Fall Update for Columbia Engineering

Dear Columbia Engineering Graduate Students,

I am writing to follow up on the communication that President Lee Bollinger sent to the Columbia community a short while ago.

Over the recent months, we have had many encouraging signals regarding the ongoing re-opening of the Columbia campus and ramping up of our research and education efforts across campus: from the containment of the pandemic and the steady reopening of New York, to the incredible preparation of our campus infrastructure and implementation of public health protocols, to the safe and successful ramp-up of Columbia’s extensive research laboratories. We are excited to be welcoming back our Master of Science and doctoral students to campus as we continue to phase in our many activities.

However, as noted in President Bollinger’s message, the recent surge of the pandemic across the U.S. has expanded the inclusion of many U.S. states into a high-risk category. This has had disappointing consequences in our ability to welcome back undergraduate students to their residential experience at Columbia. The ongoing conditions across the U.S mean that the majority of incoming undergraduate students would be subject to a 14-day quarantine—a challenging situation to accomplish in dormitories with confidence and one which alters the very nature of the undergraduate residential experience at Columbia. In light of these developments, we have decided to delay our undergraduate return-to-campus date until conditions are more favorable and are hopeful of their return to campus in the spring.

President Bollinger noted that graduate and professional school protocols would continue as planned. Columbia Engineering is prepared to welcome our M.S. and doctoral students to campus and, indeed, many doctoral students are already back in their labs as part of our successful research ramp up this summer. Your faculty and staff in Columbia Engineering and across Columbia have prepared tirelessly for your return—from the readiness of our buildings, classrooms and laboratories, to our vibrant, innovative and diverse curriculum and co-curricular offerings.

We are deeply focused on our mission and our passion to educate and prepare our students for the future. Please be assured that the quality of your education and experience is top of mind.

We are also continuing and expanding the extensive programming we began over the summer to keep our community engaged and connected. You will hear more about opportunities—from the many offerings through our Professional Leadership Development (PDL) program, new Design Challenges and Venture Competitions, hackathons, research experiences and special projects, and a new program on conversations with technology leaders—in the coming weeks and months.

The Columbia community has a remarkable spirit and resilience. Fundamentally, we are defined by our commitment to intellectual excellence and bringing this excellence to impact humanity. During this unprecedented time, let us embrace the challenges and opportunities before us. I can promise that we will do all we can to make the year ahead a rewarding experience for all our students.

Sincerely,
Mary C. Boyce
Dean of Engineering
Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor