SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Office of Student Affairs

OSA Mission Statement Serving the largest and most diverse student population of International and Public Affairs schools, the Office of Student Affairs at SIPA provides programs and services that enhance the student experience in and out of the classroom.  We do this through our orientation of new students, academic advising and registration services, student life programming, degree certification and graduation exercises.  From admission through graduation, we are committed to guiding our students through any academic or personal challenges relating to their tenure at SIPA.

Student Affairs provides a broad array of important services for current students at SIPA. The deans and staff of Student Affairs take great pride and care in overseeing your entire SIPA experience. The online resources are your link for staying informed about current academic news, reviewing policies and procedures, and downloading frequently used forms. The information provided through our office will be a constant point of reference and will ensure that your experience at SIPA is a positive one. We encourage you to refer to the Academic Calendar to plan your life at SIPA.

Registration

Students must register for classes at the beginning of each term. During the three-week registration period, students typically meet with their advisers to design an appropriate course schedule given their educational objectives while at SIPA. This is also the time to cross-register with other divisions of the University:  the Schools of Business, Law, Journalism, Public Health, Social Work, Teachers College, and Urban Planning.

Each semester, students typically take between 12 and 18 credits (four to six courses), depending on their requirements and desired course load, in order to maintain full-time student status at the University. Full-time matriculation is required of all students in the MIA and MPA programs. Students who cannot maintain full-time matriculation should consult with an adviser in Student Affairs for information about taking a leave of absence and the limited circumstances in which part-time status is possible.

Students may register online or in person at the registration help site. SIPA's online registration process gives students greater flexibility when registering for classes at Columbia. The SIPA Registration Web site is an important source for information such as registration times and procedures, lists of SIPA application and business school cross-enrollment classes, and important registration deadlines. The Registration Web site also allows students to submit SIPA applications for SIPA instructor permission courses and business school cross-enrollment forms electronically, which will facilitate the process of enrolling for these classes.

SIPA students are able to register online for the majority of SIPA and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) classes. Although students will not be able to register online for classes at other schools at Columbia, such as Law or Business, nor for certain designated SIPA or GSAS classes, online registration does allow students to select the majority of their courses more easily and minimize the time involved for in person registration.

PEPM students are automatically registered by the program administrator for their first semester in the program, which begins in July. For the subsequent fall and spring semesters, they follow the registration procedures for MIA and MPA students as outlined above.

Students in the Executive MPA program receive registration information during their orientation at the beginning of each semester and should contact the Picker Center for Executive Education for further details.