The University Senate unanimously approved Columbia’s proposal to establish a new nontenured professor of instruction track as an alternative to the University’s existing lecturer in discipline track at an April 10 plenary. Current lecturers in discipline holding a Ph.D. or its professional equivalent will be eligible to apply for the new track following approval by the board of trustees.

Senior administrators defended Columbia’s plans to expand the undergraduate student body at a University Senate plenary Friday after five senate committees presented a statement calling on the University to halt expansion until it incorporated “substantive and genuine” Universitywide consultation.

Two weeks ago, Columbia told faculty members that it would proceed with its plans to expand the undergraduate student body, which had drawn fierce backlash from students, faculty members, and alumni over the past several months.

Amid recent governance disputes over protest discipline, the University Senate’s committee on the Rules of University Conduct announced at the latest plenary that it will continue to propose revisions to the Rules, which outline Columbia’s policies and disciplinary procedures for protests.

More than 200 Columbia students and faculty members signed an open letter to the board of trustees Thursday opposing the University’s plans to expand the undergraduate student body. The letter comes ahead of a trustee meeting this weekend. The signatories include former Columbia College Dean James Valentini and all 45 voting members of the Columbia College Student Council.

After Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Ellie Aghayeva, GS ’26, on Thursday, several Columbia students and faculty members told Spectator that the University’s communications and efforts to secure her same day release largely aligned with their hopes for Columbia to increase transparency and advocate for its students.