Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, absolutely. Columbia's Counseling and Psychological Services Center on main campus (CPS) is still active and having phone appointments. You can reach out to them at 212-854-2878 to schedule a call with a counselor. Outside of office hours, you can still call 212-854-2878 to speak with a counselor on call 24/7. 

Yes. We are currently operating in a hybrid format, with some hours in person, and other remote. We strongly recommend that you complete a contact form request to make an appointment with us. This will help us determine if an in-person or a hybrid visit might be best suited for your needs. Students may make a remote appointment with our team by filling the Contact Form on our website. For general Inquiries, rescheduling or cancellation of appointments students, faculty and staff can reach our office during business hours at studentsupport@tc.columbia.edu.

The Columbia Health Fee grants students access to health resources on main campus such as physicians, nutritionists, and the Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS).

This fee is mandatory for all full-time students, students living on campus at Teachers College, and/or international students (regardless of full-time or part-time status). If you are part of any of these groups this is an automatic payment.  

For part-time students, the Columbia Health Fee is not required. You may opt into Columbia Health and have access to these resources voluntarily. You can also submit a payment for the Columbia Health Fee at any time in the semester via accessing myTC portal under Student Resources. Please visit the Health and Immunization Records page or contact health-immunization@tc.edu  for more information.

The Columbia Health Fee is not an insurance plan and is a separate service from the Aetna Student Health Plan.

Columbia Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at the main campus is a central mental health and counseling center at Columbia University. CPS offers individual therapy, psychiatric consultations, psychological evaluations, and support groups to Columbia students, including eligible Teachers College students. 

As a general service for all Columbia schools, CPS is one of the main resources you have  access to through the Columbia Health Fee. This fee is mandatory for all full-time students, students living in the residence halls at Teachers College, and/or international students (regardless of full-time or part-time status). If you are part of any of these groups this is an automatic payment.  

For part-time students, the Columbia Health Fee is not required. You may opt into Columbia Health and have access to these resources voluntarily. You can also submit a payment for the Columbia Health Fee at any time in the semester via accessing myTC portal under Student Resources. Please visit the Insurance & Immunization Records page or contact health-immunization@tc.edu for more information.

The Columbia Health Fee is not an insurance plan and is a separate service from the Aetna Student Health Plan.

Teachers College (TC) offers the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan, in partnership with Columbia University and Aetna Student Health.  This service is available to all full-time registered students enrolled in degree-granting programs.  The current plan offers consistent co-pays of $20 for mental health services with most providers that operate with the Aetna network.  For more information about this or the plan in general, please visit the Insurance & Immunization Records website page or contact health-immunization@tc.edu for more information.

Research shows that our physical  and mental health significantly affects our work performance, and counseling is definitely a tool used  to work on your mental wellbeing. Here are some additional tips for you to manage graduate school while caring for your well-being.

• Take good care of YOU
• Your physical and emotional health are as important as your degree! Self-care includes: doing things you enjoy, working out, reading a book, connecting with other people, eating healthy meals, and taking breaks from work from time to time.
• Time management
• Time is a valuable resource during graduate school. Be aware of your deadlines and plan ahead according to your style (e.g., “morning” person or a "night owl") and preferences (e.g., work in a group, work individually). 
• Prioritize. It is important to keep your work and studies organized by creating a priority list of all the things you have to do. This may involve a priority list of activities, a conversation with your academic advisor, or saying “no” to more responsibilities.
• Communicate
• Attending graduate school can be stressful. TC faculty members and staff are available to help you navigate this moment of your life. Use faculty office hours and student services to ask questions and receive support. Schedule an appointment with faculty members. If you have additional questions, please send an email to our team at studentsupportadvocacy@tc.columbia.edu 

Feel free to contact Columbia Health.

No. This is your private information and you may decide if you would like to share it with the College. However, It is always a good idea, whenever possible, for you to contact your academic department or program directly to discuss your individual situation. If you would like assistance in navigating your situation, you may contact Student Support & Advocacy at studentsupport@tc.columbia.edu. We would be glad to assist you by discussing available resources.

You are not required to inform your instructors about your hospitalizations. However, it is always a good idea, whenever possible, for a student to communicate with their academic area (instructors, academic advisor, etc.) directly to discuss how to make up work and/or a class (or classes) that you missed.

A hospitalization does not prevent students from remaining enrolled. As you plan for your return to TC, you will want to consider how the time away from your classes will impact your ability to make up any work you have missed. An extended amount of missed classes may cause a significant impact on your studies. Your academic advisor can assist you to determine what options are available as you navigate your academic circumstances.

There are multiple options for navigating a medical situation while completing academic coursework.

• Discuss with your instructor if flexible grading options may be available.
• Connect with OASID at oasid@tc.edu to discuss whether you may be eligible for disability-related accommodations.
• Students may consider a Medical Leave of Absence to get medical support and return to school when recovered.
• Consult with your advisor to discuss how recovery is impacting each class and consider options such as withdrawal or dropping a class.
• Consider financial aid, enrollment status and degree when making decisions about each class.