Press Releases

COLUMBUS STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

PRESS RELEASE

Date: May 7, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACULTY UNION MEMBERS VOTE “NO CONFIDENCE” IN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

The Columbus State Education Association (CSEA), which represents the full time faculty at Columbus State Community College, held a vote this week asking members whether they have confidence in Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kelly Simons’ ability to lead the faculty. The final vote was 205 members (97%) indicating no confidence and 7 members (3%) indicating confidence.

The specific question asked of voting faculty was, “Do you have confidence in Dr. Kelly Simons’ ability to guide the academic vision and academic integrity of CSCC?”

Faculty have expressed ongoing concerns about the management style of Dr. Simons since she arrived at the college in the summer of 2019. Last Friday, May 1, Dr Simons announced that the college would implement a plan to convert, on a permanent basis, most classes to an eight week online format in Autumn Semester. Faculty would be expected to change the schedule immediately and convert most classes to this format.

She did not consult the college’s Academic Council prior to her decision. This council was established by the college to review and recommend academic policy changes. It is comprised of elected faculty members.

On Monday, May 4, the Academic Council convened, reviewed data, engaged in discussion, examined the potential impact on student success, and unanimously recommended that the plan not be implemented in Autumn, 2020. The following day the administration decided not to implement the conversion.

Faculty union President Tom Shanahan said, “This is not the first time Dr Simons has simply ignored faculty committees and their recommendations. It is not that she doesn’t agree with the Council and committees, it’s that she doesn’t talk to them before she makes very important decisions impacting students. These teachers have an overwhelming sense of obligation to their students. They have been doing everything possible during this pandemic to insure students can successfully complete their academic programs. They will fight for these students.”

CSEA, the faculty union, strongly opposes the implementation of such sweeping changes without thorough examination by the faculty of the impact these changes have upon student success.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

PROFESSOR TOM SHANAHAN

PRESIDENT, COLUMBUS STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

TELEPHONE: 614-287-2623

CELL PHONE 614-323-3053

EMAIL: tshanaha@cscc.edu

tgshanahan@gmail.com

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COLUMBUS STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

PRESS RELEASE

Date: May 4, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IGNORES FACULTY TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO AUTUMN SCHEDULE

The Columbus State Education Association (CSEA), which represents the full time faculty at Columbus State Community College, strongly objects to the implementation of a revised schedule for Autumn Semester 2020 without consultation with the college’s Academic Council.

On Friday, the last day of classes before finals week, faculty were informed that they are required to convert the majority of the college’s classes to an eight week online format from the traditional fifteen week format. The college’s Academic Council, consisting of faculty elected to make academic recommendations to the administration, was not consulted.

The following may be attributed to Tom Shanahan, the President of Columbus State Education Association:

“The faculty converted the college to an online format beginning during their Spring Break and continuing the following week.

These teachers did this out of an overwhelming sense of obligation to their students. They have been doing everything possible to make certain that students are able to complete their programs. They did so with no expectation of additional compensation.

On Friday May 1 the college administration told them that they would need to convert their classes to an eight week format. Apparently this change is going to be permanent.

The administration ignored the Academic Council which it established to review and recommend academic policy to the administration. The Council has had no opportunity for even a superficial review.