Students and P&S Committees

From the CU Senate on down, students play an active role in the government and administrative life of the University. At P&S, student representatives serve on every major committee with the exception of the Faculty Committees concerned with review of individual student records. The various committees, their responsibilities and membership are listed below:

Columbia University Senate

As chief policy-making body of the University, recommends policy to Board of Trustees for issues concerning more than one division of the University.

  • Composition: Faculty/1 Student from P&S for a two-year tenure.

Admissions Committee

Functions include evaluating and implementing admissions policies; evaluating prospective students and providing them with information about P&S.

  • Composition: Faculty/one third year student/one fourth year student.

Alumni Relations Committee

Students and alumni work together in addressing students’ needs and concerns - The Committee also undertakes various projects such as career forums, mentoring programs, alumni visiting programs and many more.

  • Composition: P&S Alumni, two students from each year.

Bard Hall Commons Advisory Committee

Concerned with the common areas of Bard Hall, including the Bard Athletic Club and activity rooms. Meets monthly to formulate policy for the Commons.

  • Composition: Columbia University Medical Center administration, one administrative and one student representative from each school on campus, Associate Director of Housing, P&S Club.

Curriculum Committee

Concerned with all matters concerning curricular affairs, including review and evaluation of courses and formulation of proposals for curricular changes.

  • Composition: Faculty/two students from each year.

Dean’s Advisory Committee

Meets monthly; with direct access to the Dean, serves as the main channel of communication between Dean and students; considers a broad range of issues of concern to students; has direct access to Dean, bypassing bureaucracy.

  • Composition: Dean of Faculty, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs, six students from each class, including Financial Aid and Ethics Committees’ members.

Ethics Committee

Called into session at the discretion of the Dean or on recommendation of students.

  • Composition: Faculty, three students - one each from second, third and fourth years, also sit on Dean’s Advisory Committee.

Financial Aid Committee

Surveys the class regarding budget, draws up a budget for the class; organizes a joint Financial Aid/Alumni fund raising phonathon; organizes letter writing campaigns and Congressional visits related to Federal and New York State for legislation.

  • Composition: Director, Associate Director for Student Financial Planning and two students from each class who also sit on the Dean’s Advisory Committee.

Housing Committee

Concerned with the housing needs of the Columbia University Medical Center community.

  • Composition: Broad sector of the academic community; faculty, students, and staff.

Library Committee

Meets with Associate Dean for Scholarly Resources and the library director regularly to consider matters of concern to students such as hours, facilities, computerization.

  • Composition: Associate Dean for Scholarly Resources, Library staff, one student from each year.

P&S Club

Organizes and provides P&S’ extracurricular programs. Includes Bard Hall Players, athletics, AMSA. All P&S students are automatically members.

  • Composition: Faculty Advisory Board; President, fourth year student; Vice-President, third year; Secretary/Treasurer, second year; representatives from first year.

Public Safety Task Force

Meets once a month; concerned with implementation of measures to improve and increase security on the Columbia University Medical Center Campus.

  • Composition: Columbia University Medical Center administration, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Director of Public Safety, administrative staff, two P&S students, and other CUMC staff.

Student Health Services Committee

Meets once a month; sets ongoing review and revision of programs to meet health needs of student body.

  • Composition: Director, Faculty, Administrative Staff of Student Health Service; one student from each class.

Student Wellness Committee

The goal of the P&S Student Wellness Committee is to foster the overall well-being of each student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S). The committee addresses the emotional, physical, academic, and professional concerns of medical students by:

  • Representing the wellness concerns of the P&S medical student body within the larger context of the Columbia University system.
  • Ensuring that all P&S medical students are properly informed of currently available support services, particularly during anticipated times of stress.
  • Continuously evaluating the appropriateness of student support services relative to student needs and effect change when and where it is required.
  • The P&S Student Wellness Committee meets once monthly. Between these monthly meetings individual classes/programs meet with the advisor to plan events and discuss specific class/program concerns.
  • Composition: Director of the Center for Student Wellness, 3 elected students from each year (1 male, 1 female, 1 MD/PhD)