Student Services

Columbia Housing 

Columbia Housing provides our undergraduate residential students with safe and comfortable  accommodations and a friendly face whenever they have questions or concerns. We're responsible for  maintaining the physical integrity, cleanliness, and operation of Columbia's 30+ undergraduate residence  halls.

Guaranteed Housing 

Academic year housing is guaranteed for undergraduate Columbia College and School of Engineering  and Applied Science students, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. 

The number of terms for which a student is guaranteed housing depends on their class standing: 

• Incoming first-year students are guaranteed four consecutive years of housing. 
• Transfer students are guaranteed housing for the number of years associated with their class  standing. 
• Combined Plan students are guaranteed housing only for their first year of the Combined Plan  program. 

Residence Halls 

Columbia Housing residence halls offer a variety of living styles, including corridor, suite, and apartment style options, as well as a range of amenities like bike storage, fitness rooms, and lounges. Explore our  residence halls with the Residence Hall Directory. 

All residence halls have laundry facilities and each room is furnished with a bed and mattress, desk, chair,  chest of drawers, trash can, and wardrobe or closet. Outside furniture is not permitted (e.g., mattresses,  futons, chairs, etc.). 

Students are supported in residence by Columbia Residential Life, whose trained Resident Advisers  (RAs) live among the students in the residence halls. Residential Life works to create an atmosphere  conducive to educational pursuits and the development of community among the diverse student body.  Throughout the year, Residential Life staff coordinate programs in the residence halls and off-campus that  are both social and educational. 

The Guide to Living 

The Guide to Living contains everything students need to know about living in the residence halls, from  what kind of decorations are permitted in rooms, to guest policies, emergency procedures, and the terms  and conditions of occupancy in Columbia Housing. Created by Columbia Housing and Residential Life in  collaboration with other campus partners, the Guide to Living is a collection of policies and procedures  that apply to residential students. Residential students should familiarize themselves with the content of  the Guide to Living prior to moving into Columbia Housing. 

Policies and procedures within the Guide to Living are tagged by theme and topic and can be filtered  accordingly. The following themes may be helpful: 

• Terms and Conditions 
• Before You Come to Campus 
• Life in the Residence Halls 

Providing 24/7 Support at the Hartley Hospitality Desk 

Call or email the Hospitality Desk, located in the lobby of Hartley Hall, whenever you need Housing related assistance. The Hospitality Desk is staffed 24 hours 7 days a week during academic periods to  assist students. 

• Phone: 212-854-2779
• Email: housing@columbia.edu 

Learn more about the Hartley Desk and the support services it provides. 

Upperclass Room Selection 

In the spring semester, all eligible upperclass students participate in Room Selection, an annual process  during which students select their housing for the following academic year. The order in which students  select their housing is determined by seniority, so that seniors have first selection. Learn more about the  Room Selection process on our website. 

Stay Up-to-Date 

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Columbia Dining 

Columbia Dining is committed to one thing: Good Food. This commitment guides the operation every  day, from the nutritious, quality ingredients we select, to our culinary team training and sustainable  practices. 

Columbia Dining Plans 

With a Columbia Dining plan, eating on campus is as easy as it is delicious. We have options dedicated  specifically to first-year students – designed to encourage community building – as well as options for  upperclass and graduate students – designed to suit the varied needs of our diverse student body. If you  haven’t registered for a dining plan yet, it’s not too late! Visit our website today to sign up. 

Dining plans consist of meal swipes and Dining Dollars, and some plans also offer Flex and  complimentary meal swipes. 

• Dining Dollars can be used at all Columbia Dining and Barnard Dining locations. Dining Dollars  are tax-free, roll over year-to-year until graduation, and operate as a declining balance account,  much like a debit card.

• Flex can be used at all Columbia Dining locations, as well as the Columbia Bookstore, vending  machines, select off-campus retailers, and for online food delivery through Grubhub. Flex is not  tax-free, but similar to Dining Dollars, they roll over year-to-year until graduation and operate as  a declining balance account. 

• Complimentary Meal Swipes are bonus meal swipes that can be used if you have a guest, if you  want to eat in-unit and take a meal to go, or if you run out of weekly swipes. 

Dining Dollars and Flex can be added at any time through SSOL. 

How to Use Your Dining Plan 

Dining plans are transacted through your University ID card, which serves as a convenient way to enjoy  dining all over campus – and off, depending on your plan – without carrying cash. At residential  locations, give your card to the cashier and tell them how you would like to pay: meal swipe, Flex, or  Dining Dollars. At retail locations, tell the cashier if you would like to use Flex or Dining Dollars, then  tap your card at the reader. 

Dining Plan Policies

Learn more about the framework of service provided by Columbia Dining, including contract terms, our  operating calendar, and more. 

Our Locations 

During the academic year, Columbia Dining is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a different  menu at each location. Check our website for daily menus and hours of operation. 

Residential Locations 

Most of our residential locations offer all-you-care-to-eat dining, which means you can return to the  servery as many times as needed during your meal for seconds, thirds, or more. Please visit Columbia  Dining’s website for further details and a full list of locations. 

The Columbia-Barnard Exchange 

Columbia Dining plan holders may use their meal swipes, Dining Dollars, and Flex at Barnard Dining  locations. 

The Columbia Dining Eco-Container 

When you want to take a meal to go but don’t want to create extra waste, use a Columbia Dining eco container! The eco-container is the only reusable container that can be used for take-out at  Columbia Dining residential locations. Pick up a clean eco-container at the cashier station of any  residential dining hall in exchange for a Columbia Dining token received at Check-In. Learn more about  the eco-container program and our commitment to sustainable practices on our website. 

Fighting Food Insecurity 

Columbia Dining sponsors the Emergency Meal Fund (EMF), a no-questions-asked program offering  limited support to undergraduate students in need. Learn more about how to request and use EMF tickets. 

Support for Students with Food Allergies, Special Diets, and Nutrition Concerns 

Allergen Certification 

Every student deserves to dine safely. Every student deserves to dine safely. All Columbia Dining Managers  and First Cooks are AllerTrain™ certified to ensure proper food handling procedures for diners with food  allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. 

Food Allergies & Special Diets 

Menus across all our locations are labeled to identify major allergens and ingredients so students can  quickly determine whether a food item is safe for them. Some dining halls offer dedicated vegan and  gluten-free stations, and you can always find vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and halal options on the  menu. 

Kosher students may sign up for the Columbia Kosher Dining Plan, which allows access to a restricted  kosher cooler in John Jay Dining Hall for grab-and-go deli-style meals including sandwiches, salads,  snacks and desserts. CU kosher meals can also, for an additional charge, be exchanged for a kosher meal  at Barnard’s Hewitt Hall (kosher to kosher only). 

Students who need allergen or special diet-related assistance in-unit should ask to speak to a manager. Meet with Our Registered Dietitian

Columbia Dining also has a registered dietitian on staff to address individual questions and concerns from  Columbia Dining Plan Holders related to food allergies, intolerances, and dietary preferences. You may  submit questions or schedule a consultation through our website. 

Find out What’s Cooking’ on Campus 

Be the first to know about upcoming events, exciting menu changes, and more. 

• Join The Dish, our text messaging alert system. We promise to send only the spiciest Dining  updates no more than four times per month. Standard messaging rates apply. Find out how to sign  up on our website. 
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook