Chico State rang in the new academic year yesterday with an official convocation by the University’s new president, Gayle E. Hutchinson.
The optimism was palpable at a mostly full Laxson Auditorium following several years of growing acrimony under the former leadership.
Timothy Sistrunk, a history professor and chair of Chico State’s labor council, said faculty and staff are eager to work with Hutchinson on pay and equity programs, on campus climate issues, and on the declining number of tenured faculty.
“So this is for real,” said Betsy Boyd, a professor of entomology and chair Chico State’s Academic Senate. “That means we did it!”
Last year things were different. As anyone who saw the results of theSpring 2015 Campus Climate Survey knows, there were severe morale problems and widespread mistrust of administrators.
But speakers yesterday were eager to turn the page.
Now in the driver’s seat, Hutchinson said the future would be rooted in what she referred to as core values of humanity that all subscribe to: “respect, trustworthiness, honesty, benevolence, integrity, compassion, open-mindedness, self-discipline, humor and civility.”
In a 30-minute speech Hutchinson laid out five goals for the campus’ future, which she defined as: improve campus climate, shared governance, continue to foster student achievements, build diverse and inclusive communities of excellence, and explore opportunities and support innovation.
Perhaps her biggest message though was one of confidence in Chico State’s future.
“Our optimism for the future of Chico State is grounded in hope,” Hutchinson said. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all.”
Hutchinson succeeded former Chico State president Paul Zingg. She officially took over the role on July 1. Hutchinson is the first female president in the University’s history.
