Announcement Regarding the School of Professional Studies

November 12, 2015

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community:

I am pleased to announce that the School of Continuing Education has been renamed the School of Professional Studies.  The name change reflects an evolution that has occurred since the newest of Columbia’s schools was established within the Arts and Sciences in 2002.  In the period after its founding, the School of Continuing Education predominantly focused upon helping people pursue additional educational opportunities in their chosen fields, and the name appropriately conveyed an emphasis on non-degree offerings.  For several years now, that focus area has been shifting.  Under Dean Jason Wingard, whose appointment I announced in April, the School is changing in order to better meet the needs of a new generation of professionals and organizations facing a rapidly evolving global marketplace.

The designation “School of Professional Studies” accurately describes the School’s current targeted professional degree offerings available through 14 master’s degrees and a comprehensive portfolio of pre-professional and post-professional programs.  These curricular options are strengthened by a variety of interdisciplinary research centers unique to the Columbia academic community.  In short, the name change announced today recognizes the School’s current status and future role as one of the premier destinations in the world for innovative professional education.

As we look forward to the next chapter of Columbia’s School of Professional Studies, I want to thank Dean Wingard and David Madigan, Executive Vice President for Arts and Sciences, for their leadership and guidance, and to wish continued success to the community of faculty, students, alumni, and staff who make this School exceptional.

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger