COLUMBIA COLLEGE | COLUMBIA ENGINEERING PARENT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS I DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS COLUMBIA FAMILY HANDBOOK 2011–2012 COLUMBIA COLLEGE | COLUMBIA ENGINEERING COLUMBIA FAMILY HANDBOOK 2011–2012 Dean of Student Affairs Office 601 Alfred Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway New York, NY 10027 • 212-854-2446 http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/parents e-mail: [email protected] PARENT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS I DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS Contents WELCOME FROM THE DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS ..................................................................... 3 2011–2012 ACADEMIC CALENDAR ......................................................................................... 4 1 Our Campus Community . 5 2 Family Involvement Opportunities . 1 2 3 Campus Resources . .1 5 ARTS INITIATIVE AT COLUMBIA ............................................................................................ 1 5 ATHLETICS AND RECREATION ............................................................................................... 1 5 CENTER FOR CAREER EDUCATION .......................................................................................... 1 5 CENTER FOR STUDENT ADVISING ........................................................................................... 1 6 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................. 1 6 COMMUNITY IMPACT ............................................................................................................ 1 9 COMPUTING AT COLUMBIA ................................................................................................... 1 9 COLUMBIA DINING ............................................................................................................... 2 0 FELLOWSHIPS OFFICE ........................................................................................................... 2 1 FINANCIAL AID AND EDUCATIONAL FINANCING ...................................................................... 2 1 OFFICE OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS .............................................................................................. 2 1 COLUMBIA HEALTH .............................................................................................................. 2 2 ID CENTER .......................................................................................................................... 2 3 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS OFFICE (ISSO) ...................................................... 2 3 OFFICE OF JUDICIAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS ..................................................... 2 3 LERNER UNDERGRADUATE MAIL ............................................................................................ 2 4 LIBRARY SERVICES AND COLLECTIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATES .................................................. 2 4 OFFICE OF PARENT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS ........................................................................... 24 REGISTRAR ......................................................................................................................... 2 5 SECURITY ........................................................................................................................... 2 5 STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES ............................................................................................. 2 5 STUDENT HOUSING .............................................................................................................. 2 6 UNIVERSITY CHAPLAIN......................................................................................................... 2 6 4 Academics: Advising, Resources, and Program Planning . 2 7 ACADEMIC ADVISING ............................................................................................................ 2 7 ADVISING RESOURCES .......................................................................................................... 2 7 COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS ................................................................................................ 3 0 PLANNING AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE ................................................... 3 2 PLANNING AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA ENGINEERING ............................................. 3 5 TRANSFER STUDENTS ........................................................................................................... 3 7 5 Visiting Columbia . 3 9 6 Index . 4 1 Welcome Dear Parents and Families, I am grateful for the opportunity to welcome both new and returning families to the 2011–2012 academic year at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering . Parents and families are important members of the Columbia community, and we look forward to partnering with you throughout your student’s time with us . The Office of Parent and Family Programs has compiled this Family Handbook, which we hope will be a valuable resource that will both inform and guide your family in the year ahead . At Columbia, your student will be on a journey of great personal and intellectual dis- covery . She or he will learn how to balance a stimulating academic schedule with stu- dent involvement and leadership opportunities, careers and internships, study abroad, campus living, new friends, and new challenges . Along the way, your student may also make a few mistakes . In most cases, he or she will be able to maneuver through these challenges with the support of their peers, their professors and advisers, and a great deal of self-reliance . This, too, is an important part of the learning process . While your student is experiencing personal growth, you are also taking on the new reality of parenting from a distance . We encourage you to provide support and encour- agement, which doesn’t necessarily mean the answer to their questions. To the greatest extent possible, please be patient and allow your student to take responsibility for managing his or her daily life at Columbia . In doing so, you will contribute to their life-long learning and help us to create a thriving campus community . Throughout the year, Parent and Family Programs will remain in contact with you through regular newsletters and social media networks . We encourage you to stay con- nected by visiting our website (www studentaffairs. columbia. edu/parents). to learn more about Columbia and the Division of Student Affairs, as well as the many resources available to you and your student . Again, welcome to the Columbia family . Kevin G . Shollenberger Dean of Student Affairs Columbia College and Columbia Engineering Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Student Life Arts and Sciences 3 Columbia University 2011–2012 Academic Calendar FALL TERM 2011 SPRING TERM 2012 Aug 21 Columbia Urban Experience (CUE) move-in day Jan 16 Martin Luther King Jr ’s. birthday observed— Aug 24 Columbia Outdoor Orientation University holiday Program (COÖP) move-in day Jan 17 First day of classes Aug 25 Optional international student orientation Jan 27 End of change of program period, last day to add move-in day a class Aug 29 Family Orientation and Convocation Feb 21 Last day to drop a class for Columbia College New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) Mar 12–16 Spring recess begins for first-year, transfer, and combined plan students1 Mar 22 Last day to drop a class for Columbia Engineering Last day to exercise pass/fail option Move-in day for first-year students (Students traveling a great distance to Columbia may Apr 30 Last day of classes receive a special invitation from Columbia Housing to move in a day early—on Sunday, May 1–3 Study days August 28 ). May 4–11 Final examinations2 Aug 30 Transfer student move-in and May 12 Housing check-out for all students except orientation seniors, RAs, and interim/extended housing Sept 3 Returning students move-in May 14 Engineering Class Day3 Sept 5 Labor Day—University holiday May 15 College Class Day3 Sept 6 First day of classes May 16 Commencement Sept 16 End of change of program period, May 17 Senior check-out last day to add a class Oct 11 Last day to drop a class for Columbia College Important Notes: Nov 7 Academic holiday—no classes 1 Because of its paramount importance to the academic and Nov 8 Election Day—University holiday, no classes social well-being and success of first-year students, NSOP is mandatory . An optional family orientation is planned . Nov 17 Last day to drop a class for Columbia 2 Engineering Students should not make travel plans until they know their final exam schedule . Final exams will not be rescheduled due Last day to exercise pass/fail option to vacation travel . Nov 24 Thanksgiving Day—University holiday 3 Please see page 12 for a description of the Class Day Nov 25 University holiday ceremony . 4 All dates are subject to change . Please contact Parent and Dec 12 Last day of classes Family Programs if you have any questions . Dec 13–15 Study days Dec 16–23 Final examinations2 4 1 Our Campus Community • Prepare by reading the Guide thoroughly . Perhaps ABOUT THIS GUIDE more than ever before, your student will now be We have prepared this handbook because we thought responsible for making important decisions about that it would be helpful for you, as parents of a his or her future . Students need to prepare for these Columbia student, to have important facts and decisions by learning all they can about require- information in one comprehensive guide . The infor- ments and potential majors . mation presented in this handbook is accurate as of • Consult the Columbia College or Columbia En- June