SEAS Student Handbook 2020-2021

Campus Life
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science attracts and admits a
diverse, and multicultural group of students, and it takes steps to provide a campus
environment that promotes the continued expansion of each student’s ideas and
perspectives.
While the School is large enough to support a wide variety of programs, it is also small
enough to promote the close interaction among students, faculty, and administration
that has created a strong sense of community on campus.
James H. and Christine Turk Berick Center for Student Advising (CSA)
The James H. and Christine Turk Berick Center for Student Advising (CSA) reflects the
mission of the University in striving to support and challenge the intellectual and
personal growth of its undergraduate students and by creating a developmental,
diverse, and open learning environment. Individually and collaboratively, each advising
dean:
• Provides individual and group academic advisement, exploration, and
counseling
• Provides information on pre-professional studies, major declaration, and
completion of the degree, as well as various leadership, career, graduate
school, and research opportunities
• Designs and facilitates programming to meet the unique developmental
needs of each class and to enhance community among students, faculty,
and administrators
• Interprets and disseminates information regarding University policies,
procedures, resources, and programs
• Educates and empowers students to take responsibility in making informed
decisions
• Refers students to additional campus resources
Every undergraduate is assigned an adviser from the Berick Center for Student Advising
for the duration of his or her undergraduate career. Generally, each matriculating
student is assigned to an advising dean, who is a liaison to the department the student
indicated as his or her first intended major on the Columbia application. When a
student declares a major, a faculty member is also appointed to advise him or her for
the next two years. Depending on their chosen major, students may be assigned to a
new advising dean who is a CSA liaison to their department. Advising deans regularly
refer students to their academic departments to receive expert advice about their
engineering course selections.
Preprofessional Advising
Preprofessional Advising is a specialized advising unit within the James H. and Christine
Turk Berick Center for Student Advising. It is dedicated to providing information and
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