interim to aid in the transition. “My goal is to make sure we are organized for our new budget, which we hope will come in July,” Whitmore said. “Once we have our budget set up, then the year can roll forward from there, starting from the fall semester.” The process of selecting Whitmore’s successor will begin with Charles Reed, chancellor for the California State University, but Whitmore said he could not predict actions

See RESIGN, Page 4

Joey Akeley Executive Editor

In an impromptu news conference on May 13 President Jon Whitmore answered questions from student media regarding his resignation. JOE PROUDMAN / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

WHITMORE’S TIME AT SJSU 2008-09 academic year •

August 2008, Whitmore arrives at SJSU.

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Whitmore raised tuition 9 percent from $2,772 to $3,048.

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Whitmore signed the Taillores Declaration, a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities internationally.

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Fall 2008, Whitmore formed Wellness Challenge.

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On Aug. 18, 2009, SJSU’s Inclusive Excellence/Diversity Master Plan’s implementation details were finalized.

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March 2008, the Sustainability Task Force was established.

Summer 2009, Whitmore appointed Associate Professor Katherine Cushing as special assistant to the president and director of campus sustainability.

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Whitmore announced four initiatives – student retention & graduation, sustainability, information technology and diversity.

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SJSU launched the Ecological Footprint Challenge, an initiative to reduce the ecological footprint of its campus by 10 percent.

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Whitmore hired William Maguire as vice president/chief information officer to lead and develop a strategic direction in advancing information technology on campus.

Whitmore raised tuition 32 percent from $3,048 to $4,026.

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Video: Students react to President Jon Whitmore’s resignation. Video: President Jon Whitmore comments on his early resignation.

Spartan Daily will return in Fall 2010 on Aug. 25.

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Fall 2009, furlough days, which resulted in a 10 percent reduction in compensation for faculty and staff, were implemented, as well as hiring freezes and a halt of salary adjustments.

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Fall 2009, enrollment of new students was severely restricted, resulting in roughly 3,000 fewer students on campus.

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December 2009, Whitmore appointed Gerry Selter as provost.

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Spring 2010, Whitmore announced layoffs for 76 employees.

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May 13, 2010, Whitmore formally resigned.

SJSU ranks sixth in terms of ethnic diversity among colleges and universities.

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See TREND, Page 2

BY AMBER SIMONS

2009-10 academic year •

To move forward, SJSU needs stability at the position of president, said a San Jose community leader and SJSU alumnus. “The turnover causes an interruption in the leadership focus of the institution and makes it more difficult for us to retain excellence,” Rod Diridon said. In the last seven years, SJSU has had five men serve as president — Bob Caret (19952003), Joseph Crowley (2003), Paul Yu (2004), Don Kassing (2004-2008) and Jon Whitmore (current). Diridon, who is often called the father of transit in Silicon Valley, said all state universities have struggled keeping their top executives. “It relates to all of state government where we are underpaying our executives consistently,” he said. “It can’t compete with other positions at comparable jobs across the United States.” Fernando Zazueta, an SJSU alumnus and longtime San Jose attorney, said a big reason for the turnover at the position of president is the pressure of dealing with California’s economic crisis. “It’s not that we aren’t getting the right person,” Zazueta said. “Any person that you are going to find is going to find a major challenge trying to run the university with their hands tied behind their backs. It’s not so much that the search committee hasn’t found the right person, it’s that the economic circumstances have pushed people out.” Zazueta, who has served as a presidential search committee member, said Whitmore’s decision to resign was a no-brainer because he was presented with a “dream job offer.” “If somebody comes over and gives you a $250,000 increase in salary and puts you in