Category: Education

Professional staff at Columbia College Chicago submitted a 150-signature petition to President Kwang-Wu Kim, urging the administration to halt the scheduled layoffs of employees and asking it to explore alternative budget management strategies. The Columbia College administration laid off 331 staff members between 2015 and 2018. Since 2018, the staff has been reduced by another 64 percent.

“It’s unbelievable what they’re doing. In just the past five years, we’ve lost approximately 36% of our staff, leading to less support for everyone, which significantly hurts students. There will be longer wait times for student services, reduced support and a strain on academic and emotional support systems for students,” United Staff of Columbia College (USofCC) Spokesperson Craig Sigele said. “Further staff reductions would only exacerbate the damage to our community and hinder our collective mission. It’s about more than numbers; it’s about maintaining the level of support and services our students deserve.” The adverse effects of the layoffs on students include:

• Longer wait times with Columbia Central,

• Greatly reduced student Department of Equity and Inclusion office support,

• Longer wait time to meet with academic advisors, who each serve a larger number of students than in the past,

USofCC is currently negotiating a new contract with the Columbia College Board of Trustees. The union’s current contract expires on Aug. 31.

Photo Credit: Illinois Education Association

SiteOne Landscape Supply’s Associate Resource Group, UN1DOS, has partnered again with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), to offer five $1,000 scholarships to students attending HACU-member institutions for the upcoming 2024 fall semester. Undergraduate students pursuing careers in fields and professional services supporting the green industry are encouraged to apply now until the May 30, 2024 deadline. To submit an application and to learn more about the submission requirements and the full list of accepted majors visit https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Scholarships.asp. Diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of SiteOne’s business and customer service model and recruitment initiatives. The partnership with HACU aims to empower and fund the next generation of Hispanic professionals set to enter the workforce. Upon applying, scholarship applicants will be prompted to answer a series of questions aimed to explore their connection to their culture and selected major. They will also be invited to express their interest in internships and further pursue professional development at SiteOne, which may lead to full-time opportunities.  For more information on current full-time roles and internships, please visit careers.siteone.com/diversity.

The School Year 2024-25 application is open for Chicago Public School’s (CPS) free full-day preschool program for four-year-olds and half-day preschool program for three-year-olds. Families can apply via the Chicago Early Learning website and application portal. The aim is to provide better educational and social outcomes for all children, especially those with the greatest needs. Over the last several years, the District has expanded early childhood learning opportunities, beginning with the most under-resourced neighborhoods, as part of a city-wide initiative with the Department of Family Support and Services (DFSS) to ensure every four-year-old in each of the city’s 77 communities has access to high-quality preschool programming.  In March, the District hosted webinars attended by more than 600 families and caregivers. The District aims to collaborate with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to host additional webinars scheduled for later this month and early May. More information about the CPS Preschool programs is available on the District’s, www.cps.edu. Parents may also call the Chicago Early Learning Hotline at (312)-229-1690 for application support in both English and Spanish.

SiteOne Landscape Supply’s Associate Resource Group, UNIDOS, se afilió una vez más con la Asociación Hispana de Colegios y Universidades (HACU) para ofrecer cinco becas de $1,000 a estudiantes que asisten a instituciones miembros de HACU para el próximo semestre de otoño del 2024. Se aconseja a los estudiantes universitarios que siguen carreras en el campo y servicios profesionales que apoyan la industria verde, presentar su solicitud desde ahora hasta la fecha límite del 30 de mayo de 2024. Para enviar una solicitud y aprender más sobre los requisitos de envío y la lista completa de especializaciones aceptadas, visite https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Scholarships.asp. La diversidad y la inclusión están a la vanguardia del modelo comercial y de servicio al cliente y de las iniciativas de contratación de SiteOne. La afiliación con HACU espera empoderar y patrocinar la siguiente generación de profesionales hispanos listos para entrar a la fuerza laboral. Tras solicitar, los solicitantes a una beca deben responder una serie de preguntas que se espera explore su conexión con su cultura y especialidad seleccionada. También serán invitados a expresar su interés en internados y y continuar con el desarrollo profesional en SiteOne, lo que puede generar oportunidades de tiempo completo. Para obtener más información sobre puestos de trabajo e internados actuales a tiempo completo, visite careers.siteone.com/diversity.

La solicitud para el Año Escolar 2024-25 está abierta para el programa de pre-escolar de un día de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) para niños de cuatro años y el programa de medio día de pre-escolar para niños de tres años. Las familias pueden hacer su solicitud vía la red de Chicago Early Learning y el portal de solicitud. Lo que se espera es ofrecer una mejor educación y resultados sociales para todos los niños, especialmente los que tienen mayores necesidades. En los últimos años, el Distrito ha ampliado las oportunidades de aprendizaje de la niñez temprana comenzando con los barrios que tienen menos recursos, como parte de la iniciativa de la ciudad con el Departamento de Servicios de Apoyo y Familiares (DFSS) para garantizar que todo niño de cuatro años en cada una de las 77 comunidades de la ciudad tiene acceso a programación de pre-escolar de alta calidad. En marzo, el distrito organizó seminarios web a los que asistieron más de 600 familias y cuidadores. El Distrito espera colaborar con el Departamento de Salud Pública de Chicago (CDPH) para organizar seminarios web adicionales, programados para más tarde este mes y principios de mayo. Más información sobre los programas de pre-escolar de CPS disponibles en www.cps.edu del Distrito. Los padres pueden también llamar a la Línea Directa de Chicago, al (312) 299-1690 para ayuda en las solicitudes, tanto en inglés como en español.

The Illinois Workforce & Education Research Collaborative, part of the University of Illinois System’s Discovery Partners Institute, released the first report of a five-part series on high school computer science education in Illinois. This comprehensive research into computer science education was funded by a $1 million grant from an anonymous donor. The series, State of Computer Science in Illinois High Schools, analyzes the landscape, structures, and pathways of computer science education in the state and creates a baseline to measure the expansion of computer science education. Data analyzed in this series from school years 2017-18 through 2021-22 were provided by the Illinois State Board of Education. Key findings from the first report include:

• On average, 7.4 percent of Illinois high school students enrolled in at least one computer science course in a school year. 

• About one in five computer science students take more than one computer science course in their high school academic career. 

• Career and technical education, or CTE, offers students diverse and flexible pathways to access and participate in computer science education throughout the state.

For more information, visit www.dpi.uillinois.edu

In a groundbreaking initiative to bridge the educational gap and meet the growing demand for skilled tech professionals in Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) launched  Runway 606—the first-of-its-kind program aimed at providing Chicago Public School students with a clear, accelerated pathway to high-demand, well-paying tech careers. Runway 606 is a collaborative initiative built on a successful cybersecurity-focused pilot program in CPS Early College STE(A)M Schools to offer supported pathways, tutoring, mentoring, and other support services to foster college readiness and success for participating students. While the program is starting with a cybersecurity pathway, the aim is to quickly expand the fast-track pathways beyond cybersecurity into other in-demand tech fields such as computer science and business analytics, and shortly after that, grow to include a wide array of STEM career paths. After the successful pilot cybersecurity program at CPS Early College STE(A)M schools with 85 students (42 juniors and 43 seniors) that began in fall 2023, the partner institutions—Illinois Tech, CPS, and CCC—signed a landmark collaboration agreement in December to launch Runway 606 citywide, with the aim of expanding to other in-demand STEM career pathways within a few years.  This fall, juniors and seniors in any CPS school who meet the relevant eligibility criteria can participate in the dual enrollment Runway 606 cybersecurity pathway.  For more information about Runway 606, visit iit.edu/Runway606 or contact Runway606@iit.edu.

Photo Credit: City Colleges of Chicago