After 13 months teaching as a tenured professor at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business, former California State University Chancellor Joseph Castro announced his retirement due to serious health concerns.
“Dr. Castro informed the college on May 2 that he would be retiring immediately,” university spokesperson Matt Lazier wrote to Mustang News. “The college identified two faculty members to take over Dr. Castro’s courses, and there was no disruption for students enrolled in those courses.”
Before his retirement announcement, Castro wrote to his students informing them of his leave.
“I want you to know what a great privilege it has been to teach and learn from you this quarter,” Castro wrote in his parting email to students. “You are talented and passionate about leadership.”
Castro’s position at Cal Poly was part of an agreement with the Cal State Board of Trustees as the Chancellor called retreat rights. Retreat rights are common to incentivize high-rank university administrative contracts, guaranteeing them a tenured faculty position upon leaving their administrative role.
However, Castro’s tenure sparked controversy. A February 2022 USA Today investigation revealed the mishandling of sexual assault complaints against a Fresno State administrator at the university. Shortly after, Castro resigned as Chancellor.
In September 2022, Castro exercised his retreat rights to Cal Poly.
The decision left some campus community members upset. ASI asked the administration to limit his powers and several other Cal State campuses called for his resignation as a Cal Poly professor with no-confidence declarations.
On April 3, 2023, security escorted Castro when walking to his first class that afternoon. In front of the classroom, protesters gathered and handed out flyers, asking those enrolled to drop the class.
Following his retirement announcement, Associate Professor in Management and Human Resources Allison Ellis stepped in for his class, Leadership and Organization (BUS 382).
“I’m not sure what the plan is for stopping the class going forward in terms of other instructors that might teach it, but we certainly have several other faculty that would be qualified to teach it,” Ellis said.