Plan Calls for Columbia College Chicago to
Assist in Serving Harrington Students, Affording Opportunities to
Complete Degree Programs
Harrington College of Design and Columbia College Chicago
announced today that they have reached an agreement to provide an
ongoing educational pathway for Harrington students through
Columbia College effective August 2015. The agreement, pending
accreditor and regulatory approval, is designed to afford
Harrington students a reasonable opportunity to complete their
program of study before their college discontinues operations,
which Harrington anticipates will be in August of 2018. It also
affords certain Harrington students the opportunity to complete
their programs of study at Columbia, while others will continue
their enrollment with Harrington but at designated classroom and
office space provided by Columbia College Chicago.
Harrington regrets having to make this decision, but it became
necessary because of increasing financial deficits caused by
multiple years of continuous declines in enrollment, as well as
increased regulatory burdens facing private sector higher education
institutions like Harrington.
“While this is a sad day indeed, I have assured Harrington
students that through our plans with Columbia College Chicago they
have opportunities to continue their studies and earn their
degrees,” said Jim McCoy, Vice President of Operations for
Harrington College of Design. “We appreciate the ability to partner
with Columbia College to continue providing excellent and
prestigious design education to our students.”
Pending accreditor and regulatory approval, this plan aims to
provide the up to 360 current Harrington College students a smooth
pathway to graduation. Both institutions are regionally accredited
by the Chicago-based Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Harrington
and Columbia have informed staff at HLC, the Illinois Board of
Higher Education, the Indiana Board of Propriety Education, and the
Council for Interior Design Accreditation about the plan and
agreement with Columbia. The Harrington-Columbia agreement and plan
require final HLC approval, which the colleges hope to obtain in
mid-June.
Harrington graduates have left their mark on the design
community for decades,” McCoy said. “Examples can be seen through
alumni who are leaders of design firms around Chicago and beyond.
I’m confident the graduates through 2017 will also continue making
contributions for years to come.”
Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, Senior Vice President and Provost of
Columbia College Chicago added, “Harrington and Columbia College
Chicago have each been educating accomplished design students
alongside each other for decades. We are pleased to assist
Harrington College through this transition so students are provided
with a seamless option to complete their studies. We look forward
to welcoming Harrington students, faculty and staff to our campus
community.”
Bachelor’s Degree Students – Transfer
to Columbia College
Under the plan and agreement that Harrington College and
Columbia College have proposed to HLC, students in Harrington
College bachelor’s degree programs would have the opportunity to
transfer and enroll in the same or substantially similar program
offered by Columbia College. Columbia College would accept all
Harrington students, and transfer credits would be awarded for all
Harrington credits earned. Tuition for Harrington transfer students
would be maintained at no more than the Harrington rate.
Harrington and Columbia will create a transfer process that
minimizes any burden on students and provides a seamless pathway
for continued enrollment. Students within a year of graduation
would be able to complete their studies at Columbia College, but
receive their diploma/degree from Harrington College, if they so
choose.
Master’s and Associate Degree Students
– Relocated to Columbia College Chicago, Taught by Harrington
faculty
Subject to accreditor and regulatory approval, master’s and
associate degree students at Harrington would continue to be taught
by Harrington faculty and eventually receive their credential from
Harrington. However, beginning this fall, Harrington faculty and
staff would relocate to Columbia College so that students in the
master’s and associate degree programs could complete their
programs there. This is a considered a “teach-out” process.
Columbia College Chicago is a not-for-profit institution that
currently enrolls nearly 10,000 students. It has ample classroom
space to accommodate Harrington students at its buildings in the
vicinity of South Michigan Avenue and Harrison Street. The college
is located two blocks east of the Harrison Street “L” stop on the
CTA Red Line and is about a 1-mile walk from the Harrington
campus.
Harrington’s legacy as a leading design institution in Chicago
will live on through thousands of alumni found in a range of design
professions across the city and beyond. Frances Harrington, a
practicing interior designer from New York, first began a lecture
series in Chicago for professionals in 1931. She later expanded her
education offerings to the public, eventually offering a diploma to
day and evening students.
Later named Harrington Institute of Interior Design, the school
continued to expand its offerings through the remainder of the
century. In 2003, Harrington Institute became Harrington College of
Design to better reflect the introduction of additional
career-focused design and design-related programs, such as digital
photography and graphic design.
To celebrate its rich history and long legacy of educating
design professionals in Chicago, Harrington College of Design is
planning a Reunion Weekend to which all students, faculty, staff,
alumni, parents and other supporters will be invited. Details will
be shared as they are finalized.
About Harrington College of Design
Harrington College of Design an institution of higher learning
is committed to creating the next generation of design
professionals to lead and serve the global community. Harrington
has been a member of Chicago’s design and higher education
communities since 1931 and seeks to foster an environment that
maximizes students’ intellectual and artistic potential. Harrington
offers associate of applied science degrees in digital photography;
bachelor of fine arts degrees in interior design, commercial
photography, and graphic design; and master’s degrees in interior
design and communications design. The school is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission (230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411). Find employment rates, financial
obligations and other disclosures at
www.harrington.edu/disclosures. Harrington cannot guarantee
employment or salary and is part of the Career Education
Corporation network of schools (NASDAQ: CECO). For more information
on Harrington College of Design, call 312.939.4975 or visit
www.harrington.edu.
About Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is an urban institution that offers
innovative degree programs in the visual, performing, media and
communication arts for nearly 10,000 students in more than 120
undergraduate and graduate programs. An arts and media college
committed to a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, Columbia is
dedicated to opportunity and excellence in higher education. For
further information, visit www.colum.edu.
Career Education CorporationEricka
Lawrenceelawrence@careered.com(847) 851-7028
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