PD Editorial: A new year, a new focus for Sonoma State University

Call it the “clean slate” syndrome. It’s the idea that each year, students, faculty and staff of educational institutions, from kindergarten to college, start the school year with the same thing - a clean slate.

For Sonoma State University, it’s a bigger slate than most.

That’s because on Monday, for the first time in 24 years, the Rohnert Park campus will start the fall semester with a new president, Judy Sakaki, the former vice president of student affairs for the UC system. She succeeded Ruben Armiñana, who stepped down after serving the university for nearly half of its existence.

As we’ve noted before, Armiñana left behind many legacies, none more so than the development of the 269-acre campus into what is now one of the most attractive university settings within the CSU system. Under his watch, the university saw the construction of many structures from student housing to the Jean and Charles Schulz Library and Information Center and the Student Center to the Green Music Center.

But while that reflected Armiñana’s emphasis, Sakaki says she wants to focus on a different kind of development - building up students.

It’s a welcome shift.

There’s no question that Sonoma State has benefited tremendously from the expansion of its physical infrastructure. The addition of student housing alone has shifted what was once regarded as “Granola U” from a commuter school to a true college campus. But the timing couldn’t be better for this kind of change - back toward students themselves.

Compared to many universities, including those in the UC system, Sonoma State and other CSU campuses are a bargain. Even so, too many students are leaving with burdensome debt, much of it driven by the inability to graduate within four years.

At Sonoma State, only about one in four students graduate within four years. While that’s better than the CSU average, it’s still below the national average of 34 percent. In addition to needing more class options to ensure they can complete their degrees in four years, students have voiced their desire for more counseling support and more mental health services.

During a recent meeting with The Press Democrat Editorial Board, Sakaki said she wants to address these issues as well as housing and career development needs. She also wants to give students more input on operations such as those of the Green Music Center.

And she wants to build the student-focus within her administrative staff. “My whole background is student affairs,” Sakaki said. “I came here and the portfolio is not a student affairs portfolio. That’s very clear.”

To set her agenda, Sakaki will be bringing in her own vice presidents as many of those who served under Armiñana have moved on or are announcing their retirements. For example, John Welty, the president emeritus of Fresno State, will serve as a special adviser. Sakaki said he will assist with the Green Music Center while looking for ways to help restructure the university for “greater efficiencies and effectiveness.”

We don’t know how all of these changes will pan out. It’s been nearly a quarter-century since Sonoma County has had a new president at the helm for its central university. But we applaud Sakaki for putting her focus on improving the student experience. Sometimes universities seem to forget that that is their primary role. And right now, after years of tuition increases, stress in getting classes and mounting debt, students would welcome this kind help - to go with their new start.