The California State University system has approved a $343,920 compensation package for outgoing Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás Morales for a one-year “transition” assignment. Chancellor Mildred Garcia announced the decision Wednesday, praising Morales for his "outstanding leadership" but omitting mention of the civil suit.
Morales’ new role will involve advising the incoming president and "advancing the CSU’s international engagement and strengthening global partnerships," Garcia said. She noted Morales’ pay is consistent with the university’s executive transition program, intended to recruit for high-level posts and retain institutional knowledge.
This compensation follows a $12 million settlement in March by the CSU system in a discrimination and harassment civil suit. Filed in 2023 by two former Cal State San Bernardino administrators, the lawsuit accused Morales of gender discrimination, "ranting" at female employees, and failing to approve salaries on-par with male colleagues. It further alleged he fostered an environment where harassment was common practice, naming a former dean and the CSU Board of Trustees. Morales, the former dean, and the Board of Trustees denied all allegations in court documents.
CSU spokeswoman Amy Bentley-Smith stated the lawsuit "did not result in any findings against him individually," and that Morales remains in "good standing," making him eligible. The university, which has faced multiple sexual harassment scandals, denied all wrongdoing in the settlement, stating it acted to "avoid further costs of litigation."
The transition plan has drawn significant criticism. Andrew Friedman, a lawyer for the former administrators, called the payout "a real shame," stating CSU has a "significant problem" dealing with gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. California Faculty Assn.’s San Bernardino Chapter President Tiffany Jones previously described rewarding Morales as a "stunning failure of accountability" when "campuses face budget constraints." Former Vice Provost Clare Weber, one of the lawsuit's administrators, called the decision "a slap in the face."
The lawsuit detailed allegations from Anissa Rogers, forced to resign after reporting harassment concerns to former dean Jake Zhu. Rogers’ claims went to trial and a jury awarded her $6 million, negated by the settlement. Weber alleged Morales harassed and discriminated against her and other female employees and was retaliated against for raising concerns about gender pay disparities. The settlement agreement required Weber to resign her faculty position.
The CSU system previously halted its executive transition program for review, after reports showed it paid former executives, including some accused of wrongdoing, for "advice and counsel" without tracking their activities. CSU later decided executives hired after March 2022 would no longer participate.
On Wednesday, CSU also announced Terri Gomez as the new president for the San Bernardino campus. She is a 27-year veteran in higher education, currently serving as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Cal Poly Pomona. Hours after announcing Morales’ transition job, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to grant him the honorific title of professor emeritus, with Garcia again praising his tenure.
