Community and Connection

Learn, connect, and support
each other for a stronger Columbia

Columbia University strives to foster a strong community and help support employees in the workplace. To that end, the University hosts regular programming to help staff understand and respect diverse experiences and perspectives; combat discrimination; communicate effectively; and support themselves and each other, even in challenging times.

Below is a list of available resources and upcoming events. If you are sponsoring an upcoming event for, or open to, staff, please complete this form.

Learning Resources

Upcoming Sessions

Join our upcoming sessions designed to strengthen workplace culture and community awareness. Be sure to register early to secure your spot!

View Wellness Events for a full list of upcoming programming.

Healthy Active Living (Employee Assistance Program)

Thursday, July 30
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Webinar/Virtual

Anyone can benefit from regular physical activity. Research shows that moderate amounts of physical activity on most days of the week can improve your health and quality of life. This webinar will teach participants about the benefits of being active as well as the risks of inactivity. They will also learn about the components of fitness and activities, and the six stages of behavior change toward a healthier lifestyle.

Who the Health Cares? Podcast | Summer Webinar

Tuesday, August 4
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Webinar/Virtual

Join Dr. Michael Sparer, host of Who the Health Cares? podcast and director of Columbia’s Center for Public Health Systems, as he takes you behind the scenes of season 2 and answers your public health questions. Registration required. Register Here

AI Literacy Advanced Training

Tuesday, August 18
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Webinar/Virtual

Participants will gain practical experience with AI tools, including prompt engineering, security considerations, and workflow integration. Office hours will be available for those seeking deeper engagement. The program will also feature cross-campus "Lunch & Learn" sessions to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing. This training is intended for Columbia University faculty, researchers, and staff.

AI Literacy Advanced Training

Thursday, August 20
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Webinar/Virtual

Fostering a Sense of Belonging (Employee Assistance Program)

Thursday, August 20
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Webinar/Virtual

This transformative session explores how workplace belonging shapes employee behaviors, beliefs, and performance outcomes. Drawing from compelling research, including Harvard Business Review findings, we examine how strong workplace connections can increase job performance by 56%, reduce turnover risk by 50%, and decrease sick days by 75%.

Screen Time and Your Kids

Tuesday, August 25
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Webinar/Virtual

Join us for a live event led by a Maven provider to learn essential insights for navigating screen time with your kids. Our Maven expert will share information about the impact of screen time and tips for building healthy habits with your family. Learn more about Maven.

On-Demand Sessions

Access a wide range of sessions at your convenience, available anytime. Explore topics that matter to you, with the flexibility to learn and grow on your own schedule.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

LinkedIn Learning

Previously Recorded Sessions

Catch up on expert-led discussions you may have missed or revisit valuable insights that can help you thrive and deepen your understanding of yourself and others in the workplace.

Untold Stories in Health Equity: Lessons from Cancer and Beyond
Monday, February 3 | 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | In person

Untold Stories is a course taught by Prof. Heather Butts at the Columbia Mailman School that introduces students to health leaders of color whose impact is largely absent from history books. This talk will look at the overall lens of health and public health, focusing on issues in the realm of cancer and cancer research, history of medicine, pioneering champions, and unknow healthcare professionals. Individuals such as Dr. Virginia Alexander, Henrietta Lacks, Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta, Dr. Jane Cook Wright and many others will be explored, and participants will have the chance to workshop others during the session.

Dr. Butts will shed light on pivotal, often-overlooked contributions to health policy, cancer prevention, and treatment in Black communities.

The Campus and the Israel-Hamas War
July 25, 2024 | Podcast

This past spring many college and university campuses were roiled by unprecedented protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Not since Vietnam has any foreign policy issue resulted in such widespread demonstrations on campuses. What explains the intensity of the reaction? Join Aaron David Miller as he sits down with Columbia University Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo and Princeton University Dean Amaney Jamal for a wide-ranging discussion. Offered by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Who are the Jews? Jewish Identity and Antisemitism in the 21st Century
July 25, 2024 | Webinar

During this session, Dr. Laura Shaw-Frank, Director of the American Jewish Committee's William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life Department, explores the unique nature of Jewish identity and how it is difficult to understand through an American lens. She also provides a brief history of antisemitism through focusing on central antisemitic trope and discusses the particular circumstances of antisemitism in America today, with special attention paid to the post-10/7 reality for American Jews. Offered by CUIMC.

Validation as a Tool for Connection
July 18, 2024 | Webinar

Validation is a response that shows acceptance and respect for another person's feelings, ideas, actions, and experiences. It is an essential communication skill that supports strengthening interpersonal connection and building better relationships with others, even when we disagree or hold differing points of view. During this 60-minute workshop, you will learn (1) why validation matters; (2) how it contributes to effective coping during emotionally charged situations; (3) what validation looks and sounds like in practice through concrete examples and role plays; and (4) to identify opportunities for self-validation and validation in your personal and professional life. Offered by CUIMC.

Managing Trauma When Trauma is Ongoing
July 11, 2024 | Webinar

Healthcare workers are exposed every day to events and situations that can be experienced as outside of the "normal" assumptions of safety and stress. In addition, the pandemic and ongoing national and world events are a source of stress, division, and a trigger for personal and generational trauma for many in our community. This talk addresses how ongoing exposure to these triggers can affect our well-being and ability to function in all the roles of our lives and offer some tools to address this important issue. Offered by CUIMC.

Addressing the Unspoken Issue
June 27, 2024 | Webinar

There are topics that can arise in the workplace that can feel uncomfortable and/or challenging to address. This discomfort often leads to avoidance of these topics. During this 60-minute workshop Dr. Colleen Cullen and Dr. Lou Baptista discuss when to consider addressing unspoken issues and how to do so in a skillful manner. Offered by CUIMC.

Your Well-Being

Your health is a top priority, but staying fit and living well can be challenging. Columbia University offers several well-being programs and services to inspire healthy choices, manage mental health, support your goals, and keep you motivated on your wellness journey.

Well-Being Resources

Physical Fitness

Discover Your Benefits