Columbia Downplays Suggestion Obama Will Work There After Leaving White House

(CBS) – Is President Barack Obama taking a position at his New York alma mater, Columbia University, after leaving office?

Columbia President Lee Bollinger seemed to be announcing as much Monday afternoon during an assembly, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator. He reportedly said the university is looking forward to hosting the president in 2017 but didn't elaborate.

That fueled speculation Obama may be taking a faculty position at Columbia when he finishes his second term in office.

Not so fast. Columbia University's office of communications and public affairs appeared to walk things back, in a written statement issued later.

It read:

"Lee Bollinger's comment at Convocation today that he was looking forward to welcoming back Columbia's most famous alumnus only reiterated the May 12 statement by the Barack Obama Foundation that it 'intends to maintain a presence at Columbia University for the purpose of exploring and developing opportunities for a long term association' and reflected no further developments concerning President Obama's plans."

The Barack Obama Foundation announced earlier this year the future Obama presidential library will be located in Chicago, where Obama got his political start. Columbia was one of the sites in competition, as was Hawaii, Obama's home state.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, still own a home in Chicago.