COVID-19 Updates Regarding Housing and Other Services and Resources

Today, Dean Rosen-Metsch sent the following message to GS students regarding Columbia Residential housing, as well as resources and support available in light of the developing situation with COVID-19.

March 12, 2020
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Dear GS Students,

I am writing with an update from Columbia GS regarding our COVID-19 response. Following up on the messages you have received earlier today from President Lee C. Bollinger and Executive Vice President of University Life Suzanne Goldberg, I want to assure you that the entire GS team is available to support you as you prepare for the remainder of the semester and beyond. I understand that we are in an unprecedented time which can be very overwhelming and confusing at times.  With this said, I know that our GS family is resilient and committed to each other and the health and well-being of our entire community. 

Below, I have included additional information to assist you with the guidance sent earlier.

Housing

GS students in Columbia housing are not required to vacate their current residences. However, GS students residing in Columbia housing who wish to vacate and receive a prorated refund with no cancellation fee may do so, provided they complete the form below and Columbia Residential cancellation form

Please note: students who opt to move out of Columbia housing with intention of returning to Columbia housing when the University resumes normal operations will be given priority for housing, but are not guaranteed the same unit. Please visit the Columbia Residential FAQ page for answers to additional questions you may have.

Regardless of whether you intend to stay or vacate, all students living in Columbia housing must complete the form below by Monday, March 16, 12 p.m. EDT to allow our team to keep accurate occupancy records and provide adequate support.

https://gs.columbia.edu/spring-2020-housing-update 

Dining

Campus dining facilities remain open, with enhanced cleaning. Additionally, for students facing food insecurity, please note that The Food Pantry at Columbia remains open.

Online Classes

As President Bollinger indicated, classes will be conducted online for the duration of the spring semester. While this transition has gone smoothly overall, we recognize that the technological requirements of this change can be burdensome for some of our students. As such, we have assembled an interdepartmental working group to help address these challenges. Please email [email protected] to report difficulties related to access to required technology. As a reminder, Columbia libraries currently remain open.

Campus Employment

I realize that you may have concerns about the status of your on-campus employment. Our Educational Financing team is working with Student Financial Services to identify solutions for students who rely on Work-Study and casual pay campus jobs and we are optimistic that the Department of Education and our campus colleagues will accommodate student employees. We expect more details about these shortly.

Student Life and Events

While large gatherings will continue to be discouraged through the end of April, our Student Life team is actively working on moving existing programming online where possible. For those students who remain on or near campus, the GS Student Lounge remains open, with enhanced cleaning. Finally, we will soon be launching new online events to help our community to stay emotionally connected and engaged, even while we may be physically separated.

Finally, I want to note how heartbroken I am for our graduating students. I know how special your last semester at Columbia is and how difficult it must be to lose the opportunity to experience that in the way you have envisioned for so long. Please know that we are mindful of this loss and are working on ways to celebrate you and your incredible journey.

As we all work through these challenging and uncertain times, please stay in touch with your peers, your faculty, and your advisors to keep our community strong and healthy.

Sincerely,

Professor Lisa Rosen-Metsch
Dean

Additional Resources

  • Visit Columbia’s COVID-19 Guidance website for updates, prevention tips and support, or reach out to Columbia Health’s COVID-19 phone line for your questions, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at (212) 854-9355.
     
  • If you have technical difficulties with Zoom or other technologies that your instructor is using, call CUIT at (212) 854-1919 or visit the CUIT Walk-in Center at 202 Philosophy Hall, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
     
  • For advising support or other questions, contact your academic advisor or the Dean of Students Office at (212) 854-2881
     
  • Counseling and Psychological Services
    5th and 8th Floor Lerner Hall
    (212) 854-2878
     
  • Office of the University Chaplain
    (212) 854-1493