Student Life at The Harriman Institute

Student Life at the Harriman Institute

Through the many special programs and events it sponsors, the distinguished visiting scholars and guest speakers it hosts, its special facilities, and its nature as "home" to area-studies students from many different disciplines and schools within Columbia, the Harriman Institute offers a multifaceted environment which can enrich a student's graduate experience far beyond what the classroom alone can provide.

The Harriman Institute strongly encourages interaction between its students, fellows and faculty. The Institute's Lounge is open all day and most evenings during the week for its community to enjoy. The Resource Center offers students a good core collection of books, newspapers, periodicals, reference materials, and course reserve readings, and a convenient place to read and study. The Student Organization of the Harriman Institute (SOHI) organizes a wide range of extracurricular activities, including frequent excursions to restaurants in New York's colorful Russian-emigre neighborhoods. And discussion groups, film showings, language-conversation circles, "Sherry Hours," holiday parties, and other social gatherings provide a congenial atmosphere for informal and lively contact. To ensure you stay informed, please fill out our student form.

Columbia University Housing

(1) University Residence Halls. Traditional dormitory rooms and suites for single students and apartments for single and married students without children.

(2) University Real Estate Management (REM) Properties. Apartments owned and operated by the University, primarily within a few blocks of the campus, for occupancy by single and married students with or without children.

To be eligible to receive housing and to remain in residence, students must be registered in a full-time approved program of academic work at Columbia.

Inquiries about Residence Halls or University Real Estate Management properties should be directed to: Assignments Office, 111 Wallach Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY l0027. (212) 854-2206.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

All applications for Columbia housing accommodations must be sent to the Assignments Office, 111 Wallach Hall. During June, July, and August, assignments to Residence Halls and referrals to the Office of Real Estate Management are made until all available spaces have been assigned.

Students may apply for Residence Halls only, REM Properties only, or both. Residence Hall assignments will be made by mail. Students choosing to register for REM assignments may do so in person by visiting the Office of Real Estate Management or by writing to the Assignment Office.

ASSIGNMENT PRIORITY

Each graduate school has a specific number of accommodations, based upon its proportion of the housing application pool, designated for assignment to its students, both in Residence Halls and in REM apartment buildings. In the absence of specific instructions from a school, the Assignments Office assigns accommodations according to the following priority guidelines:

Student Status

Students newly admitted to the University are given higher priority for housing than those students already registered. In most instances, students previously registered or continuing at the University will be offered housing only after all newly admitted students have been offered assignments.

Distance

Newly-admitted students living the greatest distance from Columbia are given the highest priority for assignment while those living relatively close to campus are given lower priority. This category does not apply to students continuing at the University.

DATE OF APPLICATION

Within each category, assignments will be made according to the order in which applications are received.

Priority 1: Newly-admitted students whose permanent address is more than 250 miles from campus, by application receipt date.

Priority 2: Newly admitted students residing not less than 50 miles nor more than 250 miles from campus, by application receipt date.

Priority 3: Newly-admitted students residing within 50 miles of campus, by application receipt date.

Priority 4: Continuing students are ordered by date of receipt of application only.

Priority 5: Non-degree students are ordered by date of application only. (Please note that non-degree students are ineligible for referrals to the Office of Real Estate Management and if offered a Residence Hall room may not renew the contract for a subsequent academic year.)

Once all available space has been assigned for fall and again for spring semester, remaining applicants are placed on a waiting list. Detailed waiting list instructions are mailed to these applicants and are also available at the Assignments Office, 111 Wallach Hall. Students are placed on the waiting list according to the priority guidelines described above.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE

International House is an independent, non-profit residence and program facility for foreign and American graduate students located just north of Riverside Church and the main Columbia campus. The House contains 500 single rooms, 14 efficiency apartments for married couples, and 6 guest suites. It has a cafeteria, laundry room, and a number of recreational facilities, and sponsors a wide variety of cultural activities. Residency is open to graduate students (21 years of age and over), full-time researchers, trainees, and interns at accredited educational institutions in New York City.

To become a House resident, contact the Committee on Admissions, International House, 500 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10027, (212) 316-8436. Residents are selected on the basis of individual merit, interest in the purpose of International House, and willingness to participate in International House programs.

OFF-CAMPUS ACCOMMODATIONS

The University funds a student-run Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) located at 419 W 119th Street, (Lower Level), New York, NY 10027 which assists students seeking rooms or apartments owned and operated by landlords other than the University. This office also attempts to assist students who have apartments they wish to share with other students.

Students must visit the office in person to view available listings. A valid Columbia ID card must be presented to gain access to these files. Because office hours change according to the time of year, it is advisable to telephone (2l2) 854-2773 in advance to determine the current schedule.

Students interested in obtaining housing not affiliated with the University are also advised to consult the classified sections of New York area newspapers. Some newspapers, such as The Village Voice, feature "Roommate Wanted" listings. Bulletin boards on campus or in local stores regularly offer good housing leads.

Finally, inexpensive accommodations can be obtained at the International Student Hostel, located at 891 Amsterdam Avenue (212) 932-2300.

SUMMER VISITS

Students planning to visit New York between June and mid-August to use the services of the Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) or the Office of Real Estate Management may wish to stay overnight on campus. For further information regarding overnight accommodations during the summer months, contact the Conference Housing Office at 116 Wallach Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, (2l2) 854-4962.