Regardless of a $12 million authorized payout tied to explosive office misconduct claims, outgoing Cal State San Bernardino President Tomas Morales is poised for a soft touchdown.
Morales stays in “good standing,” making him eligible for a profitable government transition package deal that will preserve him on the college payroll earlier than his potential return to a college place.
On Wednesday, the California State College Board of Trustees is predicted to contemplate awarding him the honorary title of president emeritus.
The college has not revealed what Morales’ new job will likely be, saying solely that his place and wage will likely be introduced throughout Wednesday’s assembly.
Morales collected $655,626 in wage and advantages in 2024, based on Clear California.
The proposed sendoff comes after the California State College system agreed to pay $12 million to settle claims introduced by former directors Clare Weber and Anissa Rogers, who accused Morales and former Palm Desert campus dean Jake Zhu of fostering a office stricken by sexism, retaliation and bullying.
The college denied any wrongdoing as a part of the settlement.
School leaders, whistleblowers and the 2 ladies behind the lawsuit have all condemned the choice, arguing Morales shouldn’t be rewarded after what they described as a “cesspool of gender harassment and discrimination” of their submitting.
“The lawsuit raises severe questions on whether or not President Morales needs to be regarded in good standing for these advantages,” Thomas Corrigan, communications coordinator for the Cal State San Bernardino chapter of the California School Affiliation instructed LAist.
“Dr. Rogers’ and Dr. Weber’s case actually stands out as an ethical outrage with distinctive monetary, reputational and human prices.”
The college union had already urged the CSU system in 2024 to disclaim Morales sure retirement-related advantages.
“We simply really feel that underneath his management, he has not been an efficient chief, due to this fact, mustn’t in the end be rewarded,” union chapter president Tiffany Jones instructed The Solar.
Weber and Rogers have additionally submitted a public remark urging trustees to scrutinize whether or not Morales ought to stay in “good standing” earlier than approving the transition package deal or emeritus title.
In response to the lawsuit, Weber was fired after elevating considerations about what she believed was a gender pay hole amongst CSU vice provosts.
After requesting a 12% fairness increase, she stated she was requested to resign and fired when she refused.
“I explicitly raised considerations that these feminine Vice Provosts had been being paid much less due to their gender,” Weber wrote in an electronic mail to Morales earlier than her termination.
Rogers, then affiliate dean on the Palm Desert campus, stated ladies had been routinely screamed at, belittled and interrupted whereas males had been handled with respect.
“Once I interviewed, it was good,” Rogers instructed CalMatters. “Then I rapidly realized that I had simply been immersed in hell.”
She stated she was later given an ultimatum.
“I name it fired,” Rogers stated. “They instructed me, ‘Both go away or you can be fired.’”
The lawsuit additionally alleged Morales routinely berated and intimidated ladies and held them to harsher requirements than males.
Criticism of Morales predates the lawsuit.
A 2016 campus survey discovered greater than 60% of staff believed circumstances had worsened underneath his management, and the college senate later accredited a vote of no confidence citing bullying, favoritism and retaliation.
Morales had additionally confronted a no-confidence vote whereas serving as president of the Faculty of Staten Island earlier than arriving at Cal State San Bernardino.
Throughout testimony, Zhu defended his administration model, saying, “I raised voices to make some extent, to alter the tones, not within the malicious approach or discriminatory approach.”
The authorized battle in the end cut up into separate proceedings.
Rogers received a $6 million jury award in October 2025, whereas Weber accepted a separate $6 million settlement earlier than trial.
