Your First Days at Columbia

Your first few months at Columbia University are a time when you will be getting to know your job, your department, and how the University works. It’s also an important time to learn about and enroll in your benefits, discover the learning and educational opportunities available to you, and become familiar with the unique package of other perks and rewards that a world-class University can provide.

The University’s New Hire Orientation program is a great first step, along with meeting with the Human Resources department and your manager.

We encourage you to keep exploring and learning throughout your first year here, including getting to know the campus and meeting others.

Things you will need to do:

Register and attend the Columbia University New Hire Orientation session where you will learn about our Morningside and Manhattanville campuses, key departments and staff, campus safety information, and an overview of work/life and healthcare benefits. To register and find more information, visit the Columbia University New Hire Orientation page. 

Your UNI is your key to accessing computer services and electronic resources at Columbia.

Visit the CUIT Manage My UNI page.

Your University ID card will provide you access into buildings on campus as well as to special discounts and resources only accessible to members of the Columbia community. Access the ID Center to find out more about how to obtain an ID Card.

To enroll in direct deposit, please follow the instructions below:

  • Log into the MyColumbia portal with your UNI and password.
  • Click the “Faculty and Staff Tab.”
  • Under “Resources,” on the 'Personal Data' tab and click “View and/or Update Your Personal Data.”
  • Click 'Payroll & Compensation' and enter your direct deposit information.

Resources:

  • Video: Setting Up Direct Deposit in PAC
    • Note: When you click on the video link above, you will be asked to sign in with your UNI and password. Once on the page, simply click the blue “Enroll” button to begin.

If eligible, you must enroll in benefits within 31 days of your start date. Please refer to the Benefits section for detailed information to help with your selections.

MyColumbia will be the portal for you to access the information and password-protected resources quickly and easily in a central location. Here you can assess and update your personal information, enroll in direct deposit, submit timesheets and report absences, and view your paycheck. 

Duo is a multifactor authentication (MFA) system to verify your identity and safeguard your personal information. With Duo, you can use a mobile app, a text message, or a phone call to authenticate. Most people use Duo via the mobile app, Duo Mobile, which runs on a variety of smartphones and tablets.

Access to the following services will require MFA using Duo: 

  • View Your Paycheck
  • View Your Direct Deposit Information
  • View or Update Your Benefits information
  • View or Update Your Personal Information
  • View Your Tax Information
  • My W-2
  • Verify Your Employment
  • PAC Time and Absence

When you log into any of these services, you will be required to set up and use MFA. For installation and training videos, visit our CUIT Duo page. For all questions or to report an issue, submit a ticket to the CUIT Service Desk or call the Service Desk at (212) 854-1919.

All new and incoming employees are required to complete the Anti-Harassment, Discrimination and Title IX training. 

For any employee working with minors, Protection of Minors training is required. 

Rather than switching between WebEx, Zoom, Slack, texting, Google Hangouts, or forwarding your desktop line to your cell phone, CUIT provides the RingCentral App and VoIP deskphone to manage your communications.

Set up your RingCentral phone and meetings apps and read training instructions.