No, it is not about money and a deficit. Even if you had the money, why hire someone to promote discrimination? Fresno State should be a school for education, not KKK/BLM indoctrination.
- “The university has instituted a hiring freeze on all non-essential positions and restricted non-essential purchases and travel. Fresno State has directed cabinet members to develop a budget reduction plan for 2025-2026. The university also plans to draw $13.8 million from Benefit and Compensation one-time reserves to reduce the $19 million loss and to allocate $1 million from one-time carryforward funds to Academic Affairs, leaving $4.2 million in needed cuts remaining.
- Prior to Booker’s hiring, Fresno State was already deemed an “Hispanic-serving institution” with 53% of the university’s enrollment in 2019 identifying as Hispanic or Latino.”
Who cares about the ethnicity of the students—only racists. The issue is quality education for the future. (regardless of ethnicity). They are cutting back on real education needs—racist positions should be the first to go. Replacing this position would be racist.
Fresno State’s DEI chief is resigning. Should it hire another one during a budget deficit?
Fresno State, like every CSU campus, faces a multi-million-dollar deficit. Amid a corporate cutback on DEI initiatives, is hiring another six-figure exec worth it?
by Daniel Gligich, The Sun, 1/27/25 https://sjvsun.com/education/fresno-states-dei-chief-is-resigning-should-it-hire-another-one-during-a-budget-deficit/
Fresno State’s chief diversity officer is leaving her position at the school to return to Louisiana, Fresno State President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval announced in a campus message.
Jimenez-Sandoval said the university will share more information in the coming weeks about finding the next diversity officer, which comes at a time when the California State University system faces a major deficit.
The big picture: University Diversity Officer Dr. Rashanda Booker has stepped down from her position at Fresno State to return to Louisiana.
- Her last day of work at Fresno State will be Feb. 3.
- Booker joined the university in January 2023 and established the Division of Equity and Engagement to advance equity and inclusion at Fresno State.
- Jimenez-Sandoval said in his message that the division has worked to ensure equity and inclusivity are part of the fabric of Fresno State.
By the numbers: Booker earned a total compensation package of $212,082.01 in 2023, the most recent year published by Transparent California. Transparent California is a project run by the nonprofit Nevada Policy Research institute that provides a public pay database.
- Booker’s salary in 2023 was $148,235.50. She received $7,381.59 in additional pay and $56,464.92 in benefits.
Zoom out: In light of California’s recent $47 billion budget deficit that the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom closed last year, funding for the CSU system is looking grim.
- Earlier this month, Newsom revealed his proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which would reduce CSU funding by $375.2 million – a 7.95% cut.
- Along with the budget cuts, CSU leaders revealed last fall that the system faces a funding shortfall ranging from $400 million to $800 million for the next fiscal year.
- Sonoma State made headlines with its $24 million deficit, announcing the closure of six academic departments and its athletics programs.
Zoom in: The CSU system faced a $218 million gap in funding for fiscal year 2024-2025. Fresno State faced a $10 million gap as part of the system’s total shortfall.
- Fresno State says it will see around $19 million cut as part of Newsom’s 2025-2026 budget proposal.
- Fresno State was able to balance its budget through a number of measures for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which totaled a 5% budget reduction across all divisions.
- The university has instituted a hiring freeze on all non-essential positions and restricted non-essential purchases and travel. Fresno State has directed cabinet members to develop a budget reduction plan for 2025-2026. The university also plans to draw $13.8 million from Benefit and Compensation one-time reserves to reduce the $19 million loss and to allocate $1 million from one-time carryforward funds to Academic Affairs, leaving $4.2 million in needed cuts remaining.
- Prior to Booker’s hiring, Fresno State was already deemed an “Hispanic-serving institution” with 53% of the university’s enrollment in 2019 identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
What they’re saying: Multiple sources within Fresno State speaking to The Sun on a condition of anonymity to speak freely, said that Booker’s presence on campus during her tenure was negligible, with some sources openly questioning her physical attendance on-campus to administer programs.
- The Sun reached out to Fresno State to ask about Booker’s day-to-day schedule, what metrics the university has to see how she impacted diversity on campus and if Fresno State sees a need to fill her position given the budget issues.
- Fresno State provided the following statement in response: “Dr. Rashanda Booker’s tenure as Fresno State’s inaugural University Diversity Officer included many accomplishments that advanced equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) on our campus.
- “During her time with us, she established the Division of Equity and Engagement, created its mission and vision, launched its website, and transitioned the Cross Cultural and Gender Center into the division to strengthen impact. She staffed key positions to build capacity, launched advisory councils to strengthen Fresno State’s standing in the community, and provided numerous trainings and town halls aligned with the university’s 2023-2029 strategic plan.
- “Fresno State remains committed to fostering a culture of equity and inclusion, which is integral to supporting the success of our campus community. While the university is mindful of the financial challenges facing our campus and the CSU system, the importance of this position to our mission and strategic goals ensures that we will thoughtfully evaluate how best to continue this critical work moving forward.”
