The college is negotiating a deal with East-West University to give students and sports clubs access to gym facilities again, Interim President and CEO Jerry Tarrer said during a prerecorded interview for WCRX’s Holly Jolly Fundraiser.
Columbia students lost access to the gym this fall after the college cut the rental fee from the budget, leaving Columbia’s Renegades sports and clubs teams without an indoor practice location, as the Chronicle previously reported.
“We’re working through the contract with East-West, so that should be announced pretty soon. It’s going to happen,” Tarrer said during the interview for the campus radio station.
Tarrer told the Chronicle that the agreement could be finalized as soon as January.
Tarrer was interviewed Tuesday, Nov. 19 by Elliot Royce, an international student from England, for WCRX’s 22nd annual Holly Jolly Fundraiser, which starts Dec. 3 and runs through the end of the year.
Holly Jolly has raised over $20,000 in donations and collected four tons of non-perishable food for the Greater Chicago Food Depository since it began in 2002. People can bring nonperishable items to the 33 E. Ida B. Wells building through the end of the semester, said Matt Cunningham, associate professor of instruction in the School of Communication and Culture and the faculty advisor for WCRX.
Tarrer assumed the top leadership position at Columbia on July 2 following former President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim’s decision to step down after 13 years.
Tarrer had been senior vice president and chief financial officer.
In the interview, Tarrer reflected on how different it is to experience the school through his new position. “My role has to be much more up-front. I got to see the bigger picture,” Tarrer said. As interim president, he is more engaged with the campus, he said, noting that this was his first time visiting the WCRX studio despite having been at Columbia for eight years.
Tarrer said his appreciation for the college and its students has deepened after attending more campus events such as a dance recital on Nov. 15 and a performance of the “Hair” musical. “I’ve gotten better insight into all the fabulous work and creativity of our students and our faculty,” he said.
Tarrer assumed the top leadership role at Columbia in the midst of a financial crisis. Through budget cuts and layoffs, the college’s deficit is now at $17 million, down from $38 million.
But the college also is looking to close costly majors and is in the process of streamlining nearly all of its programs, with fewer course options and larger class sizes. Enrollment also is down by 1,000 students this fall.
Tarrer said the enrollment drop was a “direct result” of the historic part-time faculty strike last year. Earlier in the day, before the WCRX interview, he met with the leadership of the part-time faculty union, he said. “I don’t anticipate that we’ll have any issues in terms of dealing with our relationship with the part-time faculty union,” he said.
Columbia also introduced a new tiered tuition plan for next school year. Current students will see their tuition costs go up 5%, an increase of $1,614. New undergraduate students will pay 10% more, or $35,498 in total annual tuition, as the Chronicle previously reported.
The majority of Columbia students have not paid the full tuition cost.
Royce asked Tarrer how Columbia would balance the need for revenue while maintaining a diverse student body, particularly those with greater financial needs.
Tarrer said one way would be to seek additional sources of income to help offset tuition costs, such as through fundraising efforts like the upcoming annual gala on Dec. 5.
“The gala, in the last couple of years, has netted about half a million dollars to support student scholarships for this college,” Tarrer said. He added that the school is focused on keeping the student experience “vibrant and impactful” while also being strategic with financial resources to ensure sustainability.
Royce asked what safeguards were in place to ensure that future cost cutting measures would not compromise the college’s core mission. Tarrer responded, “That’s a big part of what the Board of Trustees is for.”
He said the board is responsible for making sure that college’s leaders are making the right decisions to maintain the balance between financial sustainability and educational values.
The board approved Kim’s recommendations last year to make sweeping changes to Columbia, including reducing the core requirements from 42 to 30 credits and allowing the college to lay off full-time faculty with tenure appointments.
Royce asked Tarrer what advice he would give to Columbia students during the changes. “I encourage the campus community to stay tuned, pay attention to what’s going on,” Tarrer said. He also offered reassurance that even if majors are cut or changed that every student will be able to complete their degree in the program they chose.
During a lighter moment in the interview, Royce talked to Tarrer about favorite holiday traditions.
Tarrer is the eldest of five siblings and reminisced over his family’s tradition of having everyone together for the holidays, something he and his wife have continued in their own family. Reflecting on holiday traditions, he recalled that one of his favorite movies to watch during the holidays is “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
He has been a vegan for 30 years, and his family typically prepares a variety of vegan dishes for their holiday meals, Tarrer said. In addition, he shared that some of his family’s favorite holiday songs to sing are Kwanzaa songs, a holiday they have celebrated since his children were young.
Tarrer said the WCRX fundraiser was one of the great events the school hosts, providing an opportunity for students to connect with the Chicago community. He emphasized how the event is especially meaningful during the holidays, a time focused on giving back.
“It epitomizes the spirit of this institution and the caring that we have not only for each other but for the broader community,” he said.
To hear the full interview, tune in to WCRX 88.1 FM on Dec. 7. It will be rebroadcast throughout the month.
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa
Resumen en Español:
El 19 de noviembre de 2024, Elliot Royce entrevistó al Presidente Interino y CEO Jerry Tarrer como parte de la 22º edición anual de la recaudación de fondos Holly Jolly en WCRX, que ha recaudado más de $20,000 y cuatro toneladas de alimentos para el Greater Chicago Food Depository a lo largo de los años.
Durante la entrevista, Tarrer habló sobre sus experiencias desde que asumió el cargo, la importancia del mensaje de Columbia y las estrategias para abordar la disminución de la matrícula. Junto con los aumentos de matrícula y mantener una población estudiantil diversa. La conversación también abordó los desafíos de las medidas de recorte de costos, como la suspensión del alquiler de las instalaciones deportivas, y los esfuerzos de la escuela para garantizar que la experiencia estudiantil siga siendo vibrante, con un enfoque en la sostenibilidad financiera, antes de concluir con una conversación ligera sobre las tradiciones familiares navideñas de Tarrer y la importancia de la recaudación de fondos de WCRX para fomentar el espíritu comunitario en Columbia.
Resumen en Español por Doreen Abril Albuerne Rodriguez
Resumen en Español copia editada por Manuel Nocera
