Columbia College Student Council and the Engineering Student Council on Tuesday expressed opposition to the University’s tentative plans to expand undergraduate enrollment in a joint open letter.

The Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, a permanent volunteer committee which makes nonbinding recommendations to the trustees, rejected three proposals calling on the University to divest from Israel and companies engaged in human rights violations, according to a Friday announcement posted to its website.

Columbia announced last month it had taken the rare step of drawing on unrestricted endowment funds to support its research operations during fiscal year 2025 and into fiscal year 2026, according to an Oct. 23 statement from Anne Sullivan, executive vice president for finance. It is not clear exactly how much the University withdrew, or from which funds.

In compliance with Columbia’s July 23 settlement with the federal government, the Law School added a new required statement for international students applying to its JD program for fall 2026, asking applicants why they wish to study in the United States.

Acting University President Claire Shipman, CC ’86, SIPA ’94, will spend “four or five days in Washington” to discuss the federal government’s efforts to cap research indirect cost recovery rates at 15 percent, she said at a Friday University Senate plenary. She did not announce the exact dates for her visit.