header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
November 12
1908 - Saugus School District formed from sections of Newhall and Castaic school districts [story]
Saugus School


| Wednesday, Aug 8, 2018
Dr. Wanda M. Jackson, Interim President, University of Southern California.
Dr. Wanda M. Austin, Interim President, University of Southern California.

 

C.L. Max Nikias was formally removed as president of the University of California and engineer-businesswoman Dr. Wanda M. Austin named Interim President on Tuesday, according to USC Board of Trustees Chairman Rick J. Caruso.

Caruso, who assumed the board chairmanship in June, outlined the change in a letter to “members of the USC Family” Tuesday, which reads as follows:

“Since becoming Chair of the Board of Trustees just over two months ago, I have been moved by the candid and constructive dialogue I am having with so many students, faculty, staff, and alumni. These frank discussions have given me a chance to understand what we must change as well as what is truly exceptional about our great University. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on important steps that are underway to implement these changes while preserving and fostering academic excellence.

Presidential Transition
“(On Tuesday), C. L. Max Nikias has agreed to step down, effective immediately, and will move into the role of President Emeritus and Life Trustee of the University.

“This decision follows the announcement, earlier this summer, that the Board of Trustees and President Nikias had agreed to an orderly transition and that a Special Committee of the Board would commence a search for a new president.

“Amongst other responsibilities, Dr. Nikias will continue to assist with the transition of the incoming president.

Dr. Wanda Austin, Interim President, University of Southern California, Aug. 7, 2018.

Appointment of Wanda M. Austin as Interim President
“I am pleased to let you know that the Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Wanda M. Austin as Interim President of USC.

“Dr. Austin, who is a member of our Board of Trustees, is an internationally honored engineer who from 2008 to 2016 was President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation. She is a strong advocate for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines as well as for minorities and women.

“Among her many accomplishments, in 2015, she was appointed by President Obama to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and in 2016, she received the Goddard Astronautics Award, one of the highest honors of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

“Dr. Austin currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Chevron Corporation and Amgen, and previously served on the Boards of the National Geographic Society and the Space Foundation.

“She earned a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1988.

“Dr. Austin’s appointment is an important and positive step forward as we approach the beginning of the semester. She is deeply committed to USC, and I know that she plans to devote time in the coming weeks to listen to the views of faculty, staff, students, and our broader community on what is needed to successfully move us into our next chapter.

“With her significant executive leadership experience and steady hand, Dr. Austin is an ideal person to steer the University on a clear path forward as we advance our ambitious initiatives, until a permanent president is named. She is a professional of impeccable integrity and character.

Presidential Search Process
“The process to select the 12th president of USC is underway, and the Board of Trustees has retained Isaacson Miller, one of the nation’s most accomplished education recruitment firms with deep experience at the highest levels of academia.


“They will be joined by international search firm Heidrick & Struggles, who will serve in an advisory capacity to ensure we evaluate the broadest landscape of world-class leaders. Our goal is to complete this search within four to six months.

“The Board has also approved forming the Presidential Search Advisory Committee that will seek input from our diverse University community through in-person listening sessions and a presidential search website. This committee will include the chairs of the Board’s various sub-committees, and in the coming weeks they will seek recommendations from faculty representatives across our campuses.

“As I have said before, it is critical that this process embraces your perspectives to help guide the committee in identifying the most qualified and talented person to lead our University forward. We will share more details in the coming days and weeks.

Independent Investigation into the Student Health Center
“The Board and I are committed to an ambitious, aggressive agenda for change. As I have said previously, it is evident that the recent crises have resulted from systemic and cultural failures. Both the behavior and the environment that allowed it to persist are inexcusable and will no longer be tolerated.

“Most importantly, we must understand exactly why these failures occurred and take bold action to reform what is broken so that they never happen again.

“It is for this reason that at the end of May we retained internationally respected law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP to conduct a thorough, independent investigation into the issues surrounding the former gynecologist at our student health center.

“The O’Melveny team has made substantial progress, and to date has interviewed over 100 witnesses and collected 4.5 million documents.

“However, more work needs to be done, and the Board has authorized O’Melveny to continue the investigation until it is completed. We will have more to say on their work in the coming weeks.

Governance Committee
“As a Board, we recognize that the University has grown dramatically over the past few decades. That success includes a fast-growing budget, staff, and student body in addition to operating one of the region’s largest medical enterprises. However, the Board of Trustees is organized in much the same way as it was thirty years ago. That needs to change.

“The Board has established a Special Committee on Governance Reform co-chaired by trustees Suzanne Nora-Johnson and Christopher Cox. They will carefully examine all aspects of the Board of Trustees’ structure and operations to ensure that USC is a world leader in higher education governance. The committee will examine best practices at our peer institutions and engage our University community in their efforts.

Measures Underway to Achieve Significant and Sustainable Change
“Some actions that will help us achieve a profound and sustainable shift in our culture will take time to implement, but they will indeed take place. We continue to improve our student health center, with Dr. Sarah Van Orman, Chief Health Officer at USC Health, leading this transformation.

“In August 2017, USC brought student health systems under the auspices of our academic medical center, Keck Medicine of USC, in order to further professionalize our care and to bring the resources of our academic medical center to provide the best services to our students, whose well-being and safety is our top priority.

“We will not tolerate anything less than exceptional and professional health care, and Dr. Van Orman’s team is continuing to drive forward initiatives to achieve this.

‘Our newly formed Office for Professional Ethics, led by vice president Michael Blanton, is now operating as a central hub for monitoring, investigation, and tracking of complaints to ensure that, going forward, any issues are rapidly identified and addressed.

“These are just two of the important changes underway, and we look forward to sharing further updates with you.

“On campus these past few months, I have seen students, faculty, and staff participating in the summer semester while incoming students and their families attend welcome orientations. It has been thrilling to be among these buoyant and happy young people as they begin exploring this new chapter in their lives. Like other alumni parents around me, I felt the pull and power of my alma mater as though I were a first-year student again.

“The orientation experience reinforced that the University’s singular focus must continue to be the students, patients, and community we serve. They are the center of our academic and medical mission, and we owe them our very best.

“Our shared commitment must be to ensure that all of our students step onto campus feeling energized, motivated, safe, and confident about their USC experience. I know our dedicated faculty and staff work constantly and tirelessly towards this goal.

“Finally, a member of the faculty, addressing the very purpose of a University, said to me that “we are the light of the human mind.” Our light has dimmed recently. By working together, with passion and commitment, we will restore trust and heal our community. It is because of that Trojan passion and commitment that USC will light the human mind more luminously than ever before.

“Thank you to the many members of our community who have shared their perspectives, observations, and concerns with me. I want to continue hearing from all of you as we move forward, so please email me at botchair@usc.edu.

Sincerely,

Rick J. Caruso

Chair
Board of Trustees
University of Southern California.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


HIGHER EDUCATION LINKS
LOCAL COLLEGE HEADLINES
Monday, Nov 11, 2024
The College of the Canyons Athletics Department invites community members of all ages to run, walk or jog in the 16th annual Thanksgiving Day 'Turkey Trot' event benefiting the college's cross country and track & field programs 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 at College of the Canyons Valencia Campus, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Monday, Nov 11, 2024
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Nov. 13, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
Friday, Nov 8, 2024
College of the Canyons professors Katie Coleman and Mehgen Andrade will deliver the scholarly presentation “Behind Bars: Forfeiting our Children” 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024
California State University, Northridge’s CSUN-al Gardening series returns this month just in time to prepare for fall planting.
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024
For the fourth year in a row, California State University, Northridge has been named a Fulbright HSI Leader by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
A partnership formed by the County of Los Angeles and leading Los Angeles philanthropic organizations have announced the formation of the Los Angeles County Office of Food Equity.
Inaugural L.A. County Office of Food Equity Launches
Mission Opera will present its Fifth Annual Winter Holidays of the World, a free concert for residents of the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding areas, featuring a celebration of international winter holidays through music and dance.
Dec. 4: Fifth Annual ‘Winter Holidays of the World’
The Santa Clarita Arts Commission will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 1st Floor, Santa Clarita.
Nov. 14: Santa Clarita Arts Commission Regular Meeting
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of nine productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 17.
Nov. 11-17: Nine Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
Prayer Angels for the Military, Inc. needs your help to be sure local heroes overseas are not forgotten during the holidays.
Prayer Angels for the Military Seeks Holiday Help
Get ready to embrace the magic of the season with JCI Santa Clarita’s annual event, Santa’s Helpers.
JCI Santa Clarita Brings the Joy with Annual Santa’s Helpers Event
They made it hard on themselves, but The Master's University's women's volleyball team defeated the Life Pacific Warriors in the final match of the season to win the GSAC Women's Volleyball regular season championship on Friday, Nov. 8.
Lady Mustangs Win GSAC Regular Season Volleyball Championship
Speeding and aggressive driving are ongoing challenges on California roadways.
CHP Secures $2.6M Grant to Address Speeding, Aggressive Driving
1908 - Saugus School District formed from sections of Newhall and Castaic school districts [story]
Saugus School
In the race for Congress George Whitesides (D) has overtaken incumbent Mike Garcia (R) by nearly 7,000 votes.
UPDATE: Local Election Results as of Monday Evening
Whitesides Leads Garcia in Race for 27th Congressional District
UPDATE: Whitesides Wins Race for 27th Congressional District
The Small Business Development Center is offering a free Restaurant Academy online webinar on how to "Start a Food Business in Your Home: The NEW Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operator."
Nov. 14: Restaurant Academy Start a Food Business in Your Home
College of the Canyons is sending both its cross country teams to the state championship meet for a second straight season after the Cougars posted a pair of successful runs at the 3C2A Southern California Regional Championships at Chaffey College on Friday, Nov. 8.
Canyons Cross Country Sending Both Teams to State Championship Meet
Golden Years Dog Sanctuary welcomes all to its Sit or Stroll open house, adoption event and fundraiser, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at 12682 Kagel Canyon Road, Sylmar, CA 91342.
Nov. 16: Golden Years Dog Sanctuary Sit or Stroll Adoption Event, Fundraiser
The Castaic Union School District will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 14 at the District Office, located at 28131 Livingston Avenue in Valencia. A closed session will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by an open session at 6 p.m., where there will be a report of closed session action.
Nov. 14: Regular Meeting of the CUSD Governing Board
Join Hart show Choir performers on an interactive journey through a holiday classic with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 2-7 p.m., Saturday, Dec 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Hart High School cafeteria, 24825 Newhall Ave., Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Dec. 7-8: Hart Show Choir Presents ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’
Heading into their games on Friday, Nov. 8, three Foothill League football teams had hopes for deep playoff runs. Valencia and Hart had their hopes dashed, but Golden Valley won, and will play on.
Golden Valley Moves On, Valencia, Hart Fall
Placerita Canyon Natural Area will host the Mojave Desert Burrowers and Survival event Sunday, Nov. 17 from 2-3 p.m. at 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, CA 91321.
Nov. 17: Mojave Desert Burrowers, Survival Event at Placerita Canyon
The Future Farmers of America will host a Christmas Tree Sales Fundraiser Festival in Frazier Park one weekend only on Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1: FFA Christmas Tree Sales Fundraiser Festival
The College of the Canyons Athletics Department invites community members of all ages to run, walk or jog in the 16th annual Thanksgiving Day 'Turkey Trot' event benefiting the college's cross country and track & field programs 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 at College of the Canyons Valencia Campus, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Nov. 28: COC Invites Runners to Thanksgiving ‘Turkey Trot’
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Nov. 13, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
Nov. 13: COC Board Regular Business Meeting
Step onto Main Street in Old Town Newhall and be transported to the ultimate Winter Wonderland, complete with real snow, a chance to meet Santa and of course, tens of thousands of dazzling lights to create the perfect kickoff to the holiday season. The city of Santa Clarita welcomes the community to Light Up Main Street, presented by DrinkPAK, in Old Town Newhall on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 4-8 p.m.
Nov. 16: Old Town Newhall Will Light Up Main Street
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation debuted its first new signage and mapping project at the 945-acre Vasquez Rocks Natural Area on Saturday, Nov 9.
Vasquez Rock Natural Area Celebrates New Signage Program
This week, I took my Oath of Office for my third and final term as Fifth District Supervisor.
Kathryn Barger | Oath of Office
SCVNews.com