Category Archives: Action Item

Volunteer Needed: Student Library Advisory Committee

Action Item, Community Citizenship, Fun Stuff, Getting Things Done, Networking

We are looking for a CURRENT Journalism student to volunteer to to serve on the Student Library Advisory Committee for the 2020-20201 academic year.

STUDENT LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Student Library Advisory Committee gives students an active voice in library-related issues on campus. The Student Library Advisory Committee is a two-way forum for information exchange between students and the Columbia University Libraries. Meetings are held twice per semester during the Fall and Spring academic terms. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.

Charge

The Student Library Advisory Committee is charged with maintaining effective communication channels between student organizations, their members, and the Columbia University Libraries. The Student Library Advisory Committee serves as a conduit for the transmission of student needs and concerns to the administration and staff of the Columbia University Libraries.

Commitment

We will meet virtually on the following Fridays from 12:30 -1:30:

September 25, 2020
November 20, 2020
February 5, 2021
April 2, 2021

If you are interested please contact Dean Huff via email at mgh2@columbia.edu by tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23.

Covering Religion 2020

Action Item, Courses, Curriculum, FAQ, Greatest Hits, M.S. Program, Part-time Students, Registration, Spring Prep, ,

INFORMATION SHEET AND APPLICATION FOR “COVERING RELIGION”

SPRING 2020

PROFESSORS ARI L. GOLDMAN, GREG KHALIL AND DUY LINH TU

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

  • Info Session: Tuesday, November 5, 12;30 p.m., Room 601B
  • Application Deadline: Monday, November 18, 9 a.m.

“Covering Religion” aims at preparing students to write about religion with intelligence and sophistication for secular media outlets in the U.S. and around the world. In the Spring 2020 semester, the class will focus on the role of religion in the American South with special (but not exclusive) attention to the 2020 Presidential election. Thanks to a generous grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the course will include a 10-day study-tour of two Southern states, Louisiana and Mississippi, at virtually no cost to students. (The minimal expenses that students will incur are described below.)

The study-tour will take place over Spring Break, with the weekends before and after the break used for travel. The tentative dates are March 13 to March 23, 2020. The first seven weeks of the course will be spent reporting on religious diversity in the greater New York area. At the beginning of the term, each student is assigned a faith, or a sect of a faith, in which to specialize. While a primary focus of the semester will be on the region’s diverse Protestant and Catholic communities, the class will also look at minority faiths like Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and others. In addition to their reporting and writing projects, each student will make an oral presentation in class about his or her assigned faith. While still in New York, students will identify and begin to report on the stories that they want to cover while traveling in the South. (The stories they report on the trip will not necessarily be on their faith beat.)

We believe that this spring is a particularly good time to look at the role of religion in the Southern states, especially as we approach the 2020 presidential election. It is clear that the Evangelical support for Donald Trump was one of the stories overlooked during 2016 election. This factor was one of the reasons that Trump’s victory caught much of the news media by surprise.

The 16 members of Covering Religion class will travel as a group for parts of the trip, visiting houses of worship and speaking with religious leaders. But there will also be several “reporting days” for students, working alone or with a partner, to pursue their reporting projects. Students in the class will have the opportunity to work in print, audio or video.

During the 2020 trip, the class will maintain a website that will include daily updates from our travels. Each day on the trip, one student will be responsible for reporting on that day’s activities and posting the story on the Web. In addition, two students serve as Webmasters and others coordinate photographs, video and social media. Upon returning from the study-tour, students will complete and post their major reporting projects from the trip. (The Websites from previous years can be found at www.coveringreligion.org.)

Here are a few additional points —

  • Class size: The class is limited to 16 students drawn from the M.S. Program.
  • Dates for the trip: The trip roughly takes place over spring break, making use of the weekends before and after for travel time.
  • Full-time and part-time students in the M.S. Program & M.S. Data Journalism programs are invited to apply.
  • The class meets for 15 Tuesdays, from roughly 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., beginning on Jan. 28.
  • Academic Requirements: All students must be up-to-date on assignments for all other classes. No student on academic probation or academic warning will be allowed to go on the trip.
  • Composition of the class: We are looking for a group of students that will reflect the diversity of the school in terms of gender, language skills, travel experience, region of the United States and country of origin. No prior travel experience is necessary.
  • Cost to students: The Scripps Howard Foundation grant pays for airfare, hotels, transfers and two meals a day. Students can apply for extra money for other reporting excursions during the class trip. Students will have to arrange their own travel to and from the airport in New York.
  • Application process: Please fill out the on-line application at http://bit.ly/CUJ_religion. 
It asks for a 500-word essay on why you would like to be considered for the class. It should include personal information as well as a statement about what contemporary religion story you would cover in the South if you had the opportunity.

Good luck. We look forward to reading your application.

DEADLINE: November 18, 2019, 9 a.m.

Columbia Health Student Health Advisory Committee

Action Item, Community Citizenship, Healthcare Issues, Wellness

Dear Students:

You are invited to join Columbia Health’s Student Health Advisory Committee, otherwise known as SHAC.

SHAC comprises student leaders from the Morningside campus of Columbia University who advise the Columbia Health leadership team on the health needs and concerns of students, as well as provide feedback on various initiatives. In addition, members for coming academic year will represent students’ perspective as Columbia Health executes on its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan.

If you are interested in joining SHAC, please send an email to 

shac@cumc.columbia.edu with your full name, school, year, and a short statement about why you are interested in serving as a member of SHAC.

Over the past years, SHAC members have helped Columbia Health review communications strategies, provide student input on the annual student health insurance renewal, rebrand the flu vaccine efforts, review Disability Services registration processes, and design outreach materials to address myths about Columbia Health’s programs and services. SHAC students participated in the triennial AAAHC reaccreditation survey for Columbia Health. They have also been instrumental in implementing the JED Strategic Plan through participation in working groups.

Member commitments:

·         Attend monthly meetings (usually on a Thursday at 5:30pm) during the academic year and actively engage in the conversation (food will be provided)

·         Represent the student perspective on new, existing, and developing health and well-being efforts

·         Represent health-related issues at student council/group meetings and relay feedback to the committee and Columbia Health leadership

·         Contribute relevant experience and perspective that will add value to the work of the group as well as benefit the student

·         Amplify Columbia Health messages and initiatives through organic and social media channels

·         Maintain academic and behavioral good standing throughout membership

·         Maintain the highest level of confidentiality

·         Term: one academic year (September to May)

Benefits:

·         Amplify student voices

·         Impact decision-making at the highest level

·         Media training

·         Inclusion in Columbia Health website and communications campaigns

This is a very exciting time for Columbia Health as we implement and iterate on a number of key initiatives, many of which have been informed by feedback from SHAC.

We hope you’ll consider joining SHAC and being part of promoting the health and well-being of the Columbia community.

Columbia Health provides on-campus resources and services to promote student health and well-being while at Columbia University. To learn more about our organization, visithealth.columbia.edu.

In health,

Melanie Bernitz MD, MPH
Associate Vice President and Medical Director
Columbia Health 

Countdown to Graduation 2019!

Action Item, Checklists, FAQ, Graduation, Graduation Awards, Information Session, M.A. Program, M.S. Program, Major memos

Graduation Checklist

Here are the key things you need to do for graduation! If you have done them all, you are ready to go!

1. Diploma Application. Not sure you have done this? You can check on SSOL to see! If not, complete and submit this form ASAP!
2. University Commencement Registration. You must register to attend and get tickets (up to 2) for the University ceremony – – Deadline: Friday, May 3.
3. Journalism Graduation Registration. You must complete this form to register and get tickets (up to 3) for the Journalism ceremony – Deadline: Sunday, April 14.

Other items that must be completed before you can participate in graduation

  1. Awards. Submit any suitable assignments for year-end awards consideration – Deadline: Monday, April 29, noon.
  2. Assessment. All M.S. and M.A. students must have submitted all the required assignments to the Assessment System– Deadline: Friday, May 17.
  3. Equipment fines & returns. All fines must be paid by May 8. All equipment must be returned by Monday, May 6.
  4. Empty locker. Lockers must be emptied out by Friday, May 17.
  1. Federal Loan Exit Interview. All students whose financial aid packages include federal loans are required to complete an exit interview with Student Financial Services via SSOL – Deadline: May 10.
  2. Account Holds. Please check SSOL to see if you have any HOLDS that will prevent you from receiving a diploma – Deadline: May 10.
  3. Cap & Gown. Academic regalia are worn only for University Commencement, not the Journalism School ceremony. Get yours at the Columbia Bookstore–  – Deadline: May 10.

Things to think about

  1. Does your family have a place to stay? If not, check out these ideas!
  2. Do any of your family members need a disability accommodation? For University Commencement, please contact access@columbia.edu. For the Journalism School, please contact Julie Pozo-Cepeda at jp3907@columbia.edu  –Deadline: May 3.
  3. Are you a veteran? Those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces are invited to wear a red/white/blue cord to their graduation ceremonies. To request your cord, please send an email to veterans@columbia.edu – Deadline: Friday, May 3.
  4. ColumbiaYou is the human story of Columbia University in the City of New York, told by the heart of Columbia – its people. It’s Columbia seen through You. Join the story by joining and submitting what Columbia means to You.

Go Ask Alice! Needs Your Help

Action Item, Columbia Events, Community Citizenship, Feedback, Fun Stuff, Healthcare Issues

Dear Students,

Are you familiar with Go Ask Alice! — Columbia’s award winning health question and answer internet resource? Alice! Health Promotion (a part of Columbia Health) is hoping to hear from Columbia students about their thoughts on site’s health information.

To share your thoughts, we invite you to participate in an upcoming focus group session. Registration can be made online: http://bit.ly/GoAskAliceFG

After registering, a member of the Alice! Health Promotion staff will follow up with you via email to confirm your registration and share any additional details.

More information about the focus group sessions:

  • We will be hosting a number of focus group sessions starting in March and April.
  • Participants must be a currently registered student at Columbia University or an affiliate institution, be familiar with Go Ask Alice!, and able to speak to their previous experience using the resource.
  • Each focus group session will last approximately 2 hours. We ask that all participants are able to stay for the duration of the session.
  • All of the sessions will take place during a meal time and food will be provided. Participants may indicate any dietary restrictions and preferences as they register for a focus group session.
  • Each participant will receive a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card as a thank you following the completion of the focus group.

We ask that those interested in participating register at least 1 week prior to the date they have selected to participate.

For any questions, please contact us via email: alice@columbia.edu or by phone (212) 854-5453.

In health,

Alice!

Go Ask Alice! Survey

Action Item, Fun Stuff, Healthcare Issues, Wellness

Dear Students,

Alice! Health Promotion (a part of Columbia Health) is hoping to hear from students at Columbia and the affiliate schools about their thoughts on the Go Ask Alice! website — Columbia’s health question and answer Internet resource.

To share your thoughts, we invite you to participate in a brief online survey.

More information about the survey:

  • The survey is open to any currently registered student at Columbia University or affiliate schools.
  • For those who choose to participate in the survey, they’ll be able to sign up for a drawing to win a $250 gift card. Drawing winners will be notified via email.
  • Participants will also be invited to share their contact information to take part in future focus groups about Go Ask Alice!.
  • All information collected from the surveys will be used to inform new and updated content on the site and will not be shared outside of Columbia Health.

For questions and concerns, please email alice@columbia.edu for more information.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Alice!

Events Hosted by the Office of University Life

Action Item, Columbia Events, Community Citizenship, Fun Stuff, University Life

Dear Students,

The Office of University Life has some exciting events coming up. Take a look below:

CU Live: Talent Showcase

Wednesday, April 4th at 7 pm

Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway)

Join the University Life Events Council for the first-ever, CU Live: Talent Showcase. The night will be filled with performances, comedy, visual art, and more – preview here. Don’t miss an amazing night of great talent with giveaways (free Passion Planners for the first 200 students, raffles of movie passes, Amazon gift cards and Bose speakers throughout the event)!

Like and share our Facebook event here and RSVP here.

** We had to reschedule the Talent Showcase (because of the snow storm) and would really appreciate any extra support in promoting within your school. 

CU Dance: Sunset Silent Disco

Thursday, April 12th from 6-8pm

Ancell Plaza (Between East Campus and Jerome Greene Hall)


Stop by, grab a pair of headphones and join us for just one song or go all in and dance the night away! The event will be filled with tons of giveaways, food and more. Look out for more updates in the weeks to come on University Life Events Council webpage and the University Life Facebook page. No RSVP will be required for this event.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lastly, the Office of University Life is hosting a Sunset Yoga Series each Wednesday (April 11 – May 9) and still have one Campus Conversation Facilitator Training this Friday from 12-3pm if you know of any students interested in participating in either of these initatives.

Become a Campus Conversations Facilitator

Action Item, Community Citizenship, Community Service, Fun Stuff, Networking, University Life, Volunteer
Dear Students,​


Interested in conversations on identity and inclusion?  Want to develop (or polish) your skills to facilitate a powerful conversation? Join Campus Conversations with the Office of University Life and become a Campus Conversations Facilitator!

Campus Conversation Facilitators will participate in a training and then host a conversation – in your residence, in your class, in your organization, or among your circle of friends. We’ll provide the training, tools, and conversation packets. Facilitators select a space and invite participants. Here’s more information:

Campus Conversation Facilitator Benefits:

 

  • Develop and practice leadership and facilitation skills
  • Gain a better understanding and awareness of inclusive language
  • Be part of efforts to foster greater inclusivity at Columbia
  • Meet and work with other students dedicated to social justice and diversity
  • Make great connections who can possibly serve as references in the future
    Receive Office of University Life swag 

 

 

  • Be an early adopter/adapter of a university-wide resource for Campus Conversations (developed by Race, Ethnicity and Inclusion Task Force!)
  • Be eligible to apply for a mini-grant to provide food or snacks at your conversation

 


Requirements:

  • Participate in a three-hour training session to review the facilitation guide and strategies for facilitating your conversation
  • Host at least one 90-minute Campus Conversation during the Spring 2018 semester
  • Provide feedback to the Office of University Life and Race, Ethnicity and Inclusion Task Force
  • Be willing to share on social media, or be interviewed for social media
​
The Office of University Life is hosting two facilitation trainings in February. Please register for one here.

 Space is limited; register early!

Office of University Life: Become a Survey Ambassador

Action Item, Applications, Community Citizenship, Fun Stuff, University Life
Join the Columbia Student Survey Leadership Team and Become a Survey Ambassador

Want to be part of a new Columbia-wide initiative to improve life on campus while putting new leadership skills into action? Apply now to be a Survey Ambassador and be part of the inaugural Columbia student survey leadership team.

The team will help brand, market and spread the word about this spring’s survey, which was created by students, faculty and staff across Columbia to focus on student well-being. Why have a student-well-being survey? To learn – about campus climate, mental health, sexual respect and more – and to take this knowledge and contribute to positive change for all students at Columbia. And – by doing this survey, Columbia students will be part of a global mental health initiative with our survey partners at the World Health Organization. Additionally, this survey will help us learn more about student well-being on campus with the goal of creating positive change at Columbia and support an environment where every student can thrive.

Responsibilities:
-Host at least one event or activity to promote the survey in your school or student organization.
-Participate in campus media campaigns

-Design and carry out a survey social media strategy
-Be part of a select set of meetings with other Leadership Team members and senior Columbia staff and faculty

Benefits:
-Develop and implement leadership, programming and marketing skills
-Work with amazing students, faculty and staff from all over Columbia
-University Life swag, including exclusive Survey Ambassador swag
-Special opportunities to obtain mini-grants to support survey promotion work
-Be a leading part of a significant and exciting Columbia-wide and global initiative
-A small honorarium gift card

Students can apply here.The deadline for applications is Wednesday, February 7th (11:59 EST).

Summer 2017 – Master’s Project Submission Instructions

Action Item, FAQ, M.S. Program, Major memos, Master's Project, Part-time Students

TO: M.S. Students completing the Master’s Project this summer
FROM: Sheila Coronel, Dean of Academic Affairs
RE: Instructions on Submitting Your M.S. Master’s Projects

The deadline for submitting your finished Master’s Project is Friday, September 1, at 10 a.m.

We will begin accepting completed projects as of Monday, August 21.

All projects must be submitted to Chanel Roche and Evelyn Corchado in 207A.

You will be required to sign your name on the Master’s Project submission log when you turn in your final project. Only those students who received a formal extension from your faculty adviser and the Dean of Students Office have permission to miss this deadline.

There are multiple sections of the submission instructions. The portion marked General Instructions applies to all students. There are also sections with specific additional instructions for Hybrid/Video, Hybrid/Photo and Audio projects.

All Master’s Projects must be submitted to the Assessment System!

General Instructions:
Please submit your piece (and any other materials as specified by your type of project) in a 9 by 12-inch envelope (which can be purchased at the bookstore or across the street at the stationery shop). Label the envelope with your name, your class year, the title of your project and the name of your Master’s Project adviser. These copies will be turned over to the library.

Please submit the final version of your project to your adviser(s) via email or hard copy as stipulated by the adviser (Additional instructions below for hybrid projects).

This final version of your project will be available in the Columbia Library, so it must conform to the specific formatting guidelines.

Formatting: Margins and Numbers: The print version must be double-spaced on one side of white paper, leaving a 1½- inch margin on the left-hand side and a 1-inch margin on all other sides. Pages must be numbered. No binding or staples, please.

Title Page: Include a separate title page with the following information: Your name, class year, the title of your project, the name of your master’s adviser, and, at the bottom of the page in the center, add:

Copyright
Susie JSchooler (name of student)
2017

Source List: Submit a complete source list for your project at the end of your project. If you are not certain about the best way to cite a source, consult with your adviser. Be aware that source lists and your entire project, including the “P.S.” portion, will be available for reading and copying by all Journalism School library visitors. If you have confidentiality concerns about sources (i.e. names, phone numbers, personal addresses, etc.), you are responsible for removing the source list from the copy submitted to the Dean of Students Office for the library.

Post Script: At the end of your project, include a first-person narrative describing how you discovered, researched and reported your story. This will help future students see what goes into the making of a successful master’s project. This “P.S.” should be included with all copies of your project after the source list, and should run no longer than 1,000 words. Remember that this post script will be available along with your project in the library.

Hybrid/Video Project Instructions
•One copy of your print piece per the instructions above to the Dean of Students Office.
•Please e-mail final copy of your project to your print and video advisers. Ask your print adviser if he or she wants a hard copy as well. Include Post Script and Source List as described above.
•One thumb drive of the video portion of your project.
•Provide a second thumb drive directly to your video adviser and a third to your print adviser. Label all your thumb drives and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser). We suggest the video format to be an mp4 video file with an H.264 codec. It’s easy to export in Premiere and fits on most thumb drives.

Hybrid/Photo Project Instructions
•One copy of your print piece per the instructions above for print projects.
•Please e-mail one final copy of your project to your adviser. Ask your adviser if he or she also wants a hard copy. Include a Post Script and Source List as described above.
•One thumb drive of either your audio slideshow or jpgs. If your project includes both, please submit a separate thumb drive for each presentation.
•Provide a second thumb drive (s) directly to your adviser. Label all your thumb drives and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser).

Audio Project Instructions
• One copy of your script formatted according to the Columbia Script Template for the Dean of Students Office, email a second to the adviser, plus a hard copy to the adviser if he/she requests it. Be sure the title includes _final. Include a Post Script and Source List as described above.
•One copy of your final project as a .wav file and an .mp3 file on a thumb drive for the Dean of Students Office, and a second for your adviser. Be sure to label your thumb drive on the outside with complete project information (author, title, advisor).
•Send your adviser a copy of the .wav file via dropbox or wetransfer. .

Audio/Print Hybrid Instructions
•One hard copy of your print piece per the instructions above for print projects plus a hard copy of your audio script, formatted to the Columbia Script Template. Please e-mail one final copy of your print piece and your audio script to your adviser.
•One thumb drive with your both a .wav file and a .mp3 version of your audio piece for Dean of Students Office, and a second for your adviser. Label all thumb drives on the outside with complete project information (author, title, adviser).
•Send with your adviser a copy of the final .wav file (either by dropbox or wetransfer)

Personal Copy: We strongly encourage you to keep a copy of your project for yourself. Neither the Journalism School nor the Journalism Library is able to provide on-demand copies of your work.

Congratulations!