Columbia is welcoming about 1,100 new students for fall 2026, up from 632 first-time, first-year students last fall.

After years of declining enrollment, this increase is a reason for Columbia to be optimistic. The college has cut costs and reduced its staffing as it works to adjust to a smaller student body and to address its financial challenges. Now, as enrollment begins to recover, Columbia has a responsibility to make sure students do not feel the effects of those losses.

First-year and transfer students left New Student Convocation last week excited and ready for the fall semester, which started on Tuesday, Sept. 8. There is a lot to be excited about.

The new Center for Student Success is now open on the first floor of the 33 E. Ida B. Wells building. The vibrant space is now a centralized hub for student support offices, including Academic Advising and Student Financial Services. It also includes a food pantry and kitchen area for students to prepare meals.

The same building has a new Honors Lounge and Academic Center for Tutoring on the 6th floor. 

Although not new, the Hive, Student Center and Center For Student Wellbeing all offer resources to support students.

These resources matter even more as Columbia adjusts to a smaller staff and works to rebuild enrollment. This summer, the college laid off five instructional specialists in the School of Visual Arts, along with four senior administrators and 54 full-time faculty members since January 2025.

Just this week, the Chronicle reported that two out of the four career advisor positions were eliminated in that last round of layoffs in August. Anna Ogier-Bloomer, associate dean of career development and industry relations, sought to reassure students that the same resources will be available to them because the leadership team at the Career Center will step in to help. We certainly hope that will happen.

Faculty are understandably feeling the uncertainty and stress of the cuts. Since January 2025, Columbia has laid off 54 full-time faculty.

But, as students return to campus excited about a new semester, faculty have an important role in helping sustain that excitement. Coming into the classroom with a clear plan and syllabus and focusing on what students can accomplish at Columbia now can help students feel prepared and welcome as they adjust to college.

Faculty do not have to ignore the challenges Columbia has faced. But students should not be made to feel as though they are walking into a college that is still looking back at the historic part-time faculty strike. They deserve faculty who can acknowledge the difficult changes while also helping them see what is possible moving forward.

More students are choosing Columbia again. The college’s next challenge is making sure they have every reason to stay.

Copy edited by Antonio Chaves