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Columbia College Chicago announced I plan to eliminate 70 positions Throughout the institution. This figure represents approximately 5% of all staff and faculty.
The university also said it would eliminate another 32 vacancies as it attempts to downsize in the face of financial pressures.
The timing of dismissal varies depending on the position. Those laid off will receive severance and transition assistance, according to Jerry Tarrer, Columbia's chief financial officer.
“Today’s layoffs are part of a series of actions designed to cut the university’s operating deficit in half,” Tarrer said in a message to campus. aThe administration forecast annual deficits of more than $30 million for the next several years, following a $37.9 million deficit in fiscal 2024.
“As we work to stabilize and strengthen the financial foundation of the University, we are also committed to better aligning our academic offerings to better support the academic and professional success of our current and future students,” Tarrer added.
Columbia did not confirm which departments were seeing cuts. report The Columbia Chronicle, the university's student newspaper, said those laid off so far include therapists at the university's counseling center, librarians, academic advisors, tutoring center staff and student financial aid staff.
University leaders previously said there were no plans for cuts on campus. employee In ~ Columbia Counseling Center.
The announcement came shortly after the university's Board of Trustees voted on: Major restructuring efforts This includes a curriculum overhaul, administrative overhaul and expected staff reductions.
As part of the restructuring, Columbia is reducing core educational requirements for students. University officials may also end up discontinuing 28 academic programs they have labeled “concerns.”
changes, It is expected to save $18 million from the fiscal year 2025 operating budget. It is part of the plan established by . Columbia University President Kim Kwang-woo, He said in a May report that the institution could face an “existential threat” due to budget deficits and declining enrollment. The chancellor said enrollment has declined 36 percent since 2013, reaching 6,529 students in fall 2023.