June 9, 2011

City Colleges of Chicago Announces New College Leadership Recommendations

Mayor Emanuel Endorses Recommendations to Be Considered at June 16th CCC Board Meeting

Katheryn Hayes - Director of External Communications City Colleges of Chicago    312.553.2719

Chicago, IL – Mayor Rahm Emanuel endorsed Chairman Martin Cabrera Jr. and Chancellor Cheryl Hyman’s recommendations for the position of president at five of the system’s seven colleges, which were announced during a news conference today.  The recommendations will be considered by the CCC Board of Trustees at its meeting Thursday, June 16th. 

“The City Colleges has set a goal of becoming a world-class community college system which ensures the success of every student,” said Mayor Emanuel.  “With this leadership, CCC will be ready to realize its potential as the economic engine of our region and ensure Chicagoans are prepared with the skills to succeed in today’s competitive global economy.”

“Student success is priority number one and that means making sure students leave us with credentials of economic value ready for college or a career,” said Board Chairman Martin Cabrera Jr.  “We are holding all staff at CCC responsible for that success, and its starts at the very top, with our board and the senior leadership recommended today.”  

The City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees passed a resolution in January holding itself accountable for student success and, in February, created a similar resolution for all CCC staff.  As a result, the Board changed the job description for CCC presidents to include accountability for the student success goals and launched a national search for candidates.  Existing presidents were also invited to reapply.

Two search firms independently screened a pool of 140 candidates.  An advisory committee composed of faculty, staff, students, and the community, including representation from each college for which there was an open position, participated in the selection process and recommended a final slate to Board Chairman Martin Cabrera and Chancellor Hyman.

“Each of the candidates possesses a unique combination of results-driven, team-oriented leadership, a dedication to national best practices in higher education or public administration, and a deep commitment to the success of urban community college students,” said Chancellor Hyman. “We are very excited to introduce this group of stellar leaders to our board and college community and believe they will enable us to achieve the ambitious goals we have set to ensure our students’ success.”

The City Colleges of Chicago president recommendations are:

  • Daley College: Dr. Jose Aybar
  • Malcolm X College: Dr. Anthony Munroe
  • Olive-Harvey College: Dr. Craig T. Follins
  • Truman College: Dr. Reagan Romali
  • Wright College: Jim Palos

Biographies of the candidates are attached.

These leaders would join Donald J. Laackman, President of Harold Washington College, who was hired under the new job description in February.  A national search for President of Kennedy-King College continues in order to select a candidate with the skills and experience to oversee the college’s unique combination of academic programs and business enterprises (WYCC/WKKC, Washburne Culinary Institute).  The process has identified many strong candidates, and as it concludes, Derrick Harden will remain as interim President of Kennedy-King College.

The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), District 508, is the largest community college system in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, with 5,800 faculty and staff serving 120,000 students at seven campuses and thirteen satellite sites city-wide.  The City Colleges of Chicago is in the midst of a Reinvention, launched by Chancellor Cheryl Hyman shortly after her appointment by Mayor Richard M. Daley in March 2010.  Reinvention is a collaborative effort to review and revise CCC programs and practices to ensure students leave CCC college-ready, career-ready and prepared to pursue their life’s goals.

CCC includes seven colleges: Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College.  The system also oversees: The Washburne Trade School, the French Pastry School, two restaurants, five Child Development Centers, the Center for Distance Learning, the Workforce Institute, the public broadcast station WYCC-TV Channel 20 and radio station WKKC, 89.3 FM.  For more information about City Colleges of Chicago, dial: (773) COLLEGE, or visit www.reinventingccc.org. 

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