Columbia College Chicago and part-time faculty members reached a tentative agreement Sunday evening, ending a nearly two-month strike.
Diana Valera, president of the Columbia College Faculty Union and a professor of photography, said in a statement that the agreement addresses many of the union’s concerns.
“This agreement makes important progress toward ensuring that Columbia puts the educational needs of students and the rights of faculty above profits, but there is still much work to be done,” Valera said.
Since October 30, 584 adjunct professors have protested the administration’s decision to cancel 53 classes already registered weeks before the start of the fall semester and 317 classes for the spring semester while increasing the size of other classes to cut costs. The strike was the longest faculty walkout in the history of higher education, according to the union.
“We are pleased to announce that the college and CFAC, Columbia’s part-time faculty union, have reached a tentative agreement,” the president’s office said in an email.
The email, signed by Valera, union vice president Lisa Formassa Parmigiano, Columbia chief of staff Laurent Pernot, and Terrence Smith, special counsel for labor relations, marks a potential end to an unprecedented walkout of adjunct faculty.
“It is disappointing that the administration forced us to implement the longest additional strike in history before they bargained seriously,” Valera said in the statement. “Our faculty are committed to our students and this college. We have said all along that we will do whatever is necessary to stand up for what they need, and we have proven that. The strike has brought our faculty and students together in a powerful way.”
Details of the agreement will be presented after union members and college leaders vote on it on Wednesday evening. If approved, the agreement will go into effect immediately and adjunct faculty will resume teaching on January 2, after the college’s winter break.
The strike kept part-time faculty out of their classrooms for 49 days. Department chairs and some full-time faculty took charge of most of the part-time teachers’ classes, but many classes were off without a teacher until the semester ended on Saturday.
The strike was a “total whirlwind,” said Elizabeth Forkan, a part-time professor of writing and rhetoric at Columbia University’s journalism department.
“I feel relieved and happy,” she said Monday. “At least we have something, and now we can move forward with providing education to our students.”
Forkan, a Columbia College graduate, said many of her students had to decide whether to cross the picket line to go to their classes.
“I support my students continuing to attend classes and get the education they signed up for,” she said. “I will never interfere in preventing a student from going to class.”
Over the past few weeks, there has been some tension between part-time faculty and full-time faculty, as well as department heads who stepped in to teach classes during the strike.
Joanne Giroux, a professor emeritus in Columbia University’s Department of Art and Design, said she was supporting students and faculty in resolving the labor dispute.
“One of the narrative threads in the union’s effective messaging is that students come to Columbia to work part-time as professional faculty members active in their industries,” Giroux said. “The truth is that Columbia College’s full-time faculty are active professionals in their fields.”
Full-time faculty enrolled in extra classes to ensure students made it to the end of the semester, which for some meant reaching graduation, Giroux said.
“This extra work made it difficult to keep up with ongoing professional projects,” she said. “I also look forward to supporting the work the community will need to rebuild relationships across the college.”
Valera said the provisions of the contract will ensure transparency and provide paths for cooperation with the administration.
According to the union, the program most affected by the cuts is the communications program, which will offer 62 sections of journalism, radio, advertising, and related courses in the spring of 2024, compared to 92 sections offered in the spring of 2023. Film and television arts offered 259 sections last spring, and 191 are scheduled for 2024.
Forkan said there are 57 students on the waiting list to attend writing and rhetoric classes in the spring. As a result of the administration’s cancellation of hundreds of sections, it does not teach any of them yet.
“I can’t wait to get back out there and help my students do the kind of work they came to Columbia to do,” she said.
zsyed@chicagotribune.com
Columbia College has always prided itself on the high caliber of its adjunct faculty, and recent developments have only solidified that reputation. With an impressive roster of educators who bring a wealth of industry experience and academic expertise to the table, Columbia College’s adjunct faculty are truly amazing. From seasoned professionals in business, to accomplished artists and writers, to prominent scientists and researchers, these instructors bring a unique perspective and invaluable insights to the classroom, enriching the educational experience for all students. Their collective passion for teaching and dedication to student success has made them an integral part of the Columbia College community.