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!

University Life – Upcoming Events

Columbia Events, Community Citizenship, Community Service, Film Screening, Fun Stuff
Dear Students,
The University Life Events Council has a number of exciting events coming up in the next few weeks. Below you will find event details and links to RSVP forms and various sign-up forms.
Succulent Study Break 
Thursday, November 1st from 12-2pm | Wien Hall 
Brighten your day with your very own succulent decoration. The University Life Events Council invites students to express their creativity, enjoy snacks, and focus on wellness for an afternoon during the Succulents Study Break. Wien Hall Lounge.  Facebook | RSVP form


Coco Movie Night and Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Thursday, November 1st, 2018 from 5:30-8:00 PM | Mailman School of Public Health Allan Rosenfield Building Auditorium (722 W. 168th St. NY, NY 10032, 8th Floor)  
A Dia de los Muertos celebration featuring the animated film Coco, free food and champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate). Brought to you by the Black and Latinx Student Caucus along with the University Life Events Council and Graduate Student Association.
Facebook | RSVP form

University-Wide Day of Service 
Friday, November 9th – All Day | Various Location
Take a break and give back to the community. The University Life Events Council has partnered with local organizations focused on different social issues – get involved with a food bank, soup kitchen or after-school program. Multiple time slots available.
 
Crazy Rich Asians Movie Screenings 
Wednesday, November 14th at 6pm and 8:30pm | Dodge Hall, Lifetime Screening Room
Come join University Life Event Council in one of the hit movies of the summer and one of the most successful romcoms in 9 years! We will provide a fun space to kick back and relax, whether you are watching the film for your very first time or the fifth!
Screening 1 @ 6:00 – 8:00 PM RSVP
Screening 2 @ 8:30 – 10:30 PM RSVP
CU Voices: Inclusive Coffee House 
Thursday, November 15th from 7-9pm | Wien Hall

Calling all poets, musicians and artists for a chance to showcase a performance around topics of diversity, inclusion and belonging. Join the University Life Events Council in a warm evening away with the cold and either sign-up to perform or simply relax and enjoy performances from members across Columbia University during this evening of art and expression.

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!

University Life Events Council Events Next Week!

Columbia Events, Community Citizenship, Fun Stuff, University Life

Giveaways & More at ALL EVENTS!  

Bring your CUID and swipe into events throughout the week to be entered in a raffle for a $250 STA travel voucher, movie tickets and more. Every swipe counts as an entry and winners will be announced on the University Life Facebook at the end of the week. We will also be giving out a free Passion Planner to the first 100 guests at each event!

** We will make sure to update our website, app and social media outlets if we need to reschedule for weather!

 

Graduation 2018 – Final Instructions

Grants

Hi All!

Congratulations! Tomorrow is the day! Full instructions below!

GRADUATION DAY
Wednesday, May 16

University Commencement (Webcast)

Schedule:
8:30 a.m. General admission gates open (West 115th Street and Broadway)
9:00 a.m. Degree Candidates line up (enter campus 117th & Broadway)
9:30 a.m. Degree Candidate Procession begins
10:15 a.m. Ceremony begins with the Academic Procession
12:00 p.m. Ceremony concludes

Guest Seating

  • Guest Seating (friends/family): Tickets allow entrance into Morningside Campus on Commencement Day however they do not guarantee a seat. Seats are on a first come first served basis, they are unassigned, and cannot be reserved. University Commencement is a highly popular event and therefore space is very limited.
  • General admission gates are located at West 115th Street and Broadway.
  • Gates open to Commencement ticket holders at 8:30 a.m.
  • For guests with disabilities or limited mobility, the elderly needing assistance or those needing sign language interpretation, the line forms on 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

Graduate Seating:

Graduates will be sitting in the bleachers, left staircase, on the Dodge/Lewisohn side of Low (section II on attached map). Wear sensible shoes, especially if it is raining.

The best place for parents to sit to see you in the bleachers is on the Amsterdam side of the campus. Don’t forget to remind them to bring their Commencement tickets, a camera and/or cell phone. Many students call their parents so they can wave to them at the appropriate moment. The University Commencement ceremony is an outdoor event which is held rain or shine. Prepare yourself appropriately for the weather conditions. Please bring sunscreen and a hat as well as an umbrella, raincoat, towel, and plastic bags should there be inclement weather.

After the ceremony it will be very difficult getting around so please pick an obvious place to meet your loved ones. Off campus is best, for example, in front of “Morton Williams.” The campus will be a mass of confusion with the graduates and families all trying to find each other. Patience is the word for the day as well as the use of cell phones.

Journalism graduates must enter the Earl Hall gate on Broadway at 117th street (east side of Broadway, opposite the Barnard gates) wearing your cap and gown (please have CUID too). Line up near the GREEN balloons (with the Journalism sign and me – section 11 on the line-up map attached) just north of Earl Hall and across from the Mathematics building. Please note access to the Journalism building from that side of campus will be impossible. If you need anything from the building, get it before lining up. Also, bathroom breaks are difficult once the event begins.

Weather: The University Commencement ceremony is an outdoor event which is held rain or shine. Prepare yourself appropriately for the weather conditions. Please bring sunscreen and a hat as well as an umbrella or raincoat, should there be inclement weather. There is also an indoor, weather-friendly viewing location in the Levien Gymnasium of the Dodge Fitness Center, which can be accessed with general Commencement admission tickets.

Street Closures: For those planning to drive or park near campus during Commencement Week, please note that many streets surrounding Morningside Campus will be closed (to both traffic and parking) by the NYPD.

After the ceremony: The ceremony will end shortly after noon. We recommend that graduates and their families choose a designated area off campus to meet after the ceremony. With more than 30,000 people on campus, it can be very difficult to find someone — even with a cell phone — without planning ahead.

Bags: For security reasons and to save time, we ask that everyone refrain from bringing bags to campus on Commencement Day. Any bags or packages brought to the ceremony will be subject to search and must be kept in the owner’s possession at all times. Bringing bags will slow down entry and cause delay.

Graduating Student Instructions: For those who have purchased academic attire to walk in the University Commencement, we will congregate next to Low Library (see map) at 9:00 am. Don’t be late. Look for the green balloons, the JSchool sign, Dean Huff, Andrew McCormick, Davi Merchan and Tulika Bose.

J-School Graduation (Webcast)

3 pm-5 pm (seating begins for guests at 2:15 pm)

Lerner Hall, entrance at 115th street. Roone Arledge Auditorium; CUIDS are required for faculty, staff and graduates. Non-graduating students may not attend.

Doors for seating open at 2:15p.m. Your guests must present Journalism School Graduation ceremony tickets at the entrance. Guest seating is general admission.

Guests who would like a seat in the auditorium should arrive early as Roone Arledge auditorium will be at maximum capacity this year.

Strollers are not allowed in the auditorium and children have to be removed from strollers prior to entry. Strollers will have to be left in the foyer.

Student seating will be assigned by your program and core course (PhD, Knight Bagehot, Spencer, M.S. Reporting or M.A. Seminar in Discipline). A numbered chart will be given to you as you enter the event.

At the appointed moment, you will directed to the stage with your fellow
classmates where your name will be read and you will receive handshakes, congratulations and your diploma placeholder envelope (diplomas will arrive in the mail in early June) from the deans and your primary instructor. Dress is afternoon wedding or business attire.

Graduates will be photographed with their diploma envelopes as they exit the stage, and will have options to purchase these photographs (custserv@islandphoto.com or 516-767-1234). Personal cameras are OK but please caution anyone who will be taking pictures to stay in their specific seating section.

A reception immediately follows on Furnald Lawn between Lerner Hall and the Journalism School. In the event of steady rain, it will be held at the Journalism School. We recommend all guests exit the Auditorium and meet their guests at the reception.