Archive for orientation – Page 4

International Students: ISSO Office

Close to 50% of the students who enroll at SIPA each year are international students (not U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents).  For some international students the transition to New York City can be a challenging one.  To help incoming international students make the adjustment to life in New York City the Columbia University International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) provides support and assistance.

One of the things that ISSO does prior to school starting is to host a series of events on campus and around the city to help make the transition to graduate study a smooth one.  There is an orientation for all new international graduate students across the university as well as a series of city tours, events, and dinners to help familiarize new students with the city and to start to develop a network of support.

To explore the events the ISSO is providing this year, please feel free to visit the ISSO activities page.

MIA and MPA Orientation Schedules Posted

Mandatory orientation for new students starts on Monday, August 31st.  The schedules have been released by the Office of Student Affairs and I am happy to share the schedules here.  MPA DP Orientation details will be made available during the required MPA DP boot camp that commences on August 17th.

Questions such as the following, and many more, will all be answered during Orientation:

  • When do I register for classes?
  • How do I register for classes?
  • How many courses can I take per term?
  • When/how do I declare my concentration?
  • Are certain prerequisites required for particular courses?
  • Can/should I register for language courses?
  • How do I access career services?
  • Can I use facilities across campus?
  • Who do I talk to/where do I go if I need medical attention?
  • What safety services are available?

Plenty of returning students will be available, there are sure to be events in the evenings that are not part of the official schedule, and faculty/administrators will be available as well.  Business casual attire should be worn during Orientation.  We look forward to seeing new students soon and here are the schedules:

MIA Orientation Schedule

MPA Orientation Schedule

Admitted Student Summer Email Series

This week the Office of Student Affairs at SIPA started to send a series of emails to admitted students who have paid an enrollment deposit for fall 2009.  The emails contain important information pertaining to enrollment and preparation for classes in the fall.

I just wanted to make an annoucement because the emails will be coming from a different address than the Admissions Office at SIPA.  If you have yet to receive an email please check your spam or junk mail folders and ensure that your settings allow for messages from [email protected].

I Paid My Enrollment Deposit, Now What?

If you were admitted and paid your enrollment deposit you are probably wondering what happens next.  First let me say that if you did pay your deposit, we are thrilled to have you join the SIPA class of 2011.  Second, let me say that your number one source of information at this time should still be the Welcome Page referenced in your admissions letter.

Have a housing question?  The contact email is there.  Question about a Visa application?  The contact email is there.  Question about when the summer math tutorial begins?  You guessed it – referenced on the Welcome Page.

From this point on the Admissions Office does start to pass the baton on so to speak to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). OSA will begin to send a series of emails in May that deal with a variety of topics releted to your enrollment.  OSA will be a large part of your life at SIPA because they run the class registration process, second year fellowship application process, and act as the student point of contact for a variety of other academic issues.

This does not mean that you cannot continue to email the Admissions Office with questions, we welcome you to and you probably should because you may have not yet met those who work in OSA.  Just do not be surprised if we start to pass you on to those who work OSA and you start to see names like Ubrano, Caroline, Stefan, Mona, Cassandra, Allejandro, and Alleyne.

"The most global public policy school, where an international community of students and faculty address world challenges."

—Merit E. Janow, Dean, SIPA, Professor of Practice, International and Economic Law and International Affairs

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