Cal State $12M gender settlement

California State University has agreed to pay $12 million to settle gender-harassment and retaliation claims brought by two former senior administrators at Cal State San Bernardino, according to regional reporting published May 19 and statements from the plaintiffs’ lawyers. The deal resolves lawsuits by Clare Weber, the former vice provost of academic affairs, and Anissa Rogers, the former associate dean at the Palm Desert campus. (kvcrnews.org) The cases alleged that campus leadership oversaw a hostile work environment for women and failed to address complaints about pay inequity, harassment and retaliation. CSU said the resolutions do not amount to an admission of liability or wrongdoing. The $12 million figure makes the matter the largest publicly reported employment-discrimination settlement in the California State University system, according to the plaintiffs’ law firm and regional news reports. (kvcrnews.org) The agreement follows years of litigation that had already produced a jury verdict in Rogers’ favor and was heading toward a second trial in Weber’s case before the broader settlement was finalized. ### Who are the two former administrators in the settlement? Clare Weber served as vice provost of academic affairs at Cal State San Bernardino, and Anissa Rogers served as associate dean at CSU’s Palm Desert campus, according to KVCR and the plaintiffs’ attorneys. Weber said she was fired after raising concerns that male and female administrators were not being paid the same. (kvcrnews.org) Rogers said she was forced out after complaining to CSU executives and human resources. Weber said the settlement was “bittersweet” because, in her words, “I did lose my career over this.” KVCR reported that Weber moved back into a teaching role after being removed as vice provost and is retiring after 25 years with CSU as part of the settlement terms. (helmerfriedman.com) ### What had already happened in court before this deal? A Los Angeles jury in October 2025 awarded Rogers $6 million after finding CSU liable for retaliating against and harassing her and for failing to prevent harassment in violation of California law, according to KVCR, the plaintiffs’ law firm and Riverside Record coverage of the verdict. Jurors also found that the university intentionally created or knowingly permitted intolerable working conditions that led to Rogers’ constructive discharge, Riverside Record reported. (kvcrnews.org) Weber’s claims were scheduled for a second trial before they were folded into the global settlement, the same reports said. The available reports do not break out how the $12 million total was allocated between Weber and Rogers beyond the earlier $6 million jury award to Rogers. (kvcrnews.org) ### What did the lawsuits say campus leaders did? The complaints, as described by KVCR, said CSUSB leadership, including President Tomás Morales and other administrators, presided over a hostile work environment for women and ignored or punished complaints involving pay inequity, harassment and retaliation. Rogers’ 2025 trial also included claims that former Palm Desert dean Jake Zhu harassed Rogers and other women and that officials had been aware of broader climate concerns for years, according to Riverside Record. (kvcrnews.org) David J. deRubertis, lead trial counsel for the plaintiffs, said the cases exposed “systemic failures” inside the CSU system. That characterization came from the plaintiffs’ side; CSU has disputed wrongdoing. (kvcrnews.org) ### What has the university said in response? CSU San Bernardino said in a statement to KVCR that the campus remains focused on strengthening policies, practices and training to promote fairness, accountability and equal opportunity in hiring and employment decisions. The university also said the settlements allow the parties to move forward but “do not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing” by the university or Morales. (kvcrnews.org) The university had previously said it was disappointed by the October 2025 jury verdict in Rogers’ case and was reviewing next steps, according to Riverside Record. (helmerfriedman.com) ### What comes next at Cal State San Bernardino? Tomás Morales announced in August 2025 that he would step down as president at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, according to CSUSB and the CSU system. KVCR reported that the campus chapter of the California Faculty Association is now urging that Morales not receive executive benefits when he leaves and is also seeking accountability for Morales and Provost Mohamed over the allegations raised by Weber and Rogers. (kvcrnews.org) The next concrete milestone is Morales’ planned departure at the close of the academic year. Weber’s retirement from CSU is also part of the settlement, KVCR reported. (csusb.edu) (riversiderecord.org)