By the Way . . .
CPEC’s Leader to Retire. Murray Haberman, Executive Director of the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC), announced that he would step down December 31, 2008. Retiring after almost 35 years of state service, Haberman has served as CPEC’s leader since 2004. He has been requested to stay on in an interim capacity until no later than June 30, 2009, or as soon as a new Executive Director can be named. A national search for his replacement will be conducted. Among other positions held during his long tenure of state service, Haberman worked for the Department of Finance and held a position with the Commission for the Review of the Master Plan for Education.
CPEC has had a rocky existence in recent years. In 2004, the California Performance Review recommended eliminating CPEC and transferring its functions to a new Higher Education Division under the Secretary for Education and Workforce Preparation. Pending legislation this year (SB 361 (Scott, D-Pasadena) would, if full funding is not provided in the annual Budget Act, require the CPEC to prioritize its workload to ensure, at a minimum, that specified responsibilities are completed in a timely manner.