Welcome To Columbia

Greetings,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the parents and family members of the Class of 2016 to Columbia! I hope to meet many of you at our upcoming Summer Advising Sessions and our Family Orientation in August. If I can be of any assistance to you, do not hesitate to contact me.

With best regards,

Matthew Patashnick
Director of Parent and Family Programs
Columbia | Student Affairs
Email | Web | Facebook
Phone: 212-854-2446

Parent and Family Programs

As part of the Dean of Student Affairs Office, Parent and Family Programs provides parents and family members with opportunities to play an active and supportive role in the education of their Columbia student.

We seek to answer questions and provide critical information about Columbia; to provide opportunities for networking and relationship-building with other Columbia families; to enhance communication between the University and families; and to help define the appropriate involvement of the parent and family community.

Parent and Family Programs, in collaboration with offices and departments across campus, works with parents and families to help them understand the Columbia student experience, support student learning, and empower students to take personal responsibility for their social and academic choices.

Columbia's Pre-Orientation Programs

Columbia offers three different pre-orientation programs to assist new first-year students in getting acquainted to life on campus and in New York City. Columbia Outdoor Orientation Program (COÖP), Columbia Urban Experience (CUE), and the International Student Orientation Program (ISOP) have upperclass student leaders who guide new students in their transition to life on campus before the start of NSOP (New Student Orientation Program). Applications are now available and are due on June 10.

Summer Advising

Student Affairs would like to welcome your student and your family into the Columbia community at one of our Summer Advising sessions. During the session you will meet with advisers and hear from alumni, current students, and their parents. Summer Advising serves to introduce students and their families to the Columbia community as well as to encourage students to think about designing their academic program. In addition, you will have the opportunity to engage with fellow Columbians and alumni and build a Columbia network near you.

Please review the Summer Advising schedule to locate and register for the session most convenient for you.

Move-In and Family Orientation 2012

We are so excited to welcome you and your family to campus for move-in and Family Orientation on Monday, August 27. Columbia Housing will send a detailed packet via mail to all students with instructions and information to help prepare and plan for your arrival to campus. In the meantime, check out these FAQs to answer some of your immediate questions!

Academic Planning Guide

The Center for Student Advising has compiled an amazing resource for students and families called The Academic Planning Guide. Your student is strongly encouraged to review the guide to prepare for her or his first advising appointment. Parents may use this guide to become familiar with our Core Curriculum, gain clarity on academic expectations and policies, and learn about classroom experiences.

Family Weekend 2012

Mark your calendars now! Family Weekend 2012 will take place from Friday morning, October 19 - Sunday, October 21 at Columbia University. A major initiative of Parent and Family Programs and Columbia Student Affairs, Family Weekend is a campuswide celebration of families and runs concurrent with our Homecoming Weekend. We have a series of welcome, intellectual, informational, and social events planned for you in the hopes that you will experience, if only for a brief weekend, what it means to be a Columbia student. A detailed schedule and registration information will be available in late summer.

Parent and Family Programs on Facebook

Parent and Family Programs is on Facebook! "Like" us to get the inside scoop on campus events and happenings and to check out all of our latest event photos.

Next Steps

Throughout the summer, Parent and Family Programs will keep you abreast of important information to help you and your family prepare for the move to Columbia. It is important that you encourage your student to activate and regularly check his or her "UNI" - the online Columbia email and student account. Critical information about Columbia, housing, health/immunization, insurance, and student accounts will be sent directly to student email addresses. Parent and Family Programs will make sure you are kept informed as well. Click here to view copies of the email newsletters sent directly to students.

If parent email addresses change, please contact Parent and Family Programs via email. Be sure to include your name, your student's name, and your updated email address.