FUSE PRINCIPLES

Core Principles

We seek to retain our students, not drive them away.
We will retain and improve student experiences related to athletics and campus life.
We will not “cut services” to students but will center our university around their learning and social needs.
We will attract students by the excellence of our graduates, and the reputations of our teachers and programs.
Our planning will include the invaluable contributions of our staff in shaping the present and future of our university.

Academic Programs: Principle: We will restore Sonoma State to its status as a thriving public Liberal Arts College and a proud member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. We will manage our curriculum to ensure programs necessary to our identity thrive. Principle : We will continue to balance programs that seem more professionally oriented with our excellent liberal arts offerings. We will build upon our strong regional and national reputation. For many smaller programs, General Education courses offer students a chance to discover diverse disciplines as they search majors or minors, and we will ensure access to educational opportunities that foster breadth and diversity for all Sonoma State students.

University Leadership I. Leadership, not management. Sonoma State will eliminate the idea of managers and replace these positions with Academic Leaders. We will retire the terms “Vice President” and “Associate Vice President.” The talent, expertise, and vision to lead our university resides in our faculty, staff, and communities, including restoring a central role to a Faculty Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Excellence. 2. Horizontal, not vertical. We will create a flattened organization chart that centers student learning and the student experience as at the heart of our leadership and service here. We will eliminate the use of the term “division” in approaching leadership here – the term is divisive.

Leadership pay and eligibility The salary of the position of campus president will be based on a mid-career Full Professor Salary, times 1.3, or 30% more than current faculty salary, whichever is higher. The position will be elected by the faculty of Sonoma State and the position will be for 5 years, renewable. The Academic Leader who holds the title of Vice President/Provost will have a salary based on 1.2 of current faculty salary or 20% more than mid-career full professor salary, whichever is higher. This position will be elected by the faculty and serve 3-year terms, renewable. Academic Leaders in Student Affairs and in the rest of Academic Affairs will have the titles of Deans or Associate Deans (e.g., “Dean of Students”), and will receive salary based upon 1.1 or 1.05 of their current or mid-career TT faculty salaries. All leadership positions will be for three-year terms, renewable. On Campus housing will be offered to academic leaders, but no housing allowances. Salaries for all leadership positions at Sonoma State will be scaled to match those mentioned above. Exceptions will be in areas where market demands for qualified leaders require higher salaries, such as is often the case with Information Technology and Public Safety. The determination to appoint leaders at market-rate salaries will be made by the campus president. For all positions, a recall process will be created by the Academic Senate, in consultation with the Staff Council and Associated Students. Individuals who are not part of the current SSU faculty may run for these positions, under this pay scale. In the absence of qualified candidates, the Campus President shall appoint interim leaders to positions

Athletics and Campus Life We stand with the coaches and student-athletes in demanding a restoration of Division II Athletics. Our students need and deserve a vibrant campus life. And losing those athletes and the academic programs will cost Sonoma State more money than the savings claimed by the current administration.

Recruitment and Fundraising Draw upon Academic Leaders and Student Power and Voice to achieve our efforts in Recruitment and Fundraising. 1. Fundraising. Academic leaders such as Deans, Chairs and individual Faculty members will be responsible for and responsive to community interest in supporting Sonoma State and its excellent programs. This proposal eliminates the existing division of “Development.” 2. Recruitment. We will teach the students that come, and adjust our instructional budget as necessary, aiming at an SFR 18-1. We will build and strengthen alumni connections, foster an excellent reputation, and offer small classes with faculty mentoring. These things will draw students. We are committed to providing quality access to a liberal arts education to students from all backgrounds. This proposal eliminates the existing division of Strategic Enrollment.