Fall Semester Update - Columbia University

Posted: Friday, August 14, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.

Columbia Families,

As you may have heard from your student, Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University, in consultation with our deans and public health experts, has made the difficult decision to make the fall semester fully virtual for undergraduates. As a result, we are no longer able to bring undergraduates to campus at this time, aside from a limited number of students already approved for housing due to unique circumstances.

Included in this email are links to President Bollinger’s message and updates from James Valentini, Dean of Columbia College and from Mary Boyce, Dean of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. In my email, I have summarized the key points from these messages below, with relevant links to help you and your family find additional information and resources.

I know news of this change is difficult, for both you and your Columbia student. Although this new path forward represents one of many disruptions caused by the global pandemic, it may be one of the most challenging to reconcile. The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, families and the neighborhoods in which we live and work is at the forefront of this decision. Though we have spent many months planning for the safe return of our academic community, the current trajectory of the virus, coupled with the strict quarantine compliance measures needed to reopen campus make this difficult decision necessary.

Residential and Campus Life

• Any student approved for fall housing only will have their housing contracts automatically canceled, and will be notified individually by email.

• Students approved for full year housing due to special circumstances will receive fall housing updates from Columbia Housing later today.

• Columbia Dining will continue to be open, with appropriate health and safety considerations. Meal plans remain available.

• Columbia will continue to monitor public health guidelines and the pandemic’s global trajectory to determine whether we can bring students into Columbia Housing in the spring.

Academics and Fall Semester Courses

• Courses for undergraduate students that were planned as hybrid or in-person courses will be changed to fully online courses.

• If the transition to a fully remote undergraduate curriculum results in any change to a particular class (e.g., a change in schedule), students enrolled in the class will be notified immediately.

• No changes will be made to the academic calendar.

Health & Wellness

• The Columbia Community Health Compact will remain in effect for students living on campus or for those who need to access campus services at any point in the semester.

• Columbia Health will remain open to serve students, including through telemedicine.

Fall Billing & Financial Aid Updates

• Columbia will absorb the previously communicated 2% tuition increase, bringing the 2020-2021 undergraduate tuition rate flat to last year's value.

• For students on financial aid, the College and SEAS will waive all student employment expectations for the fall semester, in recognition that students will not have the typical on- or off-campus work opportunities available.

• The College and SEAS will review the financial implications for billing, financial aid packaging and more in the coming days and you will receive updates from Student Financial Services and our financial aid office.

This news is disappointing and you are likely to have many questions that I cannot yet address. As additional details are confirmed and new information becomes available, we will be posting frequent updates. For now, I encourage you to review the following resources with your student and discuss how these changes will impact your family in the next few months. Please reach out to Student and Family Support next week with any questions.

I send hopes of good health and best wishes to you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Matthew Patashnick
Associate Dean for Student and Family Support
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering

---

• COVID-19 Resource Guide for the University Community

• Columbia College Our Path Forward

• Columbia Engineering COVID-19 Updates

• Columbia Housing Information

• Success in Remote Learning