Please read through the Housing Guide for Student Couples and the filing information* before completing your application.
STEP 1 Prepare Coupler Status Documentation
Review the verification of couple's status section. Prepare for submission: (a) copy of your marriage license, or (b) copy of your state's domestic partner affidavit or (c) Columbia University's designation of partner affidavit.
STEP 2 Complete Application
Review all of the materials related to accommodations, availability, rates, assignment structure and process. Then complete the enclosed Student Couples Housing Application. Mark the accommodation preference section by numbering your preferences from 1 to 4 (1=most preferred).
STEP 3 Submit Application and Couple's Status Documentation
Return your application and required documentation to;
The Office of Housing Services
Bard Hall-50 Haven Avenue
New York. New York 10032
Materials should be sent via certified mail or Federal Express, DHL or UPS. We do not accept any other forms of delivery, including U.S. mail or fax.
STEP 4 Confirmation of Receipt of Materials
The Office of Housing Services will send you a postcard confirming receipt of your materials.
Filing Information*
Eligibility
Newly accepted students who will be enrolled full-time in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Dental Medical, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Nursing, the Mailman School of Public Health, the Programs in Human Nutrition, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy or current full-time students, are eligible to apply for CUMC housing. Individuals must main tain full time matriculated student status to continue and remain in campus housing.
Student couples housing is available to married couples and couples living in domestic partnership. Domestic partners are defined as two individuals who live together in a long-term relationship of indefinite duration, have an exclusive commitment to each other's welfare, amj share financial obligations. Accommodations we offer must be occupied by both the student and their spouse or domestic partner. The following documentation is required to qualify as a married couple or as domestic partners. Falsely certifying status may result in disciplinary action.
Married Couples
Copy of your marriage license.
Domestic Partners
- Copy of your state's domestic partner affidavit or
- Columbia University's designation of partner affidavit. This affidavit should include the required items listed in I & II below.
I. A written statement that verifies that you and vour partner:
li are not married to anyone else,
- meet the age requirements for marriage in your state of residence and arc mentally competent
to consent to contract,
- are not related by blood in a manner that would ban marriage under the laws of your resident state,
- have close and committed personal relationship,
- have been sharing a household on a continuous basis prior to the date of request for domestic partner status, and
- have not been registered as a member of another domestic partnership within the lasi six months.
II. Documentation which shows that you and your partner are responsible for each other's common welfare and share financial obligations. Submission of 2 of the 5 listed documents is required.
- a joint mortgage or lease,
- a designation of domestic partner as primary beneficiary for life insurance or retirement benefits,
- a designation of domestic partner as primary beneficiary in student's will,
- assignment of durable property or health care power of attorney to domestic partner,
- ownership of a joint bank account, joint credit card account, or joint ownership of a motor vehicle
How Assignments Are Made
The goal of the Office of Housing Services at Columbia University Medical Center is to provide campus housing for as many incoming students as possible with priority given to student's coming to the University from outside the metropolitan area. Housing is provided on a non-discriminatory basis.
Assignment Priority Structure
Upon receipt, the Office of Housing Services staff date stamps each application. Using the distance each applicant lives from campus, applications are then sorted into one of three distance categories:
Category 1. Students who are coming to the University from outside the United States area.
Category 2 & 3. Students who are coming to the University from the farther areas of New York State. For Example: Florida, Texas, California, etc.
Category 2. Students who live within the Tri-State area are placed in Category 3.
Assignment Process
Review of applications and assignment to University accommodations begins in June for active applications filed in Category 1. Assignments arc made based on the date each student’s application was received and by matching each applicants preference with unit availability.
In the event that there are more Category 1 applications than housing units available, those remaining applicants will be wait listed. Each applicant will be sent information regarding the wait list process and the services offered by our off-campus housing resource specialist.
All applicants living locally (Category 2&3) will be wait listed and will receive similar information.
