Education
New Columbia College President on Her Vision for the School’s Future
Shantay Bolton was appointed the 11th president and CEO of Columbia College Chicago at what she calls a “pivotal moment” for the school.
Bolton, who is the first woman of color to lead the minority-serving institution (MSI), inherits a campus that has seen enrollment steadily decline over the last decade. According to the college, enrollment fell below 4,000 students this spring for the first time in more than 20 years. Two decades ago, Columbia enrolled roughly 12,000 students. This past fall, enrollment stood at 4,461 students — a decline of more than 60% since 2011.
The college is also facing a $40 million budget deficit.
The deficit has prompted repeated cost-cutting measures including four rounds of layoffs in the last 18 months, eliminating dozens of faculty positions. In January alone, the college laid off 23 full-time faculty members.
“Periods of uncertainty oftentimes offer, equally, opportunities for those institutions to innovate and to lean into the moment,” said Bolton, who remains optimistic of the school’s future. “It allows Columbia College Chicago an opportunity for us to reimagine who we want to be. We’ve been in existence 135 years, anchored right here in the heart of the city of Chicago, and we’re part of a very important economic development component with the creative economy here.”
Last September, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would no longer award discretionary grants to MSIs or Hispanic-serving institutions. Columbia College is classified as both.
Private colleges and universities nationwide have taken a hit over the last year as enrollment to nonprofit institutions declined by 1.6%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. Humanities and arts programs face a similar crisis as many students opt for what’s viewed as more practical endeavors like a STEM-related education.
In a bid to counteract these negative trends, Columbia under Bolton’s leadership has begun rebuilding its relationships with Chicago Public Schools and elevating its national profile by showcasing its student artists and their arts festival Manifest.
Columbia is also actualizing its vision through “Renaissance Rising: Shaping Tomorrow Together,” a campus-wide initiative aimed at revitalizing the college through innovation, student investment and stronger connections to creative industries.
“I envision us being the premier creative arts education center in the heart of Chicago — being able to bring together both education, workforce development and industry partnerships in a way that creates sustainable and fluid careers for creative professionals,” Bolton said.
