Report 2016-122 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2016-122: California State University: Stronger Oversight Is Needed for Hiring and Compensating Management Personnel and for Monitoring Campus Budgets (Release Date: April 2017)

Recommendation #3 To: University, California State

To improve the oversight of CSU's management personnel, the Chancellor's Office should work with campuses, bargaining unit representatives, the Public Employment Relations Board, and others as necessary to come to an agreement on the appropriate classification of coaches. The Chancellor's Office should take into account the concerns that San Diego State has raised about the labor market for these employees.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From August 2023

As noted in our previous responses, this is an issue that needs to be addressed through the collective bargaining process and cannot be unilaterally imposed. The parties have agreed to the duties and requirements of three new coach classifications to replace the existing classifications, but the parties are not in agreement on the salaries for these new classifications. Negotiations with the California Faculty Association are ongoing. The parties continue to meet and hope to resolve this issue.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

As noted in our previous responses, this is an issue that needs to be addressed through the collective bargaining process. There have been delays in the process and shifts in focus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the negotiations with the California Faculty Association are ongoing. The parties continue to meet regularly and are close to resolving this issue.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

As noted in our previous responses, this is an issue that needs to be addressed through the collective bargaining process. There have been delays in the process and shifts in focus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the negotiations with the California Faculty Association are ongoing. The parties are meeting regularly and are aware this issue still needs to be finalized.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

As reported previously, for those athletic coaches who are in a bargaining unit, CSU proposed changes to the California Faculty Association (CFA) regarding the classification standards. Those were presented to CFA in April 2019 and the meet and confer process was proposed. Although the CSU proposed several possible dates, the meet and confer did not occur before the full contract collective bargaining was scheduled to begin in early 2020.

In addition, prior to starting any full contract negotiations, the COVID-19 outbreak occurred. In May 2020, a two-year extension of the existing contract was approved. CSU will again attempt to schedule a meet and confer on the topic of athletic coaches in late 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019

In March 2019, the Chancellor's Office issued Human Resources Letter HR 2019-02 (policy). The policy addresses definite-term appointments for Management Personnel Plan (MPP) athletics personnel, i.e., coaches and athletic directors. The policy notes that, in general, athletic coaches are represented by the California Faculty Association (CFA). However, according to a memorandum of understanding between the California State University and the CFA, an athletic coach who supervises two or more employees is excluded from the bargaining unit and should be included in the MPP. If not, the athletic coach position is classified in a faculty unit classification. The MPP pay scale allows more flexibility to take into account the concerns raised about the challenges in the labor market.

For those athletic coaches who are in the bargaining unit, CSU proposed changes to CFA regarding the classification standards. Those were presented to CFA in April 2019 and the meet and confer process continues. However, given that full contract collective bargaining begins in January 2020, we anticipate that dialogue pertaining to the classification standards will be delayed.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018

The Chancellor's Office is currently finalizing the internal process related to the changes in position classification standards. The proposed changes will then go to the union for review as part of the meet and confer process.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

The process to determine an appropriate classification for coaches continues and a draft letter regarding position classification and occupational standards was sent to campuses for review in November 2017. The advisory panel is currently reviewing campus feedback.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

A new advisory panel of subject-matter experts (panel) met in June 2017. Their objective is to create a coaches series classification structure that allows the CSU to successfully recruit and retain employees. In July 2017, the panel reviewed and proposed revisions to the draft standards that were developed previously. The panel met again in August, September, and October 2017 and a final draft is under review. A salary study will be conducted once the standards are finalized. Proposed standards will be discussed with bargaining unit representatives as part of the collective bargaining process.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The CSU has initiated discussions with the relevant collective bargaining unit and is making progress to implement changes to accommodate classification and compensation needs for athletic coaches.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2016-122

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.