Access to the TC Campus

Access to TC academic buildings is through the Main Entrance at the Zankel Building at 525 West 120th Street. Valid photo identification must be presented to the Public Safety Officer at the Zankel desk to obtain a visitor pass and gain entry to the academic buildings. 

Valid forms of ID are:

• Teachers College ID card
• Valid ID card from affiliated institutions, including Columbia University (CU), Barnard College, Union Theological, or Jewish Theological seminaries.  
• Valid government-issued ID (including city/state ID cards, driver's license, or Passport).  

Limited Access entry point:  

528 Building entrance, adjacent to the Public Safety booth on W 120th Street

• Students, staff, and faculty of TC or CU-affiliated institutions (including Barnard College) are allowed to enter the campus through this point.
• Must present a valid ID card at the PS booth.
• Visitors must use the main entrance.

Hours of operation: Monday - Thursday, 7:30 A.M. to 9:30 P.M.; Friday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

This entrance is closed on weekends and holidays. 

Residence Halls:

Guests are permitted to enter the residential hall when accompanied by the student resident of the building. The following are the guidelines for residential visitor access;

• The student must have a valid Teachers College  / Columbia University ID.
• The student must be a resident of the building the guest is accessing.
• Student residents must meet the guest in the lobby in order for the guest to be permitted access.

 Guests

• Visitors to a residential hall must show a valid governmental photo ID (See general access).
• Must be accompanied by their resident host.
• Student residents, along with their guests, will be signed in.
• Visitors have limited access to the campus.  
• Guests are generally not permitted to stay with the resident longer than 48 hours.  Contact your Community Assistant (CA) or Residential Services for further information.     

*Teachers College community members who do not have their Teachers College ID card, when entering campus, must show a valid picture ID (e.g., driver’s license), sign in, and receive a Visitor Pass.

All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to wear their Teachers College or affiliate institution ID card on their outermost garment when on campus. Visitors are required to wear their Public Safety-issued Visitor Pass on their outermost garment while on campus.   

Access to Gottesman Library:

Access to the Gottesman Libraries is through the main entrance at Zankel Hall. Access to the Library is restricted to the students/staff/faculty of Teachers College Columbia University and their guests. For more information, visit: https://library.tc.columbia.edu/about/policies-and-guidelines/access-policy/ 

Teachers College reserves the right to deny entry/access to anyone who may pose a threat or who acts in a threatening or unruly manner (verbal or otherwise) or causes a health risk or acts in any other manner that may cause alarm or injury to members of the TC community.