Pam Gann Offers to Ease Staff into Retirement

From: President Gann
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 9:33 AM
To: DL-Staff
Subject: Announcement from President Gann

March 23, 2009

Dear Staff Members,

In my last update in January regarding the College’s response to the economic downturn, I highlighted several measures that have or will be implemented to reduce the operating budget to prepare for the expected reduction in endowment support over the next several years.

As I indicated in my update, employee-related expenses represent approximately 56% of the College’s core operating budget, and it will be necessary to reduce these costs in order to avoid significant budget deficits in future years. Toward this end, the College has decided to offer a voluntary early retirement plan (VERP). The VERP is intended to provide a generous retirement package to qualifying employees who choose to retire effective August 1, 2009, while also helping the College to manage its overall costs.

Subject to certain limited exceptions, the VERP will generally be available to all benefits-eligible staff members who are 55 years of age or older, and who have ten or more years of continuous service with CMC. The VERP registration period will be open from Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, May 7, 2009. The VERP will be available to no more than twenty (20) eligible employees. The College expects to open this program on a one-time only basis.

In addition to the VERP, the College is also evaluating the feasibility of implementing an Alternative Work Schedule Program. In particular, the College is currently reviewing a number of 12-month staff positions to identify positions that could potentially be adjusted to a 9 or 10-month work schedule with a pro rata reduction in salary. We expect have a better understanding of the feasibility of implementing this program once we have assessed the results of the VERP.

Within the next week, staff members who are eligible for the VERP will receive a letter from Susan Cozzitarto, the Director of Human Resources, which will explain the VERP, including the proposed benefit structure and registration process, in greater detail.

Sincerely,

Pamela B. Gann

UPDATE: Turns out I was informed. It is only staff.

Screening Questions? That's Too Bad

Will David Plouffe speak on the record when he comes to Bridges? 

If history is any indication, he won't. Watch this video to find out more. 

We already know that Victoria Din CMC 11 of the Claremont Democrats is screening questions for Plouffe. That's a shame and something you'd never see from Republican speakers. Karl Rove and Chertoff both took questions from the audience. Why won't Plouffe? 

CMC Course Catalogs: Can We Please Have a Return to This?

A loyal blog reader sent me this course catalogue information that he typed up from our first year as a college way back in 1946. Goodness gracious, things have changed. 

There's too much to discuss in this blog post, but suffice it to say, notice the lack of IR courses (a good thing) and the heavy focus on political economy (also a good thing). Equally a good thing is the emphasis on "work experience" at a "private employer."  

Although it's to the absolute shame of this college that it stopped teaching history freshman year and replaced it with the ever-feckless Civilization/Freshman Humanities Seminar. 

CMC Catalogs

1946:

"Dr. Gerald I. Jordan, Assistant Professor of Political Economy, received his doctor's degree at UC in public administration and public law.

"Stuart R. Briggs, Assistant Professor of Accounting, is a graduate of Brown Uni with graduate work in economics."

"The old term 'political economy' has been revived to express the broader approach used in this program."

FRESHMAN YEAR

History Ia, Ib: This course will survey thought and action in the western world from the earliest civilization to the present. The study of selected writings from the past together with recent historical analysis will seek to show the continuity of development in ideas and institutions throughout the period, and thus to promote an increased understanding of modern social and economic organization, political ideas and practices, and the influence upon thought of scientific and technological advances.

Political Economy, Ia, Ib: Comparative governmental and business systems: This course gives the student an opportunity to compare and contrast the major types of political-economic systems now existing in the world. The first semester is devoted to analysis of the American system of constitutional government and of free business enterprise. The second semester contrasts the individual liberty and controlled economy of England with the authoritarian government and socialized business system of Soviet Russia.

English, Ia, Ib:

Science, Ia, Ib:

Spanish, Ia, Ib:

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Political Economy, 51a, 51b: Economic Analysis: This course serves as an introduction to the methods of economic analysis as applied to fundamental problems of the business world.

Political Economy, 52a, 52b: Mathematics and Statistics: The first semester of this course is an introduction to those portions of higher mathematics necessary for the understanding of statistics and for advanced economic analysis. The second semester is an introduction to statistical methods as used in business and economic problems.

Spanish, 51a, 51b

English, 51a, 51b

Political Economy 53a, 53b: Accounting and Budgeting: Analysis of Theory and method of maintaining accounting records and budgeting controls in private enterprise and in governmental agencies. Emphasis will be laid on the fundamental principles of construction and interpretation of financial records.

JUNIOR YEAR

Political Economy, 131a, 131b: Industrial Relations and Personnel Management: Analysis of the underlying problems and practical techniques of approach to management-employee relations in industry and in the public service. This will include review of the main problems of Personnel Organization in Business and in Civil Service, Employment, Classification, Wage and Salary Administration, Performance Ratings, Collective Bargaining, Training and Testing. In each field, examples will be drawn from both private and public experience.

Political Economy, 133a, 133b, 134a, 134b: Problems of the American Political and Economic System: The introduction to American constitutional history will use to a large extent the case method of study. In each of the three specific problem courses, the methods of study of both business economics and political science will be used, and each problem field will be studied from the viewpoint of business management, the investor, labor, and government.

133a American Constitutional History: First Semester

133b Corporations and Public Utilities and their control: Second Semester

134a Money and Banking: First Semester

134b Property and Individual Rights: Second Semester

Political Economy 135a, 135b Advanced Accounting and Fiscal Control: Special problems of accounting, including income tax and cost accounting, will be considered.

Electives

During the Junior Year, students may select one elective from the list of courses in Pomona and Scripps Colleges given below or may take with faculty approval one of the courses offered in CGS.

SENIOR YEAR

Political Economy, 141a, 141b Business Cycles and Efforts to Control Them: This course is a thorough analysis of the greatest internal problem of American society, the control of major economic fluctuations. It will include historical, theoretical, and statistical analysis of the courses of cyclical fluctuations, study of their social effects, and study of the methods tried in the United States, Sweden, and elsewhere to reduce fluctuations. Special Attention will be given to the effect of economic changes on merchandizing and investment policies.

Political Economy, 152a, 152b: International Business and Political Relations: This course will include analysis of the forces governing international economic relations, including balance of payments, trade and quote agreements, and tariff walls. Problem of foreign markets and investments will be analyzed. Simultaneously the political forces governing international relations will be considered. In the second semester, one or more problem areas such as the Far East and Latin America will be intensely analyzed.

Political Economy, 153a: Administrative Organization in Business and Government: This course analyzes the problems of internal administrative organization as they appear both in government departments and in business corporations. Where necessary examples from military or other large-scale organizations will also be used. The latter part of the course will be devoted to problems of production engineering and analysis of business procedures.

Political Economy, 154a: Administrative and Business Law: This course analyzes the regulation of business by administrative tribunals, and the position of the courts as arbiters in business disputes. There is also a review of the basic principles of business law.

Political Economy, 155a, 155b: Honors Course, 1 year: If the student wishes to secure an honors degree, he will register in this course. Members of the faculty will give special supervision to the preparation of honors theses and preparations for honors examinations.

WORK EXPERIENCE

It is believe that, in a program of this type, practical experience is essential during the college years if the course material is to be adequately assimilated. Therefore students will be expected to work in some private enterprise or in some governmental agency during two or more summer vacations and to present, upon returning in the autumn, certification by the employer of the work performed. The school staff will aid in suggesting suitable positions. Exemptions from this requirement will be inadvisable, or when instructive travel or suitable research is presented as a substitute summer program.