Events Newsletter 2025-26

This Week at Columbia: Events & Opportunities 1/13 - 1/30

January 13, 2026
Pink background with text "University Life Events & Opportunities"

Dear Students,

Mark your calendar for Welcome Week! Running January 20–30, this exciting lineup invites new and returning students to connect, enjoy treats, and get creative.

University Life Events
All events listed below are in Eastern Time (ET), free, and open to all students across all schools and campuses.

  • Dessert with Strangers: Columbia Bites & Trivia Nights! (In-Person). Meet new friends, test your knowledge with food-themed trivia, and enjoy some of Upper Manhattan’s best desserts. Tuesday, January 20, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Community Connections: Building Belonging for Graduate Students with Disabilities (In-Person). Join the Graduate Initiative and Columbia Health Disability Services for a welcoming space where you can connect with fellow students and learn about different lived experiences. Wednesday, January 21, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Charcuter-We (In-Person). Don’t miss this charcuterie themed event! Hang out with friends through wholesome activities, and create a mini charcuterie box for someone special. Wednesday, January 21, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
  • New Year Affirmations & Conversations (In-Person). Set the tone for the Spring semester with The Graduate Initiative and create affirmation cards, reflect on goals, and connect through guided prompts and conversation. Thursday, January 22, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Find a Friend: Lego Lovers (In-Person). Build community with new people through hands-on LEGO building, icebreaker activities, and shared moments of creativity. Thursday, January 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Paint by Numbers to the Hamilton Soundtrack (In-Person). Dive into the arts and make a new friend through painting, Hamilton quizzes, and musical theater. Friday, January 23, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here.
  • New Year, New Beginnings: A Spring Semester Welcome Gathering (In-Person). Join the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) and University Life for an afternoon of connecting, crafts, games, treats, and a musical performance from Cumbe! Friday, January 23, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Meaningful Mementos (In-Person). Spend time exploring personal and professional aspirations while creating personalized career accessories together with friends. Connect with others, share your experiences and stories, and leave inspired by your peers. Monday, January 26, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Game Night (CUIMC) (In-Person). Bring a partner or come solo, pull up a chair, and try your hand at a few easygoing card games on the CUIMC campus. Tuesday, January 27, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register here.
  • Warm Up with Chai & Colors (In-Person). Warm up from the January cold with a cup of chai and watercolor painting at this cozy and creative get-together designed to support relaxation. Wednesday, January 28, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Register Here. 
  • Reset & Reimagine: A New Year Vision Board Event (In-Person). Set the tone for 2026 by creating a vision board full of inspiration, goals, and dreams. Thursday, January 29, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Grad Networking: Matcha & Mingle (In-Person). Meet fellow graduate students, grow your network, and enjoy a delicious cup of matcha. Thursday, January 29, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Make One, Take One: A Tiny Gift Exchange (In-Person). Brighten someone’s day by joining The Graduate Initiative for a cozy, creative gathering where you can make small handmade items to leave as a gift for another student or take a surprise creation in return. Friday, January 30, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Open Write Night (In-Person). Share the words that mean the most to you in a relaxed space. Short stories, poetry, anecdotes, songs, and other reflective pieces are welcome. Friday, January 30, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Register here. 


University Life Opportunities

  • Campus Connect with CSSI & Religious Life (In-Person). Visit and learn more about the Center for Student Success and Intervention (CSSI) and Religious Life and the many ways these offices support students across campus. This event is a chance to connect with peers, meet staff members, and explore the resources and opportunities available. Thursday, January 22, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Yoga Class (In-Person). Take a break to relax and refresh with yoga in Earl Hall. Please bring your own mat and arrive 10 minutes early to sign in and set up. There is a 5 minute late policy; doors close at 6:35 p.m. Thursdays, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Navigating Columbia Resources Workshop (Virtual). Join CSSI’s Case Management and Student Support Team to learn how to connect with various Columbia resources. Monday, January 26, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Coffee, Conversations, and Spirituality (In-Person). Join Religious Life for coffee, breakfast, and exploration of big questions about life, meaning, and purpose. No beliefs required, just bring your sense of connection and curiosity. Friday, January 30, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Register here. 
     

More Events and Opportunities Happening Around Campus
The events below are only some of the free, University-wide events open to all students. For a full list of events, visit the University Events Calendar.

  • Free Week of Fitness (In-Person). Try something new and drop-in to any PEREC Group Fitness, Functional Fitness and Indoor Cycling class for free! Tuesday, January 20 - Friday, January 25, 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Learn more. 
  • The Inaugural Cytron Family Lecture: Seeking the Hiding God (In-Person). Professor Arnold Eisen will discuss the theological and historical motivations behind writing his personal essay Seeking the Hiding God and the choices that shaped its form. Wednesday, January 21, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Get Started with Health Insurance (Virtual). In this 20-minute session, you will better understand the Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan and how to make the most of it. Q&A to follow. Thursday, January 22, 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • A Look at the Current Labor Market (Virtual). Don’t miss this virtual roundtable discussion on current labor market trends featuring Columbia’s Director of the Human Capital Management graduate program, the Executive Director of SPS’s Career Design Lab, and the Chair of the Columbia Alumni Association’s Mentorship & Networking Committee. Tuesday, January 27, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Pop-Up Concerts: Trinket Ensemble (In-Person). Experience the debut of Trinket Ensemble, a vibrant new voice in the contemporary chamber music scene. Doors open at 5:30, onstage seating is first-come, first-served. Tuesday, January 27, 6:00 p.m. Learn more. 
  • Dine Across NYC (In-Person). Dine with fellow students across the city in small, casual dinner settings hosted by alumni in their homes, favorite restaurants, or other venues. Learn from Columbia alumni experiences, make connections, and enjoy a complimentary meal. Monday, February 2 - Friday, February 6. Times Vary. Register here. 


Campus Resources to Support You

  • Stay on Track with the University Registrar. With the spring semester right around the corner, it may be helpful to check the University Registrar’s services to confirm schedule adjustments, enrollment verification, and other key academic deadlines. Learn more. 
  • Access Accommodations and Support. Disability Services offers confidential support for students with visible, invisible, temporary, or permanent disabilities. Registering is a first step to accessing accommodations and building a more accessible academic experience. Learn more.
     

Wishing you all the best, 
University Life