COVID-19 Update Regarding Housing and Ongoing Administrative Support
Earlier today, Dean Rosen-Metsch sent the following message to GS students to provide an update about additional steps that must be made to reduce the number of people on campus and in Columbia housing, as well as ongoing administrative support for GS students.
Dear GS Students,
This morning you received an update from President Bollinger notifying the Columbia community that we must take additional steps to reduce the number of people on campus and in Columbia housing. I write with a few additional, important updates and to share important resources.
As President Bollinger noted in his email, there is an increased likelihood of further travel restrictions being imposed by the Federal government. For students who are not able to leave, Columbia Residential housing will remain open. To ensure that we are able to provide you with necessary support, GS students in Columbia housing, whether they plan to leave or stay, must complete the Spring 2020 Housing Update form by 5 p.m., Monday, March 16.
Although Columbia Residential housing remains open for students who need to stay in residence, if leaving campus is possible, and it is safe for you to do so, we encourage you to make plans to vacate your unit in the next few days following the guidance provided by the University. GS students residing in Columbia housing who choose to vacate will receive a prorated refund with no cancellation fee, provided they complete the form above by Monday, March 16 and the Columbia Residential cancellation form when they plan to leave, but not later than Thursday, April 30.
Please visit the Columbia Residential FAQ page for additional information.
Students who require financial assistance for costs associated with leaving Columbia housing (e.g., flights, change fees, storage, etc.) must complete the COVID-19 Emergency Funding form by 5 p.m., Friday, March 20.
For students in our Dual Degree program in the U.S., France, and Ireland, we want to make sure you feel fully supported as you evaluate the safest course of action for the remainder of the semester and impress upon you the increasing urgency around this decision. You will receive a follow-up email in the next few hours requesting that you please provide information about your plans if you have not done so already.
In light of the increasing COVID-19 concerns and guidance from President Bollinger, starting on Monday, March 16, and continuing until further notice, the School of General Studies will operate remotely. While physical spaces will be closed for the foreseeable future, our operation remains open, and GS staff are available to support you virtually. All advising and Educational Financing appointments will continue as scheduled but will be moved to online or phone appointments. You can schedule an appointment or contact our offices using the information below. If you contact us by phone, please leave a message to receive a return phone call or email. I encourage you to reach out to your advisor with any questions or concerns about the impact of these changes.
Advising
https://gs.columbia.edu/content/current-student-advising
(212) 854-2881
[email protected]
[email protected]
Educational Financing
https://gs.columbia.edu/content/educational-financing-advising
(212) 854-5410
[email protected]
As we continue to adapt to this unprecedented challenge, please know that the health and safety of the Columbia community, and our role in supporting the health of the broader community around us, are our guiding motivations. While this has led to successive updates in a short time, as the situation has evolved and guidance from leadership has moved to meet it, I will continue to do my best to keep you updated throughout the coming weeks and months. Please reach out to our team with any questions you may have. I encourage you to visit the Columbia COVID-19 web portal for regular updates and to exercise caution as you adjust to this new scenario.
Sincerely,
Professor Lisa Rosen-Metsch
Dean
Additional Resources
The University’s COVID-19 website has up-to-date information on all University policies and resources.
Columbia Health’s COVID-19 phone hotline will be available for questions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday: (212) 854-9355.
Counseling and Psychological Services
5th and 8th Floor Lerner Hall
(212) 854-2878
Office of the University Chaplain
(212) 854-1493
GS Dean of Students Office
(212) 854-2881