Message from Interim President Jerry Tarrer (12/16/24)

Over the past few months, we have reaffirmed our deep commitment to our mission and our central tenet that “creative careers start here” in order to solidify Columbia’s standing as a preferred destination for talented young creatives from all backgrounds.  

Today, we are rolling out a revitalized array of academic offerings designed to keep our college competitive in an increasingly challenging higher education landscape and position our students to be ever-more competitive in their professional endeavors. 

This is a logical and necessary step in our 135-year history of continued reinvention to provide a creative education grounded in real-world demands and opportunities. 

 The provost, with input from the faculty, school directors and deans, led a process to reimagine our program array that will promote future growth centered around student success, and meet students’ interests around services and outcomes. I want to express my gratefulness to everyone who took part in and informed this process in addition to carrying out all their other duties at the college. I especially wish to thank the faculty for their creative and thoughtful approach to this project, which has resulted in an exciting and forward-looking new program array.   

Earlier today, the provost and I shared our plan with our Board of Trustees. The finalized strategic realignment of the college’s program array will be in place for the 2025-26 academic year. It will empower us to invest in areas of potential growth that correspond to market demand.   

This fall, Columbia will launch a new beauty management program marketed to beauty and wellness professionals with a focus on diversity and sustainability initiatives in the beauty industry. The college is also exploring the creation of new programs in film and television production, textile design, professional writing and industrial design, which are areas that are experiencing growth in employer demand and correspond to centers of excellence at Columbia. 

Some programs will be phased out, others will be combined or integrated into other programs. Columbia will now offer 33 undergraduate degrees and 7 graduate degrees, representing a stronger and better array of programs aligned with where creative careers and industries are headed.  

Programs designated to sunset or merge will give students an opportunity to finish their program at Columbia without interruption, although they also will have the option to explore segueing into an adjacent program or major at the college if they choose and their status allows. None of the changes announced today for next fall impact the spring ’25 schedule and the courses for which students have registered. 

Nine programs will consolidate existing programs or new concentrations:  

• The Marketing BA will regroup Marketing, Social Media and Digital Strategy, Public Relations, and Advertising.  
• The new Animation and Computer Graphics BA will regroup Game Art, Animation, Computer Animation, and Traditional Animation. 
• The new Game and Interactive Media Design BA will regroup Game Design and Immersive Media, Programming, and User Experience (UX). 
• The new Journalism and Communication BA will regroup Communication, Journalism, Radio, and Photojournalism. 
• The Creative Writing BA will regroup Creative Writing and English.  
• The new Theatre Arts Production and Practice BA will regroup Theatre, and Theatre Design and Technology.  
• The new Visual Arts BA will regroup Photography, Fine Arts, and Illustration.  
• The Design Management BA will be merged with the Arts Management BA to be the Arts and Entertainment Management BA. 
• The Dance BA and Dance BFA will merge into a Dance BA. 

As reflected above, the following degrees will no longer be offered but will be integrated into new degrees (for instance, Columbia will go from having both a Dance BA and BFA to having a Dance BA; as another example, the Computer Animation BFA and Traditional Animation BFA will no longer be offered but Computer Animation and Traditional Animation will join Animation and Game Art as components of a new  Animation and Computer Graphics BA): 

• Computer Animation BFA 
• Dance BFA 
• Design Management BA 
• English BA 
• Immersive Media BA  
• Programming BS 
• Traditional Animation BFA 

The following will no longer be offered as a degree or as part of a degree at Columbia, though some courses may continue to be offered: 

• Environmental and Sustainability Studies BA
• American Sign Language BA
• Cultural Studies BA
• Art History BA

Disciplines no longer offered as discrete undergraduate majors will continue to be represented in specific course content, standalone courses, minors, and/or concentrations and curricular pathways. 

The 7 graduate programs being discontinued are: 

• Creative Writing MFA 
• User Experience and Interaction Design MA 
• Cinema and Television Producing MFA 
• Acting and Contemporary Performance Making MA 
• Acting and Contemporary Performance Making MFA 
• Fine Arts MFA 
• Photography MFA 

Enrollment of new students in the discontinued programs will cease effective Fall ’25; the college is reaching out to applicants into those programs.  No further program consolidations or eliminations are under consideration for the 2026-27 academic year. 

Other programs not merging or being discontinued will also see changes designed to simplify student paths to graduation, expand collaborative opportunities, and revise the number of courses to allow robust required and elective course numbers while bringing our offerings more in line with levels at institutions comparable to Columbia in size and scope. These modifications will be described in detail in a report to be shared by the Provost tomorrow. 

We expect there will be up to 25 full-time faculty position eliminations. With the array now defined, the provost's office will determine which full-time faculty departures will be necessary. Impacted faculty members will be notified in January, upon completion of that process. No staff separations will take place as a result of this program array realignment. 

I acknowledge these decisions are painful. The loss of our colleagues has an impact on the Columbia community.  However, these actions are also necessary for the long-term success of our cherished college.   

The transformational achievements of our 135-year history speak to our ability to successfully navigate this moment and continue our mission of preparing creatives for successful careers for many generations to come. 

I am confident that this revised set of program offerings will amplify the voices of our diverse student population and prepare the next generation of creatives to launch their careers at Columbia. 

Sincerely,

Jerry Tarrer, Interim President

Consolidated Programs FAQs

• My program was consolidated, what will my diploma/degree say?
  Your diploma title and degree will not change. Your degree name is based on the year you entered the college. Example: If you are currently a Photography major, your diploma will reflect that title.
• Will this change my degree requirements to graduate?
  No, but there could be some substitutions depending on course availability.  
• Can I change my major? 

  We encourage you to have detailed conversations with your academic advisor if considering any changes to your major. 

• Will these changes affect the courses I’m registered for next semester? 
  No. We have no plans to make changes to the spring semester schedule that are related to the program array. As always, if courses are underenrolled, those courses are subject to changes. 

Discontinued Programs FAQs

• My program is being discontinued, what is my pathway to graduate? 
  Please know that even if your program is being discontinued, you will be able to pursue and complete your selected major without interruption. You may alternately want to consider transferring to a new, reconfigured program that even better addresses your career goals. Students should talk to their school directors and/or advisor for further guidance. See contact information below. 
• How long do I have to complete my degree if it’s being discontinued? 
  You will be able to complete your degree in the original timeframe laid out from when you began your program. 
• The program I applied for in my college admissions is being discontinued. How does this affect my application progress/acceptance to Columbia? 

  Your application will not be affected and will remain active in our system. Prospective students can work with an Admissions Advisor to find a similar program of interest. Contact information is provided below. 

• What are the new options for majors/programs?  

  Please refer to the lists included on this page for the updated program array. We advise you to reach out to your Academic Advisor with concerns about switching your major. 

• I am a newly admitted transfer student and the program I was originally in is no longer offered. Will my course track be different and will my previous credits be counted? 

  Transfer credits will still be counted. Some transfer credits may count toward different graduation requirements than those previously described. Please contact our Transfer Department transfer@colum.edu for more information. 

Student and Family-Focused FAQs 

• How will impacted students be notified of next steps? 

  We are committed to seeing all our continuing students through to the completion of their degree. If a student is impacted by a program being phased out or consolidated, the student will have opportunities to speak with their program coordinator, school director and/or academic advisor. The college may need to implement course substitutions in specific cases. Each of the schools are in the process of developing transition plans. 

  For prospective students, the Columbia Admissions Department will be reaching out to those students who are enrolled in programs that are being discontinued. 

• What resources are available to students navigating this change? 

  While we are confident that this new program array is the right step forward for the continued viability and relevance of Columbia College Chicago, we understand that change can be challenging to navigate. If you are a current student, please take advantage of the resources available to you that will support you through these changes.  

  Academic Advising  

  Columbia Central  

  Center for Student Wellbeing 

  Contact your school director/department at the contact emails below if you need additional assistance. 

   

• What elements of student campus life (i.e. housing, Student Center, gym, etc.) will be affected? 

  None of the campus facilities will be affected by our new program array offerings.  

• Will any of these changes affect my scholarships/financial aid? 

  No. 

• How will the academic calendar and timelines be affected? 

  The academic calendar will not be affected by the new program array offerings. 

• Will any of the student learning accommodations be affected? 

  No. 

• How will this transition affect the quality and efficacy of the student’s education and training? 

  The focus of our programs continues to be on student success. We are excited about how these changes streamline student pathways toward their professional goals and align with current industry practices. The streamlining of requirements also gives students the option to dive deeper into the creative areas that interest them most.  

• Does this affect the institution’s higher education status? 

  No. We continue to have a strong relationship with our accrediting body, Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 

• I am a parent of a current student, what are the next steps for me?

  Your student will remain on the path to complete their degree. If you have further questions, please reach out to your student’s school director at the contact information below. 

• Will aspects of the student culture be affected by the program array? 

  We believe the vibrancy and diversity of our student culture is a core strength of Columbia, and we are committed to preserving it as we move forward with our new program offerings.  

• Will student clubs and associations be affected by the transition? 

  Clubs and associations are separate from our academic programs. As long as there are students who are engaged and participating in the clubs and/or associations, they will continue to exist on campus.

Alumni-Focused FAQs

• Will alumni of discontinued programs lose any benefits, such as networking opportunities, continued faculty support, or access to facilities? 

  As an alum of Columbia College Chicago, your benefits and support will remain in perpetuity.  

• Were alumni of the affected programs consulted before this decision? 

  Yes. Some of our alumni were consulted during the process and were part of certain committees.  

• Will donor scholarships or other financial gifts directly linked to a program that no longer exists still be accepted? 

  The terms and conditions of donor scholarships and/or gifts are unchanged and unaffected. Donor support that directly impacts students will continue regardless of the program status. 

• How can alumni help the college during this transitional phase? 

  As always, we are deeply grateful for our strong alumni community and network. If you are inclined to donate or get more involved in alumni events and networking opportunities, please visit the Development and Alumni Relations site to learn more.  

General FAQs

• Why is the college changing its majors and program array? 

  Columbia College Chicago is updating its program offerings to ensure it continues to deliver professional success for young creatives.  

  This strategic realignment of our academic offerings is designed to strengthen the appeal of Columbia among students who seek to start a creative career. These programs strongly align with the direction creative fields are headed and what employers expect. 

• What are the proposed overall cost savings? 

  The sunsetting of programs that are not closely aligned with our main creative focus allows us to innovate and reinvest in high-demand and high-reward creative fields that position our students for success. The announced plan meets a faculty salary budget reduction goal of $3.4M over two years. The college also plans to announce an additional round of targeted VSIP offers in the spring to help meet this goal. 

• How many faculty and staff will be impacted by the program array changes? 

  Difficult staffing decisions needed to be made in accordance with the realignment of programs and our academic structure. It is expected that up to 25 faculty positions will be eliminated as part of this realignment. No staff separations will take place as a result of this program array realignment. Impacted individuals will be notified in coming weeks. 

• What was the process of determining if a program will be discontinued or consolidated? 

  The process was an inclusive and multi-level approach involving faculty and various stakeholders to finalize the initial Advisory Report from the Provost. Subject area working groups originated proposals based on the Advisory Report that were reviewed by the school curriculum committee and directors. From there, the college-wide curriculum committee reviewed the plans along with the Dean of Academic Programming, Academic Affairs committee, and faculty senate. The proposals were then reviewed by the full faculty senate and finalized by the provost.  

• Are there plans to offer similar or related programs in the future, even if under a different structure? 

  We are always exploring new program offerings that align with our mission and the current needs of the professional marketplace. 

• When will these changes be implemented? 

  Students currently enrolled in discontinued programs will be able to complete their selected majors without interruption. New students will not be enrolled in the discontinued programs. 

  For current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors continuing in discontinued programs, we will develop completion plans through 2028. 

• Prospective students should contact the Admissions Department at admissions@colum.edu.
• Alumni should contact the Development and Alumni Relations Department at alumni@colum.edu. 
• Current students should contact Advising at collegeadvising@colum.edu.
• Current students can also contact their school directors per the following:
  • School of Design - designprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Visual Arts - visualartsprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Business and Entrepreneurship - beprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Film and Television Reception - filmandtvprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Communication and Culture - sccprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Theatre & Dance - theatredanceprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Audio and Music - samprograms@colum.edu
  • School of Fashion - schooloffashion@colum.edu
• Media inquiries should contact Strategic Communications and External Relations at campuscomms@colum.edu

• Columbia's Program Updates (9.11.24)

  Dear Columbia College Chicago Faculty and Staff, 

  This week we started a series of steps to ensure Columbia College Chicago, which enters its 135^th year in 2025, continues to be a destination for creatives who seek to make an impact in today’s world.

  Like many private institutions, we have been faced with challenges which have impacted our enrollment and increased operational costs, challenges we urgently need to address to ensure the continuing health of the college. To address them, we must focus on those elements that distinguish us in the marketplace: educational programming that is driven by our community’s understanding and appreciation of the value of creatives and creative thinking, and our commitment to preparing creatives to impact the world through their creative careers. Our business model must reflect what we value, but also reflect our appreciation that keeping our education affordable furthers our commitment to being a broadly inclusive college for students from a wide variety of backgrounds.

  The Challenge

  When we admit students to a program of study, we promise to deliver the courses required for them to complete their degree. The delivery of each major program comes with an associated minimum instructional cost that includes the salaries of our instructional staff; equipment, lab and specialized staff support; Core educational costs; and vital academic and student support services, such as academic advisors, tutors, our Library and Registrar, Dean of Students, disability services, wellness and a host of other support elements. The minimum instructional costs increase with the number of credits associated with the program and complexity of the program elements, including prerequisite requirements and the number of electives.

  For a program to be economically viable, there must be a minimum number of students enrolled in the program so that the tuition collected pays for the minimum costs of delivering the program. For a program to be healthy, there needs to be financial resources that allow for innovation and reinvestment.

  The number of programs we offer in our program array reflects a time when we had many more students. Now, the majority of our programs have a total enrollment – across all four years – of fewer than 50 students, and cost more to deliver than we collect in tuition. Even those programs with more robust enrollment are often designed with complicated pathways that cost more to deliver than we collect in tuition. This is not a sustainable educational model, and it does not permit innovation: our efforts to continue to fund our current array of 58 undergraduate programs has stretched us thin.

  This is a challenge we must face together as a college. We have in the past few years tried different strategies: growing our student body, increasing revenue through our tuition and development strategies, and lowering both administrative and instructional costs through efficiencies. Those strategies have helped – and we will continue to pursue them – but more needs to be done; it is time for a comprehensive reset of our academic programming. Together, we need to find the right number and mix of programs that allows us to thrive. As was noted in the recent message about our enrollment:

  To ensure creatives from across our country (and internationally) have the opportunity to seriously consider our college for their education, we must ensure our creative-focused program offering continues to align with the expectations and needs of students, families, and industry.

  Our Next Steps

  Our review of our programs has identified a number of discrete programs that are costly to deliver, and our external consultants have recommended that we sunset those programs. In addition, they recommend closing some smaller discrete programs that are not closely aligned with our main creative focus. Fulfilling our promise to faculty at the beginning of the summer, we have presented both the consultants’ recommendations and our immediate reaction to them. Our intent is to feed those recommendations into a much larger transformational mandate: a reimagined program array that is a sustainable mix of programs, promoting growth, centering student success, and meeting students’ interests and expectations around costs and outcomes.

  Reducing the number of programs to a sustainable number will mean phasing out some programs and developing new programs that combine key disciplinary elements, while maintaining our distinctiveness and better supporting all CCC students in achieving their creative and professional goals.

  What Will This Mean For Students?

  For students currently enrolled in our programs and the faculty who teach in them, nothing will immediately change. Currently, no action has been taken to terminate a program, other than three programs already in the process of being phased out. All programs continue until the recommendations of the faculty are reviewed by the provost later this fall.  

  For many programs, we anticipate that much current content will be available in a differently configured program. Current students will be offered the opportunity to transition to new and our adjacent program (in the same way they were offered the opportunity to transition to the improved Core Curriculum) to complete their studies. For students continuing in existing programs, we will develop completion plans that supports them through 2028 (current freshmen, sophomores and juniors). For the three programs that are already being phased out, Acoustics, Documentary, and Television Writing and Business, we will continue to deliver those programs to students enrolled in those programs through 2027.

  Following an expedited timeline, a new program framework will be developed this fall, and in spring we will be able to announce new programs being made available beginning fall 2025.

  Meeting The Challenge

  Since its founding in 1890, Columbia College Chicago has charted a new course several times, transitioning from an oratory school to a comprehensive liberal arts college with a vibrant creatives’ curriculum, pivoting to incorporate emerging creative practices, and shifting away from disciplines rendered obsolete by cultural or technological advancements.

  Those previous transformational achievements give us the confidence to believe that, working together, Columbia College can successfully navigate this moment, and continue our mission of preparing creatives for success for many decades to come. We look forward to meeting the challenge with you.

  Jerry Tarrer

  Interim President

  Marcella David

  Senior Vice President and Provost 

• A Message To Students About Program Changes (9.18.24)

  Dear Columbia College Chicago Students,

  Please view this important video message from Interim President Jerry Tarrer regarding your questions about the college’s program array evaluation. You can view our FAQs page for more information as well.

  Sincerely,

  Jerry Tarrer

  Interim President

   

• Update on College Program Array Work (11.05.2024)

  Dear Colleagues:

  I write to congratulate and thank the faculty and staff for the important curricular work you have engaged in this fall. Interim President Jerry Tarrer and I set an ambitious timeline for a review of our program array, with a goal of recommitting to our students a mix of programs that are tooled to support student success, enable our students to graduate with the confidence and competence to build successful and fulfilling creative careers in contemporary contexts, and ensure the continuity of our commitment to access and innovation.

  This week, we are right on track. School directors developed program frameworks, sharing them with faculty working groups in each school early in October. Faculty working groups have built out those frameworks, and school curriculum committees have shared program proposals with our new College-Wide Curriculum Committee this week. The program proposals will continue to be studied, discussed, and refined by the dean of academic programming and the Faculty Senate, resulting in a full set of program recommendations to be shared with my office for review and approval in December. In the weeks following the approval of the program array, we will refine and affirm program details to launch new programs next fall, even as we fulfill our commitment to our current students in existing major pathways.

  As our work continues, I have confidence in the future of Columbia College Chicago. Our community will continue to thrive, and our students will continue to make an impact through the next 135 years of Columbia’s legacy.

  Sincerely,

  Marcella David

  Senior Vice President and Provost