By Maya Liquigan

November 9, 2024

Around 400 prospective students attended the collegewide open house along with their families on Saturday, Nov. 5 to explore campus, connect with faculty and meet current students. 

The open house was offered in two sessions: one from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and another from noon to 3 p.m. At 9 a.m., the Student Center was packed with students who were admitted and enrolled or are interested in attending Columbia. Attendees checked in at the Student Center before exploring the 19 buildings and student spaces around campus. 

Jordan Yarbrough, a first-year acting major and one of the 26 student ambassadors guiding attendees, said she was excited to support potential students. 

“As a freshman, I know a lot of what it feels like coming into it,” Yarbrough said. 

Yarbrough said it was her first time working as a student ambassador. Her main role was to welcome students and guide them around the campus, she said. Yarbrough said that she didn’t plan to answer any questions about the schools’ academic restructuring and would instead direct people to admissions staff. 

“We don’t really address them too much,” she said. “It’s not really our job, but if they do have any questions regarding that, we’re able to direct them to people that are actually going to be able to answer them to a full extent.”

Alex Nelson, a content marketing manager at Columbia, said that the open house is one of the bigger events on campus alongside Admitted Students Day that happens in the spring. 

Nelson said the turnout this year was “sobering, but not unexpected” with around 300 fewer students registered for the event than the previous year. Nelson said that she plans to be completely honest with attendees about the current state of the college.

“We will be frank with folks about what the changes are, but I will say that the specifics of the academic changes don’t seem to worry the incoming community as much as they do that community that’s here.”

As students filed into the Student Center, they were welcomed by the student ambassadors and staff. Around 10 admissions counselors were scattered throughout the first floor, available to answer questions from prospective students and their families. 

Imani Wagner, an undergraduate admissions counselor, said that she was excited to help students through the enrollment process. She said it was important to be honest and upfront about the changes happening at the college. 

“You can’t hide what’s going on, and there’s no reason to either,” Wagner said. “As we find out things, we want to make sure that we’re being honest with our students so that they really know what they’re getting into. I think it’s going to help them understand again, whether or not we’re the right fit for them, and if this is the place where they want to be.” 

She said along with being honest, it is also important to be optimistic for prospective students. Although she knows that students may have concerns or worries, “we still have a lot to offer.” 

Katie Dugandzic, a senior in high school who lives in the southwest suburbs, wants to major in music business. She attended the open house with her father and brother after learning about Columbia from a family friend. She said that one reason she was interested in Columbia was because of the variety of programs and majors offered. 

“I loved how they had a bunch of different programs,” Dugandzic said. “If I didn’t like music business, I could change it to audio or something. I always loved how they correlated to each other, and I didn’t have to completely transfer to a new school to find something I like.” 

Columbia currently offers 58 majors; however, it plans to cut and merge programs to address  the $17 million deficit and declining enrollment. The College Wide Curriculum Committee met twice this week to discuss the proposed program array developed by faculty at the college’s eight schools. The proposed programs head next to the Academic Affairs committee of the Faculty Senate for review, before moving on to the provost’s office. The college’s Board of Trustees will vote on the program cuts and changes in February next year. 

Lilith Baldwin, a junior high school student who lives in Milwaukee, said she was excited about the range of programs offered. She visited with her father, Dan Baldwin, who said it was important to come in person to visit the school. He explained how “you can’t get the vibe online or just looking at a piece of paper” and that he wanted to feel the energy of the campus. 

The Baldwin family attended an information session at the Student Center hosted by Gemini Wadley and Penny Rajczyk, the assistant directors of admissions. 

“I think one of the things you’re going to feel out throughout this day today, and I want you to know that the cornerstone of this place is three words: diversity, support and opportunity,” Wadley said to the half-full event space.

They described the diversity in students and majors, as well as the many opportunities for students in Chicago. Attendees were welcome to attend the information sessions every hour or explore the other presentations for more specific information. There were also information sessions for graduate studies and housing.

Trent Williams, a current student at Kennedy-King College, said that he is planning to transfer to Columbia to study illustration or animation. He said that he wished there was more specific information coming from the staff at the open house, especially about the academic changes. Williams heard about the changes after reading about it on the news. 

“I don’t think anybody’s gonna be talking about it openly because I feel like they might just be silent about it, that’s at least what I’ve been seeing,” Williams said. 

He said he would have wanted to know more information, especially if the restructuring would impact him directly. 

The ASL-English Interpretation major was on a list of majors recommended to be cut from the school’s programs, as the Chronicle previously reported, but was still highlighted in the open house today and remains on Columbia’s website. In the past when Columbia eliminated majors, it stopped accepting new students but continued to support existing students.

Diana Gorman Jamrozik, associate director of the School of Communication and Culture where the ASL program is now housed, guided students around the 33 E. Ida B Wells building. 

“I plan to be very honest, and very open and honest about where we are as a college, and where we are as my major and all of that,” she said. “We’re very committed to teaching people ASL so that they can go out in the deaf community. They might not be able to interpret, but they can still interact and use that skill, not only for students’ own career advancement but then to help the deaf community as well.”

Derek Brinkley, the associate vice president and chief enrollment officer, said that although Columbia has been through a difficult year, he was excited to meet prospective students and focus the open house on the positive changes. 

“It’s nerve-wracking I think at times, to know that programs are changing and things might be going away or whatnot, but I just think this is an opportunity for us as a college to refocus on what we do and what we do really well,” he said.