UDC TRUSTEES VOTED TO DOUBLE TUITION
 
On Friday, April 30, the UDC Board of Trustees voted to increase student tuition by 100% over two years, effective Fall 2009.
 
Only two trustees voted to save UDC.
 
We are not surprised and we are not defeated. The struggle for UDC is only beginning. We will not give up on fighting the issues relevant to students, faculty and concerned citizens. Now the battleground shifts to the DC Council and the courts.
 
The UDC Trustees and Dr. Sessoms have failed to vital answer questions from UDC students in order to force through their agenda without any independent review. We will continue to work with the DC Council to demand answers, to show the flaws in the Sessoms plan and to save UDC.
  
Don't be fooled when Dr. Sessoms and the Trustees say their actions are in the best interest of the students and the future of UDC. Their actions are in the best interest of themselves and are to the detriment of the history and hard-fought dedication of the founders of UDC. Their plan is a threat to affordable, accessible higher education.
 
You can help! We want to hear from students who are being negatively impacted by this unconscionable tuition increase.
All students are invited to participate-International, Out of State, and Local students.
 
We are here for you! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication in contacting Trustees and Councilmembers. There's a lot more to do. Stay tuned for more updates.
 
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TUNE IN as we spread the word about the important issues surrounding the fight to Save UDC.  Watch "More Room on the Outside" hosted by UDC's own Toussaint Tingling-Clemmons.

Comcast: 95 & 96, RCN: 10 & 11. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

EMAIL the UDC Board of Trustees. Let them know they failed UDC students by doubling tuition and ending open enrollment at the four year university: 

_________________________________________________________________________________

The UDC Trustees changed the date of their vote on President Sessoms' 100% tuition increase. 

"The regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting has been moved from Tuesday, April 7, 2009 @ 3:30 p.m. to Thursday, April 30, 2009 @ 1:30 p.m."   

Why would the Trustees move such an important meeting date? Could it be because the truth is coming out?

  • President Sessoms' budget has major flaws. The DC Council caught Sessoms' errors and abruptly ended the March 26 hearing. Where are those answers? 
  • The new UDC fall 2009 schedule has NO CLASS PRICES, causing massive confusion. How are students supposed to register for classes when UDC cannot tell them how much they will be charged?    
  • What in Sessoms' plan requires such a massive increase and why is the burden completely on students? 
  • Sessoms has failed to provide an independent review of his plan to see if it would hurt UDC. Why would this plan pass a fair review when Sessoms' similar plan for the City University of New York FAILED an independent review?

                                                                                 

 

We say NO to any tuition increase and YES to increasing course and curriculum offerings.

 

We say YES to preserving open enrollment and YES to increasing student enrollment.

 

We say NO to a community college. First FIX UDC's crumbling buildings and put money into the classroom. Invest in students.

 

We say YES change is needed but NO to the hasty changes proposed by Dr. Sessoms and Chairman Dyke. 

 

They say we need money to fix UDC's problems. WE say what happened to the money from the previous 40% tuition hike?

 

Did UDC's administrative leaders SQUANDER that money in a process lacking in oversight and transparency? Where is the accountability?  

 

YOU can stop this madness. Power is with the people.

 LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD ON THESE ISSUES!

 

Use the DC City Council information below to email, call, fax or visit the Council. It is within their power to slow down and thoroughly examine Dr. Sessoms' poorly thought out plan for UDC.

 

Tell them to support the UDC Admissions Requirement Act of 2009, submitted by Councilmember Marion Barry. This legislation will put a temporary moratorium on any tuition increase, keep open enrollment and provide a thorough examination of Dr. Sessoms' plans for UDC.

 

Thank you,

Team OSUDC

                                                                            

Contact DC Council Members

Vincent C. Gray, Council Chairman, Suite: 504

vgray@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8032

Fax: (202) 724-8085

 

David A. Catania, Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 404

dcatania@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-7772

Fax: (202) 724-8087

 

Kwame R. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 506

kbrown@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8174

Fax: (202) 724-8156

 

Phil Mendelson, Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 402

pmendelson@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8064

Fax: (202) 724-8099

 

Michael A. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 406

mbrown@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8105

Fax: (202) 724-8071

 

Jim Graham, Councilmember (Ward 1) Suite: 105

jgraham@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8181

Fax: (202) 724-8109

 

Jack Evans, Councilmember (Ward 2) Suite: 106

jackevans@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8058

Fax: (202) 727-8023

 

Mary M. Cheh, Councilmember (Ward 3) Suite: 108

mcheh@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8062

Fax: (202) 724-8118

 

Muriel Bowser, Councilmember (Ward 4) Suite: 110

mbowser@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8052

Fax: (202) 741-0908

 

Harry Thomas, Jr., Councilmember (Ward 5) Suite: 107

hthomas@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8028

Fax: (202) 724-8076

 

Tommy Wells, Councilmember (Ward 6) Suite: 408

twells@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8072

Fax: (202) 724-8054

 

Yvette M. Alexander, Councilmember (Ward 7) Suite: 400

yalexander@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8068

Fax: (202) 741-0911

 

Marion Barry, Councilmember (Ward 8) Suite: 102

mbarry@dccouncil.us

Tel: (202) 724-8045

Fax: (202) 724-8055

Click here to find the Councilmember for your area

Tell the DC Council:

  • Support the UDC Admissions Requirement Act
  • Protect open enrollment at the four year University and not just at a community college
  • Reject the 100% tuition increase
  • Require a study to assess the impact of these misguided changes on UDC students.

Remind the DC Council:

Sessoms’ plan “makes little sense” (The Washington Post)

Sessoms has a history of misleading university Trustees about millions of dollars (The New York Times)

Sessoms' obscene and derogatory characterization of open enrollment students. (Report of the Commission on the Future of CUNY)

Sessoms failed to have any third party review the consequences of his plan. Why? Maybe because a previous review rejected a similar Sessoms’ plan because it “will have an unacceptably disproportionate effect on low-income, minority and immigrant groups” (The Bar Association of New York)

Operation: Save UDC can also sign you up to speak before the DC Council. Email your name and contact info to saveudc@gmail.com

THE DC COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO SAVE UDC!

   But they will only Save UDC if you tell them to!

                                                                                   

Contact Mayor Fenty

  • Click on the link above.
  • Fill out the "Ask the Mayor" form.
  • Select "Education"
  • Ask how Fenty will stop the 100% UDC tuition increase.
  • Ask how he will ensure open admissions at UDCs four-year University (not just at the community college).
  • Add your own questions to save UDC!

                                                                                    

DC Council Update: March 26, 2009
Dear Supporters:

The tide is truly turning in our direction. Today’s City Council Budget hearing was simply amazing. After hours of testimony from many students, faculty, staff and community members about the problems with UDC's budget changes, UDC president Dr. Allen Sessoms and UDC Trustee Chairman Dyke were called to testify. What they were forced to reveal was beyond belief.
 
Chairman Gray asked a simple question about the Fund Balance and the $23 million dollars expected in revenue for the FY10 budget. Well, the administration, including Dr. Sessoms, Chairman Dyke, the CFO, two assistants and another staffer could not directly answer the question that was put to them by Chairman Gray.

 

They fumbled and fumbled and even countered each other’s testimony by giving different answers to the question for the breakdown of the $23 million dollars.
 
What was revealed? Instead of splitting the revenue from the tuition over two years, the administration put it all in the Fund Balance for revenues to be collected in ONE year. The Board of Trustees had voted on a policy to divide the 100% tuition increase over two years, but the Fund Balance did not reflect that and therefore it did not tell the truth about revenues.

 

It took over 15 minutes for the administration to be forced to admit the mistake. Chairman Gray grew visibly frustrated, insisting “I want the numbers now!” 

 

At one point Chairman Gray said, “Why are you all looking around at each other when you should have had this information ready before you got here? You should have known I was going to ask you about this fund. This is a significant amount of money. This is the moment of truth.”

 

In the end, Dr. Sessoms and Dr. Dyke failed to provide accurate numbers, so Chairman Gray said, “I am going to recess this hearing and schedule a time when you are ready.”

The Budget Hearing was suspended until an announced date.
 
Furthermore, President Sessoms announced further concessions that Operation: Save UDC has been calling for. The application fee will no longer be $75, but $35. Early Childhood and Special Education will be added back to the baccalaureate program.
 
These are significant wins, folks. Now is the time to put pressure on the administration. This shows that the administration truly does not have a comprehensive plan for what they want changed in the university. All this talk about change and the change comes with a broken promise for the future. We cannot accept this mismanagement.

 

If the administration and Board can’t even manage to explain $23 million in a fund balance then they definitely cannot handle our tuition increase.
 
We cannot accept the proposal and must advance our cause to remove this president and push for a new Chairman who can deliver accountability and proper oversight.
 
Today’s hearing was an absolute embarrassment for the University and certainly embarrassing for the new president and Chairman, who continue to defy the will of the students and stakeholders.
 
Let’s continue to put the pressure on. Keep calling and emailing the DC Council and the Mayor (details below). More information will be forthcoming on how you can help. For now, please stay glued to www.saveudc.com. We are turning up the Heat!!!
 
William Kellibrew on behalf of Operation Save UDC

 

   IT'S WORKING!

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On March 12, you asked the DC Council to Save UDC. 

DC Council Update: March 12, 2009

The Council applied some much-needed oversight and accountability to President Sessoms and the Trustees.

  • Thank you to Chairman Gray and the Council for hearing us. 
  • Thank you for pointing out the serious issues with the Sessoms plan.
  • Thank you for getting some real answers.
  • Thank you for extracting commitments, including the new committment to "grandfather" in all current UDC students at current tuition rates.  
  • Thank you for being "concerned," "skeptical," and "dubious." We share your concerns, and we'll work with you to make sure their words turn into deeds.
  • And thank you to the students, faculty and community members who called and emailed the Council, emailed us to testify before the Committee, and showed up to support SAVING UDC. You made a difference!  

      YES YOU DID!

                   And we're just getting started.

  

______________________________________________________________

Dear Students, Faculty, and Community Members,

Thank you so much for your support.  

DC Council members say they have been overwhelmed by the number of calls and emails asking them to SAVE UDC from the Sessoms plan. Great work! Keep up the calls and emails. They are working, but we need more!

We are also moving forward with some exciting new legal developments and discoveries. We’ll make more details available soon. Stay tuned! 

UDC’s real problems were not caused by low tuition and open enrollment. They won’t be fixed by doubling tuition and ending open enrollment at the four year school. Fix UDC’s real problems!   

Our membership continues to grow and as more people learn:


Sessoms’ plan “makes little sense” (The Washington Post)

Sessoms’ history of misleading university Trustees about millions of dollars (The New York Times)

Sessoms’ obscene and derogatory characterization of open enrollment students. (Report of the Commission on the Future of CUNY)

Sessoms has failed to have any third party review the consequences of his plan. Why? Maybe because a previous review rejected a similar Sessoms’ plan because it “will have an unacceptably disproportionate effect on low-income, minority and immigrant groups” (The Bar Association of New York)

Keep up the calls and emails to Council members and Mayor Fenty. Keep up the pressure! The tide is turning!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at Operation: Save UDC

                                                                            

Dear DC Council Member,
Please save UDC.
 
Please tell the UDC Trustees and UDC President Sessoms that they may not end open enrollment at our four year university.
 
Please tell them that they may not raise our tuition by 100%.
 
 
Please tell them that they first need to study the impact of such a huge tuition increase and the end of open enrollment at our four year university. Will the changes hurt access? Why such undue haste?
 
Dr. Sessoms was president of the City University of New York (CUNY), where he also tried to end open enrollment. CUNY Trustees forced out Sessoms, saying he misled them about millions of dollars. 
  
 
Please ask the UDC Trustees why they would hire someone like that. 
 
Thank you, Council Member, for saving UDC.
 
Sincerely,
UDC Students, UDC Faculty, and concerned community members
Operation: Save UDC 

                                                                            

The Fight to Stop Sessoms is Just Beginning

 

Dear Firebirds:

 

We cannot be more proud of you today.  Your display of solidarity in a time when our education and institution is under attack is commendable.  The Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Chairman James Dyke, voted in favor of Dr. Sessoms' tuition increase and other changes, but our challenges are not over.  We must see these challenges as an opportunity to make changes that we would like to see instituted in our university.

 

We have only witnessed Phase I of a battle that will loom on this semester.  Dr. Sessoms reevaluated his decision to change the tuition increase from 100% in the fall to 100% over the next two years.  Sure, we can claim victory for bringing attention to this unprecedented tuition hike, but we should not accept this increase either.  We must step up and increase our activism and civic engagement to meet our needs as students.

 

So, let's organize ourselves.  Join Operation Save UDC as we move forward with a plan of action to battle this increase until the very end.  Our battle has simply just begun.

 

If you would like to get involved to assist in Phase II, email: saveudc@gmail.com  and keep checking in here at www.saveudc.com.  We are immediately searching for volunteers to help with some research.  If that's you, let us know.  We need your help to help yourselves.

 

A huge thank you to all of those who supported this operation through the Board of Trustees vote.  We must team up with alumni, staff, faculty and students who share a vision of accountability, transparency and teamwork with respect to the operation and future of our university.

 

Sincerely,

 

William Kellibrew IV, on behalf of the entire Operation Save UDC Team

 

                                                                                                                 

SESSOMS PLAN SLASHED!
STUDENTS ARE SAVING UDC

In a stunning turnaround, UDC President Sessoms slashed BY HALF his proposed 100% tuition increase for the 2009-10 school year.

 

This radical surgery followed an overwhelming groundswell of opposition to his proposal. UDC students turned out in massive numbers to reject the proposal by protesting, petitioning, speaking out and camping out.

 

Why such drastic changes barely 24 hours before the Trustees’ vote?

 

Dr. Sessoms would have you believe it’s because of President Obama.

 

Yes, President Sessoms is actually claiming that the successful passage of Obama’s Stimulus Bill, saying it “provides UDC with sufficient new operating resources that we can now phase in the proposed tuition increase over the next two academic years.” This is transparently false.

 

Nothing relevant changed in the Stimulus Bill changed since February 11, when Dr. Sessoms used the Stimulus Bill as an example of why the full 100% increase was necessary this fall. But now Dr. Sessoms is using the SAME Stimulus Bill is an example of why this fall's increase should be only 50%.

 

Does Dr. Sessoms truly believe that UDC students and the Trustees and the DC Council will fall for that? Or is this patently absurd claim one last, desperate attempt to distract attention from the way that the plan has crumbled when exposed to the light of day?

 

From the beginning, it’s been obvious to the UDC family that this tuition increase has lacked proper planning, transparency and accountability. Dr. Sessoms has attempted to use students as a scapegoat for the University’s poor fiscal planning and financial mismanagement. 

 

The revised proposal does nothing to address these concerns. To call for the same increase over a two year period adds insult to injury and shows that the President's plan is flawed.

Read the UDC press release about the slashed plan.

                                                                            

UDC Students Enforce Administration Accountability
Dr. Sessoms answered student questions about his plan only after we publicized his delays. But vital questions remain unanswered.

Marathon question-answering session over the weekend STILL leaves many questions unanswered. "Summary Responses" fail to address the specific questions.

Sample Unanswered Question: "When will the changes take place?"

Sample Incomplete Answer: "We are seeking to clarify and create policy and procedures for merit versus need-based support for international students."
 
The lack of responsive answers still earns a FAILING GRADE two days before the Trustee's vote on the Sessoms Plan. It is NOT ready for a vote. 

                                                                            

Breaking News: 

The Washington Post Metro Columnist opposes Sessoms:

"Nay to the University of the District of Columbia for a wholesale strategy shift that puts the cart way before the horse. If UDC's goal is to improve to such a point that students would be willing to pay big money to go there, then the first thing the school needs to do is address its poor quality instruction and lousy record of graduating students. To jack up fees and impose admission standards first makes little sense: Is there any evidence that there's a population of students clamoring to pay market rates for a UDC degree?"

-Marc Fisher, Potomac Confidential, The Washington Post, February 12, 2009

____________________________________________
Dr. Sessoms wants to double UDC tuition this Fall.

Sign the Petition to stop him

(Note: There's a typo on the petition site. The first time the petition site mentions the proposed tuition increase it correctly calls it a "100% tuition increase" but the second time it calls it a "$100 increase." Oops! Our bad.)
____________________________________________

                                                                            

  • Operation Save UDC's Goals:
    1. The DC Government stops the Sessoms plan.
    2. Dr. Sessoms resigns as President of UDC.
    3. The mayor replaces the expired Trustees with people who care about open admissions and know that a 100% tuition increase is bad policy. 
    4. The UDC President and Trustees develop a new proposal with the involvement of all the stakeholders, including student leaders, students at-large, alumni, faculty, administration and the community.
The new proposal should address the real challenges before UDC rather than merely proposing structural and tuition changes.

Note that Dr. Sessoms still fails to include Howard University’s tuition rates (page 23), even though he includes Universities much further away. Why? 
Maybe doesn't want us to realize that both UDC and Howard will charge International Students the same amount-- about $14,000 a year. So why would they stay at UDC when they can pay the same at Howard?

Look at all the questions that Sessoms has not answered about his plan!

Updated post: Feb 16, 2009
It appears that Dr. Sessoms has finally decided to provide answers to some student questions, the DAY AFTER Operation: Save UDC publicized his failure to answer questions about his plan.

Many answers appeared over the weekend. But many questions are STILL not answered. Will they all be answered before the vote? Only if students keep the pressure on!

YOU are getting results in enforcing UDC accountability!

Original post: Feb 14, 2009
"More than two thirds of the questions are STILL unanswered with only two business days before the Trustee's vote! If we turned in less than a third of our work by the due date, we'd get a FAILING GRADE!"

  • Help Save UDC:
    • Volunteer! Email us!
    • Contact the DC Council
    • Contact the DC Mayor
    • Write letters to newspapers and TV news

DOES THIS TUITION INCREASE HARM YOUR EDUCATION?

If you won't be able to attend UDC this fall due to the 100% tuition increase, we need to know! You can help save UDC!

Email and tell us your story.

Contact: saveudc@gmail.com

                                                                            


Phase I of Operation: Save UDC succeeded in three ways:

  • We focused international attention on UDC's bad plan.
  • We brought together students, faculty and the community and we galvanized opposition to the plan.
  • We made Sessoms break up his plan from a 100% increase to two 50% increases over two years.

Now we need to save UDC at the DC government level.  

PHASE II BEGINS NOW

                                                                   

Letter to UDC students from William Kellibrew IV, February 18, 2009

Quotes from Dr. Sessoms:

  • "...the only people who benefit from open admissions are poor people and poor people don't vote." 

  • "[Expletive] in, [expletive] out. If you take in [expletive] and turn out [expletive] that is slightly more literate, you're still left with [expletive]."

--From the "Report of the Commission on the Future of CUNY" by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Part I, Remediation and Access: To Educate the "Children of the Whole People"

http://www.nycbar.org/Publications/reports/show_html.php?rid=47