Dear Students,
With midterms beginning, you may be feeling like there is a lot to balance. I hope that you can find ways to spend more time outside as we slowly but surely transition into spring.
Freeing Up Mental Space
While organizing your physical spaces can be calming, finding ways to stay organized and clear in your overall priorities–academic and personal–can also help you feel centered. Here are some tips to get started:
- Brain dumping is the practice of writing out every task on your mind. Doing this weekly can help you tackle your to-do list more effectively.
- You can organize your tasks in any way you find most helpful (e.g., by priority or by topic).
- When you’re ready to start creating your lists, you can write them down in an old-fashioned notebook or use a free app like Todoist or Actions by Moleskine to keep you on track.
Sometimes completing even the simplest task can help you to feel more motivated!
Using an At-Home COVID Tests
With the recent announcement that Columbia will discontinue the voluntary and supplemental testing program on March 1, some of you may be wanting to learn more about at-home testing. You can learn more about how and when to take an at-home test on the University’s COVID-19 website. The CDC also provides an in-depth look at the best practices for self-testing.
Booster Mandate Update and Spring Travel Guidance
- While the COVID-19 booster mandate deadline is now deferred until the end of May, I urge you to keep yourself and your community safe from current and future strains by getting your booster dose as soon as possible, if eligible.
- Spring Break is around the corner! Many of you may be planning trips and/or seeing loved ones. Please make sure to review the University’s Spring Travel Guidelines before finalizing your plans to ensure that you and those around you stay safe.
Finally, as a reminder, the University’s indoor mask mandate remains in effect through March 31. Face coverings (3-ply surgical mask or better) are required when indoors and may only be removed to eat or drink.
Reach out to [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Take care,
Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
University Life
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His
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