The Office of the University Chaplain (OUC) is located in Lerner Hall and includes Music at St. Paul’s Chapel, Community Impact (a volunteer group), and the Earl Hall Annex. The University Chaplain serves as the director of the Earl Hall Center. The Chaplain is concerned with strengthening coherence and unity at the University and focuses on a nexus of issues including religion, spirituality, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, gender, social justice, and community service.

The mission of the Office of the University Chaplain is to help respond to the individual and collective needs of the Columbia community. It does so by collaborating with other University departments to provide and foster pastoral care and counseling, by sponsoring diverse programming initiatives and organizing University-wide ceremonies, and by assisting in the development of University policy. The Office of the University Chaplain encourages student feedback and involvement in the life of the University and the New York City community.

The OUC sponsors a range of programs each semester that encourage communication and understanding between diverse populations and support the learning experience of students and others in the University community.