Key University Benefits, Programs, and Services Affecting Faculty

Columbia University has in place a number of programs and services to help full-time officers of instruction work successfully at Columbia University. For more detailed information please visit the Human Resources Web page at www.columbia.edu/hr or the Office for Work/Life.

Educational Assistance Services

These assist full-time officers of instruction in their role as parents.

  • Primary Tuition Scholarship (PTS) program which provides financial support to officers whose children are enrolled in independent schools from kindergarten through the eighth grade. The residence of the officer and child(ren) and the school(s) attended must be within the five boroughs of New York City.
  • Possible admission to the Columbia K-8 School for Children, a school for the children of full-time officers and members of the community.  Columbia-affiliated families must be PTS eligible in order to apply for their children and receive 50% of the child’s tuition.
  • College Tuition Assistance program which pays 100% of tuition for dependent children attending Columbia or Barnard undergraduate programs. 50% of undergraduate tuition is covered for up to eight semesters or the equivalent for children attending four-year degree programs at another college; 100% is covered if both parents are eligible Columbia officers.

Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

In addition to medical leave, long-term disability, and the Family Medical Leave Act, the University offers a range of policies and programs from which full-time officers of instruction may select according to their family and child care needs.

  • On the Morningside Campus, the Parental Workload Relief policy entitles full-time officers of instruction to one semester of paid leave during the first year following childbirth or adoption. It may be taken as one semester of full-time leave or two semesters of half-time leave.
  • Parents who are primary caregivers may be eligible to have tenure clock stoppage for one year in the first year after the birth or adoption of a child.
  • Full-time faculty who are primary caregivers of a child under the age of nine may be eligible for a part-time (50%) career appointment, during which they retain full-time status, benefits, and privileges; work 50% time and receive 50% of their 9-month salary.
  • Full-time officers can request a reimbursement of up to $5,000 for qualified adoption expenses incurred in the course of an adoption while a Columbia employee.
  • Columbia offers a Backup Care Program which entitles full-time officers to 100 hours of care for their loved ones anywhere in the country when normal arrangements are disrupted. The cost is $2/hour per child at specific child care facilities. For those requiring in-home care, the cost is $6/hour for the first 50 hours used; $8/hour for each hour in excess of 50 up to the 100 hour limit (for up to three dependents).

Medical/Dental Coverage

Full-time officers of instruction are eligible to select from a variety of comprehensive health care plans.

  • Medical plans exist in the form of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Point-of-Service (POS) plans, and Modified Indemnity plans.
  • The Columbia Dental Plan and Columbia Dental Plan Plus offer services provided by a network of faculty and alumni from the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine who have agreed to charge discounted rates and fees.
  • Long-term care insurance provides financial security for officers and/or their spouse, same-sex domestic partner, parents, and parents-in-law who require long-term care.

School and Child Care Search Service

This assists faculty and other officers in finding the best alternatives among New York metropolitan area child care and schools.

  • The University has developed a list of University-affiliated and other day care centers.
  • Officers have access to assistance locating independent, public, and parochial schools for their infant, preschool-, and school-aged children and in completing the application process.

University Housing & Mortgage Assistance

The University currently rents 6,500 apartments primarily for the use by faculty, staff, and students.

  • Eligible officers of instruction and research may apply for housing at the Office of Institutional Real Estate in Facilities Management.
  • Incoming and other faculty may be eligible for assistance to invest in the private housing market as an alternative to living in Columbia-owned housing. (Contact your dean for eligibility criteria.)