When Columbia's new campus opened over a century ago, Columbia President Seth Low set the tone for the institution's relationship with the community. "The University can not be indifferent to what is going on in the great city of which it is a part," said Low during the dedication ceremony of the new Columbia campus in1896. Since that time the tradition of community contribution has grown with each generation. Over fifty years ago community service became a university instituition when faculty and staff of Columbia University organized contributions to the World War II relief effort. Today Columbia Community Service is an annual program that administers grants to community organizations that provide much needed services to area residents.

Manhattan high school students visit Columbia's campus for a day of workshops with Double Discovery.

Volunteerism has also flourished among Columbia's students. In1965, two undergraduate students, started a trend when they began an experimental summer program called "Project Double Discovery," offering tutoring and mentoring to economically-disadvantaged youth in the communities surrounding the University. In 1981 another student organized service organization, Community Impact was begun, providing a link between student volunteers and community assistance programs in Harlem, Washington Heights and other areas surrounding Columbia. Three years ago, students added Columbia Community Outreach, a community clean up day that rallies around 1,000 people annually to work throughout the neighborhood.

The Double Discovery Center: The DDC, founded in 1965 by Columbia College students, offers opportunities for Columbia students to be mentors and tutors. The program was started by students Steve Weinberg and Roger Lahecka, now director of alumni programs and special advisor to the dean of Columbia College with the assistance of Professor James Stenton. Today, Double Discovery annually serves 1,000 first generation college bound high-school-aged students from the surrounding communities, in particular Harlem. Close to 100% of DDC students graduate from high school and 66% finish college in four years. This is higher than the national average for all students and much higher than the national average for black and Latino students. For more information go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/college/ddc/

Community Impact: Over 900 Columbia students participate annually in 25 direct service programs in Harlem and Morningside Heights under the umbrella of Community Impact, a community service organization formed in 1981 by Columbia student volunteers. Programs include tutoring, GED, English as a Second Language, work with the elderly, homeless, and housing rehabilitation. Community Impact has partnerships with more than 100 organizations and agencies who do similar work in the Morningside Heights and Harlem communities, including social service organizations, government benifit offices, churches, senior centers and schools. For more information on youth, adult education and health advocacy programs, call 854-9621. Web site: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ci/

Columbia Community Outreach: CCO is an entirely student organized week of activities culminating in a community service day, when 1,000 Columbians -- mostly students -- work at 40 volunteer locations to help with labor intensive short-term projects ranging from classroom fix ups, building renovations and park clean up. This event has been running for four years. Last year CCO organizers made the day-long work day a community event by calling on volunteers from surrounding communities to join in the effort to better the community. The idea has also spread to several Ivies who have organized similar community service days within their communities on the same day. Through what has been called "Ivy Corps," organizing students hope to promote service awareness on a national level in the years to come.

Columbia student volunteers clean up the community during Columbia Community Outreach 2000.

The Malcolm X Medical Scholars Program: Assistant Vice President Larry Dais was instrumental in working with the late Betty Shabazz to create the Malcolm X Medical Scholars Program at the College of Physicians and Surgeons for minority students who intend to pursue community medicine. To date more than 25 people have graduated.

Columbia Community Service: Since President Rupp's arrival at Columbia, strengthening Columbia's ties to its surrounding communities has become a University priority. CCS is an important and effective way for Columbians to individually demonstrate their commitment to Columbia's neighbours. In 2000, the faculty and staff of Columbia, Barnard and Teachers College gave over $217,000 to CCS. These funds are distributed in grants of up to $10,000 to more than 90 community groups in a 35 block radius of campus. Recipients include soup kitchens, job skills training organizations, children's tutoring programs, activities for elders and other charitable agencies in the local community. Contributions for 2001 are currently in progress and grants will be awarded this spring.

Harlem YMCA: Columbia's Office of Community Relations provided leadership for the Harlem YMCA's Campaign to raise $3.5 million for the renovation of its Jackie Robinson Youth Center.

Host to Community Groups: A myriad of community organizations and officials are welcomed to campus and provided with space to hold their events, which attests to the strength of the University's community relations. The list of organizations and events hosted by Columbia includes The New York Urban League, the Dominican-American Round Table, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, The Abyssinian Development Corporation's Samuel D. Proctor Phoenix Awards, the Harlem Week Scholarship Breakfast, the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) annual banquet, and the Annual Children's Fundation, which benefits children with AIDS. Columbia has also been host to town meetings for local elected officials from Morningside Heights, Harlem, Inwood, and Washington Heights, including the recent Rat Summit organized by Councilman Perkins. For not-for-profit community or civic organizations seeking use of University space or facilities for enrichment, recreational or cultural activities, call the Office of Community Affairs at 854-4288.

The Westside Little League White Sox Junior Ponys are one of eight local baseball teams sponsored annually by Columbia.

Member of Community Organizations: In addition to funding various community programs, Columbia is an active member in a variety of local organizations that provide services to the community. These include the Morningside Area Alliance, Westside Chamber of Commerce, Broadway Malls Association, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Harlem Business Alliance, Studio Museum, Aaron Davis Hall, Harlem School of the Arts, and the Friends of Morningside and Riverside Parks organizations.

Sponsor to Community and Cultural Enrichment Programs: Hundreds of youth from the communities surrounding Columbia participate in community programs hosted annually by the University. In addition to hosting summer swim, baseball, soccer and tennis programs, Columbia sponsors 8 local teams, including the Westside and Harlem Baseball Little Leagues and the Westside Soccer League for boys and girls.