ePay Is on the Way
Columbia’s payroll office is going paperless—at least when it comes to direct-deposit advices (or pay stubs). Later this spring, the Office of Human Resources and Payroll will introduce ePay and eProfile, companion self-service transactional systems that interface with the college’s payroll and human-resources systems. The new systems will allow employees to review and update most of their personal profiles and payroll preferences online, updating their information instantly, 24 hours a day.
Using ePay, you may view your pay advice (stub) online; review and update direct-deposit account information, W-4 information, and voluntary deductions; and order duplicate W-2s. eProfile allows you to update information such as your emergency contacts, address, phone numbers, marital status, and other personal information. Initially, the service will be available from any computer on the campus network, and will soon be accessible through the internet as well.
The payroll office will be providing more detailed information in the coming weeks as the ePay roll-out approaches.
New and Improved www.colum.edu Draws Visitors by the Millions (Yes, millions!)
Since Columbia's new web site launched in July, it has grown...and grown...and grown.
In addition to a new look more reflective of the college’s identity, a key feature of the new site is the use of a content management system, or CMS, which allows content to be dynamically distributed and continually updated throughout the site. In September 2006, our CMS, Serena Collage, boasted about 150 individual pages. By January 2007, that number had jumped to 1,400. The Columbia website also includes about 3,300 technical pages that reside outside of the CMS (i.e., the calendar of events, the online phonebook, the HR job board). All of these pages now reflect the look, feel, and standard navigation of the new site template. Scores of departments across campus are taking advantage of the quick and easy updating Serena Collage offers, including all of student affairs and more than two dozen academic departments and administrative offices across campus, with more in the pipeline.
We’re not the only ones noticing these web improvements. Since the relaunch, our site has averaged over 10,000 visitors a day, peaking at a high of 24,000 visitors on January 22, 2007--the first day of classes.
In total, 1,656,607 visitors have viewed one or more pages of www.colum.edu in the past four months. In fact, most visitors stick around and navigate through three or more pages at each visit.
All of these numbers add up to one thing: more people are visiting and they're reading more and staying longer than ever before.
Richard Roundtree to Speak February 15, Preceded by “Shaft” Screening and Panel
The college’s celebrity speaker series, “Conversations in the Arts: Up Close with…” continues on February 15 with an appearance by actor Richard Roundtree, perhaps best known for his groundbreaking role as John Shaft, private detective and super-cop hero in the 1971 feature film “Shaft.” There will be a free screening of the film for students at 1:00 p.m. on February 15 at the Film Row Cinema, 1104 South Wabash. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion from 3:00 to 4:00 featuring Roundtree alongside panelists Stephanie Shonekan (faculty, Liberal Education), Bruce Sheridan (chair, Film and Video), and Marcus McDougald (student, Film and Video).
Thursday evening, Roundtree will speak at the Dance Center as part of the college’s “Conversations in the Arts: Up Close with…” series. Tickets are $50 to the public, but there are still tickets available to faculty and staff at the discounted rate of $35 by calling 312-344-7420.
Upcoming events in the series include appearances by Salman Rushdie on March 14 and Jane Alexander on April 26.
Photography Department to Curate City Gallery at the Historic Water Tower
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Columbia’s Photography department have partnered in an agreement for the college to curate and install photographic exhibitions at City Gallery at the Historic Water Tower. The gallery, established in the Water Tower’s former visitor center in 1999, is dedicated to presenting photo-based work by Chicago artists or with Chicago as its subject. It regularly draws more than 115,000 visitors per year. Columbia plans continue to uphold the mission, standards, and exhibition access that the Department of Cultural Affairs set for the City Gallery.
The college’s first City Gallery exhibition is “Out of Season: Photographs of the Chicago Summer,” curated by Photography chair Bob Thall and faculty members Dawoud Bey and Barbara Kasten.
"We look forward to working with the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Chicago photographic community on this exciting ongoing project," said Thall. "Since this first exhibition is on view in the middle of winter, we wanted to show images of summer when we really need to see them."
"Chicago has a rich and important photographic tradition. The photography department at Columbia College Chicago will honor and enhance that tradition by presenting the vital work of Chicago photographers and others doing Chicago-themed photography," said Lois Weisberg, Commissioner for the Department of Cultural Affairs.
The show, which features historic works on loan from the Daiter Gallery as well as contemporary images, runs February 16 through May 6, with a public opening reception on Thursday, February 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. City Gallery is at 806 North Michigan Avenue.
Submission guidelines for those who would like to suggest a future exhibition may be found on the Photography Department website.
Administrative Restructuring Affects Institutional Advancement, Business Affairs
Last week, Dr. Carter announced several new organizational configurations as part of “a continuing process of tweaking our organization to be more efficient and productive and to reduce the number of direct reports to each Vice President.” The restructuring affects two areas of the college: the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Office of Business Services, formerly the Office of Finance.
In the Office of Business Affairs, renamed “to better reflect the nature of its service to the college,” vice president Mike DeSalle’s title is now vice president of Business Affairs and chief financial officer. Within the Office of Business Affairs—which includes information technology, purchasing/administrative services, controller, budget and reporting, internal auditing, human resources, and student financial services—Tim Bauhs has been promoted to associate vice president of business affairs, Jennifer Waters has been promoted to executive director of student financial services, and Kevin Doherty has been promoted to associate vice president of business affairs and controller of the college.
Creative and print services will now be part of the Office of Institutional Advancement under vice president Eric Winston, and Mary Forde has been promoted to assistant vice president for creative and print services. Within the Office of Institutional Advancement, Mark Lloyd has been promoted to associate vice president for marketing and communication, and will function as chief marketing officer for the college. Kim Clement has been promoted to associate vice president for advancement.
These changes became effective January 15, 2007.
New Student-founded Poetry Press Publishes Inaugural Title
Switchback Books is a new, independent poetry press founded by a group of Columbia M.F.A. students and staffed by several graduate and undergraduate students in our Poetry program. Switchback’s inaugural release is TALK SHOWS, a collection by Mónica de la Torre.
A release party next Wednesday will feature readings by de la Torre, as well as by all the members of the Switchback staff, including current M.F.A. candidates Brandi Homan, Becca Klaver, Hanna Andrews (founding editors), Jennifer Steele, and Yvette Thomas; current undergraduate Poetry major Daniela Olszewska, and alumni Kristin Aardsma (B.A., ’06) and LaRaie Zimm (B.A., ’06).
The readings/release party begin at 8:30 p.m., February 14, at the California Clipper, 1002 North California Avenue.
Max King Cap’s “God’s Punk” Debuts at Hyde Park Art Center
Art and Design professor Max King Cap’s video opera installation, “God’s Punk,” opened Sunday at the Hyde Park Art Center. The piece, which combines performance and an enormous sculptural installation, walks audiences through a modern-day Romeo-and-Juliet love story that assimilates lessons on racism, realism, and tragedy. "I want people to recognize that tragedy is reality,” says Cap, “and that we owe ourselves the opportunity to evolve out of our tragedy. The real challenge is to walk away from personal or global tragedies wanting to be a better person."
After receiving a grant from the New York-based nonprofit Creative Capital, Cap worked over the past two years to produce “God’s Punk” in an attempt to expand the notion of installation. Featuring a set design by Zimpel, the gallery is painted black and converted into a mystical garden and forest—a metaphor for heaven and hell. The set includes multiple video screens, an original soundtrack, mirror balls, decaying vegetation, and an inverted greenhouse looming over a black enamel lake. The show is performed live on selected weekends,with a local band--the contemporary-classical Mung--and three actors, including Cap, performing.
“God’s Punk” is on view through April 8, 2007 at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell Avenue; 773.324.5520. Live performances take place March 4 and April 8 at 5:00 p.m. Cap will speak at the center on February 12 at 6:00 p.m.
2007 Excellence in Teaching Award Nominations Sought
The Center for Teaching Excellence’s Excellence in Teaching Award committee has launched its campaign to award two faculty members, one part-time and one full-time, the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award. The committee is accepting nominations from students and from fellow faculty members through Feb 23, 2007. More information about the awards can be found at http://www.colum.edu/cte/eta/ or by calling Joanne Hinkle at extention 7424.
