Leadership

School of General Studies Administration

Lisa Rosen-Metsch, Ph.D.
Dean
B.A., Columbia University; Ph.D., University of Florida

Curtis Rodgers
Vice Dean
B.A., State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany; M.A., State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany

Marlyn Delva, Ed.D.
Dean of Students
B.A., Barnard College; M.A., Columbia University; Ed.D., Columbia University

James Colgrove, Ph.D.
Dean of the Postbac Premed Program
B.A., University of California at Davis; M.A., San Francisco State University; M.P.H., Columbia University; Ph.D., Columbia University

Caroline Marvin, Ph.D.
Dean of Academic Affairs
B.A., Yale University; M.A., Courtauld Institute of Art; Ph.D., Columbia University

School of General Studies Board of Visitors

Susan Kay Feagin '74
Chair

Pavan Surapaneni '06
Vice Chair

Current Board of Visitors

University Administration

Nemat "Minouche" Shafik
President of the University

Dennis Mitchell
Interim Provost
Executive Vice President for University Life

Amy Hungerford
Executive Vice President for Arts and Sciences
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Curricular Committees

The undergraduate curriculum at the School of General Studies (GS) is created and reviewed by the Columbia University Faculty of the Arts and Sciences through a set of committees common to both Columbia College and GS. Each committee is composed of faculty, administrators, and students from both schools.

The Joint Committee on Instruction reviews and approves all changes to School of General Studies and Columbia College curriculum and academic policies, including courses, programs, majors, and concentrations. Co-chaired by the Dean of the School of General Studies and the Dean of Columbia College, the COI consists of six to eight appointed faculty members, two student representatives from each school, and administrators from each school. The School of the Arts, Barnard College, and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science appoint representatives to the COI, as well. Questions about the COI can be directed to [email protected].

The Committee on the Core is responsible for all matters regarding the Columbia Core Curriculum. The COC is composed of faculty and administrators, as well as a student representative from both CC and GS. Questions about the COC can be sent to [email protected].

The Committee on the Global Core is responsible for all matters relating to the Global Core requirement, including determining which courses are approved to fulfill the requirement. The CGC is composed of faculty and administrators, together with a student representative from both CC and GS. Questions about the CGC can be addressed to [email protected].

The Committee on Science Instruction is responsible for all matters relating to the science requirement and for providing leadership on matters related to undergraduate science education. COSI is composed of faculty from the Columbia science departments and administrators, together with a student representative from CC and GS.

The Committee on Academic Standing enforces the academic policies of the School and handles administrative and disciplinary matters related to students within the School of General Studies, including students in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program. The Committee, chaired by the Associate Dean of Students, consists of the undergraduate and Postbac Premed advising deans. Three broad categories of cases are reviewed by the Committee on Academic Standing:

  • Student Petitions: for re-enrollment; incompletes on coursework, including deferred exams; exceptions to the rules; or other special petitions requiring approval of the CAS
  • Academic review of student records at the end of each term, with action taken on all unsatisfactory records
  • Reports on student status (e.g., leaves of absences, withdrawals, study abroad, etc.)

The Committee is guided by the rules and policies of the School of General Studies, informed by University-wide standards as well as precedent, in reaching its decisions. Appeals to decisions of the Committee that pertain to special petitions or administrative matters should be made to the Dean of Students; appeals to the Committee's decisions to suspend or dismiss a student should be made to the Dean of the School of General Studies. All appeals must be submitted in writing no later than two weeks after official notification of the decision.