Students questioned Columbia President and CEO Shantay Bolton about the impact of faculty and staff cuts and the college’s plans for artificial intelligence in the classroom during a Student Government Association event on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
About 20 students and staff members attended the twice-yearly conversation with the president held in the fifth floor event space at the Student Center.
Bolton said students may notice changes throughout the college but remaining staff will be able to fully support students.
“I recognize that there is a level of impact when you have to shrink your workforce,” Bolton said. “It’s been a rough battle these last two years, which y’all are no stranger to. But I do think that we need to continue being present as administrators, faculty and staff.”
Students also raised concerns about the impact of Columbia’s smaller faculty. Since January 2025, 54 full-time faculty have been laid off, part of a series of cost-cutting measures to close a more than $40 million operating deficit last fiscal year. The college also has not disclosed the number of staff it laid off, but in an Instagram post on Sept. 15, Columbia’s staff union said 23 union staff positions were eliminated over the past five months.
In May 2024, the college laid off more than 70 staff, including four therapists. It closed the on-site health center three months later, replacing it with the Center for Student Wellbeing, which offers mental health and intervention services.
Kiran Crushshon, a junior illustration major, said it was still difficult ahead of this fall semester to reach staff.
“I know that impacted me and a lot of other students,” Crushshon said.
Bolton emphasized the importance of the student experience in answering questions.
“Our primary purpose is to be in service to the students and I think this year we’ve been more intentional about focusing on that and then making the shifts we need,” Bolton said. “Now, I’ll say we aren’t where we need to be, but we certainly aren’t where we were at a year ago. And I hope students feel that.”
Cassiel Garcia, a senior illustration major who works at the Career Center, told the Chronicle that it’s hard for students to get an appointment for an adviser after layoffs at the start of the semester left just two advisers. Garcia said the advisers are sometimes fully booked for weeks.
“Everyone in the staff is capable of helping all majors, but there are so many students that need help,” Garcia said. “It’s one of those things where firing these student facing positions that really were helping current students and alumni has really harmed career progression. Students are scared about what’s coming next.”
Students were able to submit questions in advance, which Lutz read to the president. Many of them raised concerns about AI and its introduction into the classroom.
“A lot of students don’t want AI on campus, and that’s just a fact,” said Amelia Lutz, SGA president and a senior film and television major. “All of those questions at the end of the day, come down to making sure the students feel listened to in these implementations that are happening.”
Bolton said art should remain human-centered, but pretending AI doesn’t exist could harm students. Bolton said she has worked with a committee of students, staff and alumni to try and figure out an ethical way for Columbia to implement AI into classrooms.
“I don’t think it can be forced, but I also don’t think we can bury our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist,” Bolton said. “I think we at Columbia College have an opportunity to be the leading voice when it comes to creative AI technology, and I think that’s a unique space.”
Crushshon said it’s crucial for students to voice their concerns directly to senior administrators whenever they can.
“Sometimes it’s the only way that we can bring things to their attention,” Crushshon said. “You can leave a voicemail, you can leave an email. But sometimes seeing the face of the person that’s actively being impacted by the issues and hearing their words, makes it stick more in the brain.”
Copy Edited by Mia Smith
