The Daily Plan-it / Dean of Students Blog, Columbia J-school

Dear Class of 2013,

Congratulations! As you join the ranks of Columbia Journalism School alumni (10,494) around the world, we want to provide you with answers to some frequently asked questions we receive from students as they transition to alumni. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

Communications and Community

• The Alumni website - www.journalism.columbia.edu/alumni, the alumni online community is your primary resource to stay connected witheach other and the School. You can update your personal information; find information about events and access resources available to alumni. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Alumni Relations at jalumni@columbia.edu or at (212) 854-3864.
• Online Alumni Directory - The University-wide Alumni Directory helps you stay connected with alumni from all Columbiaschools. Update your information, and then search the directory for old friends and new contacts.
• The class listserv - Every Journalism School graduating class since 1942 is linked via its own e-mail listserv, and listmembership is restricted to classmates. It’s a great way to connect with friends, share information, plan reunions, swap job leads, and debate ethics in journalism. The Journalism School has also created listservs by region, including an international listserv. To join a listserv or to change your email address, complete the Update Contact Information form.
• This e-mail explains what you need to do to use your class e-mail listserv. Please read the e-mail carefully and follow the few basic steps.
• To set up the J2013 listserv, we used the “real world” e-mail you supplied in your graduation survey (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, EarthLink, etc.). Please use the listserv with care; once you’ve posted a message to it, your message is read by EVERYONE on the list i.e. the entire class. Your postings cannot be retracted, so be forewarned. If you are in a dispute with someone, whether it’s political or personal, please take it off-line. Your classmates should be treated with respect. Also, the listserv does not accept attachments; our anti-spam filters are designed to prevent passing on network viruses. And if you hit the “reply” button without thinking, you will automatically broadcast your response to everyone!

Here we go:

1. HOW DO I USE THIS LIST?

To send mail to the list, address your email to: j2013@lists.jrn.columbia.edu

The mail will automatically be forwarded to EVERYONE on the list. Be careful about replying to e-mails from the listserv as everyone will read your opinion.

2. WHY SHOULD I BOTHER WITH THIS LIST?

This list is only as good as the people who participate. It represents an opportunity to maintain a connection with your fellow alums even though you’re scattered across the planet. It’s only for J2013 and a few friendly J-School staffers (Irena, Melanie, and Ernie), so enjoy this great networking tool. The listserv is also the primary vehicle used to send J-School announcements, invitations to events in your area, and the monthly E-News, so remember to keep us updated as you move, change jobs, etc.

3. WHAT TOPICS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE LIST?

Appropriate topics include:

1. Journalism and J-School related topics.

II. Job leads.

III. Story leads.

IV. Great stories and helpful information & web sites.

V. Fun stuff. Off-the-wall war stories or amusing incidents are welcome, but this is not an Internet joke-of-the-day forum. Same deal goes with gossip.

4. FLAMES

Flames are possibly abusive or inappropriately aggressive e-mails directed toward somebody. Be sharp, be witty, be pithy, but let’s keep it clean!

5. I LIKE THIS LIST, BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY MESSAGES . . . WHAT CAN I DO?

Filters. Presuming you’re using a modern e-mail client (Eudora, MS Outlook Express, MS Outlook or Netscape Messenger,) you can filter messages to different folders. Every message from the list will have[J2013] in the subject line, so tell your filter to look for that term and move the message to a separate folder so it doesn’t clutter up your inbox. You can also request a digest function, which will combine all the day´s posts.

6. MY MAIL PROGRAM LETS ME USE HTML MAIL. SHOULD I?

HTML messages download more slowly and not everyonecan read them. HTML mail messages (where you can change colors and customize font sizes) look nice, but are unreadable to those poor souls who use CUNIX or other simple e-mail programs.

7. AND ONE MORE THING…

Some of our e-mails are long and some e-mail systems will read those as spam — so set your system accordingly.

• E-mail for Life and Forwarding - The Columbia Alumni Association offers alumni free, Web-based e-mail and email forwarding. Alumni email forwarding is a free service that combines the convenience of a single lifetime email address with the flexibility to change Internet service providers. More information about your Columbia email and forwarding is at http://alumni.columbia.edu/access/s2_2.html
• Special Events - As an alumnus/a, you will be invited to a number of alumni events throughout the year and throughout the world. Please remember to keep the Alumni Office updated with your latest contact information so we can stay in touch. Remember to also save the date of April 25-26, 2014 for your first year Reunion!

Career Resources

• Alumni Career Services - The Office of Career Services will be open all summer so please don’t hesitate to contact them if you still need help finding a job or internship, weighing or negotiating an offer, and other advice. Also, it’s very important that they have accurate records for your class, so as soon as you find employment, please remember to let Anusha Shrivastava know at as1698@columbia.edu. As always, all of our password-protected pages on job hunting and contacts are available to you with your UNI, and this includes JobNews, which is updated every day.

Campus Resources/Nuts & Bolts

For general information about alumni benefits and services, click here.

• Health Insurance - Students who are currently under the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan will be covered through the summer following graduation until August 31, 2013. For those graduating students who would like to extend coverage, please note that you do have the option to participate in the Continuation Plan. Information will be posted on the Health Services web site on or around July 15, 2013. To access the Health Services site, click here for information regarding plans, dates, continuation and general coverage (including dependents). Be sure to access this site to confirm all dates including deadlines for continuation and coverage. It is the responsibility of each student to contact Health Services regarding their coverage.
• Alumni ID Card - To apply for an alumni ID, take one form of photo ID to 201 Butler Library, have your photo taken and pay the $5 fee. This ID card will be valid for six years after which you can renew it.
• Auditing Classes - All University alumni are welcome to audit courses through the School of Continuing Education. The Auditing Program provides adults not currently enrolled in college with the opportunity to attend selected lectures drawn from the University’s offerings in the arts and sciences during the academic year. For more information about the courses available for auditing, please visit the School of Continuing Education Web site at: http://ce.columbia.edu/
• Library Access - With an alumni ID card, you may do research at campus libraries. Alumni who wish to check books out may obtain a borrowing privileges card for $30/month at the Library Information Office. Please see “Alumni ID Card” above. You can also access many full-text databases online at the Libraries Alumni Gateway at www.alumni.libraries.columbia.edu.

Transcripts and Diplomas

• Transcripts - Extra copies of your transcript are available from the Office of the Registrar. To receive a transcript you must fill out a “Transcript Request Form” at http://registrar.columbia.edu/alumni/transcripts and mail it to:

Columbia University Office of the Registrar
205 Kent Hall, MC 9202
1150 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027

You can also call (212) 854-4330. Press “1″ to order a transcript or verify degrees. There is no fee for this service; however, if the transcript is needed immediately, alumni must call and pay to have the transcript sent via FedEx.

**Note: Information on important documents from the Registrar can be accessed online at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/registrar/docs/alumni/index.html

Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations with any additional questions. Once again, congratulations!

Congratulations to all Journalism School 2013 graduates! Just a couple of great pieces
of info before you go:

Library Privileges:
https://blogs.cul.columbia.edu/journalism/2013/05/22/congratulations-2013-graduates/
Your Columbia UNI and password are available for a grace period of about 6 months after you graduate (grace period may vary depending on most recent semester’s registration date). During this time, you will have full access to all the electronic library resources you’ve come to know and love. The Library Information Office encourages you to continue to use your UNI during the grace period, and after this time, you may obtain an alumni ID card. The cost is $5 payable with Visa, MasterCard or personal check (cash is not accepted). Borrowing privileges may be purchased for $30 per month.

After the grace period, alumni are entitled to Columbia University Libraries’ current collection of E-Resources for Alumni, including Factiva, ProQuest, JSTOR, and more. For more information, please go to the E-Resources for Alumni and Friends page: https://alumni-friends.library.columbia.edu/eresources.html.

Please contact the Library Information Office for additional details:

Library Information Office
201 Butler Library
535 West 114th St.
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-7309, lio@columbia.edu
http://library.columbia.edu/content/libraryweb/services/lio.html

Stay Connected:

Want to stay in touch? There are lots of ways!

• Subscribe to the Journalism Library Blog by email or RSS: http://blogs.cul.columbia.edu/journalism/
• Follow @JournalismLib on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JournalismLib
• Join the fun at Columbia University Libraries Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/culibraries/
• Watch Columbia University Libraries’ hosted events on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/columbiauniversity/videos?query=libraries

And finally, if you’re in the New York City area, don’t forget to stay connected with the New York Public Library - http://www.nypl.org/voices/connect-nypl/ - a wonderful NYC resource.

Congratulations again, and may the force be with you!

Greetings from Alice!

Congratulations on finishing the semester! As the end of the academic year approaches, you may have questions about the programs and services available to you over the summer. If you’re graduating, you may want to know which resources are available for you as a new alum. Check out the information and resources below for answers:!

Alice! Health Promotion is here for you year round!
Whether you’re coming back next fall or are a new alum, you can continue to access great programs like CU Move (stay up-to-date with physical activity tips and tools), A!sleep (take a sleep assessment to improve your Zzzzzzs), and Go Ask Alice! (find answers to life’s persistent questions). Did you know we are on Facebook? That’s right, you can be friends with Alice At Columbia, a fan of CU Move, Stressbusters, and Go Ask Alice! Let’s stay in touch, shall we?!

Medical Services and Counseling over the summer
Medical Services and Counseling and Psychological Services remain open over the summer. Summer hours may shift. Check out the Columbia Health website for up-to-date hours.!

Helpful Resources:
Alice! Health Promotion
Columbia Health
Student Insurance

Related Q&As from Go Ask Alice!
Immunizations needed for travel abroad?
Looming student loans = emotional distress!
Health insurance options after college
After graduation, how do I find a doctor?< br>
Scared about graduation
Love + graduation = anxiety!

Congratulations to those of you who are completing your studies this term! Have a great summer!!

Alice! Health Promotion Programbr>
108 Wien Hall
alice@columbia.edu!

Over the years, Columbians have been very generous in donating blood for various causes and, in the process, have helped save the lives of many people along the way – from trauma and cancer patients, to accident / burn victims, at-risk infants, and those with blood disorders. It is because of this generosity of volunteer blood donors in our Columbia community, that patients and their families do not have to shoulder the burden of replacing blood when needed.

This spring, we’re dedicating our blood drive campaign to Columbians everywhere who either know someone, or are themselves suffering from a traumatic illness requiring a steady supply of blood. Blood must be available for anyone who needs it; giving blood is a community responsibility, and people like us are counting on people like us to ensure a ready supply.

Won’t you join us? You will be helping as many as THREE people who are fighting for their health and their lives – just by your single donation.

Register today: https://drm.nybloodcenter.org/PublicScheduler/GroupWelcome.aspx?Group=07529

Tuesday, April 16
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lerner Hall Auditorium

Thursday, April 25
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Armand Hammer Health Sciences Center, CUMC
4th Floor, Riverview Lounge

12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Morningside Heights
Low Library Rotunda

Monday, April 29
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Columbia Business School
URIS Hall – Hepburn Lounge

Weekend Drive
Saturday, April 20
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Busmobile
College Walk – near Broadway

Sponsored by the President’s Office, Office of Government and Community Affairs, and the New York Blood Center.

Thinking of commuting to campus or NYC by bike? Follow these tips from CU Public Safety:

• Please avoid using cable type locks to secure your bike, they can be easily cut.
• Please use a U-lock type lock to secure your frame and tire to a bolted down bike rack.
• CU Public Safety offers discounted Kryptonite bike locks at cost. A variety of bike locks can be purchased at the following places:

Morningside Campus Public Safety Low Library Room 111 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Medical Center Campus Public Safety Black Bldg 650 W168 Street Room 109 24 hrs

• Morningside Campus Bike Rack Locations: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/publicsafety/bikemap.pdf
• Medical Center Campus Bike Rack Locations: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/publicsafety/images/CUMC_Map_withBikeRacks.JPG
• How to properly secure your bike? http://www.bikenewyork.org/advice/nyc-info/locking-your-bike/
• Want to learn more about biking? New York is a great city for riding! Visit http://www.nyc.gov/bikes for bike routes, safety tips and other helpful information.
• CU Public Safety also offers FREE Bike Registration with NYPD & CU Public Safety by appointment. A unique ID number is engraved on the bike along with a non-removal Police decal. For more information please call 212-854-8513.
• Don’t Forget Public Safety’s Ride Your Bike to Campus Days: FREE Bike Registration with the NYPD / CU Public Safety & FREE BIKE TUNE UP!!
• April 15th 2013 10am-3pm @ the Morningside Campus, Low Plaza
• April 18th 2013 10am-3pm @ the Medical Center Campus, W168 Street & Ft. Washington Ave

Just a little reminder TO SET YOUR CLOCK AHEAD.

Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 10, 2013 and reverts to standard time on Sunday November 3, 2013.

This is also a good time to test and change the batteries in your home smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

To All MS Students:
Welcome back to NYC, and if you’re still away, travel safely.

We want to let you know what is planned for Spring Prep Day, next Wednesday Jan. 23, to get your next semester underway. We’ve lined up a stellar day-long program of world-class prize-winning journalists to inspire you no matter your concentration or subject interest, prep you for the job search now and beyond, and provide you a chance to engage on critical issues facing journalism. We’ll built in a comfortable lunch break with several options, including a session to learn about attending the MA program. We’ll end the day with a nice reception to be hosted by our friends from Hearst. Follow the links to learn more about the projects they will discuss, and bring plenty of questions for the DuPont winners, the recent grads and other speakers.

NOTE: Attendance is mandatory by MS students, so plan to be there.

Spring Prep Day / Wednesday, January 23, 2013
8:15-9:00am
Welcome Breakfast – Discounted breakfast and coffee/tea at Brad’s Café

8:30-9:00am
Student Registration, Lobby. // Pick up your special nametag

9:00-9:45am: Lecture Hall
Welcome – Ernest R. Sotomayor, Dean of Student Affairs; Associate Dean Melanie Huff; Student Q&A

Winners Circle, presentation by awardees from Columbia’s Alfred I. DuPont competition / Intro by Abi Wright, director, DuPont & Chancellor Awards

10:00-11 am: Lecture Hall
USA Today: “Ghost Factories”
* Alison Young, reporter, USA TODAY
* John Hillkirk, managing editor for investigative and data journalism, USA TODAY
* Anthony DeBarros, Director-Content, Gannett Digital
* Shannon Green, video editor, USA TODAY
Moderator: Sheila Coronel, Professor, Columbia Journalism School, and director, Stabile Center for
Investigative Journalism

11am-Noon: Two Concurrent Events, two locations (Pick one)

Lecture Hall
Covering Conflict (SANA): Reporting on Syria
* Deb Amos, NPR coverage of Syria
* Clarissa Ward, CBS “Inside Syria”
Moderator: Ann Cooper, Professor, Columbia Journalism School

Stabile Student Center
Investigate This: Local Investigative Reporting (TURNER)
* Ross Jones and Heather Catallo, “Wayne County Confidential”
* Lee Zurik, “Dirty Deeds” & “Hiding Behind the Badge”
* Colleen McCarty, “Desert Underwater”
* Susan Phillips, “Shale Play”
Moderator: A’Lelia Bundles, J-School graduate and bestselling author, independent journalist and Trustee, Columbia University

12:00-1:30pm
* Lunch on your own, or:
* Attend Documentary panel with pizza to be served, courtesy the DuPont Awards, or
* Attend Information Session for the 2013 Master of Arts Program.

12:30-1:15 pm, Room 601B
Info session for students interested in applying to next year’s Master of Arts program. Hosted by Associate Dean Christine Souders & MA Program Director Tali Woodward. To attend, Register at http://fs18.formsite.com/CUJournalismAdmissions/MASession/index.html

12:30-1:25pm,Lecture Hall: Documentary: Social issues (SANA)
* Cynthia Lowen, Bully
* Alex Kotlowitz, The Interrupters
* Steve James, The Interrupters
* Alison Klayman, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Moderator: June Cross, Professor, Columbia Journalism School

1:30-2:15pm: Lecture Hall
Student Panel: Surviving and thriving in your final semester, by three May 2012 Grads who’ll share advice, tips and take your Qs.
* Carmel DeAmicis - Digital Media Associate, Columbia J-School
* Diane Jeantet – Freelancer writer, and part-time reporter, American Lawyer Daily
* Elizabeth Dilts – Reporter, Reuters Magazine and Editorial Research Asst. to Reuters Editor in
Chief Stephen Adler

2:15-3:15 pm: Lecture Hall
Planning your Spring Career Strategies and beyond
Associate Dean Julie Hartenstein and the Career Services Team. An early look at the March Career Expo, planning for OPT and more about what’s to come this spring

3:15-3:30pm: Break

3:30-4:45 pm: Lecture Hall
Hearst - Columbia Journalism Dialogues: A conversation about “Post-Industrial Journalism: Adapting to the Present,” and the implications for how you as new grads will practice journalism and build careers in an increasingly changing media world, with co-authors Columbia Journalism Professor and Tow Center Director Emily Bell, and College of Staten Island Asst. Professor Chris Anderson (CUJ Ph.D ’09). Moderated Columbia Journalism Academic Dean Bill Grueskin; followed by Q&A ( session will be webcast live)

5-6 pm: World Room
Reception, hosted by Hearst.

6-7 pm: Room 607B
Spring Information Session for Part-time Class, with Elena Cabral, Director, Part-Time Program. Refreshments to be served.

Do You Procrastinate? What Can You Do About It?

The Counseling & Psychological Services department may have the answer. The Procrastination Workshop.

This hands-on, sequential 4 session workshop will:

Address procrastination and time management difficulties which will affect your studies and your life

Enable you to pinpoint the problem and address it’s solutions

Where: Mondays, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2 & 4/9/12
What time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Where: Counseling & Psychological Services’ Conference Room, Alfred Lerner Hall, 8th Floor

To reserve a spot or for more information, please email: Dr. Yaniv Phillips at py2120@columbia.edu

*Students must attend the first meeting and are expected to attend all 4 meetings.

Do You Procrastinate? What Can You Do About It?

This hands-on, sequential 4-session* workshop will:

1. Address procrastination and time management difficulties which affect your studies and your life

2. Enable you to pinpoint the problem and address its’ solutions

When? Mondays, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21 & 11/28/11
What time? 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Where? Counseling & Psychological Services’ Conference Room, Alfred Lerner Hall, 8th Floor

To reserve a spot or for more information, please e-mail:
Dr. Yaniv Phillips at py2120@columbia.edu.

*Students must attend the first meeting and are expected to attend all 4 meetings

TO: MA CLASS OF 2011

Your completed Master’s Thesis is due by 10 a.m. on Monday, April 18. I’ll be in the World Room collecting copies starting at 9 a.m.

You must submit TWO PAPER COPIES that meet the following requirements. You’ll be required to sign your name in the thesis submission log when you hand them over.

You must also EMAIL ELECTRONIC COPIES OF YOUR THESIS to your primary adviser, your outside adviser, and me.

Please follow these instructions carefully. Those of you submitting web or broadcast pieces should pay particular attention to numbers 8 and 9.

1. Each thesis should include the following:

–A SOURCE LIST: At minimum, this should list the name and contact information of your human sources. Some advisers may also require a bibliography. You should be aware that source lists (and your entire thesis, including the postscript described below) will be available to all library users. If there are confidentiality issues with sources, you are responsible for removing the source list from the library copy before you submit it. If you’re not sure how to cite a source, consult with your adviser.

–A SEPARATE TITLE PAGE: This should have the following information: Your name, class year, the title of your thesis, and the name of the faculty member(s) who supervised it. At the bottom of the page, type the following:
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism
Copyright
[Name of Student]
[Year]

–A POSTSCRIPT: You’ll need to submit a short, first-person account of how you discovered, researched, and reported your story. This postscript should run no longer than 1,000 words. The narrative will help students in the future see what goes into the making of a successful Master’s Thesis.

2. Print your manuscript or broadcast script on plain white paper, double-spaced and single-sided. Leave an inch-and-a-half margin on the left-hand side and at least an inch on the other three margins. The pages must be numbered. Do not put any sort of binding on the thesis, and do not staple the pages.

3. Put each copy in a new 9 x 12 envelope. Label the front of each envelope with your name, your class year, the title of your thesis, and the name(s) of your adviser(s) for the Master’s Thesis. The first copy will be reserved for the library, and the second copy will be used in judging the M.A. thesis prize. Please write “Library Copy” on the envelope intended for the library.

4. Please submit separate, additional copies of your thesis to both of your advisers. Unless one or both of your advisers prefers to receive a paper copy, you may do this by email.

5. Please email an electronic copy of your thesis, saved as a single Word or PDF document, to me at tmw2112@columbia.edu

6. If you are submitting your Master’s Thesis earlier than the deadline, you still have to submit two paper copies. Please contact me to make arrangements.

7. Keep a copy of your thesis for yourself. Neither the Journalism School nor the Journalism Library is able to provide copies of your work. You are expected to keep usable copies of your Master’s Thesis for future reference.

8. WEB THESES: If your thesis is a website, the paper copy of the thesis should consist of a printed title page with the name, title, a URL, and a copyright statement and, if possible, printed material from the website. You should also include a source list and the postscript as described above. Submit two hard copies (again, one for the library, one for the thesis judging). All content and source code must be uploaded to the Columbia server. If you are using software such as Wordpress, you need to have it hosted by Columbia. Also, your videos and other multimedia need to be on Columbia servers, even if you are already hosting your content on external servers such as YouTube, blip.tv, etc. The library cannot store computer disks, and does not have the facilities for viewing their contents. A hyperlink will be made from the Master’s Thesis web page to the thesis itself. Email the URL to your advisers and me separately.

9. BROADCAST THESES: If you are submitted a broadcast thesis, please make two copies on audio tape, CD, or DVD. Label the tapes/discs, the covers and the cover spines with complete thesis information (author, title, adviser(s)). Then make two printed copies of your script, title page, source list, and postscript. Put one tape/disc and one set of papers in each envelope. E-mail a separate copy of your script to each of your advisers and to me.

A NOTE ON EXTENSIONS/LATE THESES

Extensions will be granted case-by-case, when circumstances require. In order to get an extension, your adviser must put in a written request to Dean Huff and me. The request must specify the new deadline. Students who get extensions should know, however, that late theses are disqualified from thesis prizes. Let me state that again: only theses that are handed in by the deadline will be in the running for thesis prizes. Only in extenuating circumstances such as serious illness or a death in the family will this rule be reconsidered. Also, any student who does not submit his or her thesis by May 6 runs the risk of not graduating.

—
Tali Woodward
Assistant Director, MA Program
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

Links from message sent to MS students’ Columbia e-mails earlier today:

MS Student Handbook: http://bit.ly/columbiajms2011
Intl Orientation schedule: http://bit.ly/aDoNTv
Opening Day & Orientation Schedule: http://bit.ly/d7bEM1
Schedule lookup: http://ssol.columbia.edu/

Other quick notes:

* As you know from our Suggested Reading List http://bit.ly/columbiajreading, the one book we ask all of you to read before the start of classes is “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White. If you haven’t read it already, we have a few dozen copies for sale for $10 in the Student Affairs office (look for the door marked Evelyn Corchado and Susmita Saha, 207a).

* AP Stylebook Online: If you haven’t been familiarizing yourself with it yet, please start soon. You should have already received an e-mail invitation (to your Columbia account) with the following subject line “AP Stylebook Online Registration Confirmation.” If you haven’t, please contact Susmita Saha - all questions about this service to her, please.

Dear Students,

To pick up your CUID Spring 09 validation sticker, please go to the 5th floor equipment room.

Equipment room hours are Monday – Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 10am – 5pm.

Don’t forget this is the sticker that gets you into the MET, MOMA, and various other museums around the city for free!!!

If your CUID isn’t working throughout the Journalism Building, you must go to 111A Low Library with the card.

Dear Students:

The New York Times is offering home or campus delivery of their newspaper to students at a steep discount.
If you are interested, click on the link below.

http://snurl.com/3i2ok

All you have to do is create an account, select your delivery option, the subscription that best suits your needs, and enter your payment method.

Hope you all take advantage of this generous offer.

TECH JAM SESSIONS: Learn a new technology in about 20 minutes with Sree Sreenivasan

ALL LEVELS OF EXPERTISE WELCOME, NO RSVP.

These are just the August sessions. Send in suggestions for the fall. We already have one: Avoiding RSI and other computer-related injuries; your topic here.

ALL SESSIONS IN THE STUDENT CENTER

* Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1:30-2:30 pm
RSS Tips + Google Calendar Tips (descriptions below)

* Thursday, Aug. 20, 2-3 pm
RSS Tips + Google Calendar Tips (descriptions below)

* Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2-3 pm
Facebook-for-Journalists Tips + Gmail Tips (descriptions below)

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

RSS FEEDS: How to use these amazing resources to improve your media diet and keep up with the all the stuff you want to read. You will learn how to set up an RSS reader and how to make it useful for your reporting, editing and general news consumption.

GOOGLE CALENDAR: How to use Google Calendar to keep track of your own appointments, along with various calendars at the school and off campus. You will also learn how to deploy Google Calendar in your non-J-school life, if you wish.

FACEBOOK/LINKEDIN: Learn how to become a power user of these popular social networking sites. Also learn about pitfalls, problems and dangers.

GMAIL: Learn how to become a power user of this popular e-mail progam + a look at the newly updated Yahoo Mail. Why both are better than any of the others out there.

Memo to the MA Class
From: Evan Cornog, Director of the MA Program

Dear M.A. Class of 2009:

As director of the M.A. program, I look forward to welcoming you here on August28th, and on working with you in the coming academic year.

If you have questions about what’s ahead, please go first to the school Website, in particular:

http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1212608980076/page/1212608978934/JRNSimplePage2.htm

If you have questions not answered there, please be in touch with me.

We promised you a short list of readings you might want to take on before coming here. They are:

For the Evidence and Inference course, W. G. Sebald, “Air War and Literature”in On the Natural History of Destruction (Modern Library)

For the history course, Prof. Michael Schudson’s Discovering the News (BasicBooks) and Walter Lippmann’s Liberty and the News, in a new edition from Princeton University Press (you need only read the Lippmann, not the foreword or lengthy afterword).

I hope the rest of the summer goes well for you, and I look forward to seeing you in late August.

Best,

Evan

Dear Students:

We invite you to start filling out your Journalism School online student directory. This directory, which is accessible only by current students, faculty and staff, is a great networking tool - and is separate from the class Facebook group (which we hope you will continue to use).

The information you enter in this web directory will then be transferred to the print student/staff/faculty directory, which you will receive in the fall.

We ask that you complete filling out your profile by Aug. 1 - the entire process should take no more than five minutes.

The link to the directory is: http://cujs.photobooks.com

Once you have logged in successfully *both* times, you will be directed to the home page of the directory. On this page you will find the *edit my profile* link. Please click on that link to start filling out your profile.

You will have to upload a current, high-resolution, JPEG picture of yourself. We ask that you submit a basic headshot photo, similar to a passport photo.

Thank you for your cooperation.

From: Larry Fried, Asst. Dean for Technology

Dear Students,

Please make note of the following technology items as we approach the end of the academic year:

Equipment and Fines:

All checked out equipment should be returned no later than May 15th.

Equipment fines must by paid by May 16th or you may have a hold placed
on your diploma. If you wish to dispute a fine, please email Craig at
ch2314[at]columbia.edu.
(more…)

The Daily Plan-it asked recent alumni to share tips about preparing for the school. Responses (some of them contradicting each other, some of them repetitive, many not endorsed by the J-school) are continuing to trickle in and will be added here throughout the semester, lightly edited for clarity. You’ll find them below, with the latest ones being added to the top.
Send us your tips to ss221@columbia.edu (subject line = school tips)

“In the months BEFORE school, I wish I had…
(more…)

Dear newly-admitted students:

As you prepare for the school, here are some resources you should check out.
1. WEBCASTS: We are hosting several webcasts which will allow you to listen live anywhere in the world, or to listen to an archived recording. The ones we have already scheduled are below. COMING SOON: Several other topics/speakers (send in your suggestions to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = webcast suggestions). Stay tuned. Scroll down.

2. FAQs: Frequently asked questions - and their answers below. Scroll down.

3. SURVIVAL TIPS: Alumni tips on surviving the school - and prepping for it are at
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/01/17/tip-surviving-the-school-tips/

4. TRANSCRIPTS OF OLD CHATS: In 2006 and 2007, we did more than 20 chats on various topics via moderated chatroom. While some of the information will be out of date, of course, reading through the transcripts might still be useful. See them all here: http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/06/chats-online-chats-about-the-school-3/

5. WELCOME VIDEOS: The international students in the Class of 2006 and 2007 created welcome videos for their successor classes. They are available on YouTube and continue to be relevant to all our students. Take a look:
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/01/video-new-j-school-international-welcome-video/

6. FACEBOOK GROUP: There’s already a Facebook group for the Columbia Journalism School Class of 2009. It was created by Rebecca Castillo, former class president, who serves as the staff adviser for extracurricular activities via the campus chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. It’s a closed group, so once you have decided to come, let Rebecca know via
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10497300901

7. NEW STUDENTS PAGE: See all the resources, forms and critical information (including dates) that we have gathered for you on the main school site on the New Students Page.

WEBCAST SCHEDULE & RECORDINGS
> full lineup: listen live or to a recording
Using a new service called BlogTalkRadio.com, we are able to connect the Journalism school with people around the world. They can listen live on their computers (or by dialing the listener phone line at 646-915-9583) as we highlight various aspects of the school (PCs or Macs; no downloads required) or tune in later to listen to an archived recording. These webcasts are also available as downloadable MP3 files for your personal collection. [If you want to subscribe to this as a podcast on iTunes, go to “Advanced” within iTunes, then select “Subscribe to podcast” and type in http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/feed and hit OK.] See full lineup at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism

(more…)

To pick up your CUID validation sticker for the new semester, please go to the 5th floor equipment room.

Equipment room hours are Monday – Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 10am – 5pm

* A reminder that the J-school Lost & Found has two locations:

The traditional, physical one is in the mailroom on the 1st floor (west side of the building).

The virtual one is on Facebook, where you can post items you have lost or found (we know several items have been returned to their owners this way; you can scroll through the listings or post your own):
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2422437369&topic=2931

* Virtual Suggestion/Comment Box

Please use this form to communicate with the Dean of Students Office about
any topic you wish. It can be anonymous or you can choose to provide your
name. Unless you tell us who you are, we have no way of replying to you.
It’s your call.

This form, launched in November 2006, is the result of a request from students from that graduating class.

http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2006/11/21/virtual-feedbacksuggestion-form/

You can find it easily on the right rail in the DOS Blog,
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com

Please use the following e-mail addresses and links to report problems you encounter.

• Building Problems: building@jrn.columbia.edu
• Technical Problems (printers, computers, etc.): http://help.jrn.columbia.edu/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk
• To reach the AV staff: av-request@jrn.columbia.edu
• To reserve a room (primarily SPJ): room-request@jrn.columbia.edu

Chat for International Students
Q&A with Prof. Josh Friedman
Thurday, July 19, 2007

[ See other chats and transcripts ]

JFriedman(P) This is Josh Friedman. I will be speaking to you today with Dragon NaturallySpeaking This is a voice dictation program so you may see some weird mistakes that don’t make sense. I’m sure you’ll be able to figure out what I’m trying to say. Otherwise, just ask and I’ll clarify what I’m saying.
(more…)

Transcript of DOS Chat
July 17, 2007
Speakers: Deans Sreenivasan & Huff

{90 questions in 60 minutes!}

[ See other chats and transcripts ]

DeanSree(P) We will start in about 20 minutes… Submit your questions.
While we are waiting to begin, do make sure you are on these resources:
(more…)

The DOS Office is going to be hosting a series of online chats on various topics in the weeks ahead. All students are welcome, but some of them are targeted at specific cohorts.

- we will post transcripts after the chats whenever possible (this may take a day or so).
- we have room for up to 50 people at a time, so be sure to log on early.
- after the official chat, the room is left unmoderated to students can talk amongst themselves.

• Monday, July 9, 2007
  Life at the J-school: Academic and Otherwise
  Speakers - Deans Sreenivasan & Huff
  1-2 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/09/chat-transcript-of-dos-chat-1/

• Wednesday, July 11, 2007
  Career Services
  Speakers: Ernest Sotomayor, Director of Career Services and colleagues
  4-5 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/13/chat-transcript-of-career-services-chat-july-11-2007/

• Tuesday, July 17, 2007
  Life at the J-school: Academic and Otherwise
  Speakers - Deans Sreenivasan & Huff
  1-2 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE THE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/16/443/

• Tuesday, July 17, 2007
  Q&A for Part-Time Students
  Speakers - Deans Sreenivasan & Huff
  5-6 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE THE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/16/chat-transcript-of-pt-session-july-17-2007

• Thursday, July 19, 2007
  Q&A for International Students
  Speaker: Prof. Josh Friedman, head of International Program
  10-11 a.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE THE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/27/chat-transcript-of-qa-for-international-students/

• Monday, July 23, 2007
  Career Services
  Speakers: Ernest Sotomayor, Director of Career Services and colleagues
  1-2 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE THE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/01/chat-transcript-of-career-services-chat-2-july-23-2007/
  
• Tuesday, July 24, 2007
  Students-Only Chat (organized by Alex Sundby, ajsundby[at]yahoo.com)
  7-9 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  Speakers: YOU! Open session, without faculty and deans, to discuss anything you like
  LOG IN TO CHAT HERE: http://www.chatzy.com/895389234247

• Wed, July 25, 2007
  Q&A for MA Students
  Speaker: Evan Cornog, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
  4-5 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE THE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/01/chat-transcript-of-ma-chat-july-25-2007/

• Thursday, July 26, 2007
  Students-Only Chat (organized by Alex Sundby, ajsundby[at]yahoo.com)
  10 am-noon: New York time (lookup your local time here)
  Speakers: YOU! Open session, without faculty and deans, to discuss anything you like
  LOG IN TO CHAT HERE: http://www.chatzy.com/895389234247

• Fri July 27, 2007
  Q&A for New Media Students (and those curious about New Media)
  Speaker: Prof. Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Students and head of the new media program
  11 a.m.-noon New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE THE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/01/chat-transcript-of-new-media-program-chat-july-27-2007/

• Wed, Aug. 1, 2007
  Technology at the J-school
  Speakers: Larry Fried, Asst. Dean for Technology and members of the technology staff
  2-3 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
  SEE TRANSCRIPT:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/03/techchat/

  You need to check back with this document at that time to participate.
  It will be a moderated chat room (you submit questions, we provide answers), using your PC or Mac and Internet browser. After the official chat, the room is left unmoderated to students can talk amongst themselves.

  See transcripts of some of the chats from Summer 2006 at:
  http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2006/07/30/chats-three-sessions-scheduled/

  Please note that some of the information that was given out last summer might be out of date and incorrect.

Below is an important message from Student Services.

Please read it carefully, as it contains news about relocated services for the Registrar and Student Financial Services.
*************************************

Dear Students:

In the division of Student Services, it is our goal to work continually to streamline and upgrade our services to the Columbia University community. In the Registrar and Student Financial Services (SFS), we have been working diligently to improve our service delivery to better reflect the academic reputation of our outstanding schools and departments.

This August, we opened a new Student Service Center in 205 Kent Hall. The Student Service Center is a single point of service for most Registrar and SFS transactions. By cross-training our staff and reconfiguring our workspaces, we hope to greatly improve the student experience. In the Student Service Center, students can request transcripts and academic certification; receive assistance with billing and student account issues; and more.

To make the new Student Service Center a reality, some of our other offices have been relocated, while others remain where they had been. Here are some key points of contact for your reference:

Cashiering 210 Kent (same location)
Diplomas 210 Kent
Federal Work-Study Payroll 210 Kent
Columbia Card ID Center 204 Kent (same location)
Student Financial Planning 208 Kent (same location);
(Architecture, Arts, 202 Kent by mid-September
Continuing Ed, General
Studies, Journalism)

All other Registrar and SFS functions are handled in the Student Service Center.

I also encourage you to use our enhanced websites, www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs, www.columbia.edu/cu/registrar, https://ssol.columbia.edu and http://askus.columbia.edu where you will find online capabilities for many of your needs and answers to many of your questions.

It is my hope that the new Student Service Center will help to reduce the amount of time you spend on the administrative responsibilities of being a student here at Columbia, so that you may focus on your academic work and make the most of your exceptional talents.

Sincerely,

Michelle H. Brown-Nevers, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President
Student Administrative Services and University Registrar

HOW TO FIX YOUR E-MAIL IDENTITY
One of the more frustrating things with our e-mail system is that Cubmail doesn’t automatically put your name in the “from” lines. So faculty and administrators end up getting e-mail from, say,
“srt2879@columbia.edu” and we have no idea who it is (especially when there’s no signature file in the message itself). Worse, some e-mail programs treat such senders as spammers and dump the message automatically into junk-mail folders. There’s a one-time, two-minute solution, and it is explained below. Please take time to do this.

If you try this and it doesn’t work, please e-mail consultant@columbia.edu explaining what you did. Also, while the problem is being fixed, please write your name and affiiliation in the subject lines of messages you send to DOS, faculty, etc. eg, “Marie Jones - M.S. print - with question about housing.”

Lauch CUBMAIL at https://cubmail.cc.columbia.edu

Go to OPTIONS

Go to PERSONAL INFORMATION

Go to EDIT YOUR IDENTITIES

Choose DEFAULT IDENTITY

Add your full name there, and any other details you wish.

[You can have a different “reply-to” address, add auto signatures, etc].

You need to do this only if you plan to use CUBMAIL (which almost all
students do at some point).

And please don’t forget to routinely sign your messages with your full
name in the body of the message - and to include a phone number, too.

Thanks and good luck with your e-mail (or if you prefer, email).

- Dean Sreenivasan

FROM JOE HOWELL, BUILDING MANAGER: The Journalism School’s Building and Operations team is conducting a survey. Paper copies have been distributed to all of your student mailboxes. You are encouraged to take the time to complete it as it will assist us in providing better services.

Questions to building@jrn.columbia.edu

Q: I lost my CUID and press pass. What do I do?
A: Go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/id/rStudent.html for instructions.