|
This is quick guide we hope will be helpful for incoming postdocs at Columbia University. The first few days, there are always a few basics you will need to set up to begin your appointment at your campus. We recommend checking in with the administrative offices or personnel in your department in case they have an existing checklist of forms, authorizations and orientations you need to attend to.
Getting a Columbia University ID Card and Your UNI
In addition to being your official University identification, the Columbia Card is also used to borrow library books and gain admittance to campus buildings and the gym. Outside the University, your Columbia Card can help you take advantage of all the excitement New York City has to offer through certain programs and discounts. Contact your departmental administrator or the ID center at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/id for additional information.
The key to accessing computer services and electronic resources at Columbia is your University Network ID (UNI). Every student, faculty member, and permanent staff member is assigned one of these unique identifiers, consisting of your initials plus an arbitrary number. You will also need your UNI to gain access, for example, to restricted library information on the Web, Human Resources and other University systems.
Your UNI and its associated password are generally the basis for gaining access to your university email account. Note that it is against University policy to share your password. Someone who knows your password can gain access to personal information about you, such as your benefits or certain employment records.
You may activate your UNI, set your password and manage your UNI account on line at http://www.columbia.edu/acis/tools/index.html. Additional information on the University’s Computer Usage policies may be obtained online at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/policy/.
Social Security Administration/Numbers
You must have a social security number (SSN) in order to lawfully work in the United States and receive a salary. To get a SSN or a replacement card, you must prove your U.S. citizenship or immigration status, age, identity and employment eligibility. Only certain documents are accepted as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include your U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, different rules apply for proving your immigration status.
Under the current law, only certain documents can be accepted as proof of identity. If you do not have a SSN, the Social Security Administration’s website at provides detailed information about the application process and acceptable proofs of identity.
Once you have applied for a SSN you will be given a receipt. Bring this receipt to your departmental administrator for his/her use in preparing the paperwork for your appointment. Once you receive your official card from the Social Security Administration, give your department administrator a copy so that your records can be updated properly and the appropriate paperwork filed.
The nearest Social Security Office to Columbia’s Morningside Campus is located at:
Cav Bldg, 6th Floor
55 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
800/772-1213
The nearest Social Security Office to the Columbia’s Medical Center Campus is located at:
4292 Broadway (182nd Street)
New York, NY 10033
800/772-1213
Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN)
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS issues ITINs to foreign nationals and others who are required to have a United States taxpayer identification number for United States tax return and payment responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., those who are to receive stipends only), but who are not eligible for a SSN.
ITINs are for federal tax reporting only, and are not intended to serve any other purpose. An ITIN does not authorize you to work in the United States or provide eligibility for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Examples of individuals who need ITINs include:
- Non-resident alien filing a U.S. tax return and not eligible for an SSN;
- U.S. resident alien (based on days present in the United States) filing a U.S. tax return and not eligible for SSN;
- Dependent or spouse of a U.S. citizen/resident alien; or
- Dependent or spouse of a non-resident alien visa holder.
Please see the IRS website for additional information.
Credit Cards
Citibank offers a Citi-Secured MasterCard (secured by an 18-month Certificate of Deposit) developed to meet the needs of individuals with no established credit or with little credit history, with or without either SSNs or ITINs. For additional information, contact: Earl Allen, Citibank on Campus (located behind Café 212, Alfred Lerner Hall; (212)663-2179) or visit the Citibank branch located at Broadway and 111th Street. At CUMC, contact Ray Dyal at the Citibank branch in the Black Building. If you have a Citibank credit card in your home country, you may also qualify for a Citibank card in the United States. Please contact the above individuals for additional information.
Human Resources Orientation
These orientation sessions provide a timely opportunity for all new employees to explore life and resources at Columbia, as well as to enroll for the benefits that best suit their personal needs. This program is a helpful way to start the new employee on the right informational track. It is strongly recommended that new employees attend within the first 30 days of being hired.
Since you've managed to get a user ID and get onto the web, you're well on your way to realizing that Columbia is a large place with a lot to offer its employees. The New Employee Orientation program is a convenient way to find out about the University's structure, and resources and will give you a sense of where your area fits into the bigger Columbia picture.
At Morningside: http://www.columbia.edu/hr/courses/orientation/course-cat.html
At the Medical Center: http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/hrorient/welcome.asp
|
