Disability Services

Disability Services, a department of Columbia Health, coordinates accommodations and supports services for eligible students with disabilities. Disability Services also seeks to facilitate equal access to all programs and activities for individuals with disabilities at Columbia University. Accommodations are adjustments to policy, practice, and procedures that “level the playing field” for students with disabilities as long as such adjustments do not lessen academic or programmatic requirements. Examples include the administration of exams, services such as note taking, sign language interpreters, assistive technology,and coordination of accessible housing needs.

Accommodations and services are determined on a case-by-case basis and are determined according to documented needs as well as the technical and academic standards of the program.

Registration includes submission of both the Application for Accommodations and Services and disability documentation. The application and disability documentation guidelines are available online at www.health.columbia.edu and at the Disability Services Office. Students are encouraged to register with Disability Services at the time of their matriculation at Columbia University. Review of requests for accommodation and disability documentation may take two to three weeks to complete. Please note that students need to complete the entire registration process before they can be eligible to receive accommodations.

Columbia considers its faculty and academic program staff to be important partners in the University’s efforts to reasonably accommodate students with disabilities. With this in mind, Columbia has established a network of Disability Services liaisons to facilitate equal access to all University programs for students with disabilities. A full list of the Disability Services liaisons can be found online.

For further information, contact DisabilityServices: 212-854-2388 (Voice/TTY); 212-854-3448 (fax); disability@columbia.edu;www.health.columbia.edu/ods. The
Morningside campus office is located at Lerner Hall, 7th floor, MC 2605, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY 10027. The Medical Center office is located at 105 Bard Hall, 50 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032.

Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office is a neutral and confidential resource for informal conflict resolution, serving the entire Columbia University community-students, faculty, and employees. For further information, contact Ombuds Officer Marsha Wagner or Associate Ombuds Officer Bathabile Mthombeni at 660 Schermerhorn Extension; 212-854-1234; ombuds@columbia.edu. Further information is also available on the Ombuds Office website, www.columbia.edu/cu/ombuds.  On Wednesdays in the afternoon an Ombuds Officer is at Columbia University Medical Center, 101 Bard Hall, 50 Haven Avenue; 212-304-7026.

Transcripts and Certifications

A student's written consent is required for the University to release a student's transcript. You may obtain an official transcript of your academic record at Columbia University by writing to:

Morningside Campus: Attention: Transcripts, Registration & Financial Services, Columbia University, 205 Kent Hall, MC 9202, 1140 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027.

Medical Center: Attention: Transcripts, Registration & Financial Services, Columbia University Medical Center, Room 141, Black Building, Unit 45, 650 West 168^th Street, New York, NY 10032.

Please include the following information with your request: current and former names; personal identification number (PID) if known; Columbia schools attended and dates of attendance; degrees awarded and dates awarded; number of transcripts desired and complete address for each; your current address and telephone number; and your signature authorizing the release of your transcript.

You may also order transcripts in-person at 205 Kent Hall (Morningside) or 1-141 Black Building (Medical Center). There is no per-transcript issuance charge; students are charged a one-time transcript fee upon their first registration at the University.  The normal processing time for transcripts is 2 to 3 business days. Please allow several additional days for delivery to and from the University if you mail your request.

Currently enrolled students may order transcripts and certifications of their enrollment and degrees online via SSOL (https://ssol.columbia.edu) or in-person at the locations listed above. There is no charge for certifications.

The Registrar's Office no longer handles requests for degree verification by third parties. These requests should be made via mail, phone, or email to: National Student Clearinghouse, 13454 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300. Herndon, VA 20171; 703-742-4200; degreeverify@studentclearinghouse.org.

8/2012