Columbia University ID Center

Many buildings on Columbia's campus are only open to members of the Columbia community and their guests. Access to these buildings is generally obtained either through showing or swiping one's University ID card.

For detailed information about Dining Plans, Dining Dollars, and Flex Accounts, please visit Dining.

Dining Plans

First year, upper class, and graduate students can select from a choice of Dining Plans [Ask Us] that offer meals served all-you-care-to-eat style in John Jay Dining Hall.

Dining Dollars

Purchasing Dining Dollars [AskUs] is a convenient way to enjoy dining services all over campus with a tax-free dollar-for-dollar declining balance account accessed through one's University ID card. Dining Dollars are only available to enrolled students.

Flex Account

Flex Account [Ask Us] is a taxable dollar-for-dollar declining balance program accessed through one's University ID card. It provides one account that may be used to purchase many goods and services around campus. A flex account is available to all enrolled students, faculty, and staff of Columbia University.

The Library Information Office in 201 Butler administers borrowing privileges based on registration or employment status.

While all Columbia University, Barnard College, Union Theological Seminary and Teacher's College students and employees are granted borrowing privileges automatically, certain libraries may have their own borrowing restrictions.

See also:

• Columbia University Libraries

   

The Passport to New York program was relaunched in the fall of 2005, by the Provost's Office, Student Services, and the CU Arts Initiative. This program grants free access to participating museums to Columbia students who present a University ID card with a valid term enrollment sticker.

Your card lists all of your roles at Columbia or affiliated institutions. This is prefaced by: CU, BC, TC, or UTS followed by your role designation: Student, Employee*, Visitor, Library Member, Retiree, Service Tech, Alumni, or Member (Dodge Fitness Center).

*Note: Beginning in September 2008, Columbia officers will have a new designation available to indicate on their ID card.  If you'd like your ID card to indicate that you are a "CU–Officer," you may obtain a sticker to affix on top of the "CU–Employee" designation on the back of your ID card. The "CU–Officer" sticker is optional and will not change campus access or Columbia privileges associated with your University ID card. The ID Center will distribute "CU–Officer" stickers via academic departmental administrators and administrative assistants. You may request a sticker from your ADA, AA, or the ID Center in 204 Kent Hall.