(Excerpts from Higher Ed News)

• When Joseph I. Castro, chancellor of the California State University system, resigned Thursday amid criticism over his past handling of sexual misconduct allegations against a subordinate, he became the fourth prominent higher education leader to depart his institution in recent months.
• Castro’s departure follows the high-profile exits of Jim Malatras, who resigned from the State University of New York system in December; Dr. Mark Schlissel, whom the University of Michigan Board of Regents fired in January; and Mark Rosenberg, who resigned last month from Florida International University after 13 years as president.
• A few high-profile sexual misconduct cover-ups from several years ago—such as those of Larry Nassar at Michigan State University, Jerry Sandusky at Pennsylvania State University and Richard Strauss at Ohio State University—have brought increased attention to how presidents address such complaints, said David Maxwell, the former president of Drake University.
• “Those kinds of high-profile cases have sharpened public attention on how presidents and institutions handle” sexual misconduct, Maxwell said. “Presidencies have blown up over the mishandling of this issue.”
• When Castro was president of California State University, Fresno, he authorized a $260,000 exit package for Frank Lamas, a former vice president who was the subject of several “credible” sexual harassment and bullying complaints. Castro also “glowingly praised” Lamas in a letter of recommendation, the Los Angeles Times reported.