Resolution Criteria

This market resolves to YES if Columbia University is operating as a going concern on January 20th, 2029. A "going concern" means the institution is operating normally, admitting students, conducting classes, and functioning as an accredited university without having announced plans to permanently close, merge with another institution, or substantially downsize.

The market resolves to NO if by January 20th, 2029:

• Columbia University has permanently closed

• Has merged into another institution and no longer exists as a separate entity

• Has announced definitive plans to close or merge that will take effect before or on January 20th, 2029

• Has entered bankruptcy proceedings with no clear path to continue operations

• Has substantially downsized, including firing of many faculty under tenure. (this is necessarily hard to define, but I imagine this resolving to YES if faculty are fired to maintain the bottom line).

• Has fired at least 50% of graduate students or lost at least 50% of overall enrollment.

Background

Columbia University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States, founded in 1754 as King's College. It is a member of the Ivy League and consistently ranks among the top universities globally.

Recent financial analysis suggests Columbia could face significant financial exposure, with up to 55% of its operating budget potentially at risk due to changes in government funding, including federal grants and student aid. The university is also under a Department of Justice probe for harboring illegal immigrants.