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Contents
Introduction to Columbia University Apartment Housing Columbia University owns and directly manages residential units in the immediate vicinity of the Morningside Heights campus. This housing is primarily used to house faculty, staff, and students, and is managed by the University Apartment Housing (UAH) department of Columbia University Facilities. UAH works closely with the School of General Studies (GS) through the GS Housing Liaison, Dominic Stellini, Assistant Dean of Students. The UAH inventory primarily consists of apartment shares, dormitory-style rooms and a very limited number of one bedroom, studio and family units for which priority is given to couples. UAH housing is located within walking distance of the campus. Due to space limitations we are unable to provide housing to accommodate friends or relatives other than, in very limited number, spouses/partners or dependent children of students. Housing in UAH managed buildings is available to all full-time General Studies students in housing eligible programs as defined by General Studies. In order to obtain housing from the University, a new student must:
All continuing students desiring University housing must file the same application and will automatically be placed on the housing Wait List. Housing Application Deadlines (New Student)
Applications received after the deadlines will automatically be placed on the Wait List for new student housing. Couples’ housing is in very limited supply and requests for studio and one bedroom units outnumber available apartments. There is no guarantee that an applicant requesting couples’ housing will be accommodated as a couple. To be prioritized as a couple for the purpose of housing, the applicant must:
Documentation of couples' or family status must be provided by the student when signing a lease/contract Housing Allocation Because Columbia University houses students from ten schools at its Morningside campus, with programs ranging in duration from nine months to seven years, the number of UAH units available for occupancy varies each year. In late spring, the number of housing units expected to be ready on or before registration is determined and each school is allocated a specific number of UAH spaces for its students. Each school decides how to use its allocation. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or ethnic origin. Dining/Special Needs Although all UAH accommodations have kitchens, students are eligible to participate in a University dining services meal plan. Interested students can call Dining Services (212-854-4076) or visit their Web site ( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/dining/) regarding the availability of meal plans. Students requesting a kosher kitchen may contact the Beit Ephraim, a cooperative for single students only. Beit Ephraim offers a community environment and family-style kosher meals. Interested students should visit the Beit Ephraim Web site as well as indicate this preference in the “comments” section of the UAH application. Pets Pets are strictly prohibited in UAH, except for service animals and those pets kept in aquaria. Students with service animals must register with the Disabilities Office. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in the forfeiture of your UAH unit, especially in cases that prevent the UAH office from renting available units. Eligibility for HousingGS students are not guaranteed housing. To be eligible to receive housing and remain in residence as a GS student, you must be registered full-time. Undergraduate students must register for and complete twelve points each term. Students in the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program must register for and complete at least nine credits and be engaged in medically related volunteer service or employment each semester. Students who do not meet the full-time requirements for their program lose their eligibility for housing and are required to vacate UAH. Student housing is limited to a maximum of five years from the date of first enrollment in the program at Columbia or the duration of the program, whichever is shorter. Students first registered prior to 2002 are not eligible. The majority of new students who apply to UAH and are approved by GS can expect to be offered housing before the start of the academic year. However, the demand for student housing exceeds the supply, and a number of students will be placed on the Wait List for housing. These students should read the Wait List guidelines closely. While many students do receive housing through the Wait List process some do not. Students are typically approved for housing by GS after May 1st for the fall term and December 6th for the spring term. UAH cannot offer housing until GS has approved the housing application. The UAH office will notify you via email upon approval of your application. Application ProcessPlease file your application via the Internet. You will need the appropriate user name and password to access the application. New students will be sent this information with their admission package. Continuing students can obtain this information via email by contacting Dean Stellini at gs-housing@columbia.edu Incomplete or inaccurate applications cannot be forwarded to GS for approval and will be returned to you for correction or completion, causing delays in the approval process. If you need to alter your application, please do not submit another application. Email any changes by using the link below to contact the UAH Housing Application Department Contact us. Housing applications are valid only for the term for which they were originally submitted. If you do not receive housing or decide to defer your admission, please submit a new housing application. Any student with a disability or health condition that may affect his or her assignment is urged to apply for housing as early as possible and to indicate the disability on the application. These students must also contact the Office of Disabilities Services 212-854-2388; TDD: 212-854-2388; Fax: 212-854-3448 Email: disability@columbia.edu. CLICK TO GO TO THE APPLICATION Acknowledgement and Tracking of Application StatusYou will not receive an immediate email confirmation. An acknowledgment window will appear if the document has been properly transmitted. Within three (3) business days each applicant will be emailed a letter indicating the assigned applicant ID number and PIN number to access the UAH automated phone system. In order to monitor the progress of your application, you may call the UAH automated phone system 877-288-4196 within the U.S.; 212-854-1616 internationally using the assigned pin number and user ID. This system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is accessible with a touch-tone phone. The Role of the School of General Studies (GS) Applications for UAH must first be approved by GS before we are permitted to offer you housing. Only inquiries regarding the approval process should be directed to the Housing Liaison in your GS. All other inquiries regarding housing assignments, policies, and procedures should be addressed to UAH directly. To ascertain your application and assignment status, call the 24-hour automated system at 877-288-4196 (domestic) or 212-854-1616 (international). Morningside Heights NeighborhoodMorningside Heights is home to a unique constellation of institutions, most of which date back to the 19th century. Six institutions of higher learning-- Bank Street College of Education, Barnard College, Jewish Theological Seminary, Manhattan School of Music, Teachers College, and Union Theological Seminary--are within a few blocks of the Columbia campus. Eight churches and synagogues, including the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Riverside Church, are located here, as is a major medical center, St.Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital. Subway stations at 103rd Street, 110th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street, as well as numerous public bus stops and the West Side Highway, provide Heights residents with access to the rest of New York City and the metropolitan area. Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues are the main commercial streets in the area, offering a variety of food markets, restaurants, cafes, shops, and bookstores. While all UAH units are within walking distance of the Columbia campus, during the academic year the University provides scheduled shuttle service every evening in a circuit encompassing all UAH properties. Department of Public SafetyAll UAH-owned buildings are managed and operated by University employees, and the University takes special measures to provide a secure living environment for all its residents. All UAH-owned buildings have Superintendents residing either in or very near the building. The Columbia University Department of Public Safety instructs and oversees all building personnel on security and safety procedures, making Morningside Heights one of the safest neighborhoods in New York. Columbia University Department of Public Safety also provides car and foot patrols for the entire UAH area. They also maintain strategically situated guard kiosks and provide coverage for emergency call boxes located throughout the area. The Morningside Area Alliance, a community service organization founded by the major institutions in the Heights, provides additional security patrols. Evening and night shuttle and escort services to locations throughout the neighborhood are available to all Columbia students. Types of Student AccommodationsThere are five basic categories of accommodations available to students; some units are furnished, some are unfurnished. Furnished Units - Typically include a single bed (full size mattress for couples’ housing), a desk, chair, dresser and lamp in each bedroom, a couch, additional chairs, and a table with chairs in the kitchen or living room. Note: Typical bed size is twin long. A stove and refrigerator are provided. Unfurnished units - Students must provide all furniture except for a stove and refrigerator. Note: - UAH does not provide linens, cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery, air conditioners, dishwashers, or area rugs for any units. Coin or card operated laundry facilities are available to all residents. Students are responsible for providing rugs that cover 80% of the floor area to comply with the terms of the lease. Please carefully review the descriptions and rate information presented below to determine the type of housing unit most suitable for your needs and budget. Ethernet Service – UAH is completing the process of wiring its buildings for high speed Internet access which is connected directly to the University’s fiber optic backbone. This service is ten times faster and for students typically costs less than half of what is commercially available from broadband network service providers such as DSL or cable modems. For students there is a mandatory charge of $25.00 per month for this service. This charge is not included in your rent. The charge for Ethernet is typically included in the semester rent paid by students who sign contracts and pay for housing by semester through their University SFS account. A list of those buildings where this work has been completed is available at http://www.columbia.edu/acis/access/oncampus/aptnet.html
The majority of General Studies students are housed in dormitory-style accommodations. These rooms located off a corridor and are either private (one student per room “single suite room #1”) or semi-private (two students per room “shared suite room # 2”). Rental fees for these units are billed in full by term and are charged to your Student Financial Services account. Dormitory-style accommodations are used to house single students only, and most floors and suites are co-ed. Family members and, friends are strictly prohibited from sharing the accommodations with student residents. Pets are strictly prohibited in these accommodations. Violation of these policies will result in termination of the student housing contract and the student will no longer be eligible for University housing. Amenities - Students share the kitchen, bathroom, and any common areas. All rooms are furnished, and utilities (sometimes campus telephone service and Ethernet service) are included. Some of the buildings, like 362 Riverside Drive, 600 West 113th Street and 544 West 110th Street have a security desk located at the main entrance.
These are apartments that contain from two to four bedrooms. Most apartment shares are single-sex. Each student has a private bedroom and shares the common areas of the apartment--kitchen, living room, and bathroom--with the other students in the apartment. Tenants are responsible for the cleaning of common areas and their own rooms. Apartment shares are used to house single students only. Rent is typically billed monthly. Couples, family members, and friends are strictly prohibited from sharing the accommodations with student residents. Pets are strictly prohibited in these accommodations. Violation of these policies will result in termination of the lease/contract and the student will no longer be eligible for University housing. Amenities - Approximately 80% of the three and four bedroom apartments are furnished and include the cost of utilities (cooking gas and electricity, not telephone). Two bedroom apartments are typically unfurnished, and utilities are usually not included in the rent.
Studio units are very limited in number, and demand greatly exceeds availability. Typically these are one-room units with a private bathroom and kitchen appliances along one wall of the room or located in a separate kitchen area. Couples or single students may live in studios but couples are given priority. Students applying as couples are required to provide appropriate documentation. Documentation of couples' status is required. Rent is typically billed monthly. Amenities - One-room units with private bathroom. In studio apartments the kitchen appliances are along one wall of the room or located in a separate kitchen area. Most of these units are unfurnished, and charges for utilities are generally not included in the rent.
One bedroom apartments are very limited in number, and demand greatly exceeds availability. Couples and students with children are given priority in assignment of one bedroom apartments. The available supply does not permit us to satisfy the requests of single students for one bedroom apartments. Documentation of couples' or family status is required at the time of accepting the Offer. Rent is typically billed monthly. Amenities - These apartments have a living room, kitchen facilities, a separate bedroom, and a bathroom. They vary in size, and most are unfurnished. Utilities are generally not included in the rent. Family Units There are a small number of larger units that could possibly accommodate families with children. Families with more than one child are given priority for these units. Only students with dependent children may live in one of these apartments. Documentation of family composition (such as birth certificates, proof that dependent children reside with you, marriage certificate or documentation of domestic partnership, etc.) is required. There is no guarantee that apartments of this type will be available. UAH Accommodations for GS Students
The majority of students housed in 600 West 113th Street are undergraduates in Columbia College, The School of Engineering and General Studies. All General Studies rooms are furnished singles (143 – 255 sq ft.) with installed Ethernet access and private Rolm (University) phone. Students share kitchens, bathrooms and all common areas. Porter service provides basic cleaning services for kitchens, bathrooms and common areas. Rent is billed in full by term on the Student Financial Service bill. Heat, hot water, Ethernet access, basic phone charges, and lounge use is included in the rent. Rent ranges are from $6916.00 to $9658.00 for a 12-month Contract. All assignments for these accommodations are made through Direct Assignment. Amenities - This full service building has a 24-hour security desk, laundry room and 2 elevators. Ideally located on the corner of Broadway and West 113th Street, one block from campus, 600 W. 113 th Street is close to shops, restaurants, buses and subways, and the “heart” of the Columbia neighborhood.
UAH leases eight units (unfurnished studio and unfurnished apartment shares) at 2183 Amsterdam Avenue at West 168th Street. Although UAH does not own or operate this building, the units are leased solely by UAH and are rented only to General Studies students. The rental fees for all of these units are payable by term and are billed in full to your Student Financial Services account. These units require the same application and approval process as all other UAH units.
UAH leases approximately 150 units (unfurnished apartment shares, unfurnished studio, and one bedroom apartments) available in three buildings in the West 108th Street area. Although UAH does not own or operate these buildings, the units are leased solely by UAH and are rented only to Columbia students. The rental fees for all of these units are payable by term and are billed in full to your Student Financial Services account. These units require the same application and approval process as all other UAH units.
UAH has made a special arrangement to lease single rooms in the International House. Only students 21 years of age or older are eligible to apply to I-House. There is no UAH housing for couples in I-House. To apply for one of these rooms, students must fully and accurately complete both the UAH application and the I-House application. The International House application is available online and must be completed and mailed directly to the UAH Office. Students accepted at I-House and approved for UAH by GS will be assigned to I-House. Students must reside there for at least one academic year. Transfers to other UAH buildings are not available. I-House is a dynamic program center and residence for 700 graduate students and interns from over one hundred countries, including 1/3 from the United States. Residents of I-House study or intern at over 75 academic and training institutions in New York City, in fields as diverse as dance and neuroscience. The mission of I-House is to enable selected residents to live and learn together in a challenging and supportive residential community that builds lifelong qualities of leadership, respect and friendship among individuals of all nations and backgrounds. The rooms leased by UAH are on co-ed and single sex floors. All are private furnished rooms with shared bathroom facilities on each floor. The Dining Room provides meals and opportunity for social interaction with other resident members (there are no personal cooking facilities at I-House). All residents must pay a I-House a dining service credit which is useable towards purchases made in the I-House Dining Room (Please contact I-House for the total amount of this charge). Community life takes hold throughout International House in its numerous public rooms and facilities, which include a gymnasium, fitness center, study rooms and a pub. Other services include telephone service with personal voice mail, music practice rooms, laundry rooms and a computer lab. Resident members are encouraged to participate in the programs and activities, which include guest speakers, musical performances, and an outreach tutorial program for Harlem youth, and language exchanges. Students who receive an offer of accommodation at I-House must pay a $400 reservation/cancellation deposit to UAH when they accept the offer of housing. This reservation deposit will be credited to your Student’s Financial Service Account (SFS) when the housing Contract agreement is signed with UAH. Upon checking into I-House all resident members are required to pay the following additional fees: a refundable security deposit and dining service credit. (Please contact I-House for total amount of charges). Although students are allowed to check-in directly at I-House everyone must also sign a housing Contract agreement with UAH within the next business day of checking into I-House. Failure to do so will constitute cancellation of the housing reservation. The allotted space will be assigned to the next student in line for housing.
The University leases dormitory-style rooms from Union Theological Seminary. The rooms leased by UAH house female students only. This housing is located on the 6 th floor of Hastings Hall and is offered to eligible female students registered full-time for a degree program at Columbia University. The rental fee for all of these units is payable by term and billed to your University SFS account. Students who live here submit the same applications as students living in other UAH buildings. All assignments to these rooms are made through Direct Assignment and transfers to other UAH buildings are not available. The housing in this building is all private furnished rooms with a shared bath and community kitchen facilities on the floor. There is a security desk at the main entrance to the building. Rental Rates, Leases and ContractsMost GS student tenants receive University Housing Contracts and rental charges are billed in full by term to your Student Financial Services (SFS) account. University housing Contracts are given for all dormitory-style rooms and certain student apartments. For some units student tenants receive a Standard New York City apartment Lease, with some modifications, and are billed monthly. With a few exceptions, student housing Contracts and Leases are renewable (with a standardized rent increase) annually in June for the term of the student's eligibility, provided that full-time student status is maintained and all other terms and conditions of the Contract or Lease are met. If a student violates the terms and conditions of the student housing Contract or Lease, or other University policies, the Contract or Lease will not be renewed. When a student graduates or otherwise ceases to be registered full-time, the Contract or Lease automatically terminates and the student must immediately vacate the unit. In order for a student to officially vacate a unit they must first file a “Notice of Vacancy Form” with the UAH office. This form is available in our office or online: Sample Forms All student Leases and student housing Contracts, with the exception of those in International House, terminate on May 31st of each year. Students who are eligible and wish to remain in UAH for the following academic year are required to extend the Lease or Contract and are held responsible for rent payments over the summer months. Those students who will not be in New York City for the summer may apply to sublet their units. Applications for sublet are available online and at the Off Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office (allow at least ten working days for the processing of an application). Available sublets may be posted online. Students who elect not to renew their Contracts/Leases and who later desire UAH accommodations must file a new application and will be placed on a Wait List as a continuing student. The range of rents that will be charged for each type of accommodation for the 2006-2007 academic year is indicated below. Heat and hot water are included in all rents. Please note that in units where utilities (gas and electricity) are not included, an additional cost of approximately $66-$110 a month per unit (not per person) should be anticipated. As appropriate students should contact Con Edison (1-800-752-6633), Time Warner Cable (1-212-358-0900) and Verizon Telephone (1-212-890-2350) before their arrival to arrange for services. Information about the availability of Columbia Ethernet service access can be found at www.columbia.edu/acis/access/oncampus/aptnet.html. Coin or card operated laundry facilities are available to all UAH tenants. Only University housing Contract rent fees, which are billed by term, are charged to the students SFS account. Students who sign a standard NYC Lease are billed monthly, and rent cannot be charged to the SFS account. UAH Accommodations
Housing AssignmentsThe number and type of student housing available for rent at any given time varies throughout the year. Therefore, UAH cannot guarantee that students will be housed in accommodations that satisfy their first preference in terms of type, location, and price range. We make every effort to assign a unit that satisfies the preferences you indicate on your application. We also make every effort to place new GS students within existing GS clusters within building or floor communities. Each application is given careful, personal attention in order to make the best possible match from the UAH housing stock, but assignments are contingent upon availability. You must either accept the unit offered, or if you refuse the unit offered, re-apply for housing and be placed on the Wait List as a continuing student To enable us to offer you the best assignment, it is important that you indicate as many acceptable types of housing as possible and note any special circumstances in the comments section. Housing assignments are typically made during May, June, and July for the fall term, and mid- December to mid-January for the Spring term. As we make Assignments, the primary factors that impact the assignment – your status (single, couple, family), the type of housing you prefer, the date you prefer to arrive, and the availability of housing units at the time you prefer to arrive. On the application we ask you to tell us your preference for the type of housing. Please indicate as many acceptable types of housing as possible. We also ask you to indicate your preference for arrival date. Please rank order 3 times that you prefer to arrive and move in. We will make every effort to send you an Offer of Assignment with a Billing Start Date that falls within one of the periods you indicated as a preference for arrival on campus or is before the start date of your academic program. Offer of Assignment All students approved for housing who select Direct Assignment will be sent one Offer of Assignment before the start of their academic programs. The Offer includes a brief description of the unit, general tenant information, and instructions for accepting the Offer. The Offer of Assignment with relevant information attached will be sent via e-mail to the e-mail address included on the housing application. With the Offer you will also receive information about payment of the required deposits. You must make these deposits and payments as directed in the Offer of Assignment and send an e-mail to the UAH office accepting the Offer by7 calendar days after the date of the Offer. To Accept Your Offer of Assignment
Pay the required deposits and rent (usually equivalent to 2 months rent) detailed in your Offer of Assignment by credit or debit card within 7 calendar days of the Offer of Assignment. (UAH accepts VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover cards). If you cannot make these payments using a credit card alternative instructions will be included with your Offer of Assignment. The Offer of Assignment may expire 7 calendar days after it is sent if the e-mail and payment are not sent to confirm acceptance of the Offer. If you refuse the Offer of Assignment, or if you do not respond to the Offer by the specified due date, the Offer will expire and the unit will be reassigned. If at a later date you want University housing, you will have to reapply and will be placed on the housing Wait List as a continuing student. Office Hours, Lease and Contract Signing ProceduresThings to Know
To sign the lease or contract you must bring two (2) passport size photos for yourself, your partner, and children and documentation of couples’ status (if applicable). Lease/Contract Signing Appointments Students requesting to sign their lease/contract between the dates of June 1-Sept 15* must call 212-854-5705 between the hours of 9:30am -3:30pm to make a Lease signing appointment at least five days prior to the date being requested.. Appointments can only be made once we have received your acceptance and payment for a unit. Lease Signing Appointments can only be made from Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The UAH office is not open on Saturday, Sundays and University Holidays (Holidays for 2006 are May 29, July 4, Sept 4, Nov 7, Nov 23-24, Dec 25-26). * During other times of year Lease signing appointments are not necessary, due to a smaller number of students entering UAH housing at that time. To move-in A Contract/Lease may only be signed -by the prospective student tenant in the presence of an authorized employee in the UAH office. Before you will be permitted to sign a Lease or receive keys, the required monies must be paid and all photos and documentation received. After your Lease/Contract is signed you will be able to pick-up your keys from your Superintendent. Supers are available for key pick-up from 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-3:30pm Monday-Friday. Wait ListIf a school receives more applications for housing than it has allocations available, each school’s housing liaison will place students on the UAH Wait List. Click the link for Detailed description of the Wait List procedures. Wait List information and activity are only announced online. Students placed on the Wait List should check the site daily. Housing is not guaranteed for those on the Wait List. Students will initially be contacted by UAH, via email, to inform them of their Wait List number. Thereafter it is the responsibility of each student to ascertain his or her position on the Wait List and to monitor the movement of the Wait List. Wait List Categories
Note: Students are also classified as a Continuing Student for the following reasons:
Who gets placed on the Wait List: New Student
Continuing Student
When: (Deadlines)
How to use the Wait List:
Wait List Couples Students seeking couples’ housing will be required to present the appropriate documentation during their first appointment. Those who do not have documentation will not be eligible for couples’ housing. A more detailed description of the Wait List procedures is available online Detailed description of the Wait List procedures and at the UAH office. All students who are placed on the Wait List must obtain and follow these guidelines in order to participate, and should email the Student Housing Coordinator at uah@columbia.edu with any questions. TransfersWe expect that your accommodation will be suitable for the duration of your studies at Columbia. However, should the need arise; you may submit an Application to Transfer. Applications to Transfer are available from the UAH office during the first (5) business days of each Transfer period:
Application to transfer from an accommodation for single students to one suitable for couples will not be approved during a student’s first year in housing. The first opportunity a student will have to transfer to couple’s housing will be in the October transfer lottery of his/her second year in housing. Please plan accordingly. Approval Process - Application to Transfer does not guarantee that the request will be approved. Approval is based on:
In the event that a student is not approved to participate in the Transfer Lottery, or participates in the lottery but does not select a new unit, he/she may stay in their current UAH unit. Also, Applications to Transfer are generally not granted during a student’s last year of housing eligibility. Room to Room Transfers Applications are available September 15 th to May 15 th for Apartment Shares and Dormitories Room to Room Transfers are only taken into consideration for: Apartment Share to Apartment Share transfers and Dormitory to Dormitory transfers. All other transfer requests will only be considered during the normal transfer period in Oct, Feb and March. Current UAH residents may apply for Transfers to a specific room within an Apartment Share or Dormitory if they meet all of the following criteria:
* Failure to take immediate occupancy, provide the appropriate monies and photos, for the new unit, will result in the forfeiture of the unit. Priority for Room to Room Transfers between mid September - mid June will be given to students who are not in their first term at Columbia. Click here to download the Room to Room Transfer Application Off-Campus AccommodationsOff-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) offers assistance to Columbia affiliates in finding rentals in non-Columbia-owned buildings located in the Metropolitan area. These accommodations are not subject to inspection or approval by the University. OCHA may also have suggestions for short term, temporary housing. To find out more about OCHA, please visit their website at: www.columbia.edu/cu/ire/ocha or call 212-854-2773. OCHA is located at 419 West 119th Street, lower level
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