To All Potential October 2007 Graduates:

Congratulations!  You are (hopefully) soon to be a graduate of the School of the Arts, Columbia University in the City of New York.  I thought you might have some questions about what it means to be an alum, so I’ve put together the following FAQs and their respective answers:

Why am I still being billed for Fall semester?

As of October 17, 2007, your Fall registration and all resulting tuition and fees (including late fees) will be reversed, provided you graduate.

But wait…SSOL says that I’m registered for Fall semester.  What gives?

While some of you may have been registered for Fall, this registration is temporary and will be reversed.  Because of this, it is critical that you are aware of potential conflicts that can occur and what you can do to prevent them:

1.    Because you are only temporarily a student during Fall semester, you are not allowed take out any student loans for Fall semester.  Any loans that you take out will necessarily be billed to your student account once you graduate.  Don’t go there.  Assume that you are ineligible.

2.    As we mentioned in previous e-mail correspondence, while your temporary registration may have given the appearance of insurance coverage, you are NOT covered and should not utilize any health services or insurance coverage.  As I mention below, YOUR COLUMBIA (CHICKERING/AETNA) COVERAGE WILL TERMINATE ON AUGUST 31, 2007.

I don’t owe any money to the university, yet I still have a "graduation hold" and a "student financial services hold."  What’s up with that?

If you are receiving Federal Financial Aid and you haven’t done so already, you must schedule a Financial Aid "Exit Interview" as soon as possible.  If you do not schedule and attend an interview, or complete the process on line, a graduation ‘hold’ will be placed on your account and you will not receive your diploma.  You may complete the process by either visiting the Exit Interview web site at:

https://www.ais.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/ssv/adol?tran[1]_tran_name=adot

(note that your "Applicant ID" is a 10-character number assigned to you, beginning with "C" and is visible on your Student Services On Line screens) or by stopping by Student Financial Services in 210 Kent Hall.  

During the interview, you will be instructed on paying back your loans.  Keep in mind that most major lenders offer incentives for continuous on-time payment and direct link payments from your checking account.  These plans can reduce your interest by as much as 3%.  Contact your lender for more information.

Your repayment of Federal loans (Stafford and Perkins) should begin six months after graduation (unless your grace period has already expired).  

Important: If you miss the exit interview, your diploma and transcripts are placed on hold.  To schedule this interview, contact one of these Financial Aid officers, 208 Kent:

Booker T. Washington (212) 854-3722, btw2@columbia.edu
Carmen Iris Jordan (212) 854-8211, cij4@columbia.edu
Alexandria Monroe (212) 854-1529, am48@columbia.edu
Agatha Akua Akyere (212) 854-7213, aaa30@columbia.edu

For other financial aid questions, go to the Financial Aid Office web site:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/

or contact the financial aid officers:

Edward Graciano / (212) 854-3597 / eg2118@columbia.edu
Lisa Banfield / (212) 854-7041 / lb2228@columbia.edu
Gamalliel Vallejo / (212) 854-4695 / gv2005@columbia.edu

How will I receive my dipoloma? 

If you have no holds, your diploma will sent to you via First Class mail in an unceremonious blue envelope. If you do not receive it by April 1, call the Diploma Division of the registrar’s office, 201 Kent, (212) 854-8319. 

You can check the status of your holds by visiting Student Services On Line:

and hitting the "holds" link on the right.  The site contains contact information for clearing any ‘holds’ you may have accrued.

How will I be invited to Commencement?

First, remember: there is only one set of commencement ceremonies a year for all graduates.  This year, both ceremonies take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.  The Commencement Office will send you a handbook in March.  You will receive, upon request, tickets for up to four guests for the large, Columbia-wide ceremony and up to five tickets to the School of the Arts ceremony, upon request.

•    The Columbia-wide ceremony takes place on Low Library plaza at 10:30 a.m.  A cap & gown is required and more information will be posted on the SoA Home Page sometime in late March or early April.

•    The (more informal) School of the Arts Presentation of Diplomas takes place in Miller Theatre at 2:00 p.m., with a (mystery) guest speaker.  You may invite as many as five guests to our ceremony, and no cap and gown is required.  

If you wish to request tickets to either or both (or either) ceremonies, please contact Toni Scott at ts2006@columbia.edu  by March 1, 2008. Include the number of guests, a current mailing address and specify which ceremony you would like to attend. 

All October and February graduates as well as May candidates are invited and encouraged to participate in both ceremonies

For more details about commencement see the university commencement web site at:  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ceremonies/commencement 

What are the ‘rights and privileges’ I have now earned as an alum?

To learn about the benefits and services you are entitled to as an alum, go to the university’s alumni web site:

http://alumni.columbia.edu/

as well as the SOA alumni web site:

http://arts.columbia.edu

To ensure that you get all of your alum goodies, I will be sending a letter certifying your SOA alum status after we are certain that you have graduated.  Show this letter as identification when needed.  I’m also enclosing a booklet entitled "School of the Arts News," which outlines some of the accomplishments of your predecessors.

How do I get a transcript?

Transcripts are free for life and available to you or a third party, provided you have no holds.  To request one in person, go to the registrar’s office, 205 Kent, or visit the registrar’s web site:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/registrar

Snail mail requests may be sent to: Transcript Unit, Office of the Registrar, Columbia University, Mail code 9202, 1150 Amsterdam Ave., N.Y. N.Y. 10027.  Include: full and any former names, SSN, school (School of the Arts in your case), dates of attendance, current address (or address where you want transcripts sent), phone and fax number, email address, and your signature.

Can I keep my Columbia health insurance?

For information on continuation insurance, you’ll want to contact Health Services directly at 212-854-3286, by e-mail at hs-enrollment@columbia.edu, or contact Chickering directly at 1-800-859-8471.

You may also wish to do some comparison shopping with outside organizations like

Freelancer’s Union  (http://www.freelancersunion.org)
Actors Fund (http://www.actorsfund.org/)
Fractured Atlas (http://www.fracturedatlas.org)
National Writers Union (http://www.nwu.org)

Your access to Columbia Health Services terminates on August 31, 2007.  Your student health insurance coverage also terminates on August 31, 2007.  For questions regarding insurance, see the Health Services web site at:

http://www.health.columbia.edu

Can I still make use of Career Services?

Always and forever.  Besides offering an amazing array of computer services, they also provide information on grants and foundations for funding your artistic endeavors.  Take advantage of their services by visiting the career services web site:

http://www.cce.columbia.edu

Or email specific queries to:

cce@columbia.edu

How can I keep in touch?

As a graduate, the university’s alumni association will send you issues of the Columbia Magazine and news of University events. SOA has its own alumni association as well. Bookmark our SOA web site:

http://arts.columbia.edu

On our alum page, we herald your accomplishments and endeavors, provide an email directory and job board, and post other useful communications.  Be sure to email clippings, updates, and announcements of your Academy Awards and Nobel Prizes to our SOA alumni association:

artsalum@columbia.edu

What happens to my Columbia e-mail?

Unfortunately, your Columbia e-mail address will cease to exist in about 4-6 months.  You can, however, sign up for "Lifetime E-mail Forwarding" by visiting the Columbia University Alumni Web Site at:

http://alumni.columbia.edu/access/s2_2.html

and following the instructions.

We wish you the best in all of your future endeavors and sincerely hope that you will keep us informed of all of your present and future accomplishments.

Best of luck, and an early congratulations.  It has been a genuine pleasure getting to know each of you.

Please keep in touch.

David A. Beeman
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
db2032@columbia.edu