The Columbia Chronicle February 17, 2014

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11

Mixed media artists collaborate on Discarded Exhibition

Opinions: Free junior college could

promote access to higher education See PG. 35

Online exclusive video

No. 1 Non-Daily College Newspaper in the Nation MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014

THE OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

VOLUME 49, ISSUE 19

Enrollment goes down, retention picks up TATIANA WALK-MORRIS & CARLEIGH TURNER Campus Editor & Assistant Campus Editor COLUMBIA ENROLLED 471 fewer stu-

RIDE-SHARE COMPANIES, SUCH as

Uber and Lyft, are facing roadblocks because of regulations proposed by the mayor and a lawsuit filed by major cab companies.

9,169 STUDENTS

SPRING

SPRING

to 2014 2013

-95 -87 -83 -81

SPRING

2013

SPRING

2014

Includes all students: full-time, part-time, graduate and undergraduate

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Information from THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVNESS

to pay an annual fee of $25,000 plus $25 per driver to obtain a city license. The proposal also mandates that companies conduct background checks, drug screenings and vehicle inspections. Drivers would also have to undergo training and get commercial liability insurance. Believing that the proposed ordinance aims to decrease competition between ride-share companies and city-regulated taxis, ride-share businesses oppose the legislation because the regulations would hinder operations, said Lyft spokeswoman Paige Thelen in an email. “As it stands now, the proposed ordinance would not support the continued operation of Lyft,” Thelen said. “We’ve had productive meetings with city leaders to discuss Lyft’s peer-to-peer business model and commitment to safety and look forward to continuing a conversation that allows for innovation and consumer choice.” Lyft hosted a community meeting Feb. 13 to gather drivers and

TATIANA WALK-MORRIS Campus Editor THE MARKETING COMMUNICATION

minors and resources into the Journalism Department. He said a faculty task force will make curricula decisions. “The administrative change, already approved by President Kwang-Wu Kim, asks that the Journalism [staff and faculty] begin discussions with the Advertising and Public Relations faculty members about synergies in curricula and other crucial matters as we move forward,” Bargar wrote in a Feb. 13 email. The search for a new chair of the Marketing Communication Department was suspended, according to the email. Sandra Allen is the acting chair of the department. “We anticipate the foundation for the structure will be completed over the spring and summer and the transition complete,” Bargar wrote.

xx SEE RIDE-SHARE, PG. 40

Department will be split into three separate degree programs by Fall 2014, according to a Feb. 14 emailed announcement from Robin Bargar, dean of the School of Media Arts. Marketing will become a concentration in the Arts, Entertainment & Media Management Department, while Advertising and Public Relations will merge with the Journalism Department. After discussing the measure with the Deans Council, Bargar held a meeting with faculty and staff members of the Marketing Communication Department Feb. 13 and Journalism departments Feb. 14 to relay the news. Bargar discussed shifting much of the Marketing Communication Department’s majors,

FEATURE

CAMPUS

SPORTS & HEALTH

Scientists make strides in HIV and AIDS research. • pg. 22

Provost candidate visits Columbia • pg. 3

Attempting the impossible jump • pg. 13

City puts brakes on ride-share companies Metro Editor

9,640 STUDENTS

xx SEE ENROLLMENT, PG. 9

Courtesy ALFREDO MENDEZ

MARIA CASTELLUCCI

STUDENT LOSSES BY DEPARTMENT

OVERALL LOSS OF STUDENTS

Kayla Koch THE CHRONICLE

dents this semester than it did in the spring of 2013, a loss the administration anticipated because of similar losses in the fall. The college’s total enrollment dropped 4.9 percent from spring 2013 to spring 2014, but freshman retention rates went up, meaning more students are choosing to continue at the college, according to a Feb. 10 report from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Mark Kelly, vice president of Student Affairs, said the college is focusing on its retention rates because it will stabilize future enrollment trends. In the past, Columbia has had low spring enrollment, according to Kelly. This spring’s enrollment was expected to show fewer students because there was a decrease in the number of students who registered

for fall 2013, Kelly said. But while the college had 700 fewer students than in fall 2012, the administration projected it would retain about 90 percent of those students for the spring semester, Kelly said. According to statistics from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Columbia’s freshman retention rates have risen from 83.7 percent in spring 2013 to 87.3 percent in spring 2014. The college received 1,303 more applications than last year, but the freshman yield rate and the percentage of admitted students who enroll decreased by 3 percentage points, the report stated. “It’s not necessarily about a huge number of students entering at the front door, but rather students who are a good fit,” Kelly said. “Our enrollment begins to build over time based on … how many [students Columbia] retains, matriculates and graduates.”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Emma Mitts (37th Ward) introduced a draft ordinance to City Council Feb. 5 to standardize the currently unregulated rideshare companies. If the ordinance passes, rideshare companies would be required

twalkmorris@chroniclemail.com


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