Regarding the Academic Senate 'No Confidence' Resolution

December 7, 2023

Dear Campus Community, 

Yesterday, the Academic Senate passed a resolution expressing “no confidence” in my presidency. Of course, I take the resolution very seriously.

The resolution cites several reasons for this action, many of which are currently being addressed by the appropriate Cabinet members, other administrators, as well as other stakeholders. At the same time, there are matters which will require more extensive and focused attention. Regardless, it is apparent that we need more communication, engagement, input and discussion about such issues with the faculty and the broader campus community, including the expected outcomes, timelines, approaches and challenges.

To address this need, I am working with the Cabinet to prepare a comprehensive and detailed response to concerns raised by the Senate, which I will share early in the Spring semester as a catalyst for campus dialogue and engagement. I will also share reflections on the state of higher education nationally, within California and at Cal Poly Pomona. Context matters – and while each of us may have a distinct perspective – it is important that all of us understand the new environment that we are facing as we collectively advance ways to navigate these challenges.

I take this opportunity to thank the faculty, staff, students and alumni who have reached out to me to express their support. As I shared with them, I view the resolution as an opportunity for self-reflection on my core values, ethics and sense of accountability. I also understand that strong emotions can be an impediment to engaging in the constructive, data-informed conversations which are required to achieve solutions.

In my career of more than 40 years in academia, I’ve served as faculty, department chair, dean, provost and president across three CSU campuses. I’ve approached each of these roles with a commitment to ethics, integrity and trustworthiness. I remain committed now, as ever, to the collective well-being of every student, every staff and every faculty member.

I support shared governance, which includes engagement and consultation with the many appropriate campus entities. I also believe that having a trustworthy, professional and administratively competent team who are committed to inclusivity and diversity and who participate in shared governance are essential components of success. I believe that leaders must commit themselves to making difficult and informed decisions that serve the best interest of the institution, without fear of the impact on personal relationships. Otherwise, the espoused values are sacrificed, and institutional well-being compromised. Moreover, I recognize that regardless of whether I – as President – have direct knowledge about a particular issue or problem, I am ultimately responsible.

The challenges we face are very real, and I am extremely proud of our faculty, staff and administrators for our collective accomplishments. Achieving our potential by overcoming these challenges and taking advantage of the range of opportunities before us will require institutional awareness, visioning, creativity and a commitment to community wellbeing. I look forward to our return to campus for the Spring semester and to an engaged discussion of our shared vision for CPP.

Sincerely,

Soraya M. Coley, Ph.D.
President