BURLINGTON – Citing issues such as rising costs, lower enrollment, and the need for more student empowerment, Champlain College in Burlington has announced that it will convert from a traditional college business model over the summer, starting the Fall 2019 term as a student owned-cooperative. Students will now be able to set tuition themselves, while taking on many of the roles previous filled by paid employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some paid staff will stay on, each student that joins the co-op will have an additional responsibility, with duties ranging from cleaning bathrooms to teaching advanced lecture courses. “This is going to save us a lot of money,” said incoming board chair and rising junior Liz Astor. “If we all just pitch in and help out, I think we can make college affordable and fun for everyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Astor hopes to graduate with a degree in Creative Media in 2021, and says she doesn’t think her new duties will get in the way of that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Sure, it will be a little more work. I have monthly board meetings, and I’m teaching a Criminal Procedure course twice a week, but my mom watched a lot of Law & Order when I was a kid, so with a little online research I think I should be able to handle that pretty easily. Otherwise, it’s business as usual.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the first changes authorized by the new student owners was the prohibition of any classes starting earlier than 11 AM. This passed unanimously via an online student\/member vote. Currently the board is drafting a resolution that would provide marijuana to all students during exam weeks, although there is some concern about cost and legality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"