Family Orientation

Monday, August 25
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

We recognize that the GS community extends well beyond the University, and invite your families and significant others to join us for Convocation and Family Orientation, which features special programming for family members, including welcome remarks from Dean Rosen-Metsch and a faculty lecture, a presentation by the Dean of Students Office, an alumni/student panel, and a campus tour.

Separate registration is required for each family member and the deadline to register is Friday, August 22 at 5 p.m.

Register

Please Note: Mandatory programming for students concludes at 5:30 p.m., with additional optional programming ending at 7:30 p.m. See below for some ideas about how you might spend your time exploring the neighborhood while students complete Orientation.

Campus Map

Campus Access

Suggested Activities for Family Members

Campus Access

Access to Columbia’s Morningside campus is restricted and walk-ins are not permitted. Each family member is required to register separately as a guest using the form below to ensure campus access.

Upon arrival, guests must show their government-issue ID and a QR code to Columbia Public Safety at a campus entrance gate. Prior to the event, guests will receive the one-time QR code sent from “CU Guest Access” via the email address submitted on the form. We recommend starring this message in your email or printing a physical copy ahead of time if possible.

Please note that the QR code is unique to your guest’s registration and cannot be transferred.

Suggested Activities for Family Members

One of the highlights of visiting Columbia is the chance to get to know the city in which your student will live and study. Here are a few nearby suggestions to get you started:

Stroll through Riverside Park
Visit Grant’s Tomb at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive
Visit the West Harlem Piers on the Hudson River
Explore Central Park, including Harlem Meer, the Great Lawn, and Belvedere Castle
Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue
Explore restaurants, bars, and shops in Morningside Heights and the Upper West Side

Enjoy all that New York City has to offer! The New York City Tourism and TimeOut New York websites are a couple of great resources to find things to do throughout the five boroughs.

Registration Form

Guest Information

As a reminder, this form must be submitted separately for each person attending Family Orientation as the guest of an incoming student. Each guest must have their own registration. Please complete registration before the deadline on Friday, August 22 at 5 p.m.

Your First Name

Your Last Name

Your Email Address

Your Dietary Preference(s)

Please select all that apply.

Gluten-Free

Halal

Kosher

Vegan

Vegetarian

Student Information

Please enter the following details about the student inviting you to attend Convocation and Family Orientation.

Name of Incoming Student

Your Relationship to Student

Student's UNI

Incoming students who have accepted their offer of admission and submitted their security deposit are issued a University Network Identification (UNI) by Columbia University IT (CUIT), generally within a week of completing those steps. Once it has been created, the UNI can be activated and managed on the CUIT website.