Share: Following PCC’s turbulent first week back on campus the Safe Learning Environment Committee, a subcommittee of the Academic Senate, has joined those in opposition against the college’s decision to resume in-person instruction. In an email sent out to Academic Senate President Gena Lopez and other Executive Board Members and Senators on Thurs, Jan 27, the committee outlined specific measures they hope the Senate will enact on their behalf, including demanding that PCC administration establish policy that allows faculty and students to self-determine their preferred …
Racism and rebuke: An email reveals ‘all lives matter’ faculty
Share: This story has been updated to include a statement from Marc Angelucci on his status as an honoree from the Southern Poverty Law Center. PCC found a moment of unity in the midst of troubling times when college leadership unanimously passed the resolution denouncing the killing of unarmed Black individuals, but responses to an internal email quickly drew outrage at two professors for their views, according to a partial thread obtained by the Courier. Follow:
Black students and staff call for PCC to take action
Share: Feeling overlooked and unsupported by PCC, living in fear and getting harassed by police are just some of the experiences Black students and staff shared on the “Our Black Lives Matter – Listening Forum” that occurred on Thursday, June 4. As each panel member shared and read a portion of the resolution presented to the Academic Senate for them to denounce the killings of Black people, things simultaneously grew very emotional and heated. Frustrated by the lack of action and Black student and staff …
Academic Senate sets a reminder for new PCC calendar
Share: The Academic Senate’s (AS) spring session ended while discussing a plan currently underway to study changes to the school calendar, for Winter 2021, leaving senators to ponder the possibilities after their final meeting on June 3. Follow:
Board of trustees choose termination over tenure for instructor
Share: The board of trustees voted March 11, 2019, to deny tenure and terminate psychology instructor Dr. Jennifer Koontz, effective in June, after four years at PCC. Follow:
PCC implements new student outreach system
Share: To combat the issue of declining enrollment and miscommunication between professors and students, Pasadena City College (PCC) has implemented Early Alert, an outreach system aimed to inform and track students’ progress throughout the semester. The program, still in its pilot phase, is integrated in Canvas and allows for “easier communication and collaboration” between the professors and students, counselor Ingrid Arana said. The system is designed for faculty members to send out communicative indicators to students, such as “Kudos” or “Flags,” to inform them on …
Performing arts dean taking final bow at semester’s end
Share: After 33 years of working for Pasadena City College (PCC), the dean of the performing and communication arts department, James Arnwine, has decided to retire after the Spring 2018 semester. Before coming to PCC, Arnwine worked at Pasadena High School as the band instructor for four years. He came to PCC in 1985 as an instrumental music professor. He instructed the bands, the brass groups and some music appreciation and fundamentals classes before becoming the dean of the performing arts division. Through his years …
$1.4 million settlement reached for winter cancellation
Share: After eight months of negotiating the loss of wages for faculty that were affected by the removal of winter intercession in 2012, the Board of Trustees, Pasadena City College Faculty Association (PCCFA) and administration finally reached a settlement at last week’s board meeting which will cost the district a total of $1.4 million. Follow:
Hiring headaches
Little to no progress has been made by PCC in filling the 35 new full-time faculty positions—a number that was agreed upon back in November—as the software being used to collect and evaluate applications, Cornerstone, has been automatically rejecting applicants due to a number of severe glitches.
Art Student to Art Teacher
Share: When asked why she pursued art, Claudia Carballada, a former student and current art professor at PCC, responded, “I just followed my heart.” Follow: