There are countless opportunities for students to get involved on campus and to forge friendships that will have a large impact on their lives at Columbia and far beyond graduation.
Undergraduate Student Life
Undergraduate Student Life fosters a welcoming and inclusive community by supporting undergraduate students as they develop skills and the awareness of self and others required to responsibly engage, serve, and lead at Columbia, in New York City, and beyond. Within Undergraduate Student Life, Multicultural Affairs, Residential Life and Student Engagement enrich the student experience by providing resources like new student orientation programs, affinity group programming, organizational advising, heritage months, community activities, fraternity and sorority life — and so much more.
Activities Fair
Once per semester, all student groups participate in the Activities Fair where their peers can stop by and learn more about campus groups and activities that represent the vast interests, identities, and pursuits of our students.
Diverse Perspectives
International Students
International @ Columbia is committed to providing a supportive atmosphere for international students through a variety of academic and student life resources. International @ Columbia aims to infuse international perspectives into the support services offered to students, enable individuals to represent their international background with their own story, advocate for the importance of a diverse international population in academic and social life, and stimulate conversation about international issues.
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is a resource for international students with questions about visas, work study, Optional Practical Training (OPT), and other logistics involved in living and studying in the United States.
LGBTQ @ Columbia
LGBTQ @ Columbia provides students with LGBTQ student group advising, events, education, advocacy and other services and resources to help all students explore and better understand diverse queer and trans identities, experiences and communities at Columbia and beyond. Additionally, as part of Multicultural Affairs, LGBTQ @ Columbia work to create a campus environment that is inclusive and supportive of student diversity in the area of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.
Multicultural Affairs
Diversity and inclusion are not only central to the student experience, they are key components to learning and development. Multicultural Affairs recognizes that identity, social responsibility, allyship, and equity must be addressed at multiple interconnected levels to best support students' various developmental stages.
Each student brings to campus many cultures, experiences, and perspectives and Multicultural Affairs helps them capitalize on the rich education and growth found in the active exchange across multiple identities within a community. Multicultural Affairs' advisers provide programs, resources, and a supportive environment for personal identity development, mentorship, intercultural learning, social justice education and institutional advocacy.
Office of University Life
The Office of University Life is a central division focused on enhancing the student experience across Columbia’s 17 schools and colleges. It is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives through programs, services, and partnerships.