University Senate Student Affairs Caucus
Annual Report
April 30, 2009
The Columbia University Student Affairs Caucus (SAC) has had a tumultuous and productive year and has tackled a variety of issues that impact student life. SAC’s mission has been to work across schools and divisions, as well as with university administration, to encourage a spirit of community within the university. To that end, we have undertaken the following to improve student life at Columbia:
- Creation of a fireside chat with President Bollinger and graduate students
- Student leaders Forum event with Suzanne Malveaux
- Investigation of student-rate MTA MetroCards
- Investigation of student safety protocols
- Resolution allowing graduate and undergraduate students to attend Columbia athletic games for free
- Resolution to compel professors to post course syllabi online prior to the start of classes
We would also like to highlight student engagement in Manhattanville
The Student Affairs Caucus received a variety of student suggestions and concerns regarding Manhattanville. Student feedback spanned numerous topics including the building design process and efforts to comply with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the foreseeable impact of Columbia's construction on neighborhoods in West Harlem and potential disruption of student campus dynamics. Students are of the view that the following should be the vital areas of consideration in Mantattanville:
- Shuttles for transport (i.e. funicular)
- Working with MTA to improve subway stations (i.e. safety and logistics). We encourage the university to reach out to MTA officials to improve both the safety and logistics of the subway stations at 116th Street, 125th Street, 133rd Street, and 168th Street.
- Green transport
- Technological integration
- Academic program compatibility to account for distance between old and new campuses (for faculty and students)
- Additional security staff and security infrastructure
- Develop safety logistical plans for students on campus and in transit across campuses and residencies
- Greater public safety training and education
- Restrictions on swipe access in a decentralized campus
- Vetting process for all external tenants on new Columbia properties (i.e. environmental standards, health standards
Genevieve Thornton and Amena Cheema, Co-chairs.