Classes are being held today at Columbia. The University will remain open and function as normally as circumstances will allow. A decision was made Tuesday, September 11 by University officials and school deans that a schedule of classes would provide structure to the day that would be helpful to many. There may be some classes that cannot be held because an individual faculty member is unable to reach campus or there may be other circumstances that make it impossible for certain classes to be meet. Students can check http://www.columbia.edu/cu/registrar/cancelled_classes.htm for information about cancelled classes. If a class is scheduled and no instructor appears at the class within 15 minutes after its scheduled start, students should feel free to leave.

Employees who cannot get to work should notify their supervisor.

The campus remains on security alert. Counselors from Counseling and Psychological Services (854-2878) and Residential Life as well as members of the deans' offices and many other administrators continue to be available to work with students. The Chaplain and staff from our campus ministries (854-1493) will also be available to assist students in St. Paul's Chapel and Earl Hall.

Saint Paul's Chapel was filled to capacity for an ecumenical prayer service on Tuesday afternoon, and a candlelight vigil held Tuesday night was attended by upwards of 1,000 students, faculty and staff. Several student organizations are planning another candlelight vigil for tonight, and the Student Affairs Office is working to coordinate these efforts. Look for flyers and posters on campus for announcements.

Volunteers:

The University is providing medical help to the city relief effort and is assisting the New York Fire Department. The Columbia administration has formally offered additional assistance, including health care professionals, social workers and engineers, to the mayor and governor. Hundreds of Columbians—students, faculty and staff—have volunteered individually to give blood or help in any way they can. The University has been in contact with a number of relief agencies, and so far, none have required volunteer efforts. Should volunteers be needed in the near future, they may have to have specific skills such as being a trained EMT or have certain mechanical skills.

The various schools at the University and the Student Affairs Office are taking names of student volunteers. Faculty and staff wishing to volunteer should contact the Human Resources Department: 870-2832 (phone), 870-2655 (fax) or cg297@columbia.edu. All volunteers should include contact information and the special skills they have. Human Resources will accumulate the names of all volunteers including students and serve as a clearinghouse that will match volunteers' skills with relief agency needs.

Blood Drive:

Area hospitals have been inundated with people wishing to donate blood and are no longer accepting donors. Should there be additional need, Columbia Health and Related Services will assist area hospitals by pre-screening blood donors and sending them to the appropriate location. For updates on the blood drive go to http://www.health.columbia.edu

Transportation:

Transportation in and out of Manhattan may be difficult. For current information on bridge closures and mass transportation, go to http://www.nyc.gov/emerg_news.html. For a list of operating MTA subways and rail go to http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/.

Health Sciences Shuttle:

The shuttle running between the Morningside Heights Campus and the Health Science Campus is running normally.

Lamont-Doherty Shuttle:

The shuttle between the Manhattan campus and the Palisades has resumed running.

University Shuttle to Metro North:

A 15-passenger blue Columbia shuttle bus will run between 116th and Broadway and the Metro North station at 125th during peak transit hours (7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.).

Accommodations for students:

Should commuting students find it difficult to get home, they should contact their dean's office.

Accommodations for faculty and staff:

Staff in need of overnight accommodations should contact their supervisor.