News
As the fall semester comes to an end, winter break provides students and faculty a chance to pause, relax, and enjoy a well-deserved rest. For Facilities and Operations, winter break is an opportunity to perform a significant amount of work by taking advantage of a relatively empty campus. This winter break, a wide range of projects large and small will take place across the Morningside campus, including ongoing initiatives such as restroom renovations, residence hall upgrades, and public space refreshes.
As winter break approaches, Columbia University Facilities and Operations has been busy planning improvement projects throughout campus to take advantage of the reduced population when construction has the least impact on campus activities.
If you are leaving campus for a portion of winter break, we would like to remind you that you can help save energy and prevent loss or damage of your property while you are out and throughout the winter.
The black trash and recycling receptacles manufactured by Victor Stanley – ubiquitous across the Morningside campus grounds – suffered from wear and tear after more than 20 years of exposure to the elements. Instead of incurring the cost of purchasing new cans, Campus Operations identified a unique and cost effective solution to restore the original manufacturers specifications while partnering with Environmental Stewardship to redesign the lids to increase recycling participation.
Year Ends with Winter Protection Changes as South Lawns to Remain Open through Winter
In partnership with the Harlem Local Vendor Program, local retailer, NiLu has been invited to participate in the Columbia University bookstore’s first ever holiday market event.
On November 16, Columbia Community Service and Campus Services were honored by the Special Needs Activity Center for Kids and Adults (SNACK), a New York City-based not-for-profit organization that supports children, teens, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other similar developmental and behavioral disabilities by providing after-school and weekend recreational programs designed and staffed to address their needs.
Watch the video from the award ceremony on SNACK's YouTube channel.
Columbia Facilities and Operations staff were among the volunteers that set up, staffed and sorted and packed toy donations at the West Harlem Development Corporation's 6th Annual Community Holiday Celebration & Toy Giveaway, held on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Riverside Church. The event was free to attend and some Harlem's finest performers were on hand along with Congressman Adriano Espaillat to join in on the festivities.
The New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce honored Marcelo Velez, vice president of Manhattanville Development, with the Groundbreaker Award at its 13th annual Hispanic Business Award Banquet and Scholarship Ceremony. The event honors individuals who advocate for economic development, higher education, and promote initiatives that empower the Latino community in New York City.
Facilities and Operations is holding the next Clean + Go Green Event at the Morningside campus from Thursday December 6 to Friday December 7, 2018. We will make large bins available across campus, at no cost to you, for the recycling, reuse or proper disposal of large unwanted items.
inFO is a monthly email with news from across Columbia University Facilities & Operations. Check out the November 2018 edition here.
Columbia University received the 2018 Diversity Champion Award from the New York Tri-State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC-NY) for the University’s dedication to growing opportunities for minority-, women-, and locally-owned (MWL) business enterprises.
In February 2018, Columbia Health launched a pilot Behavioral Health Initiative, placing a CPS psychologist in Medical Services for 8 hours a week, allowing providers to consult with a psychologist on cases or directly refer a student for follow up.
Sexual Violence Response (SVR) is now a Remote Temporary Order of Protection (TOP) site in New York State. In partnership with the New York State Unified Court System, SVR will facilitate online Orders of Protection for students on campus at the Lerner Hall office.
inFO is a monthly email with news from across Columbia University Facilities & Operations. Check out the October 2018 edition here.