The following e-mail just went out to the families of CC students. We’re still waiting on a statement from Moody-Adams herself, which is starting to seem a bit overdue. The Office of the Dean declined to comment.

Dear Columbia College Families,

As many of you have doubtless read in the news [that's us], Michele Moody-Adams, who has served as Dean of Columbia College and Vice President for Undergraduate Education for the last two years, announced her resignation. President Bollinger concluded yesterday that it was in the best interests of the College that this be effective immediately so that an interim dean can be appointed for the new academic year.

As we continue our work in enhancing student life here at Columbia, we are committed to ensuring that this administrative transition in no way affects our student-centered initiatives and academic life. The senior leadership of the College and the University are working together to ensure a smooth transition. Please see the message, attached below, that was sent last evening to all Columbia College students.

My staff and I look forward to working with our students and families during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Sincerely,

Kevin Shollenberger

 

Kevin G. Shollenberger
Dean of Student Affairs
Columbia College / Columbia Engineering
Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Student Life
Arts and Sciences
Columbia University

If CCSC has its way, Columbia’s Housing system will be slightly less oppressive next year. The council passed a resolution supporting gender-neutral housing last night, which will remove the gender restrction on double occupancy rooms. The plan, introduced by VP for Policy Sarah Weiss, 2011 VP Sean Udell, EAAH President Avi Edelman, and GendeRevolution President Miranda Eliot, would apply only to students purposefully picking into a double during General Selection. Neither blind doubles nor the first-year housing process would lose the gender restriction, so, if administrators agree to lift the restriction, Housing will still be spared new parents freaking out about their precious darlings living with someone of the opposite sex.

But three of the first-year dorms do get a little CCSC-ordered experimentation in the form of a new flyering program. The council also passed a resolution authored by CC 2011 President Learned Foote setting up a test program encouraging student groups to use less paper when postering. From after Thanksgiving until the end of the semester, John Jay, Hartley and Wallach’s ground floors will be equipped with new bulletin boards; the boards will have pre-drawn boxes marking out poster space, and groups will be encouraged to use only one poster per board. The policy will be self-enforcing, though – to quote the resolution, “we will attempt to institute a cultural change through voluntary participation.” Rumors of a Kumbaya sing-along to follow are still unconfirmed.

UPDATE: Bwog’s man in SEAS, Sean Zimmermann, reports that ESC passed the resolution as well at their board meeting tonight.

- JCD