Columbia College Chicago to cut 11 programs, lay off up to 25 faculty members
CHICAGO - As Columbia College Chicago faces ongoing financial challenges, the school announced Monday it will cut 11 degree programs and lay off up to 25 full-time faculty members starting in the 2025-26 school year.
Columbia’s interim President Jerry Tarrer said in an announcement the changes were necessary to keep the college competitive "in an increasingly challenging higher education landscape."
"I acknowledge these decisions are painful," he said in the announcement. "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."
What we know
Starting in the fall of 2025, Columbia will no longer offer four of its undergraduate degrees:
- Environmental and sustainability studies
- American Sign Language
- Cultural studies
- Art history
The school will also cut seven graduate programs:
- Creative writing
- User experience and interaction design
- Cinema and television producing
- Acting and contemporary performance making (MA)
- Acting and contemporary performance making (MFA)
- Fine arts
- Photography
Columbia will also consolidate nine existing programs, so other degrees will no longer be offered but integrated into other programs.
After the changes, the school will offer 33 undergraduate degrees and seven graduate degrees, which Tarrer said would represent a "stronger and better array of programs aligned with where creative careers and industries are headed."