Administrative Policies

All residents who intend to cancel and vacate their room or apartment must complete an "Occupancy Agreement Cancellation Request" at least 30 days before moving out. You can access this form by clicking "Move-out" on the housing portal. Cancellation fees may apply. Residents who wish to cancel housing should also review our moving out details to help them navigate the process.

A Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI) is required for all CUIMC residents using a moving company to complete their move.

A COI shows proof of insurance coverage, which is necessary in case damage is caused during the move. Provided by the moving company's insurance company, a COI verifies that the company is insured and specifies conditions that the insurance will be used.

Guidelines

• COI must be submitted at least 48 hours before your scheduled move-in/out date.
• COI must be submitted via email to housingservices@cumc.columbia.edu
  Subject line must read: COI: [resident street address and unit number] - [resident's name]
  • Example: COI: Towers 1, #1A - Jane Smith

The Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI) should be completed individually for each entity as follows:

Certificate Holder:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
[resident street address]
New York, NY [resident zip code]

Additional Insured:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York

A Minimum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for Each:
General, Aggregate, Personal & Advertising Injury, and Each Occurrence and Deliveries.
Workers' Compensation coverage must also be provided.

Description of Operation, Location, Vehicles & Special Items:
Resident's Name
Resident street address & unit number
Description of Work  

As a reminder, please reference our moving out information for a full list of details and next steps to navigate the process.

During reasonable hours and with reasonable notice, except in emergencies, CUIMC on-campus housing contracts and leases authorize Columbia to enter the unit to:

• inspect the unit,
• for health, safety or emergency reasons, or
• to ensure that the resident remains in compliance with the terms of the housing agreement 

Vacant rooms in student apartment shares may also be shown to prospective residents during the superintendent's working hours; in such cases, the prospective resident would be accompanied by building staff.

In the event of an emergency, advance notice may not be provided. 

Students enrolled at Columbia University Irving Medical Center are eligible for on-campus student housing. Interested students should review our information for prospective residents for full details and specific deadlines for the various CUIMC schools and programs. 

Students must be enrolled full-time in a housing-eligible program to remain in housing. Students who drop below full-time status must vacate within 30 days.

Part-Time Enrollment Eligibilty

Students may request an exception for part-time status once throughout their time in on-campus housing. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis until the final deadline for each semester (indicated below), and at the end of each month thereafter. Decisions will be sent by email by the end of the month.

• This request cannot be made during one’s first semester in housing. 
• If a resident plans to be enrolled part-time during one’s final semester, the resident cannot request a one-time exception any other semester during the time in housing. 
• An official request must be submitted regardless of the semester requested for the part-time enrollment exception. 
• Residents must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits to be considered for the exception.
• Requests are reviewed and decisions sent within two weeks of the submission deadlines indicated below.
• Students approved for the one-time exception must be enrolled full-time in all future semesters in housing. Subsequent requests for a part-time exception will not be considered unless approved by the Office of Disability Services.

Submission Deadlines

• Fall: August 15, November 1
• Spring: December 15, March 1

On-Campus VP&S Students Matched with CUIMC/NYP

If you are continuing at CUIMC as a medical resident of Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian, you can apply to continue living on campus. Depending on your current assignment, you may be required to move to a single occupant unit (i.e. studio or 1-bedroom apartment) as matched residents are not eligible for student shared spaces (i.e. 2-person shared apartment, 3-person shared apartment, etc).

All residents must be in compliance with the terms and conditions of the occupancy agreement.  You must notify the Office of Housing Service via email once you have been confirmed as a matched resident

On-Campus Students Transitioning to a CUIMC Post Doc Fellowship

Students offered a Post Doc Fellowship with Columbia University Irving Medical Center who are already living in housing may be eligible to stay in their same apartment for one additional year if currently residing in a single-occupant unit (i.e. studio, 1-bedroom apartment, etc). If you are not residing in a single-occupant unit, you will be required to move to a single-occupant unit for your one-year extension.

If you need housing for more than a year, you will be required to move to 390 Fort Washington or secure off-campus housing. 390 Fort Washington is housing exclusively for post doc fellows.

All residents must be in compliance with the terms and conditions of the occupancy agreement. You must notify the Office of Housing Services via email once you have been offered a Post Doc Fellowship.

Dental Students continuing as Dental Grads

Students continuing studies in Endodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontics, or Prosthodontics are considred full-time students and thereby eligible to live on-campus.

Advanced Education in General Dentistry Certificate students may require proof of enrollment as a full-time student from the Director of the program.

Occupied units are inspected prior to the current resident's vacancy. Due to time constraints of preparing units for incoming residents, these inspections and assessments are performed throughout the year, generally within three months of move-out. Residents will be informed in advance when an inspection is scheduled. Each inspection typically takes 15 minutes and will be performed by a member of the Office of Housing Services staff. Apartment inspections are also performed to confirm compliance with Office of Housing Services and University policies.

During apartment inspections (whether routine, maintenance-related, or to confirm compliance with policy), building staff may need to take photos to record the results of the inspection. Examples when photos may be taken in occupied apartments:

• During an inspection for Office of Housing Services or University policy compliance
• When responding to a maintenance concern, to document an issue that needs to be repaired or requires follow-up (like a broken part, damage from a leak, etc.)
• During a move-out inspection, to document the condition of the apartment, including common areas in occupied apartment shares

Members of the Office of Housing Services team are committed to protecting the privacy of its residents; when photos are taken, they will record only the results of the inspection, and the photos will be shared only with individuals directly involved in the case. Residents who wish to be present during an inspection should contact the Office of Housing Services to confirm an appointment. 

On-campus housing eligibility is dependent on full-time registration in an approved degree program. Student residents who take a leave of absence or withdraw from the University are no longer eligible for housing and are required to move out of housing within 30 days of their eligibility status change. Cancellation fees may apply. 

Students with exceptional health care needs resulting from critical, acute conditions, and who take a medical leave of absence, may request to remain in housing beyond the 30 day period offered by Office of Housing Services. Students should contact Disability Services prior to the start of their medical leave for information on how to apply for this accommodation. The Disability Housing Committee evaluates such requests on an individualized basis, and approval is not guaranteed.

To begin the process, you must complete an "Occupancy Agreement Cancellation Request" form. You can access this form by clicking "Move-out" on the housing portal.

Filming is not permitted in CUIMC residential buildings, apartments, suites or any common areas.

Commercial filming, news, documentaries and student photography/film/video projects at some locations may be allowed only with prior approval by CUIMC Facilities Management and Campus Services. For more information, please contact housingservices@cumc.columbia.edu.

Members of the news media must adhere to the medical center's Interviews, Photography, Video, or Filming at CUIMC policy. To submit a request, email cumcnews@columbia.edu.

Current students wishing to remain living on-campus will receive room renewal information, via email, during the month of February.  Students will sign into the housing portal to request the room renewal and sign all necessary room renewal documents. 

Learn more about your Occupancy Agreement Renewal options. Students should anticipate a rent increase of 3% to 6% with their room renewal.  

50 Haven Ave. 

50 Haven is the only residence where students have the option of a 10 month or 12 month occupancy agreement.

The 10-month occupancy agreement is popular for students that leave for the summer and want to return to on-campus housing without reapplying and jeopardizing their ability to get housing for the following fall semester. Students participating in a 10-month term must fully vacate their space by May 31 and can return to their fall space on a date of their choosing between August 1 and September 10. Students will be billed only for their time spent on-campus. This is only available to students of 50 Haven. Information will be sent to eligible students during the Occupancy Agreement renewal process, which occurs during the spring semester.

Student Financial Services, in conjunction with the Office of Housing Services, handles your housing billing. Housing charges are billed monthly to your student account. Payment for each month is due on the date listed on the bill where the housing charge appears.

When a new student account statement is released and ready to view and/or pay online, you will receive an email via your Columbia University email account. The University does not mail paper bills.

If you have questions regarding room charges, payments, and account balance, contact Student Financial Services, in conjunction with the Office of Housing Services, is available to help by calling 212-342-4790.

390 Fort Washington 

Rent is due by the first of the month for 390 Fort Washington. If you are unable to pay on time and in full by the first, contact Jeffrey Schnepf, Office of the Controller, at js100@columbia.edu or 212-854-1077.

• The Office of the Controller will mail you a paper bill statement each month.
• The Office of the Controller will only accept personal checks from the tenant of record.
• Payments can be made via check, money order, certified bank check, or electronically generated checks drawn only from your account (set up is done through your bank).

A student may request a housing extension for up to 14-days via the move-out section in the housing portal. Extension requests will be reviewed and approved on a limited, case-by-case basis. Due to operational logistics, extensions beyond May 31, are not guaranteed. If approved, students will be responsible for the prorated rent during the extension until you officially move out and return your keys. 

Students may request a housing transfer during the academic year to a new housing accommodation.