This week on Three C’: The college recommends cutting 18 majors by next fall; the Student Health Center; and the move-out of the 624 S. Michigan building.
TRANSCRIPT
0:05
Welcome to the Three C’s with the Columbia Chronicle.
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Your go-to source for the top three things every Columbia College student, faculty and staff member needs to know.
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This week we are here to bring you credible information about our campus and provide the clarity you need on the issues that matter most to our community.
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I’m your host, Greer Stewart.
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This week we’re talking about the majors the college is recommending be cut, the closing of the 624 S. Michigan Ave. building and the closure of the Student Health Center.
0:41
The college plans to release a program review that will cut close to 18 majors to reduce its financial deficit.
0:48
Current students will be offered the opportunity to transition to new or existing programs.
0:54
Students enrolled in programs recommended for sunset will still be able to receive a degree in their current major.
1:00
Several students have expressed apprehension over the program changes including Senior Rachel East.
1:06
I am absolutely devastated by this news and I think that it would be absolutely irresponsible of Columbia College Chicago to discontinue the American Sign Language program.
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The program that we have here at Columbia is the only four-year bachelor degree program for American Sign Language Interpretation.
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In the entire state of Illinois, there is a national shortage of interpreters in the United States of America and this program is directly giving back to the Deaf community.
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So taking this program away impacts the Deaf community.
1:38
Currently, no action is being taken to phase out a program that appears on the recommended list.
1:43
Current students will be offered the opportunity to transition to new or existing programs for the three programs that are already being phased out including acoustics, documentary and television writing and business.
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Staff will continue to offer support to enrolled students through 2027.
2:04
The 624 S. Michigan building home to several staff, faculty and students for over three decades is set to close this year.
2:12
In addition to classrooms, faculty offices and the library, 624 is also home to the Columbia bookstore and honors lounge.
2:20
Faculty have already started moving out of the building ahead of the possible sale.
2:28
Following closure of the Health Care Center, a new center of well being has been introduced to meet students’ mental health needs.
2:35
The center for student well being partners with TimelyCare to offer long term mental health services and rapid care interventions.
2:42
TimelyCare will also provide students with therapists without overbooking in-person counselors.
2:48
Final decisions for phased out programs will be announced in early 2025 with the proposal to sell the 624 S. Michigan building.
2:56
The library will be relocated.
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Relocation for the library and bookstore has not yet been identified.
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The new TimelyCare program and consultation line maximizes the capacity that staff can help students while offering flexible access to medical and mental health needs.
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Listen to our other stories at columbiachronicle.com and sign up for our newsletter at columbiachronicle.com/newsletter.
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I’m Greer Stewart.
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Thanks for listening.
Copy edited by Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez
