Starting next fall, Columbia will accept DEI course transfers from other institutions.
Students must complete six credits of DEI courses to graduate. Currently, only courses taken at Columbia are eligible to fulfill the requirement.
The Faculty Senate passed the measure unanimously at its meeting on Friday, Nov. 1. The college will review the process annually.
Holly Herrera, associate provost for transfer initiatives and academic partnerships, said the aim is to ensure “flexibility for students” and to affirm the college’s commitment to inclusivity.
“We believe this policy shift will have a positive and lasting impact, making Columbia College Chicago a more receptive and supportive environment for all students, especially those transferring in from other institutions,” Herrera said.
Some examples of DEI courses that Columbia is offering in Spring 2025 include “The Biology of AIDS,” “Truth, Lies and Accuracy in the Digital Age,” “African-American Music Survey” and “Native American Literature.”
The Faculty Senate was presented with a proposal by the Academic Affairs Committee on Friday, Oct. 4, regarding accepting DEI course transfers from students who come from previous institutions.
The senate tabled a vote on the measure in October to allow more time for discussion, as the Chronicle previously reported.
The measure went back to the senate’s Academic Affairs Committee, where the requirement for an annual review was added.
“The committee members believed that that was the best way to ensure that Columbia’s DEI outcomes are being met,” said Dawn Larsen, co-chair of AAC and associate professor in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The DEI courses from previous institutions will be accepted to Columbia “under specific circumstances,” Herrera said. She also added that they want to honor the backgrounds and experiences from transfer students while “upholding the high academic standards that are core to our DEI mission.”
“Discussions about the substance of these reviews are still ongoing, as we work to establish a thoughtful, comprehensive, and sustainable review process,” Herrera said.
The annual review will be important to “ensure they continue to meet the standards of Columbia’s curriculum.” Herrera added that it will also “help guide the college as we strive to reduce barriers for transfer students while maintaining the standards of DEI course design and delivery that are a hallmark of a Columbia College Chicago education.”
Lara York, a transfer senior fashion merchandising major, said her transfer from her previous institution to Columbia was “harder” because she had to retake five classes she had already taken from her previous school.
She said she didn’t have any DEI courses transferred from her previous institution, but she still has to take six DEI credits according to her transcript.
Kane Williams, a transfer junior graphic design major, said his previous institution didn’t offer DEI courses, and that “anything that would more directly transfer what I had at my previous school over to Columbia would probably make it easier since I feel like I’ve had a couple issues since I got here.”
Copy edited by Manuel Nocera
Resumen En Español:
Columbia ahora aceptará transferencias de cursos en temas de Diversidad, Equidad e Inclusión de otras instituciones a partir del otoño de 2025, lo que permitirá a los estudiantes más flexibilidad para cumplir con el requisito de graduación de seis créditos DEI.
El Senado de la Facultad aprobó esta medida por unanimidad el 1 de noviembre, siguiendo las recomendaciones del Comité de Asuntos Académicos. Este cambio de política incluye un proceso de revisión anual para garantizar que los estándares DEI se respeten constantemente, con el objetivo de fomentar un entorno de mayor apoyo para los estudiantes transferidos.
La preboste asociada Holly Herrera enfatizó que este cambio honra las experiencias de los estudiantes transferidos y al mismo tiempo mantiene los estándares DEI de Columbia. La universidad ofrece una variedad de cursos DEI, como “La biología de la SIDA” y “Literatura Americana Nativa”. Los estudiantes transferidos como Lara York y Kane Williams destacaron los desafíos de la transferencia de créditos DEI y expresaron que dicha flexibilidad podría facilitar el proceso de transición.
Resumen por Manuel Nocera
Resumen copia editada por Doreen Abril Albuerne Rodriguez
