2011-2012 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

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undergraduate students begins the
week prior to the start of the fall
semester. NSOP is intended to assist
all new students with the transition to
college life.
Orientation is busy, exciting, and a
lot of fun, but it is also a week in which
important academic decisions are
made. Scheduled into the program are
information sessions and opportunities to
meet with academic advisers. Through
large group programs and small group
activities, students will be introduced
to faculty members, deans, resident
advisers, and other students. NSOP
includes walking tours of New York City,
social events, and information sessions
on University services and co-curricular
opportunities. During NSOP, new
students have the campus to themselves.
This provides students with a unique
opportunity to make friends and settle
into life at Columbia before classes begin.
Undergraduate students may e-mail
nsop@columbia.edu or call 212-854-
5808 for additional information on NSOP.
Orientation for graduate students is
scheduled during the week prior to the
beginning of each semester. For more
information on orientation for graduate
students, contact the Office of Graduate
Student Services.
Office of Civic Action and
Engagement
The Office of Civic Action and
Engagement (CAE) is committed to
supporting the programming of our faithbased,
spiritual, political, activist, and
humanitarian student organizations. In
reaching to fulfill this commitment, CAE
provides programming in leadership
skills, program development, and
organizational management to all
undergraduate student organizations
recognized by the Student Governing
Board (SGB) and organizations
recognized by the Interschool Governing
Board (IGB). CAE assists students
in their development as individuals,
community members, and leaders.
Issues of social responsibility
and civic engagement are central to
the mission of CAE and the student
organizations that CAE supports. CAE
strives to encourage open dialogue
at Columbia University’s Morningside
Campus and seeks to find connections
among student groups. The Office of
Civic Action and Engagement works to
enhance the undergraduate educational
experience by fostering a dynamic
and enriching University community,
supporting responsible student
governance and co-curricular activities,
and offering programs and opportunities
focused on civic and community
engagement. Through advising, the
office encourages critical thinking and
the free exchange of ideas by all of the
student organizations it supports.
Office of Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs is
devoted to promoting a just society
and exploring issues of interculturalism
and diversity within and beyond the
Columbia University community. By
promoting forums that address diversity
issues, self-discovery takes place
along with a greater awareness and
appreciation of cultural history within and
between communities on campus. We
endeavor to empower students, faculty,
and staff with the tools to be able to
successfully navigate their environments
and thus be able to positively change
and impact the community at large.
Programs and services provided
by Multicultural Affairs include the
Columbia Mentoring Initiative, a
program connecting incoming
students with returning students,
and returning students with alumni;
Respecting Ourselves and Others
Through Education (ROOTED), a peer
diversity faciliation program; Dessert
and Discussion, the signature lecture
series; and the Intercultural House (ICH),
a unique residential experience that is
supportive of Multicultural Affairs’ social
justice goals.
Residential Programs
The Residential Programs staff,
supervised by the Assistant Dean of
Community Development and Residential
Programs, includes 8 professional
staff, 13 graduate students, and 130
undergraduates who contribute to the
growth, well-being, and personal and
intellectual development of students.
The staff strives to enhance the quality
of residential life by cultivating an
atmosphere conducive to educational
pursuits and the development of
community within the student body.
These contributions form an integral
part of a Columbia education by
stimulating mutual understanding and
by fostering an atmosphere based on
the appreciation of the differences and
similarities characterizing such a diverse
cultural community.
The undergraduate student
staff, resident advisers (RAs), and
community advisers (CAs) serve as
role models for their residents. They
facilitate discussions about community
standards, provide community building
programs, and serve as a resource for
the residents. Their RAs/CAs serve as
the front line of a layered on-call system
and are trained to respond to the variety
of issues that emerge in community life.
The Faculty-in-Residence Program
allows students, alumni, and faculty to
meet formally and informally throughout
the year. Faculty members who reside
in three residence halls invite students
to dine in their apartments; organize
special programs around issues of
interest; provide opportunities for
academic growth and challenges within
the residence halls; and help students
establish links with major cultural,
political, and professional institutions in
New York City. In addition, the faculty
member in residence partners with the
Engineering alumni office to provide
opportunities for students to network
and gain exposure to a variety of
careers.
Begun in fall 2006, the Gateway
Residential Initiative allows Engineering
first-years, sophomores, juniors, and
seniors to live together clustered in the
Living Learning Center (LLC) housed in
Hartley and Wallach Halls. This initiative
seeks to bridge the academic and
co-curricular experience for Engineering
students. Mentorship between students,
connection among the class years, and
alumni interaction are the foundations for
the success of the program.
Fraternities and Sororities
Fraternities and sororites have
brownstones near the campus and
some of the organizations without
brownstones have a suite within the
residence halls.
The InterGreek Council (IGC) is the
self-governing student organization that
provides guidelines and support to the
engineering 2011–2012