Columbia Provost Angela V Olinto and COO Cas Holloway have established teaching guidelines for the rest of the Spring 2024 Semester as a result of the events following the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and the related on- and off-campus protests.

On Monday evening, Columbia Provost Angela V Olinto announced new teaching guidelines for the remainder of the Spring 2024 semester, according to an email sent to the Columbia community.

Olinto’s statement began by recognizing the need to “support…students’ learning and all the required academic operations.” 

Classes on the main Morningside campus will be hybrid, given that the classroom has the proper technology. Classes held in rooms that do not have hybrid learning capabilities should remain remote if students request a virtual learning option, Olinto stated. Faculty were generally encouraged to provide ample accommodations to students who have requested support. 

Arts and practice-based programs will also continue in person. The statement emphasized that deans and staff should support students in these programs through accommodations when deemed necessary. 

Olinto explained that the Medical Center and Manhattanville campuses will continue operations as usual, but will grant accommodations based on religious reasons or approved disabilities. 

The email noted that administrative officers and support staff may also work from home if able, but those who must be physically on campus to do their work are expected to continue to do so. 

Olinto encouraged the use of “student support resources,” including support from academic advisors, to answer any questions, and said they will continue to communicate further updates.

It was not specified whether this applied to Barnard classes in the email. Bwog has reached out to Barnard for comment and will update if we receive a response.

Update made on Monday, April 22 at 11:12 pm:

According to tan email sent to Barnard students by EVP Kelli Murray, Barnard will resume in-person instruction beginning tomorrow Tuesday, April 23; however, students are encouraged to contact instructors for a virtual option for classes.

Email from Provost Angela V. Olinto and COO Cas Holloway to Columbia students on Monday, April 22 at 9:30 pm:

Dear members of the Columbia community: 

We are writing to share guidelines for teaching for the remainder of the semester. Safety is our highest priority as we strive to support our students’ learning and all the required academic operations.

It’s vital that teaching and learning continue during this time. We recognize conditions vary across our campuses and thus are issuing the following guidelines:

• Morningside main campus: All courses hybrid – classroom technology permitting – until the end of each school’s Spring 2024 semester with the following carveouts and further details below.
  • Arts/Practice-based programs: in-person with generous accommodations supported by school deans and staff.
• Medical Center and Manhattanville: in-person operation as usual, but granting accommodations based on religious reasons, or approved disability accommodations.

Further details for classes on Morningside main campus:

All faculty whose classrooms are located on the main Morningside campus and equipped with hybrid capabilities should enable them to provide virtual learning options to students who need such a learning modality. Faculty in other classrooms or teaching spaces that do not have capabilities for offering hybrid options should hold classes remotely if there are student requests for virtual participation. If the class does not permit adapting to the remote offering format, we encourage faculty to provide other accommodations liberally to students who have requested support for virtual learning this week.

We encourage faculty to reach out to their respective school’s Dean of Academic Affairs as well as IT support office or the Columbia Teaching and Learning Center if they need support.

Faculty and Staff Expectations

Faculty should be guided by the above expectations. 

Administrative officers and support staff who are able to work from home may do so. Please check with your supervisor if you have any questions. Those employees who are required to be on-site to perform essential work functions should report to work as usual, guided by their Dean and/or Unit Head. 

For questions and concerns, we encourage the use of our student support resources and conversations between students and their academic advisors.

We will continue to communicate further updates and appreciate your understanding.

Angela V. Olinto

Provost

Professor of Astronomy and of Physics

Cas Holloway

Chief Operating Officer

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