Spring Break
Tony Frank on higher ed, family, Budweiser
Former farmer's view from the top unlikely
J. David McSwane
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: News
For some on campus who previously clashed with Penley - whose tenure was underscored by his all-business CEO approach and a hushed, last-minute attempt to drastically increase tuition in 2007 - say Frank has a unique opportunity to mend relationships.
Throughout his time at CSU, Penley was criticized for a lack of communication with campus, eventually sparking inquiries from student government, faculty and state legislators who cited too much focus on administration while the academic colleges and the library saw a much smaller growth. At the same time, tuition and fees sharply increased.
Penley was also lauded, however, for substantially increasing the school's budget and for thrusting the school's ongoing research and commitment to sustainability to the national stage.
Frank says he hope to continue Penley's push to establish CSU's national prominence but hopes a split role of chancellor and president will allow him -- and his possible replacement -- more time to work with students, faculty and staff on campus.
"The main thing, the reason for a university's existence, is teaching and learning, the discovery of new knowledge, and you can not do either of those things without faculty and students," he said. "You take either one out, you don't have a university anymore."
In stark contrast to Penley's mixed legacy, Frank has already announced cutting about half a million in administrative support and has vowed to increase transparency in the budget by opening CSU's finances to public debate.
"For me, quite frankly, the last week, it feels like a breath of fresh air blew through the campus," said John Straayer, a long-time political science professor and public critic of Penley.
"All the dealings I've had with Dr. Frank have been good … he doesn't always agree with what I have to say, but I feel more than pretty good. I feel very good right now."
"There's just a comfort level that I feel now that I didn't before," he added.
Throughout his time at CSU, Penley was criticized for a lack of communication with campus, eventually sparking inquiries from student government, faculty and state legislators who cited too much focus on administration while the academic colleges and the library saw a much smaller growth. At the same time, tuition and fees sharply increased.
Penley was also lauded, however, for substantially increasing the school's budget and for thrusting the school's ongoing research and commitment to sustainability to the national stage.
Frank says he hope to continue Penley's push to establish CSU's national prominence but hopes a split role of chancellor and president will allow him -- and his possible replacement -- more time to work with students, faculty and staff on campus.
"The main thing, the reason for a university's existence, is teaching and learning, the discovery of new knowledge, and you can not do either of those things without faculty and students," he said. "You take either one out, you don't have a university anymore."
In stark contrast to Penley's mixed legacy, Frank has already announced cutting about half a million in administrative support and has vowed to increase transparency in the budget by opening CSU's finances to public debate.
"For me, quite frankly, the last week, it feels like a breath of fresh air blew through the campus," said John Straayer, a long-time political science professor and public critic of Penley.
"All the dealings I've had with Dr. Frank have been good … he doesn't always agree with what I have to say, but I feel more than pretty good. I feel very good right now."
"There's just a comfort level that I feel now that I didn't before," he added.
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