Inside: 2 Robert Barker Retires 3 FYI 4 Calendar Vol. XIII · No. 9 January 20, 2009 President Predicts Faculty in the Future More Diverse More Than 140 Faculty Attend Annual Retreat al State Northridge faculty will education, and Terri Lisagor, assistant more closely match the ethnic professor of family and consumer C and cultural diversity of the sciences, and Faculty Senate admin - students, academic departments will istrative analyst Heidi Wolfbauer. become more interdisciplinary and The retreat included 14 workshops faculty and student interactions will ranging from “You’ll Get By With a change due to technology predicted Little Help From Your Friends…at President Jolene Koester at the annual Undergraduate Studies” to “Strategies faculty retreat last week. to Help Students Experience More “The world is interconnected yet Confidence and Enjoyment of Learning the boundaries that we use in the in Your Classroom” to “How Will We academy are very artificial,” said Build a Virtual University?” There was Koester about the organization of one panel of CSUN faculty and staff s i o CSUN’s colleges and academic B who are also alumni that have worked u D departments. “The department labels n on campus more than 20 years. Faculty h o J that we currently use don’t really displayed posters and presentations y b s work that well.” o and Provost and Vice President of t o h Koester’s address was inspired by P Academic Affairs Harry Hellenbrand the retreat’s theme: “Fifty and Fabulous: Math professor Michael Neubauer asks President Jolene Koester if faculty should drink gave closing remarks. Foundations for the Future.” In light “calm, refresh or Zen tea” as a remedy in the wake of the state’s economic crisis and other “We like to offer a variety of topics issues during CSUN’s annual faculty retreat. of the state’s fiscal crisis and its impact that can help new faculty find their on CSUN, Koester said she considered university currently makes a difference physical campus. way and inspire those who have been changing her speech but instead in the individual lives of our students , “These are the trademark attributes teaching many years,” said Lisagor, decided to focus on the future. She the collective consequence of what of California State University, who was happy to see a number of urged faculty to “focus on those things they give back to the region, and Northridge,” Koester said. new faculty in attendance. that we can shape and control” rather therefore the future as a whole.” The annual retreat was held Cheryl Spector, professor of English than “on the fears, the unknown.” In reviewing the university’s history Jan. 12 –13 at the Ventura Beach and secretary of the Faculty Senate, “I believe that the important work and successes, Koester reminded Marriott. All faculty are invited but who opened the retreat with a at Cal State Northridge must be to faculty that CSUN has a history of: each college is encouraged to send welcome to the faculty, said the define the future that we want and stewardship of place, distinguished their newer members. The retreat is retreat “exceeded” her expectations. then help make it happen,” said faculty, a commitment to academic planned by a committee of faculty “I feel energized by the conver - Koester to about 140 faculty attending quality, partnerships with the region led this year by co-chairs Mike Rivas, sations and presentations I was part the retreat’s keynote address. “This and a beautiful and carefully planned assistant professor of secondary of,” Spector said. ᭿ BudgetWatch alifornia State University due to the state’s freeze of $600 will continue, as they have for the continue to be evaluated by divisional Chancellor Charles B. Reed million in general obligation and past 24 months, to carefully review leaders based on the mission-driven C announced earlier this month lease revenue bonds used to finance and evaluate equipment and supply needs of the university. additional cost saving measures that such projects. purchases. Similarly, over the past year, “I am very grateful for everyone’s are aimed at maintaining jobs and “The magnitude of the state’s positions have been held vacant in all commitment and hard work during student access to quality programs in budget crisis continues to grow, along divisions. The vice presidents will these uncertain times, and ask for your the midst of state budget cuts. These with the uncertainty of the future fiscal continue to approve hiring deemed continued forbearance during this actions follow the system’s decision in picture,” said Chancellor Reed essential for the effective functioning time of extreme financial ambiguity,” November to limit the number of new At Cal State Northridge, this of the university. Travel requests will Koester said. ᭿ students entering in fall 2009, due to emergency action directly affects the the state’s inability to fully fund enroll - Valley Performing Arts Center Project, ment growth and operational needs. Chaparral Hall (previously called Nonprofit Org. The new actions implemented Science 5) and several minor capital U.S.Postage at the system office and at all 23 improvement projects. Because PAID campuses include a salary freeze for Chaparral Hall is close to completion, California State all vice president/vice chancellor level CSUN is working with the Chancellor’s University 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California 91330-8242 Northridge positions and above including campus Office to identify alternative sources presidents and the chancellor through of funding for continued construction. the 2009 –10 budget year. The CSU Non-state-funded construction projects, has also announced a hiring freeze on including the G3 parking structure and all but essential positions, cancellation new student housing, are not affected. of all non-critical equipment and President Jolene Koester said in a supplies purchases and travel recent statement that CSUN had restrictions for employees. anticipated for some time the state’s In addition, the university system financial situation, so “processes and has been forced to suspend and shut procedures” had already been put in down state funded design and con - place to ensure prudent budgetary struction projects on all 23 campuses decisions. She said divisional leaders CSUN Controller Robert Barker Retiring From Campus Post He Will Assume New Job with the CSU Chancellor’s Office t’s no surprise that it was numbers— dozens of employees. the accounting honors organization the salary offered to Robert Barker Barker said he was reluctant to and serving as a representative on I —that attracted the Ph.D in account - move into administration because he many campus boards and committees. ing to Cal State Northridge in 1981. thought it would be “not very exciting.” Although Barker is retiring from But Barker, who retires this month as But, to his surprise, his nearly nine his position at CSUN, he will continue the university’s chief accountant after years overseeing the university’s working for the CSU Chancellor’s 27 years of service to the campus, financial system have been “interesting” Office developing an online policy said it’s not the numbers but the and full of change. and procedures manual for financial wonderful relationships he has “The things that make teaching services management. Instead of com - formed with students, faculty and enjoyable are the students. The things muting to the CSU system headquarters n e y staff that have kept him at CSUN. u that make being an administrator in Long Beach, Barker expects to g N “I made the right decision even n enjoyable are having good people maintain an office at CSUN. His e y u though I made it for the wrong reasons,” T working for you,” Barker said. replacement has not been named. - t a D recalled Barker, who picked CSUN During his tenure, Barker said he “Bob is widely regarded as an y b o over two other CSU campuses because t is proud to have helped CSUN effective campus leader,” said Tom o h Northridge offered him the best salary. P transition from an antiquated fund McCarron, vice president for admin - “I’ve been very happy at Northridge.” Robert Barker based accounting system to a more istration and finance and chief financial The 65-year-old native of Arkansas university controller. From 2000 –2003 effective PeopleSoft Finance system officer for CSUN. He said Barker’s started working at CSUN as a lecturer he worked as university controller and used by many commercial corporations. “unique ability to keep the mood in the accounting department. He left director of financial and accounting He said this transition has been light and find humor even when teaching and worked in private services. possible in part because his office has dealing with a difficult situation” practice as a tax manager for two In 2003, Barker was promoted to upgraded the skill level of his staff. will be missed. years, but returned in 1986. From associate vice president for financial “We had to change the way we A retirement party is scheduled 1989 to 1998 he served as chair of and accounting services as well as worked and the people who did the for Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 4 p.m. the Department of Accounting and university controller, in charge of work, but we were able to do that to 6 p.m. at the Orange Grove Bistro. Management Information Systems. accounting for how the campus spends without laying anybody off,” added For more information, contact He remained in the department until millions of dollars. He is responsible Barker. He said he also enjoyed his Christine Dorman, x7125 or he was asked to serve as interim for managing nine departments and work as faculty serving as adviser to [email protected] .