March 30, 2021

Dear Newly Admitted Students,

As we enter the final month of the Spring semester at GSAPP, I’m writing to share the latest information regarding the School’s intended format of instruction for the Summer and Fall 2021 semesters.

During the past months, GSAPP has embraced and continually refined a hybrid model for teaching and learning, blending in-person and remote instruction to enable our highest academic aspirations while providing the safest possible environment in accordance with University and Public Health safety guidelines. Our students have been attending a mix of in-person classroom and studio-based teaching alongside remote instruction, and we have transformed countless aspects of the School to make this possible—adapting our existing spaces and their uses, investing in technology to support remote access and participation, using outdoor tent spaces for small in-person social and class meetings, providing protected access to the Making Studio and Avery Library, and developing new ways to offer courses in dynamic and engaging ways.

We are preparing to continue our current hybrid model in the Summer semester, following Columbia University and New York State health and safety guidelines relating to academic instruction, and holding the flexibility to adapt and increase the in-person components as those guidelines change. For international students who are impacted by COVID-19 challenges such as travel restrictions and delays in obtaining visas, GSAPP remains committed to offering flexibility, and you will be able to start remotely.

As outlined in President Lee Bollinger’s letter of March 17, the University expects to have the capacity and supply to vaccinate all Columbia affiliates by the fall, and has the goal to resume in-person academic activities across its campuses in September: “We are dedicated to coming as close to this reality as is safely possible, recognizing that events beyond our control may intervene and that we will need to have an adequate and sympathetic accommodation process in place for faculty, staff, and students, especially our international students who may not be able to return to campus.” University and public health guidelines permitting, we very much hope to be able to welcome you to Avery in the fall.

You will find links to additional resources below, and we will keep you informed of further updates throughout the coming months. Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Smith at arch_admissions@columbia.edu with any remaining questions about your enrollment. I look forward to welcoming you to GSAPP at the start of the new academic year!

Sincerely,
Amale Andraos
Dean