On February 4th, outraged City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) faculty delivered a vote of “No Confidence” to Chancellor Cheryl Hyman. Attendees at the CCC- District Office for this confrontation included board members, faculty, students and some Hyman supporters.
Faculty Counsel President Jennifer Alexander declared reasons for dissatisfaction in Hyman’s leadership and changes outlined in the 2010 “Reinvention” initiative for the seven schools under CCC. According to Alexander, reported by WBEZ, “We [faculty] are exceptionally concerned that our chancellor’s actions are destroying our mission, the values and the integrity of the City Colleges.” Staff and students are suffering from consolidation of courses, and tuition hikes.
The “no confidence” resolution stemmed changes, implemented without consultation or evidence from faculty and students. Despite requests for supporting data, none have been provided by the Chancellor. The resolution was delivered to Mayor Emanuel’s office later that day. No action has been taken.
Kim Knutson, an associate professor of English at Wilbur Wright College, paints a vivid picture of the consolidations impact. She emphasized the changes to South Side city colleges such as concentration of majors into specific locations. Since the restructuring, Olive-Harvey focuses on transportation programs while Kennedy- King centers on culinary and hospitality.
“So, you live on the South and Southwest side, you can be a truck driver, you can be a cook, you can work in a factory. That’s pretty much it. They kind of decided that’s what you’re destined for,” WBEZ quoted Knutson.
Changes in programs and policies, especially tuition and registration, hinder students from affordable and available education through community colleges. People with family commitments, work, or a hectic life are now penalized through the new tuition spikes to part time students.
Enrollment was cut short by a week and students are no longer paying the $89 per credit hour, reported the Tribune. A single three-credit hour course went from $267 to $599. Doubling the course load will cost $1,069 instead of $534.
Tuition increase, Hyman reasoned and stated that he encourages full-time enrollment and offsets tuition costs, stagnant since 2011 (FYI 2016 report of CCC). She promised no layoffs or furloughs and no tuition or tax increases for CCC, reported Chicago Business.
Hyman’s focus has been increasing graduation rates, calculated by federal government’s three-year standard for associate degrees and nine months for six month certifications (FYI 2016 report of CCC). Chicago Business mentions that graduation rates have increased by awarding degrees to past students who have transferred or some who have passed away.
Board Chairman Charles Middleton claims the board supports Hyman and her achievements attained under her management. U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush defended Hyman. Stating she is a talented educational leader who left the “comfortable corporate world” to lead City Colleges. Chancellor Cheryl Hyman previously worked at ComEd. Her degrees and experience are in computer science and business; not in education.