Teachers College, Columbia University

What it reported doing in 2024

Research, Training and Public Service: Teachers Colleges faculty includes some of the most internationally prominent and respected scholars, researchers and practitioners in their various fields. Our faculty examine a diverse range of topics, including the impact of poverty on the brain, the legal basis for a constitutional right to education, artificial intelligence in education, gun violence prevention in schools, the impact of microaggressions on wellbeing and language development related to autism. TCs Vice Dean for Research continues to lead efforts to strengthen the institutional infrastructure to support faculty and their work. TCs annual external funded research and training expenditures for FY25 were in excess of $44 million with major funding provided by the US National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the US Department of Health & Human Services, the Bezos Family Foundation and other public and non-profit institutions. With a critical voice in national and global discourse, TC emphasizes public and community engagement as opportunities for faculty, staff and students to implement the Colleges values into practice for public good. The Colleges Digital Futures Institute continues to gain momentum as an interdisciplinary hub that explores innovative uses of technology through teaching, research and public engagement. Faculty engaged in policy research are thought leaders and influencers in early childhood education, community colleges, social services, school finance, national learning standards and funding of national health programs. The College brings academic experts and other thought leaders on a range of issues to campus through visiting professorships, named lectures and other events. TC faculty are also widely known for innovative curriculum development in academic subjects; school-based health education; nutrition education; organizational psychology; developmental psychology; and more. Teachers College partners with the local community through several innovative school partnerships. The Teachers College Community School (TCCS), located in West Harlem, provides expertise, academic enrichment and support throughout the school, specifically: professional development for teachers; development and evaluation of curriculum; and academic enrichment. More than 20 TC students participate in programs at TCCS during each academic semester. Through TCs Edmund W. Gordon Institute for Advanced Study, which celebrated its 50th year in 2023, the College also supports the university-assisted community school initiative called Raising Educational Achievement of Harlem (REACH), which brings together community-based organizations and institutional partners to provide academic support and enrichment, mentoring, and mental health support at local schools. REACH supports more than 800 students in three partner schools in Central Harlem.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 83.3%; rating input score 83
• Program expense ratio: 82.3%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 97.1%; rating input score 97; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6.7%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.06; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.4%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.9% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings