Ousted CSU chancellor will begin teaching at Cal Poly in the spring
The former California State University chancellor who resigned over his handling of several sexual harassment complaints while president at Fresno State will begin teaching business classes at Cal Poly in spring 2023, according to the university.
Castro stepped down from his post in February after USA Today reports detailed his mishandling of several sexual harassment complaints from 2014 to 2019 about Fresno State’s former Vice President of Student Affairs Frank Lamas.
The announcement of Castro’s decision to teach at Cal Poly comes a day after an independent investigation found that he failed to properly address the reports of misconduct against Lamas.
Lamas, who retired in late 2020, has denied the allegations, but a 2019 Title IX investigation found that he had engaged in inappropriate conduct in violation of CSU policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual misconduct, dating and domestic violence, and stalking against employees and third parties.
Castro failed to document allegations against Lamas and continued to provide support for promotion even after the investigation confirmed alleged inappropriate behavior, according to the USA Today reports and a subsequent independent investigation.
“My decisions on Title IX matters were guided by campus and California State University system policies and protocol, the direction of my then chancellor Timothy White and general counsel Andrew Jones, my campus counsel and policy experts at Fresno State and in the chancellor’s office,” Castro said in a statement Thursday afternoon published by the Fresno Bee.
Cal Poly spokesman Matt Lazier told The Tribune that Castro will be a tenured professor at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business beginning on Feb. 18, with the first day of the spring quarter set for April 3.
He will teach leadership and public policy in the management, human resources and information systems area of the college, according to Lazier.
Cal Poly was unable to refuse Castro’s employment.
“Dr. Castro’s retreat rights to Cal Poly were established by the CSU in September of 2020 in accordance with the standard process of naming a new CSU chancellor,” Lazier told The Tribune. “CSU policy mandates that Cal Poly honor Dr. Castro’s retreat rights.”
Castro’s salary was negotiated at the time his retreat rights were established, according to Lazier.
“He will join Cal Poly as a 12-month employee with a monthly salary of $15,864,” Lazier said. “In Fall 2023, he will become an academic year instructional faculty member, with a salary of $165,564 per year.”
The Fresno State Academic Senate made clear in a declaration of no confidence approved in March that they believe Castro was unfit to teach at Cal Poly.
“Through former Chancellors Castro’s words and actions in this matter, he has violated the trust of not only the students, staff and faculty of the CSU but also the people of the state of California,” the declaration states. “Therefore, Academic Senate of California State University, Fresno affirms that Dr. Castro has demonstrated that he not only does not deserve to hold the rank of tenured professor but that he is unqualified to teach and/or conduct research in leadership and public policy.”
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 7:15 PM.
