New Student Orientation

Circular-framing text around centered blue logo for New Student Orientation (NSO) at Teachers College, Columbia University

Wecome to Teachers College, Columbia University!

On behalf of the Office of Graduate Student Life & Development (GSLD) at Teachers College, we invite you to join us for our College-wide Fall 2021 New Student Orientation (NSO) Program. Welcome Week 2021 will be hosted entirely virtually August 30 - September 3. Enjoy informative sessions designed to introduce newly admitted students to graduate school and the College community. Learn essential information about the TC student experience; meet faculty and administrative staff within your Academic Department; and enjoy (digital) social activities with fellow new TC students (in-person programming to begin September 15). While not all NSO sessions are mandatory, your attendance is strongly encouraged to ensure a successful start to your TC journey.

The NSO Program is open to Teachers College graduate students, admitted for the Fall 2021 term, as well as those students who began their studies in the Summer term(s). If you were admitted to Teachers College and have not received a Fall NSO invitation via email (to be generated in early August 2021), please contact orientation@tc.columbia.edu.

Again, welcome to Teachers College; we look forward to having you join our community!

_{Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) at oasid@tc.edu, (212) 678-3689, or (212) 678-3854 video phone, as early as possible to request reasonable accommodations.}

Welcome Message from the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

"I am so delighted to welcome you!

You were chosen to be a part of our community because we believe in you, we need, and we recognize your deep passion and commitment to the field of study that you've chosen. We believe that there is no better place to engage in your work than right here at Teachers College!

Now more than ever, we need people like you, change makers, who lead the next generation of work, that will make a positive difference and impact on the lives of others. I guarantee that your time at TC will have a profound influence on your personal and professional lives..."

Dr. Thomas P. Rock

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Involvement Opportunities

Involvement Opportunities Coming Soon!

Upcoming Events & Offerings

Get free admission to over 30 incredible museums in New York City through our Passport to Museums program.

Take a Break Series: Passport to Museums

In partnership with Columbia Arts Initiative

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GSLD: AMC Movie Ticket "Black" Vouchers

Visit the Office of Bursar to Purchase

Movie tickets and snack vouchers are available for purchase through the Office of the Bursar. Tickets can also be purchased through CU Arts Initiative TIC window in Lerner Hall.

Learn More

Get involved at Teachers College, check out upcoming GSLD-sponsored events and social opportunities to meet new students while enjoying all that NYC has to offer!

Event Registration & Google Forms

You do not need permission to access any of our RSVP forms; however, you must be logged into your myTC Portal/University gmail account only. If you continue to encounter difficulty, it is advised that you open an incognito/blind window and/or clear your cache before attempting to access again.

Student Testimonials

"The orientation site was really user friendly and I liked that, especially for the international orientation webinars, that I was automatically enrolled. Each orientation webinar that I've attended have been well organized and really informational. I know that these things are especially hard to do virtually so I appreciate the effort put into these and they've exceeded my expectations for virtual orientation!"

"I like that because of the virtual format, the different events/workshops/sessions were split up across a general two-week period and offered recordings for sessions I couldn't make. It definitely helped combat Zoom fatigue and made everything much more accessible. I truly felt like I was able to digest way more information than I would have had I been sitting in an auditorium for hours."

"I liked that there were so many webinars to attend. Whether or not I (or others) were able to attend due to schedule conflicts is another thing, but I felt like this year's orientation did a great job with offering many, many different virtual activities for orientation. Also huge plus that recordings were posted."

"What I enjoyed most about orientation was how organized it was despite being online. The team behind this clearly put in a lot of hard work to make virtual orientation happen, and it was very easy to navigate and explore."

Review the Portal

All students are strongly encouraged to review the "Next Steps" checklist available on the Admitted Student Portal for more details, as there may be specific requirements pertaining to your student-status. Complete important items such as activating your UNI/TC email address, register for courses, submit insurance and immunization documentation, upload a photo for your student ID and confirm financial aid eligibility.

International Students are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) for additional resources to help you begin your TC student experience. For students interested in living on-campus, please contact the Office of Residential Services (ORS) to learn how to apply for on-campus housing.

Admitted Students Portal

Explore Resources

The College has ten Academic Departments that comprise more than 60 major academic programs. Get to know your Academic Department by visiting their website, in addition to your program-specific websites.

Explore TC faculty profiles to learn more about leaders in your field of study and/or interest.

Become familiar with on-campus resources such as Research Centers & Institutes, College Leadership, Administrative Offices and Computing Services. Learn more about our neighborhood and how to get involved with the community.

Even More Resources