Dear Students:

In light of the recent events at Northern Illinois University, Hanna Seifu and I  wanted to take the time to remind you of some important steps you can take to ensure that you are promptly notified in the event of a campus emergency.     

At a Deans of Students meeting last week, we were told that only 32% of School of the Arts students had registered for CU’s free EMERGENCY text messaging service.  I want to take this opportunity to nudge you to make sure that all of you are registered for this critical service.

Consider yourself nudged – details below on the process, which you should do right away via your computer (though the messages are for your cell). If you are already signed up, no need to do anything else on this – except to remind your friends to sign up via the link below.  It only takes around 45 seconds.  Really.  

For information on enrolling in the emergency text messaging system, I am including a message from Jim McShane of Public Safety below. Please take a moment to read it, then enroll. It’s that easy.

As Jim’s e-mail says:

"In order to receive text messages, Columbia students must register their mobile numbers, which can be done securely and confidentially in Student
Services Online (SSOL). Please register now by clicking here https://ssol.columbia.edu/?tran[1]_tran_name=seni
or by logging in to your SSOL account and clicking on "Text Message Enrollment." These numbers will not be used for any purpose other than important communications."

I also wanted to let you know that drop-in appointments are being offered from the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. today (Saturday). Students are encouraged to drop in to the offices on the 8th floor of Lerner if they would like to have a conversation with a member of the CPS team.

Our hearts go out to the friends and families of those affected by the tragic events at NIU.

Be safe.

—Dave Beeman & Hanna Seifu

For the full e-mail from Jim McShane of Public Safety, click here—> (more…)

TO ALL SOA STUDENTS:

A REMINDER THAT THE LAST DAY TO ENROLL / WAIVE HEALTH COVERAGE FOR 2007-2008 IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28.

To enroll or waive health coverage, visit the following web site:

http://www.health.columbia.edu

and hit the link entitled "Confirm Insurance Selection, Upgrade Coverage, or Request A Waiver Student Med "

NOTE:  IF YOU DO NOTHING, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED IN BASIC COVERAGE. Read on… (more…)

A reminder to 1st & 2nd year SoA students that today, Friday, September 14, is the last day to add a class to your Fall 2007 schedule.

Please take a moment to ensure that you are registered for at least 12 credits by checking Student Services Online.

If you have no registration appointments left, you must bring a completed add/drop form to either 305 Dodge or to the Student Service Center in 205 Kent Hall in order to register. Add/Drop forms can be found in 305 Dodge or online here.

Remember that you have until Thursday, November 15 to DROP classes. Please remember that if you do decide to drop a class, your point total for the semester must continue to total 12 credits or more.

(From Student Services) 

Dear Continuing Student:

On behalf of the Division of Student Services, I would like to welcome you back to Columbia University. This email outlines important steps you need to take before your return to campus. Please complete the required tasks as soon as possible. (more…)

To All Participants in Tomorrow’s Commencement Festivities:

Congratulations! Wednesday, May 16 is one day away, and I wanted to pass along some last-minute notes for you.

1.  IMPORTANT: PLEASE ASSEMBLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF REVSON PLAZA (THE OVERPASS OVER AMSTERDAM AVENUE, JUST NORTH OF COLLEGE WALK, BETWEEN 116th & 117th) BEGINNING AT 9AM. PLEASE ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 10AM! BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR JAMIE SOSNOW, OUR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS MARSHAL, WHO WILL BE STANDING BY THE STANCHION MARKED "SCHOOL OF THE ARTS."

For maps showing (a) where to assemble and (b) where you’ll actually be sitting, CLICK HERE. 

Again, please assemble at 9:15am on the pedestrian bridge plaza (aka "Revson Plaza") over Amsterdam Avenue (between 116th and 117th on the south side). Jamie Sosnow, the School of the Arts Director of Admissions will be serving as the SoA Marshal. She will have a sign, so be on the lookout!

2.  Thunderstorms are predicted in the afternoon. Some items you may wish to consider bringing: Some bottled water, an umbrella (though we will have some ultra-thin ultra-chic ponchos for you, just in case – in Columbia blue!) a camera (Jamie Sosnow has offered to take your picture with your camera for you) and a free hand for your clapper!). Make sure to visit the restroom before the ceremony begins.

3.  Complimentary Box Lunches will be available for you and your morning ceremony ticket-holding guests, so make sure that they save their tickets! Lunch will be served in Dodge Lobby until 1:20pm.

4.  For the School of the Arts Ceremony: Please assemble in Miller Theatre at 1:30 SHARP. Please do not be late. Simply look for your Program Coordinator or Program Assistant when you enter the theatre. They will alphabetize you. You must be seated in alphabetical order by 2:00.

Look for the following people toward the front of the stage inside the theatre:
Film: Hannah Lovejoy and Michael Fishman
Theatre: Ria Cooper and Jamie Hardy
Visual Arts: Kevin Selhi
Writing: Brooke Krystocek

5.  Please join us for a reception in your honor immediately following the ceremony on the 3rd floor Dodge Plaza.

Wishing you the best.

Dave Beeman

To All Participants in Next Wednesday’s Commencement Ceremonies (10:30 a.m. and 2pm):

A few brief reminders:

1. Congratulations!


2. There are still tickets available if you have not picked up your maximum number to both ceremonies.  See Toni Scott in 305 Dodge, or e-mail her at ts2006@columbia.edu.


3. Caps & gowns, which are required at the morning ceremony (but not at the SoA afternoon ceremony) will be available in the Columbia University Bookstore in the basement of Lerner Hall until Tuesday, May 15.  We are covering the cost, so you’ll just need to have your Columbia ID with you.  You’ll be given a cap & gown immediately at no charge.


4. IMPORTANT:  PLEASE ASSEMBLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF REVSON PLAZA (THE OVERPASS OVER AMSTERDAM AVENUE, JUST NORTH OF COLLEGE WALK, BETWEEN 116th & 117th) BEGINNING AT 9AM.   PLEASE ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 10AM!  BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR JAMIE SOSNOW, OUR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS MARSHAL, WHO WILL BE STANDING BY THE STANCHION MARKED "SCHOOL OF THE ARTS."  SHE WILL BE CARRYING A BAG OF ITEMS TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE (tee hee).
   
   For maps showing (a) where to assemble and (b) where you’ll actually be sitting, click here:
   


5. Please remind your guests to keep their morning commencement tickets!  It will entitle you and them to a complimentary box lunch in Dodge Hall between ceremonies, beginning at 12:15pm.  They’ll need their ticket, but your cap & gown will suffice for you…


6. For the 2pm SoA Cermony in Miller Theatre, please arrive NO LATER than 1:30pm.  Look for your Program Coordinator or Program Assistant toward the front of the theatre, who will give you further instructions.


7. Immediately following the SoA ceremony (around 3:45ish), there will be a reception on Dodge Plaza until 5pm.  Please join us for this event in your honor!


8. For all information related to Commencement, here are some important websites:
   
   •    the Official Columbia University Commencement website;
   •    the Columbia University Bookstore website (caps, gowns, etc.)
   •    the School of the Arts Commencement website;
   •    the requirements for potential May graduates.


9. Congratulations again!
   

REMINDER: If you are planning to participate in the 2007 Commencement Festivities, you MUST pick up your tickets by Tuesday, May 15, 2007 in 305 Dodge. The deadline for requesting the mailing of tickets is this Monday, May 7.

Tickets are still available for (a) the Columbia-wide Commencement Ceremony on Low Plaza at 10:30 am and (b) the School of the Arts ceremony at 2:00 pm in Miller Theatre, both of which take place on Wednesday, May 16, 2007.  If you graduated in October 2006, February 2007 or will be graduating in May 2007, we sincerely hope that you will consider attending both ceremonies.  For complete information on the day’s events, including how to procure your cap and gown, please click here.  

The maximum number of tickets graduates are allowed is four (excluding the graduate) for the Columbia-wide ceremony and five for the School of the Arts ceremony (also excluding the graduate).  No tickets exceeding this maximum will be distributed.  You may, however, publicize your need for additional tickets by either asking your fellow graduates who may not be using their maximum or by posting your request for additional tickets on the School of the Arts online Bulletin Board.  

Tickets may be procured in 305 Dodge from Toni Scott.  If you are not in the New York metropolitan area, you may request that tickets be mailed to you by e-mailing Toni Scott at ts2006@columbia.edu.  If you choose to request that your tickets be mailed, please include the following: (more…)

Tickets are now available for (a) the Columbia-wide Commencement Ceremony on Low Plaza at 10:30 am and (b) the School of the Arts ceremony at 2:00 pm in Miller Theatre, both of which take place on Wednesday, May 16, 2007.  If you graduated in October 2006, February 2007 or will be graduating in May 2007, we sincerely hope that you will consider attending both ceremonies.  For complete information on the day’s events, including how to procure your cap and gown, please click here.  

The maximum number of tickets graduates are allowed is four (excluding the graduate) for the Columbia-wide ceremony and five for the School of the Arts ceremony (also excluding the graduate).  No tickets exceeding this maximum will be distributed.  You may, however, publicize your need for additional tickets by either asking your fellow graduates who may not be using their maximum or by posting your request for additional tickets on the School of the Arts online Bulletin Board.  

Tickets may be procured in 305 Dodge from Toni Scott.  If you are not in the New York metropolitan area, you may request that tickets be mailed to you by e-mailing Toni Scott at ts2006@columbia.edu.  If you choose to request that your tickets be mailed, please include the following: (more…)

Letter to Graduate and Professional School Students re Copyright Infringement – Illegal File Sharing  

As you may know from news accounts, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched a new campaign against computer users who are engaged in illegal file sharing of music.  This campaign is targeted directly at college and university students.  In the past few weeks a number of Columbia students have been identified by the RIAA as copyright violators.  The RIAA’s motion picture counterpart, the MPAA, has also significantly increased the number of copyright infringement notices it sends to colleges and universities.  The students targeted by the music and motion picture rights organizations may face serious financial penalty as a result of their choice to obtain copyrighted material online without paying for it.  In light of these recent events, we want to take the opportunity to better inform you about strategies copyright holders are taking to stop this illegal activity and to remind you of the serious consequences that can result if you persist in breaking the law. (more…)

A reminder that THIS THURSDAY, March 22 is the last day to drop a course for Spring semester 2007.

In order to do so, you must have an "Add/Drop Form" signed by the faculty (except Writing students, who merely need to submit a completed form, sans signature) of the course you’re dropping and submitted to either the Registrar in 205 Kent, or to Toni Scott in 305 Dodge by 5:00 p.m THURSDAY.

Add/Drop forms are available in 305 Dodge, or in the Registrar’s Office in 205 Kent. They are also available on line at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/registrar/html/add-drop.html

Thursday is also the last day to exercise the "Pass/Fail" Option.

Note that all School of the Arts courses are automatically Pass/Fail, however your electives outside the SoA are not. To change your elective to the Pass/Fail option, please contact the Registrar in 205 Kent, or Toni Scott in 305 Dodge. PLEASE NOTE THAT CERTAIN LANGUAGE COURSES REQUIRE THE PROFESSOR TO APPROVE YOUR TAKING THEIR LANGUAGE COURSE AS PASS/FAIL. YOU MUST HAVE THEM SIGN AN ADD/DROP FORM AUTHORIZING THE PASS/FAIL OPTION, THEN SUBMIT IT TO THE REGISTRAR IN 205 KENT.

To verify your registration, visit Student Services On Line: https://ssol.columbia.edu

To All Potential May 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: (more…)

For the first time this year, daylight saving time begins three weeks earlier (March 11) and ends one week later (November 4) than usual, as required by a federal law intended to save energy.

Depending on your computer operating system, your handheld devices, and the applications you use, you will need to take certain steps to update the software. Failing to update your systems may cause you to have problems logging in to campus services, and software with calendar functions (e.g., Outlook, Palm Desktop) may display incorrect times for appointments and events. (more…)

An Important Message to All 4th-year SoA Students:

You are approaching your 5th and last year for completion of the M.F.A. degree. This posting outlines the important steps you must take between now and then to ensure that you earn your degree and graduate by May 2008 (or earlier if you like). The time limit for earning the M.F.A. is 5 years, including any leaves of absence. Observe the deadlines set by your division, and be sure to contact your Program Coordinator to arrange for a thesis review well in advance of graduation in order to allow time for any revisions.

Please take a moment to review the following important checklist: (more…)

Commencement 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

SoA Info: Click here.
Columbia Site: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ceremonies/commencement



Congratulations to all October 2006, February 2007 and soon-to-be May 2007 graduates of the Columbia University School of the Arts.

To help you prepare for all of the Columbia & SoA Commencement activities on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, we have prepared a brief summary of how to plan for / what to expect on this important day. (more…)

Ahhhhh.Winter. Ice Skating. The absence of holiday crowds. American Idol auditions. The Colts. Prince at halftime with a full marching band. Restaurants & bars with roaring fires. Sigh.

What better time to remind you to file your FAFSA?
(Doh! Such a buzzkill, I know, however…)

If you (a) are a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident and (b) want to be considered for federal aid next year, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for ANY federal and/or private loans, as well as federal work-study allocations for the upcoming 2007-2008 academic year. (more…)