Announcement Regarding Steering Group on Mental Health

March 24, 2017

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community:

I write to report that I have asked Jim Valentini, Dean of Columbia College and Vice President for Undergraduate Education, to lead a Steering Group on Mental Health, focused on our undergraduate community.  This group will try to marshal our internal resources from across the University and then utilize those of The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the mental health of young adults, in order to develop a comprehensive assessment of the mental health support in place for our undergraduate students.  This important effort will ultimately be combined with the similar work we are doing with the deans of all of Columbia’s schools to evaluate the mental health resources available to their students and with the related ongoing efforts of the Columbia University Medical Center campus, student-led mental health initiatives, and the Office of University Life.  Altogether, I hope we can develop a deeper and more insightful approach to ensuring the health of our students and our entire University community.  Nothing is more important.  

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger