This Week at Columbia: Events & Opportunities 5/5 - 5/19

Dear Students,

We wish you the best of luck during this finals season and hope that you can find moments to rest and recharge as you finish the semester. 

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

• Earl Hall: Study Days (In-Person). Looking for a quiet place to study this finals season? Earl Hall Auditorium will be open during the day as a dedicated quiet study space. Stop by to focus, recharge, and enjoy tea and snacks. Ongoing: Now - Thursday, May 14, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Register here. 
• Brain Bites & Breaks with CSSI (In-Person). Fuel your finals prep with snacks, good vibes, and stress-free study time. Drop in and relax with low-stress activities designed to keep you focused and feeling confident to finish the semester strong. TODAY, May 5, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Register here. 
• Office Hours w/ Student Support (Online). Chat one-on-one with The Center for Student Success and Intervention (CSSI) and learn how to connect with campus and community resources you need. Thursday, May 7, 3:00 - 4:00 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 set up; doors close at 6:35 p.m. May 7, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register here.
• When Rest Sings: Sabbath and the African American Witness (In-Person). Listen to a special concert from artist Ruth Naomi Floyd and pianist Aaron Graves, courtesy of Religious Life and Columbia's Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Tuesday, May 12, 4:30 - 6:40 p.m. Register here. 
• Celebrate Student-Parents with CSSI (In-Person). Are you a Student-Parent and graduating in May? You and your family are invited to celebrate this exciting achievement together through hands-on activities including decorating matching graduation caps, writing cards, and enjoying pizza and refreshments. Friday, May 15, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register here. 
• Baccalaureate Service (In-Person). All undergraduate degree candidates and their family and friends are invited to attend the annual Baccalaureate Service, a multi-faith celebration of undergraduate commencement. Service highlights include musical performances, reflections, and readings by students from diverse faith traditions. Sunday, May 17, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Learn more.
• Become a 2026-2027 Student Conduct Navigator. Apply to be a Student Conduct Navigator (SCN) and support your peers through the student conduct process, answering questions and providing guidance after hearings. SCN’s also help develop restorative programs and serve as campus-wide resources on ethics, integrity, and community standards. Applications are due by May 29 at 5:00 p.m. Learn more.
   

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.

• New Plays Festival 2026 (In-Person). Catch a free play through the New Plays Festival, as produced by the Columbia MFA Playwriting Students. Ongoing – Sunday, May 10, Times Vary. Register here. 
• A Book Talk on the Fragile Undersea Cables That Connect Our World (In-Person). Join Columbia Global Reports for a conversation about the robust network of delicate undersea fiber cables, featuring journalist Samanth Subramanian (SIPA '08), author of “The Web Beneath the Waves,” along with Professor Ethan Katz-Bassett, Professor Eli Noam, and moderation by Journalism School Dean Emeritus Nicholas Lemann. Wednesday, May 6, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here. 
• Imagining Possible Futures (In-Person). Get creative with the Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute in re-imagining the future through a zine-making workshop. Write, draw, collage, and contribute to a collaborative zine with others. Wednesday, May 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here. 
• In Conversation with José Parlá, Alan Kanzer Artist-in-Residence (In-Person). Tune in for an immersive conversation with José Parlá, the Alan Kanzer Artist-in-Residence, and Dr. Charles Zuker, as they explore the synergy between creative gesture and the mechanisms of the senses, perception, learning, and memory. Reception to follow. Thursday, May 7, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register here. 
• Low Library Rotunda: Study Days (In-Person). Power through your studying at Low Library Rotunda. Enter through the front door, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy a rare chance to study somewhere unexpected. Monday, May 11 - Thursday, May 14, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. Learn more. 
   

Campus Resources to Support You

• Prioritize Your Mental Health with Help from Wellhub. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Starting today through May 11, you can sign up with the Starter, Starter+, Basic, or Bronze plans for $1 and gain access to extensive resources like Headspace, Zen, Meditopia, and more to help you feel confident and calm. Sign up today through May 11 and only pay $1. 
• Access Campus Mental Health Support. If you are on Morningside and Manhattanville campuses, you can access support through Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), with 24/7 assistance at 212-854-2878. For the CUIMC campus, you can connect with counseling and support sessions through Student Health on Haven, and also access 24/7 support via TELUS Health. 

Have questions or want to connect? Join us at an upcoming event or get in touch.

Wishing you all the best, 
University Life