For students entering the University of California system, the resignation of UC President Robert Dynes may not mean much. But for UC Santa Cruz students, who have lived with an administration peppered with scandal and shady compensation practices, this upset raises more questions than answers.
Dynes, who took the presidency in 2003, announced that he will be departing next June, and will hand day-to-day duties to UC Provost and Executive Vice President Wyatt R. Hume, effective immediately. In a statement drafted Aug. 13, the day he announced his resignation, Dynes wrote, ÒThe direction of my life has changed.Ó
According to a San Francisco Chronicle article published two days later, Dynes made the decision to step down in order to spend more time with his new wife in San Diego, where he will also return to his faculty position in the physics department at the UC for the 08-09 school year.
Since assuming the mantle of president, Dynes has received mixed reviews. Most prominently, he was implicated in a 2005 money scandal, in which he divested hundreds of thousands of UC funds to high-ranking government officials in the form bonuses and benefits.
Despite public disapproval, Dynes was not forced to leave his post after this crisis. Instead he will leave this year with added benefits. Dynes is entitled to a yearÕs paid leave at his presidential salary ($405,000), and will receive a retirement plan worth $1.6 million.
Many students question the fairness of his severance package and the legality of these bonuses, especially because theyÕve simultaneously seen their student fees increase. Still, Dynes and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have defended the decisions to bulk-up the pay for those at the top.
Gena Grebitus, a spokesperson for Gov. Schwarzenegger, said, ÒThe governor understands the UC is a world-class higher education system. He understands that attracting and retaining top talent is essential to being the best.Ó
However Dynes was widely criticized during the scandal, particularly by State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, who called for his resignation.
ÒEnough is enough,Ó Romero said in a 2006 press conference. ÒThis is unacceptable for a public institution funded by public money. The buck stops with the PresidentÕs Office, and it is time for the President to resign.Ó
Assemblyman John Laird (D-CA) echoed Romero, though he didnÕt call for DyneÕs resignation.
ÒUC is a very hard place to lead,Ó Laird said. ÒHe had a rough time trying to manage a host of different issues.Ó
Relations between the UC and state legislators have been strained since Governor Schwarzenegger and Dynes signed the Higher Education Compact in 2004.
The six-year compact outlines specific funding agreements with UC and CSU schools, including annual student fee increases through the 2010-2011 school year. From 2005-2007, fee increases totaled 16 percent.
Future fee increases will be based on per capita income, which means the percentage could fluctuate.
Many legislators, including Laird, said that Dynes did not consult with state legislators enough when it came to negotiating the compact and that he gave in too easily.
ÒNegotiations with the UC have been difficult,Ó Laird said. ÒOne reason is that the [higher education] compact was negotiated without legislative consent.Ó
Other local officials, like Santa Cruz City Councilmember Mike Rotkin, echoed RomeroÕs sentiments and had some critical words for Dynes.
ÒItÕs appalling how so many people are being paid so much more than the people that are actually doing all the work,Ó Rotkin said. ÒThere are problems with decision making. The worst part is not that they are making changes, but that they are making bad decisions.Ó
Faye Crosby, former chair of the UCSC Academic Senate, explained that the scandals might have damaged the university on a system-wide level, but that locally, conditions were fine.
ÒYes, thereÕs been a lot of scandal, but I look to where are we now,Ó Crosby said. ÒIf you look at how the Academic Senate is working with the administration, IÕd say weÕve never worked as closely as weÕre working now.Ó
Crosby pointed to a record level of donations and an increase in prospective students as two indications that the reputation of the university remains respectable.
ÒI can tell you weÕre in great shape right now, so somehow the basic values have reasserted themselves,Ó Crosby said. ÒIn addition, weÕre very lucky to have had George Blumenthal as our acting chancellor. HeÕs trusted off of our campus as well as on our campus. It has been a really rough period, but the school is stronger now than it was a year ago. Locally, weÕre doing great.Ó
UCSC is no stranger to changing leadership. With the death of Chancellor Denise Denton last year, George Blumenthal has taken the reigns for now, but the search for a permanent chancellor continues.
In March 2007, Dynes named a 16-member committee of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community representatives to the task along with the search firm Edward W. Kelly & Partners.
A permanent replacement is expected to be chosen soon.
Before his tenure as UC President comes to an end, Dynes hopes to focus his efforts on the UCSC chancellor search and the Long Range Development Plan.
