Advising Events

Academic Resources Fair

The Academic Resources Fair for first-years is a College-sponsored event held during the New Student Orientation Program, which occurs every year during the week before classes start. The fair is scheduled for a two-hour period, and each academic program is assigned a table in a space in the Lerner Student Center. Students then visit the tables so that faculty and other representatives from the program can talk with the interested students, answer their questions, offer them materials, and collect their names and email addresses for list-servs. Both faculty and students alike find this event to be extremely helpful in making introductions and connections.

Departmental Events

Departments and programs are strongly encouraged to hold faculty-student events each semester to offer undergraduate students the chance to meet faculty and other undergraduate students, to learn more about the programs and courses offered by the department/program, and to participate in community-building events for students in the majors and concentrations. Departments and programs typically organize one or more of the following:

  • September: welcome back events for returning majors
  • October: open houses for new students ahead of the early registration period for the spring semester 
  • February: open houses for prospective majors in preparation for Major Declaration in early March
  • April/May: research symposia or other gatherings to recognize student research
  • May: celebrations for graduating seniors in the program
  • Year-round: guest speakers, film screenings, etc.

Columbia College offers $500 per semester and General Studies offers $250 per semester to support to departments/programs to support these programs. Departments/programs typically cover the costs of the events, and then request budget transfers from the College and GS. Department administrators can contact Megan Friar (mf3031@columbia.edu) to arrange a transfer from the College, and Mandeep Singh (ms2142@columbia.edu) to arrange a transfer from GS. 

Faculty Availability for Registration Advising and Spring Consultation

As Director of Undergraduate Studies, you should be available during the periods of time when students have the most questions about choosing and registering for courses:

  • the Academic Resources Fair, which is always held during the week before classes begin (currently on the Wednesday before classes begin);
  • the Fall change-of-program period (the first two weeks of classes);
  • the Spring early registration period (mid-November);
  • the Spring change-of-program period (the first two weeks of classes);
  • the weeks leading up to the Major Declaration period in early March; and 
  • any other periods during the year when your department performs degree audits to confirm students are making good progress in the major/concentration toward graduation.

If your department has a number of faculty advisers, they should also be available to students during these periods.

Study Abroad Fair

The annual Study Abroad Fair brings hundreds of our Columbia undergraduates together with the nation-wide sponsors of Columbia-approved Study Abroad programs. Departments that actively support study abroad for their majors may want to participate in this event.  Please contact the the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement for more information.