The investiture of President and CEO Shantay Bolton marked a milestone for Columbia as she became the 11th president of the institution and the first Black woman to hold the position. The ceremony was one worth acknowledging and celebrating, but the community cannot let it overshadow the challenges ahead.
Columbia’s students are navigating questions about affordability and program changes. Faculty face the loss of sabbaticals, potential workload increases and changes to severance policies, and staff confront the possibility of job losses as the college grapples with enrollment uncertainty. The community deserves a president whose vision comes with a concrete plan. Bolton can be that president; it is now up to her to do the work.
At the investiture, college leaders praised Bolton for her early commitment to the institution. Student Government Association President Jenna Davis said Bolton “chose this institution and continues to choose to work for her students.” Faculty Senate President Karla Fuller called the investiture a renewal of shared commitment, as the Chronicle previously reported. By many accounts, Columbia has a president who visibly engages and shows up.
But engagement will not fix the college’s $40 million deficit. Bolton laid out four pillars at the annual State of the College last fall, which include: stabilizing enrollment, elevating the brand, strengthening philanthropy and improving operational efficiency — these are promising, but we need to know how they will be applicable.
When Columbia paused the annual Persistence Scholarship gala, the college indicated that the investiture would promote the Renaissance Innovation for Student Excellence Fund, or RISE Fund. Neither Bolton nor any other speaker mentioned scholarships or the RISE Fund during her address.
The president’s words carry weight only when they are followed by action that includes measurable goals and a willingness to make difficult decisions on behalf of the community.
What we need now is specificity. The administration should commit to publishing clear, public benchmarks for enrollment targets and a concrete outline of the RISE Fund detailing fundraising targets and information about what the fund will support. Students who may worry about the future of the Persistence Scholarship deserve a direct answer about it.
The investiture marked a new era. Now the real test begins. If Renaissance Rising is to be more than a slogan, Bolton must show how the college will move from celebration to stability.
Copy edited by Katie Peters
