Columbia laid off five full-time faculty members in its third round of cuts this year, notifying them this week that their teaching-track and tenure contracts will not be renewed for the 2026-27 school year.
Two were tenure-track and three were teaching-track faculty, sources to the Chronicle. Teaching-track faculty must have their contracts renewed annually and are not eligible for tenure at the college.
In a statement sent to the Chronicle, the college said the nonrenewals stem from “recent changes in Columbia’s program offerings and the minimizing of core curriculum requirements to support student matriculation to completion,” according to Lambrini Lukidis, associate vice president of strategic communications and external relations. The college did not release the names of the five faculty members or their schools.
The Chronicle is not disclosing the names of faculty who were laid off unless they provide consent or talk publicly about their dismissal.
In all, 48 full-time faculty have lost their jobs since January as Columbia continues restructuring amid enrollment declines and shifts in curriculum. In the previous rounds of cuts, 32 tenured faculty were laid off, in addition to teaching-track faculty.
“I’m sure the layoffs had nothing to do with performance,” said Faculty Senate President Karla Fuller. “The faculty who will not be returning are no doubt excellent teachers and outstanding creatives.”
Michael Caplan, president of Columbia’s AAUP chapter, did not know about the cuts. He said faculty were feeling “cautiously optimistic” about the administration’s promise to consult with the community on plans for Columbia’s future.
“This would be an unfortunate first step in the commitment that was made to lead Columbia in a more inclusive way, and it would certainly lead to a lowering of faculty morale,” he told the Chronicle.
The move continues a year of restructuring that has included multiple rounds of faculty and staff reductions. In all, 48 full-time faculty — or 21% have lost their jobs since January.
The number far exceeds the 11 to 13 that former President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim initially estimated in 2024 when the college declared adverse circumstances.
Teaching-track roles at Columbia encompass a wide range of experience and responsibilities, and not all teaching-track faculty were affected in this round. David Woolley, a professor of Instruction in the School of Theatre and Dance who has taught at Columbia for 40 years, said he was not part of the layoffs but spoke to the Chronicle to explain how teaching-track positions function.
Woolley said that while teaching-track faculty do not receive certain benefits available to tenured professors, such as sabbaticals, the role has offered him stability. “I have been steadily employed doing what I love to do,” he said.
Under Columbia’s Statement of Policy on Academic Freedom, Faculty Status, Tenure, and Due Process, teaching-track faculty must be notified of nonrenewal for the following academic year no later than Feb. 1. The policy cites several potential reasons for nonrenewal, including changes in program offerings, curriculum adjustments and declines in student enrollment.
Columbia’s enrollment decreased by over 1,000 students this past year, as the Chronicle previously reported.
The layoffs also come after the Board of Trustees voted to freeze tuition for the next school year as the college addresses its $40 million budget deficit under new President and CEO Shantay Bolton.
“The solution to our problems cannot be found by continuing to cut student-facing positions,” said Brendan Riley, chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate. He told the Chronicle that he was concerned that the college moved forward with another round of layoffs without publicly discussing the plan to address the college’s financial situation.
In her first formal address to faculty in August, Bolton talked about her commitment to openness as she addressed the financial challenges.
“We will communicate transparently, and we will act together because our collective imagination is Columbia’s greatest strength,” she said.
Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco
This story has been updated.
Resumen En Español
En su tercera ronda de recortes, cinco miembros de facultad de tiempo completo fueron despedidos.
El colegio ha dicho que la razón fue debido a los cambios de clases requeridas y el currículo central reducido.
Esto sigue múltiples cambios cuáles han tomado lugar en el colegio incluyendo múltiples reducciones en facultad y empleados.
En total, 48 miembros de la facultad de tiempo completo han sido despedidos desde enero de este año.
Resumen En Español Por Uriel Reyes
Copia editado por Brandon Anaya
