City College of San Francisco Gets New Chancellor — With Anti-terrorism Skills

The Bay Area is becoming a hub of anti-terrorism leadership, to judge by the recent appointment of Janet Napolitano as president of the University of California system, and today's news that Arthur Q. Tyler has been named chancellor of the City College of San Francisco.

Napolitano is former Secretary of Homeland Security. Tyler, according to his bio, served for more than 20 years in the military, including as the U.S. Air Force's anti-terrorism manager. (Don't get us started on Leon Panetta's resume.)

Tyler's skills may come in handy as embattled CCSF fights to maintain accreditation. But his power will be limited at first, since he reports to special trustee Robert Agrella. Agrella took over the traditional powers of CCSF's board of trustees in July after a regional accrediting panel revoked City College's accreditation effective July 31, 2014.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges announced CCSF would lose its accreditation, pending appeal, for failing to enact recommendations from the commission to change the college's governance structure and finances.

At today's news conference, Tyler said he would work with Agrella to expedite ACCJC's recommended changes.

"We will get the accreditation done... and continue to be the best economic engine for this city," he said. "I will give you every ounce of my energy."

From the Associated Press story on Tyler's appointment:

Agrella said naming Tyler as the new permanent chancellor was "one of the most important decisions I have made as CCSF's special trustee."

He said he chose Tyler out of 30 applicants who were narrowed down to four finalists.

"I feel we are very fortunate to have attracted him to CCSF at this critical time in the college's history," Agrella said. "He has valuable perspective on how we can continue to maintain the critical progress we've made to maintain City College's accreditation."

Tyler previously served as a special trustee himself, overseeing Compton Community College before it lost its accreditation.

He most recently worked as deputy chancellor and chief operating officer of the Houston Community College System from 2007 until this August, and has served as president of Sacramento City College and vice president of administration and finance at Los Angeles City College.

Tyler, 63, has a contract for two years, with a yearly salary of $285,000. He starts Nov. 1. See our recent coverage of the CCSF accreditation story on Forum, and in Newsfix.

Bay City News contributed to this story.