xx FAMILY SPORTS SEE PG. 13
September 19, 2011
The official news source of Columbia College Chicago
Volume 47, Issue 3
CHANGE CREATES
COMMOTION
www.columbiachronicle.com
Negotiations with P-Fac make progress Brent Lewis THE CHRONICLE
John Stevenson and Diana Vallera, members of Columbia’s adjunct faculty union.
by Lisa Schulz Assistant Campus Editor COLUMBIA’S PART-TIME faculty union, P-Fac,
Prioritization process prompts questions from faculty, staff
Brock Brake THE CHRONICLE Tiela Halpin THE CHRONICLE
President Warrick Carter addressed the prioritization process at a town hall meeting on Sept. 15 in Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. All faculty and staff members were invited to attend. Some attendees opted to leave after Carter and other administrators declined to reveal certain details, while approximately half chose to stay until the end.
by Heather Schröering Assistant Campus Editor THE TEAMS that will manage the college’s
prioritization process and its timetable were announced at a town hall meeting on Sept. 15 led by President Warrick Carter and Anne Foley, vice president of Planning and Compliance and project manager of the prioritization process. According to the timetable presented at the meeting, final decisions about programs that might be cut will take place during March and April of 2012. This will follow a period of data collection about college programs, scheduled for October through December, and a data analysis
phase, slated for January and February. Carter explained at the meeting, which was held at Film Row Cinema in the 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Building, that the process was, in part, being driven by declining enrollment figures and said the college was shocked by the reduction in student enrollment in 2009. “It kind of woke us up,” Carter said. “We began to believe that growth was our birthright.” The current situation is in stark contrast to the college’s position in 2005, when it announced its five-year plan, “Vision 2010,” he said. It was a time when “money was falling out of the sky.” Foley said the college will not increase
tuition to make up for decreased enrollment, that “it is contrary to our mission.” Also stated in the mission is Columbia’s obligation to make the college affordable for students who would not otherwise be able to enroll, according to Foley. She said the new plan, “Focus 2016,” envisions more scholarship funding. According to Carter, finances are not the only thing that pushed Columbia to prioritize. He believes it’s what the college should be doing already. “This project is big, it’s bold, it’s brassy, but why not?” Carter said. “We’re Columbia College Chicago. We wouldn’t expect to
and representatives of the administration have been negotiating a new contract since March 2010 and are streamlining their teams so that only two members are representing each side to simplify the decision-making process. “Progress is being made in the negotiations,” said Louise Love, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, who became part of the college’s larger decision-making panel and will attend meetings based on availability. Diana Vallera, P-Fac president and adjunct faculty member in the Photography Department, was upbeat about the change. “[Smaller negotiation teams] just changed everything,” she said. “And it really helped our relationship with the college. It was a good move. We don’t have any attorneys at the table, and we’ve had much more productive, open conversation and bargaining.”
xx SEE PRIORITIZATION, PG. 6
xx SEE P-FAC, PG. 6
CPS leaders quarrel over schools CEO Brizard and CTU president Lewis discuss reform
by Greg Cappis Assistant Metro Editor HUNDREDS OF people crowded into an
Ting Shen THE CHRONICLE
Chicago Tribune Editorial Page Editor Bruce Dold (left) leads the discussion as Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and CPS Chief Jean-Claude Brizard meet to discuss the possibility of longer school days on Sept. 13, at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road.
Arts & Culture
» PG. 22
Commentary
auditorium to watch what they thought would be a boxing match between the leaders on opposite sides of the education playing field. However, the spectators found the boxing match to be more of a pillow fight with both sides tending to agree with each other. Bruce Dold, Chicago Tribune’s Editorial Page Editor, hosted a discussion between John-Claude Brizard, Chicago Public Schools’ CEO, and Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis. The event
» PG. 31
Metro
was held at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, in front of approximately 700 people on Sept. 13. It was part of the Chicago Tribune’s “Chicago Forward,” a series of public discussions that attempt to bring transparency to Chicago politics. It was clear that Brizard and Lewis shared common beliefs from their opening remarks. After Dold said, “Let’s get ready to rumble,” the civil discussion commenced. Brizard and Lewis agreed on multiple issues, two being the involvement of families in education and that every
» PG. 36
Bringing back the Bunnies
INDEX Campus 2
Obama’s plan best option GOP holds economy hostage to keep lower tax rates for wealthy
xx SEE EDUCATION, PG. 39
H&F 11
Ghost Bikes of Chicago
A&C 19 Commentary 30 Metro 33