The GS Office of Academic Affairs offers students as much help in their pursuits as they wish to receive. We make a point of listening with an open mind and assisting our students find academic opportunities that are right for them. We can help you: explore research interests, connect with academic departments and faculty members, assist in looking for research and/or fellowship opportunities, review research applications, and more.
Most Requested Information
Undergraduate Research
The GS Office of Academic Affairs can help you in discovering your research interests, reaching out to potential research mentors, identifying available research resources, including potential summer research opportunities, and more.
Fellowships
Fellowships are funded opportunities offered by organizations to help students further their education, acquire skills, and broaden their horizons both personally and professionally. Learn about opportunities that fit your academic goals and interests and how the GS Office of Academic Affairs can help.
Graduate School Coaching
Designed to help students develop the skills necessary to determine which programs meet their individual circumstances, needs, and goals, Graduate School Coaching assists students along the application process to develop concrete deliverables such as timelines, personal statements, standardized test prep schedules, and more.
Engaging with the Columbia Curriculum
From charting a path through the Core Curriculum to serving as a student representative on a Curricular Committee, the GS Office of Academic Affairs can assist students with navigating the Columbia curriculum in a way that enrichs their academic experience beyond the classroom, and deepens critical and creative thinking skills.
Departmental Open Houses offer a opportunities to meet with faculty, advisors, and current students to discuss major requirements, as well as research, internships, and job opportunities.
From overseeing programs to supporting student academic experiences and more, Directors of Undergraduate Studies are a crucial point of contact for students. View this comprehensive list for their contact information!
GS students have the opportunity to serve on the Curricular Committees that govern the undergraduate curriculum at Columbia. Student representatives are selected each summer before the academic year. Email GS Academic Affairs to inquire.
GS Academic Affairs in the News
Anaïs Taffin '28GS named a 2026–2027 Udall Undergraduate Scholar
Congratulations to Sustainable Development major Anaïs Taffin ‘28GS, for becoming a 2026–2027 Udall Undergraduate Scholar!
Second Annual GS Research Festival: Growing a Tradition of Inquiry
Explore where research can take you at Columbia and see what current GSers are working on.
Curiosity on Display: GS Students Shine at Columbia’s Undergraduate Research Symposium
Nearly 40 GSers presented projects spanning neuroscience, philosophy, and archaeology—showcasing the power of research to connect classroom learning with real-world impact.
Connect with the GS Office of Academic Affairs
Dean Novarr joined GS in 2009. As a mentor to fellowship candidates and Postbac Premed students, he helps students assess the meaning of their lives' trajectories, identify their long-term goals, and express their intellectual interests in comprehensible and appealing ways. He also assists in managing the academic honors and prizes awarded by the college. He holds degrees in English literature, law, and political philosophy and has 15 years of experience as an educator.
Dean of Academic Affairs