Same Day Service

Speak with an Alice! Health Promotion specialist about non-clinical health-related questions; get connected to health information; and improve health knowledge, attitudes, and skills.​

Alice! is a confidential resource and the staff respect and protect the privacy of all conversations. Conversations are solution-oriented and not therapy or medical advice — rather, they are meant to connect students with information and resources to make informed decisions on a broad range of health-related topics.

Examples of visit topics could include, but not limited to:

  • Accessing resources for coping with stress
  • Strategies to improve sleep quality
  • Strategies to improve time management
  • Concerns regarding a friend or loved one's alcohol or other drug use
  • Finding reputable resources to better understand a medical diagnosis or navigate the US healthcare system
  • Communication strategies to support a friend in distress

Health Education Drop-in Hours

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

  • Fall 2023 Schedule (September 5, 2023 - December 15, 2023)
    • In person: 3 – 5 p.m. (ET)

    • Virtual: 5 – 7 p.m. (ET)

For virtual drop-in hours, click the link below to join the Alice! Zoom waiting room. Drop-ins are first come, first serve. Joining the waiting room puts you in the queue to connect with an Alice! team member.

For in person drop-in hours, arrive at John Jay Hall, 3rd floor. Let the receptionist know you are there for Alice! Health Promotion drop-ins. Have a seat in the waiting area, and a provider will be with you shortly. 

Questions?

Email at [email protected].

Can't make drop-in hours?

Schedule an appointment with us!

Professional staff will make every effort to find a time to meet with students during business hours and to accommodate same-day appointments if feasible. Health education appointments will be through Zoom. A meeting link will be shared upon confirmation of appointment.  

Please note: Appointment availability may change due to events and closures. 

Urgent or Immediate Assistance

  • During clinic hours, call 212-854-7426.
  • After hours, or on weekends or University holidays, call 212-854-7426 for 24/7 support.
  • In an emergency, call CUEMS/Public Safety at 212-854-5555 if you are on or near campus, or dial 911 if you are off-campus.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) offers two same-day options to see a mental health provider. These are available to all Columbia students who have paid the full Columbia Health and Related Services Fee.

All of our offices operate on a first-come, first-served basis; you may have a brief wait if the counselor is with another student.

Problem-Solving/Coping Skills drop-in

One time conversation to talk about an everyday life concern impacting your emotional well-being. Students meet with a mental health professional to gain clarity and find ways to address a problem. Among the typical problems discussed in these sessions are relationship problems, adjustment to campus life, career concerns, acculturation, or anxiety about academics. These sessions are not intended for students currently working with a CPS counselor, nor as a substitute for traditional counseling.

Visit the Problem-Solving/Coping Skills drop-in page for hours and locations.

Urgent Mental Health Concerns drop-in

Walk-in session if you are experiencing high levels of distress.

Mondays - Thursdays from 5:30 - 8:00 PM (check-in closes at 7:30 PM) at Lerner 502.

Please note that these hours are supplementary support and are not intended to substitute for traditional counseling or other appropriate treatment options. If you are seeking ongoing counseling or psychiatric care, please call 212-854-2878 during regular business hours to arrange a treatment planning session that will help guide you to the resource that is right for you.

Unforeseen Closures

We make every attempt to maintain our posted office hours. However, drop-in offices may be closed due to unforeseen circumstances. If you need to talk to someone, contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 212-854-2878, available 24/7.

Eligibility

Only Morningside/Manhattanville/Teachers College students who have paid the full Columbia Health and Related Services Fee are eligible for drop-in with CPS.

Disability Services (DS) offers drop-in hours according to the schedule posted below. Drop-in hours allow for a one-on-one, 15-minute discussion between a DS staff member and a student with a quick or urgent question. Students not yet known to DS as well as those already registered are invited to contact DS during drop-in hours.

Common reasons for a student not yet known to DS to contact us during drop-in hours may include questions about how to register with Disability Services, to learn more about services and accommodations offered by DS, or if you suspect that you might have a disability, or were referred to meet with DS staff and are wondering about next steps.

For students already registered, drop-in hours may be helpful for quick questions around your exam, note-taking, or housing accommodations, to discuss exam rescheduling due to a class conflict, or if you’re having difficulty arranging for accommodations with a professor, teaching assistant (TA), or for a class.

To speak with a DS staff member during drop-in hours

Drop-in hours are held virtually for the Fall 2023 term. To attend drop-in hours virtually, call 212-854-2388 or email [email protected] during the hours noted below.

When you call, an administrative staff member will ask for your name, phone number, and your reason for calling. They will share this message with the staff member holding drop-in hours.

If you opt to email, add “drop-in” to your subject line and in the body of the email, include your name, phone number, and reason for wishing to speak with the staff member holding drop-in hours. 

Whether you schedule by phone or email, the staff member holding drop-in hours will call you back within the drop-in period. 

If you are unable to attend drop-in hours due to an academic conflict or time zone constraints, please know we will be happy to schedule a mutually agreeable appointment outside of drop-in hours. To do so, please contact us at [email protected] with your availability. Let us know if it is a time-sensitive matter when you provide your availability. We will do our best to accommodate your time preference should it be outside of regular business hours (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET).

Fall 2023 Schedule

Drop-in hours will be held from Tuesday, September 5 through Wednesday, December 14 during the hours listed below.

There will be no drop-in hours on 11/6, 11/7, 11/23 and 11/24.

Students seeking HIV/STI screening or to discuss sexual and reproductive health topics in a supportive and non-judgmental environment can meet with a peer advocate from the Gay Health Advocacy Project (GHAP), a part of Alice! Health Promotion.

Examples of 1:1 conversation topics include, but are not limited to: 

*HIV testing is always free, other STI testing will be billed to insurance

Fall 2023 Schedule

September 11, 2023 - September 15, 2023:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12 – 3 p.m. ET

September 18, 2023 - December 15, 2023:​​​​

  • Mondays: 
    11 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET
    3 - 5 p.m. ET

  • Tuesdays: 
    9 - 11 a.m. ET (virtual only)
    11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET

  • Wednesdays:
    No drop-in hours

  • Thursdays:
    10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

  • Fridays:
    1 - 3 p.m. ET

In-person: 

  • Check in at John Jay Hall 3rd Floor  
  • Fill out the sign-in form, check the box for GHAP or WHAP (sexual and reproductive health), and return it to the front desk 

Virtual:

Questions? 

Email at [email protected].  

Can't make drop-in hours? 

Schedule an appointment with us! 

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is treatment with anti-retroviral medication that can prevent an HIV infection from taking hold. It must be initiated within 72 hours of exposure—the sooner, the better. 

The need to initiate PEP is considered a medical emergency. Please call Medical Services at 212-854-7426, available 24/7. 

Appointment and drop-in

SVR offers drop-in hours as well as in-person and virtual appointments at Morningside (Lerner Hall 700), Barnard (105 Hewitt Hall), and CUIMC (50 Haven Ave., Suite 206) campuses. Virtual appointments are offered Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at all locations. In-person appointments and drop-in hours vary by location.

To make an appointment, call 212-854-3500. 

Fall 2023 Appointment and Drop-In Hours

Virtual appointments are offered Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Morningside (Lerner Hall, Suite 700)
  • Drop-In Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Appointments (virtual or in person): Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Barnard (Hewitt Hall, 105)
  • Drop-in Hours (open to students from all campuses):
    • Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    • Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: no drop-ins at this location; Students should go to SVR in Lerner 700 during walk-in/drop-in hours
  • Appointments (virtual only): Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CUIMC (50 Haven Ave., Suite 206)
  • Drop-In Hours:
    • ​​​​​​​Monday and Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
    • Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    • Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Appointments (virtual or in person): Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

After hours and urgent support

SVR operates a 24/7, year-round, helpline accessible to all students seeking assistance. This support line can be reached 24/7/365 at 212-854-4357 (HELP). 

SVR provides trauma-informed, confidential support through crisis counseling/intervention, advocacy, prevention, and outreach focused on interpersonal violence and harassment. 

Examples include:

  • Assisting survivors and co-survivors of sexual, intimate partner, and gender-based violence by helping them navigate resources within and outside of the University
  • Accompanying survivors to off-campus locations such as New York Police Precincts, local hospitals, court, and other support services locations on- and off-campus.
  • Exploring survivor rights and options while also supporting their individual choices
  • Connecting survivors with support services that they, together with the survivor, identify as being helpful to the survivor's emotional, psychological, familial, residential, and spiritual well-being.
  • Cross-collaboration with other Columbia departments and student groups to facilitate events, workshops, and trainings tailored to specific communities across campus