The University Senate is a University-wide legislature representing all constituencies: administration, faculty, students, librarians, researchers, administrative staff, and alumni. It makes policy on a range of issues that affect the entire University or more than one school.
The University Senate has a range of responsibilities including approving academic programs, approving faculty titles, and improving the student experience. Recent projects undertaken by University Senators include:
- Demand for institutional accountability in the Hadden case. In 2023, the University Senate adopted a resolution co-sponsored by 6 committees calling for an independent investigation into the institutional failures in the Hadden matter. The University Senate continued to call for the release of this investigation report until its publication on March 10, 2026.
- Pipeline Studies. The Commission on the Status of Women has undertaken a series of studies into the advancement of women faculty at Columbia University, including a study into the advancement of women in academic medicine, published in The Lancet.
- Negotiation of the Wellhub partnership. The Student Affairs Committee worked with the administration to negotiate reduced-cost Wellhub memberships for Columbia students to address overcrowding in Doge Fitness Center. Due to their efforts, over 1000 students have registered for Wellhub, receiving free digital and subsidized in-person gym memberships at PureGym and NYSC.
- Changes to faculty titles and benefits. The Faculty Affairs, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee reviews proposals to modify or add new titles and benefits for Officers of Instruction. In 2023, the committee approved creation of the title of Teaching Professor to honor exemplary lecturers. In 2020, the University Senate approved the extension of notice periods in case of nonrenewal, increasing these from 3-6 months, previously, to 6-12 months at CUIMC, and up to 24 months on Morningside. Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University Senate secured the reinstatement of matching University retirement plan contributions six months earlier than previously proposed.
More information on the business of the University Senate business is available on the Current Session and Prior Sessions pages.
We hope you will participate in Columbia's enterprise of shared governance.
University Senators lead policy-making at the highest level of the University through their committee service. Each University Senator serves on at least one committee, participating fully in its meetings. Certain committees regularly produce resolutions for action by the full University Senate, while others serve primarily as venues for the exchange of information.
All University Senators are also expected to attend the monthly plenary meetings, where the full University Senate votes on policy proposals that have been approved by both specific committees and the Executive Committee, the University Senate's agenda-setting body.
University Senator terms are for two years or until their affiliation with Columbia University ends.
More information on the responsibilities of a University Senator can be found in A Guide to the University Senate.
University Senators are elected to two-year terms.
See the University Senator Terms page or table below for information on the election schedule. Additional information on constituency and candidate requirements can be found in Section 1.c. of the Senate Bylaws and §21 of the University Statutes.
Those interested in running for an open seat can contact their Elections Commissioner or [email protected].
The following table lists those seats to which elections will be held in 2026 (Spring and Fall) and the respective Elections Commissioner.
Membership
Elections for members of the Senate are held in accordance with the Statutes of the University and the By-Laws of the University Senate.