Student Computing at CUIMC


We've compiled information on frequently used resources to help students get the most out of available technologies.  New students can visit the Getting Started page for steps to take before or soon after their program begins.

Student Resources

Technical Support

CUIMC IT technicians support students that are currently enrolled and taking classes in a program at the Medical Center, full support information and requirements is on the Student Support page.
Postdoctoral researchers, faculty, staff and others not currently enrolled and taking classes at CUIMC should check with their DA or supervisor for any support procedures since these can vary by department.

See our contact information for current support hours.  In addition to emailing 5help@cumc.columbia.edu or calling extension 5-Help (212-305-4357) 7 days a week, you can also use online chat or schedule a student remote support appointment.  Chat is available from Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm:

  1. Select Get Help from our main menu
  2. Select Login in the upper right (from a mobile device you may need to select Profile first) and log in with your UNI account Chat icon
  3. Click the blue and white chat icon in the lower right corner

The student walk-in desk for support is located in the Hammer Health Sciences Building LL1-118. Sign-in is required via QR codes posted in Hammer nearby and most printer locations, or the sign-in computer located at the Tech Bar. To prevent overcrowding only 3 signed-in people may be in the Tech Bar area at a time.

Student Responsibilities

As users of Medical Center computing resources, students must comply with policies and requirements that help provide secure, consistent access for the entire academic community. These also aid in the protection of patient health data and other sensitive information. Data breaches, whether intentional or not, have severe penalties for both the health institution and any individual involved.

The following is a general overview of these responsibilities, however all students are expected to know and adhere to requirements found in the IT Procedures and Guidelines pages. Note that the majority of these policies are presented and must be agreed to when activating your Columbia UNI account.

What does my Technical Fee cover?

The CUIMC IT Technical Fee supports IT services related to students.  Specifically, it supports: the Service Desk services which are accessible to the students who have issues with their personal computers or CUIMC applications; all the computers and printer/copiers in the classrooms and computer labs including installed software for SAS, SPSS and Examsoft; access to shredding services; Server and Network support for student related applications.