President Kim's statement on Executive Order barring immigrants and refugees

Photo: Jacob Boll '12

UPDATE: President Kim joins higher education institutions and organizations nationwide in signing theAmerican Council on Education's letter to DHS/John Kelly to reconsider ban on Immigrants and Refugees.

To the Columbia College Chicago community:

Columbia has been at the forefront of creative arts learning for more than 125 years, attracting students, researchers, faculty and top practitioners from all over the world. Recent changes to federal immigration policies, which among other restrictions, bar individuals from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., impact Columbia, our creative thinkers and leaders, and the core values of global citizenry which we uphold.

We understand that this situation may have caused sudden undue hardship and disruption for many families and our communities. We will continue to ensure that all of our faculty, staff and students, including our more than 300 international students, have the support and resources they need. We also support the Association of American Universities, which is calling for a quick end to this immigration policy.

As you know, this situation continues to evolve. The current list of suspended countries may grow and immigration policies are likely to rapidly change again. Until we have more information, please note the following guidance:

  • Whenever traveling within the U.S., be sure to carry any immigration documents which prove your legal status
  • Non-U.S. citizens and their families from the seven affected countries should refrain from traveling outside the U.S., especially until the federal government provides further clarity

Students who have questions or need assistance should contact:
The Office of International Student Affairs
618 S. Michigan Ave. 4th Floor
312-369-7246
ribrown@colum.edu

Faculty and staff who have questions should contact Human Resources at hrbenefits@colum.edu.

We will continue to closely monitor these developments and will do our best to keep you informed.

During this time of great uncertainty, we stand by our commitment and responsibility to protecting your rights and well-being, and to providing a tolerant, welcoming and diverse environment at the college.

President Kim

Kwang-Wu Kim
President and CEO
Columbia College Chicago