Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez’s first falland spring semesters in office have seen the retirements of threeadministrational vice presidents allowing him a clean slate to fillwith appointees.

Shirley Uplinger, vice president for Student Affairs, RobertJones, vice president for University Affairs and Edward DelBiaggio, vice president for Administration will all leaveSacramento State in June.

Ann Reed, associate vice president for public affairs, saidit’s typical to see these kinds of retirements when a newpresident takes office. She said they are usually people who areconsidering retirement anyway.

Don Gerth, former university president, said two of the threeretirees indicated to him that they wanted to retire before hehimself announced his retirement. Gerth said he asked them to stayon until the end of his term and that they ended up staying pastthat to help with Gonzalez’s transition.

“This has worked well and gives President Gonzalez theimmediate opportunity to build his team of administrativeleadership,” Gerth said.

Uplinger said her retirement has nothing to do with a newuniversity president and everything to do with the 40 years in theCalifornia university system, at age 66, she’s ready to tryother things.

“I thought if I don’t retire soon I’m going tobe too old to play golf,” Uplinger said.

Uplinger also said she needs more time to care for her91-year-old mother who lives with her, and she plans to devote morehours to the Salvation Army, where she is on the advisoryboard.

Robert Jones said that at age 63 it’s time for him to trysomething else, too. He said he anticipates having more time forsailplane flying, skiing, kayaking and other outdoor hobbies.

“The president needs a fresh leadership team,” Jonessaid.

Jones said that the California University System’sretirement plan makes retirement very attractive for administratorsand faculty after working in it for 20 or more years. He said histime at Sac State has been rewarding, but at the current time inhis life, the prospects of enjoying his pension while working inanother job is enticing.

“At this point it’s costing me money to stayhere,” Jones said.

Edward Del Biaggio is also 63 and said he has planned to retireat that age since he was 22 years old. He said 63 is the retirementage when California University System administrators get 2.5percent of their salary times the number of years they’veworked in the system.

Biaggio said he would retire with 100 percent of his salary.

Jones said he won’t miss his commute from Fair Oaks, butwill miss the kind of intellectual engagement that is unique toworking at a university.

“It’s just such an overwhelmingly positiveenvironment,” Jones said.

Jones said he views putting on the university’s 40th and50th anniversary celebrations as two of his favorite achievementsat Sac State. He said they were both pivotal in highlighting SacState’s purpose and understanding of its self.

Uplinger said she feels good about being the first in her familyto go to college and the first to earn a doctorate. She said thather career goals have been accomplished.

Uplinger also said that one of her proudest achievements in theCalifornia University System occurred while holding the position ofassistant dean of students at UC Davis in the 1960s. Uplinger wassuccessful in helping to dismantle a policy called”lockout,” which required female students to be indoorsby 7:30 p.m.

“My replacement should be a person who is committed todiversity and respect between people,” Uplinger said.

She said she hopes the new vice president for Student Affairsinitiates new efforts to be welcoming to gays, racial minoritiesand people of low income.

Biaggio said he’s proud to have been involved in thecreation of many buildings on campus. He is a Sac State alumnus andsaid he remembers being a freshman in 1959 when parts of the campuswere open fields where he hunted rabbits.

“I’m most proud of the financial integrity of thisinstitution,” Biaggio said. He said several years ago whenother universities were not budget cutting, Sac State planned aheadwith its cuts and that the campus would be in a mess if ithadn’t.