Executive Director of Chicago Portfolio School Criticizes Semester Launch as 'Unorganized' and 'Inattentive'
In the buzzing city of Chicago, students and instructors of the Chicago Portfolio School, a renowned creative hotspot, are left in the dark as summer session U-turns towards its start, yet lacking a comprehensive schedule. This for-profit institution, known for charging students a whopping $19,300 per year, is causing concern for its students and staff members, as the tuition checks have been cashed without a clear schedule in sight.
Adweek interviewed several students and teachers, and their complaints centered around the lack of transparency and organization. However, Executive Director Jeff Epstein apologetically attributed this mess to a "messy and irresponsible delay" on his part. He explained that the school has faced issues with staffing and challenges due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Curiously enough, the sheer nature of portfolio schools like the one in question, often resembles the enigmatic puzzle pieces that make up a dynamic and trendy portfolio, themselves. These institutions typically require intricate scheduling to accommodate instructor availability, student needs, and the ever-evolving landscape of the creative industry.
For instance, Book180, a similar six-month portfolio program based in the Pacific Time region, recently unveiled its 2025 class schedule, demonstrating that portfolio schools often make schedule tweaks close to the session start date [1]. This phenomenon could suggest that the Chicago Portfolio School is currently grappling with challenges in aligning instructors' availability and course offerings within its specialized curriculum.
These scheduling hurdles may stem from a myriad of sources: coordinating numerous instructors with different commitments, ensuring courses meet industry standards and reflect current creative trends, managing small class sizes, and adapting to fluctuating student enrollment numbers.
The complex logistics of finalizing instructor assignments and course details in a program tailored to provide individualized portfolio education is what likely leads to these delays in schedule disclosure [1]. Regrettably, no specific data about this school's delay was found in the current search results, but this analysis aligns with the common scheduling struggles observed in portfolio-focused educational programs.
In essence, delays often arise from scheduling instructor availability, course offerings, and making necessary adjustments to keep up with creative and advertising trends in the industry [1]. These delays can ultimately impact students' ability to plan their schedules and instructors' ability to prepare effectively.
So keep an eye on the horizon, Chicago Portfolio School students and staff, as we trust that the puzzle pieces will come together eventually.
Despite the concerns, Executive Director Jeff Epstein acknowledges the scheduling challenges at the Chicago Portfolio School, which he attributes to staffing issues and the ongoing pandemic. To achieve a well-rounded and industry-relevant education, the school requires intricate scheduling, involving course offerings, instructor availability, and adapting to creative trends – a process similar to crafting a portfolio itself. These complex logistics may account for the delay in disclosing the schedule, impacting both students' and instructors' plans.
