diana vallera – The Columbia Chronicle

CFAC votes to affiliate with Illinois Federation of Teachers

August 28, 2019

Columbia's part-time teachers union has voted in favor of affiliating with the Illinois Federation of Teachers—the same union that includes the Chicago Teachers Union—it was announced Wednesday...

CFAC ratifies labor contract

May 15, 2019

Columbia's part-time faculty union and the administration have signed a labor contract, with 95% of union members voting to ratify the contract, according to CFAC President Diana Vallera. Ratification was co...

Union members, leadership eager to focus on students following contract agreement

April 19, 2019

Despite the part-time faculty union and the college reaching a tentative agreement on a new contract April 17 after more than a year without one, some union members and students are looking for increased ...

Some union members feel ‘in the dark,’ others feel administration lacks respect for CFAC

April 16, 2019

With the part-time faculty union prepared to strike amid disagreements with college administration over a new labor contract, some students are upset at the possibility of canceled classes, and some un...

Columbia alumna gives voice, laughs to women of Chicago

December 11, 2017

Kelsie Huff, a standup comedian and 2003 theatre alumna, has created a voice for Chicago women in comedy by providing opportunities for women in a typically male-dominated industry. Originally from Richmond, Illinois, Huff came to Columbia to study radio but soon discov...

P-Fac strikes, back to bargaining

December 4, 2017

In the midst of bargaining over a new union contract, part-time faculty union members, joined by students, protested what they called “bad faith bargaining,” unfair labor practices and other col...

Do students know what they’re picketing for?

December 4, 2017

Though I support the right to lawfully and peacefully protest what groups believe are injustices, as a student, I cannot place my full support behind the Nov. 29–30 part-time faculty union walk-out and strike. During my time at Columbia, I have had many classes taught by adjunct ...

P-Fac fears losing jobs over new qualification

November 13, 2017

About 20 adjunct professors were not assigned classes for the Spring 2018 Semester because they failed to provide information proving them qualified to teach under Higher Learning Commission guidelines, which the part-time faculty union claims violates its contract. HLC guide...

Biggest Mouth brings fresh fusion of sound

April 24, 2017

R&B soul artist and junior music major Anna Agosta took home first place after an electric performance for the nearly 400 people who attended Columbia’s Biggest Mouth competition on April 2...

Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Robin Kelly introduce legislation to provide employment to at-risk youth

April 21, 2017

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), unveiled two pieces of legislation aimed at addressing youth unemployment in high-poverty areas April 18 at the Chicago Urban League, 4510 S. Mi...

Tipping the scale: Adjuncts accuse administration of demanding ‘unethical’ grade changes

April 10, 2017

After a student missed 10 of the 15 class sessions for a course, adjunct professor in the Creative Writing Department Marcia Brenner gave the student a failing grade. Soon after, she said college administrators asked her to change the grade to a pass. The college’s faculty manual ...

Editor’s Note: Would you attend class if no one forced you?

April 10, 2017

A battle is unfolding between the college’s part-time faculty union and the college administration over ostensibly unnecessary or unethical grade changes, as reported on the Front Page. For example,...