As U.S. birth rates hit a record low in 2024, Columbia students and faculty say the decline reflects not a rejection of family, but the rising costs, limited social supports and economic uncertainty shaping young adulthood.

Roughly 60 students rallied in the Student Center before joining high school and college demonstrators across the city on Friday, Feb. 13.

If approved, the change would affect how some students stay on track academically when they fall just short of current grading requirements.

Although more than half of Gen Z continues to rely on social media platforms like TikTok for health guidance, students at Columbia are rediscovering their own meaning of fitness through research, professional advice and smart media consumption habits.

Columbia’s annual arts festival will include ticketed events for the public, an alumni homecoming and possible street closures the weekend of commencement.

Faculty told Chronicle that the annual address struck an upbeat tone but avoided details about how the college plans to close the gap.

The college reported 4,461 students enrolled this fall, down from 5,571 a year ago. Despite the smaller student body, President and CEO Shantay Bolton told the Faculty Senate she remains optimistic about the path forward.

S&P Global Ratings lowered the college’s credit rating this week one notch from BBB- to BB+, citing declining enrollment and financial challenges. The downgrade reflects a national trend among small and mid-sized private colleges facing significant fiscal pressures.

Students told the Chronicle that they could not afford the rising cost of Columbia’s tuition and fees, which have gone up 15% in the last three years. A new student group aims to help alleviate the burden of textbook costs.

As the Nov. 5 election approaches, tensions have increased for many students and their family members when they don’t agree on core issues like reproductive and gender rights, the environment and economic policies. 

The Museum of Contemporary Photography held its annual auction with the goal of raising $500,000 to support exhibitions, public programs and the museum’s permanent collection.

Columbia’s Madison Yager, a junior double-majoring in art history and arts management, created a space on campus for art history students to escape misinformation, network between grade levels and find a supportive community.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography hosted their annual benefit auction on the fifth floor of the Student Center, premiering both artworks and interactive experiences to raise money for the museum’s exhibitions, programs and educational initiatives.

The sold-out two-day performance showcased diversity in various ways, from the songs and musical theatre shows chosen to the dance styles included and even the casting of students. 

INK Fest has become one of the college’s largest student-led events that is open to the public. An estimated 500 people were expected to visit based on ticket reservations, which exclude Columbia students and faculty.

The new “Shore⏐Lines” exhibit, created by the Chicago-based visual artist, is the third in her nation-wide series focused on connecting the sociocultural geographies of Black heritage in North America through waterways and natural environments.

Demonstrators filled Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue on Saturday night, Sept. 6, 2025, denouncing plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago and to expand immigration enforcement.

Thousands of protesters gathered under Alexander Caldwell’s famous “The Flamingo” arch in Federal Plaza on Tuesday night, June 10, 2025, to protest the Trump administration’s immigrant policies, including ICE raids and deportations.

The Chronicle answers some of the biggest questions students have about President-elect Donald Trump’s plans when he takes office again.

With polls closing and results coming in, all eyes are on the seven swing states across the country that could tip the scales in the 2024 presidential election. No swing state winners had been called by 9 p.m.