Inside: 2 Foldesi to Lead Human Resources 3 New Administrators Begin Year 4 Fall ’04 Academic Affairs Directory 6 FYI 7 Hearst Award Winner Becky Berger 8 Calendar Vol. IX · No. 1 August 23, 2004 Cal State Northridge—The Intellectual, Economic and Cultural Heart of the San Fernando Valley and Beyond President to Campus: ‘People are Talking About Us!’ Convocation Address Cites University Achievements, Foresees Hard Work and ‘Better Days’Ahead al State Northridge’s reputation Provost Harold Hellenbrand will as a “university on the move” develop models of transformational C is more firmly embedded in the change focusing on a learning centered public perception than ever before, philosophy, for implementation in the said President Jolene Koester in her 2005–06 academic year. A symposium— fifth annual convocation address. “The Learning Centered University: “People are talking about us!” Where Are We Going, Where Have Koester told faculty and staff gathered We Been”—has been planned for on the Oviatt Library lawn for the Friday, Oct. 8. president’s traditional address launching Hellenbrand and Vice President the academic year. Word is spreading for Student Affairs Terry Piper will about the campus’ impressive record lead efforts to improve the student of achievement in recent years, she graduation rate by implementing noted. campus Graduation Rate Task Force o o h Koester said a total of 140 CSUN C recommendations. Working with deans, e e faculty are working on an historic L chairs and departments, Hellenbrand y b o teacher education reform initiative t also will ensure that four-year degree o h called Teachers for a New Era, P models are being used as the basis President Jolene Koester delivers her August 19 convocation address. At right are Faculty funded by the Carnegie Corporation President Ronald McIntyre and Associated Students President Timothy Belfield (center). for key departmental decisions. of New York. Led by professor William Jennings, The university recently has earned for the future and adapts to powerful which budget reductions will be chair of the Finance, Real Estate and international choral and engineering national forces affecting higher required of colleges and all admin- Insurance Department, a university/ honors, hosted a national track and education. istrative divisions at Cal State Northridge. community committee will continue field championship event, been The “compelling realities” in Cal To give the university time to make work begun on Envision 2035, the awarded millions of dollars for its State Northridge’s immediate future, the structural changes necessary in Cal State Northridge initiative to shape small business development leadership, said the president, include about a order to adjust the base budget for the design of the campus during the and forged numerous community $15 million deficit in the university’s the future, about $6 million in funds coming three decades. partnerships. base budget—including unfunded available on a one-time-only basis A capital campaign for a state-of- In five short years, Northridge fund- mandatory cost increases—as well as will be applied to help meet this the-art Performing Arts Center at raising levels have climbed to $28.5 enrollment issues and public expec- year’s shortfall. Northridge, described by Koester as million annually—a 400 percent tations for a more aggressive form of Even more detrimental than direct “our number one facilities priority,” will increase. accountability. budget reductions is the erosion in the be funded with private dollars and Even better days are ahead, Koester Koester noted that the CSU system university’s financial base, continued state capital outlay funds. The president predicted, if the university community is experiencing its fourth year of budget Koester. said the facility will “cement our role does the “arduous work” of planning reductions, but this is the first year in To help counter that erosion, as the cultural heart of the region.” ᭿ Keck Foundation Funds New Northridge Teachers Project Teachers-in-Residence Program Joins Teachers for New Era Initiative on Campus he W. M. Keck Foundation has nationwide tapped by the Carnegie of exit exams to team teaching and of the nation’s largest philanthropic awarded Cal State Northridge Corporation of New York to launch admissions. organizations. Established in 1954 by T $300,000 for an innovative new the initiative. Eleven institutions now As the project develops, Cal State the late W. M. Keck, founder of The program that brings K–12 master are involved in the TNE consortium. Northridge officials plan to share what Superior Oil Company, the foundation’s teachers into the university’s arts and Philip Rusche, dean of the Michael they learn with the more than 1,200 grant making is focused primarily on sciences classrooms as teachers-in- D. Eisner College of Education, said teacher preparation colleges and pioneering efforts in the areas of residence, actively participating in the Keck gift keeps Cal State Northridge universities across the country. medical research, science, and the preparation of future educators. at the forefront of innovation in teacher The W. M. Keck Foundation is one engineering. ᭿ Believed to be the first university- education and reinforces teacher wide program of its kind in the United preparation as a university-wide States, the two-year W. M. Keck responsibility at CSUN. Nonprofit Org. Teachers-in-Residence Project’s “More importantly,” Rusche said, U.S.Postage overall goals are to bridge the gap “the gift enhances both the university PAID between theory and practice in teacher and local schools by having school California State education programs, and to strengthen faculty share their knowledge with 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California 91330 University active collaborations between K–12 our faculty, and take what they have Northridge teachers and university arts and learned back to their home schools.” sciences faculty. The teachers-in-residence will have The teachers-in-residence project an opportunity to teach, research, will become part of the campus’ work supervise student teachers and engage on Teachers for a New Era (TNE), a in ongoing discussions with the landmark initiative designed to university’s faculty about the realities strengthen K–12 teaching by develop- of teaching in today’s urban classroom. ing state-of-the-art programs at schools They will have the flexibility to explore of education. Cal State Northridge further opportunities on campus, from was one of only four universities reviewing and informing the content Robert Foldesi Assumes Human Resources Leadership Role Award Winning Administrator from Mid west Brings People-Oriented Style to New Job Midwesterner with a “collaborative, his home in Granger, Ind., near South Award from the College and University people-oriented” style and a Bend. “During the first few weeks, I Professional Association for Human A distinguished record in human will be speaking with a wide variety Resources, he earned a bachelor of resource administration has assumed of people in leadership positions. I arts degree in sociology and psychology the leadership of Cal State Northridge’s want to understand the needs of the as well as a master’s degree in manage- Human Resource Services. campus so that the programs we ment and supervision, both from Robert Foldesi, the campus’ new support and the priorities we set will Central Michigan University. assistant vice president for human meet those needs.” Foldesi succeeds Stephen resources, started work on August 2. A recent visit to the Northridge Montgomery, who retired at the end In announcing the appointment, Vice campus left a positive imprint on his of July after more than 23 years of President for Administration and Finance perception of its faculty, administrators service to Cal State Northridge and Mohammad Qayoumi said the new and staff, Foldesi recalled. “The warmth the California State University system administrator will bring “great energy and genuine caring for the students (see story below). o o and ability” to the position. h of Northridge really impressed me,” Chaired by Associate Vice President C e “We welcome him and look forward e he said. of Faculty Affairs Penelope Jennings, L y to working with him,” said Qayoumi. b During his tenure at the University the search and screen committee o t o Former associate vice president for h of Notre Dame, Foldesi streamlined and included Michael Barrett, chair, Library, P human resources at the University of Robert Foldesi, new assistant vice improved human resource processes, Reference and Instructional Services; Notre Dame in Indiana, Foldesi’s president for human resources developed a comprehensive people Barbara Gross, associate professor, career has included administrative level human resource consulting development system and improved marketing; Susan Krall, human posts at other Midwestern universities services to colleges, universities and the quality of services provided by resource manager; David Moon, chair, as well, among them the University businesses. his office. Art Department, and William Watkins, of Iowa and Illinois State University. “My style is collaborative, people- The recipient of the Midwest associate vice president for student Most recently, he has provided senior oriented,” said Foldesi, who had made Creative Achievement/Publication affairs and dean of students. ᭿ HR Administrator Steps Down After 23-Plus Years at Helm PeopleSoft, Other Innovations Mark Term of Stephen Montgomery, Who Anticipates Active “Second Half” of Life tephen Montgomery is about to of the PeopleSoft Human Resource that developed the CSU’s integrated prove that the word “retirement” Management System on campus PeopleSoft system. S has lost its meaning. After operations. The system’s first phase In addition to his work on a variety more than 23 years with Cal State “went live” in January 1999. of campus committees, he was a Northridge’s Human Resource Services, “The other greatest change is that member of the Chancellor’s Office Montgomery stepped down from his the Human Resources division has Human Resources Advisory Committee, post at the end of July.