Higher Ed SIG Update

By Barbara Gomez

Educators from throughout Illinois attended the annual ITBE Convention, and those involved in higher education met as a special interest group on Friday and Saturday after lunch. The topics were prepared by Co-chairs Hannah Harris, from UIC, and Kathleen Reynolds, from Harper College, on current trends in higher education.

A panel of ESL community leaders discussed enrollment in their universities and colleges, financial aid, and trends in the field of second language learning. Approximately 30 people attended this SIG on Friday after lunch, and on Saturday afternoon the discussion on current trends in higher education was led by Mary Jorgensen-Sullivan from I.I.T. We looked at differences and similarities of challenges facing part-time and full-time faculty in our individual universities, some of the trends in hiring, support provided to staff at each university, collective bargaining and its effects on teaching, and how to support part-time adjuncts in the field. Nominations for chairing the Higher Ed Special Interest Group were taken and two people volunteered to co-chair next year: Mary Jorgensen-Sullivan from IIT and Barbara Gomez from National Louis University. We hope to hear from members in the field as we prepare for the Fall Workshop in October and next year’s annual convention in February 2021.


Higher Ed SIG Update By Barbara Gomez Educators from throughout Illinois attended the annual ITBE Convention, and those involved in higher education met as a special interest group on Friday and Saturday after lunch. The topics were prepared by Co-chairs Hannah Harris, from UIC, and Kathleen Reynolds, from Harper College, on current trends in higher education. A panel of ESL community leaders discussed enrollment in their universities and colleges, financial aid, and trends in the field of second language learning. Approximately 30 people attended this SIG on Friday after lunch, and on Saturday afternoon the discussion on current trends in higher education was led by Mary Jorgensen-Sullivan from I.I.T. We looked at differences and similarities of challenges facing part-time and full-time faculty in our individual universities, some of the trends in hiring, support provided to staff at each university, collective bargaining and its effects on teaching, and how to support part-time adjuncts in the field. Nominations for chairing the Higher Ed Special Interest Group were taken and two people volunteered to co-chair next year: Mary Jorgensen-Sullivan from IIT and Barbara Gomez from National Louis University. We hope to hear from members in the field as we prepare for the Fall Workshop in October and next year’s annual convention in February 2021.
ITBE Link - Spring 2020 - Spring 2020