Amenities and Policies

When residents submit maintenance requests, they are authorizing access to their units.  Residents desiring to be home for maintenance request, must indicate in the work request that they would like an appointment. The work will be coordinated with residents and facilities personnel.   In the event of an emergency, the building staff will access the unit as needed without prior notice.

You may purchase your own window units for air conditioning. TC charges an additional $30 a month in rent for EACH window unit during June, July, August, and September. Building staff may not remove or install these units. You need to have them installed and removed by a licensed and insured company as units have been dropped out the windows in the past. 

The basement can be reached only through the elevator (there are no stairs).

Contact Time Warner Cable at 212-567-3833.

Several carts are available in the lobby (under the stairway) for residents' use. They should be returned as soon as possible for others to use.

Food Deliveries:
Residents will be contacted by the staff when they have a food delivery.
Delivery personnel will never be allowed access to the elevator without prior approval from the resident.  

Packages and Non-food Deliveries:
As packages arrive, they are entered in the Package Received/Pickup Log.  A package slip(s) will be inside your mailbox to notify you that you received a package (i.e. Dry cleaners, UPS, FedEx, Flowers and Other Pick-ups). Residents must sign the Package Received/Pickup Log Book to pick up any package, and the packages may be given to any of the occupants in the apartment (i.e. it does not matter whether or not the package is addressed to them).

Fed Ex/UPS Pick-up:
Packages may be left at the desk for UPS to pick up.  Each resident who leaves boxes is responsible for weighing their boxes and leaving a sealed envelope containing the exact payment.  Boxes can be weighed at the Teachers College post office in the basement of Main Hall.  When UPS arrives the front desk staff will obtain a receipt to be placed in the resident’s mailbox.

If you do not have a dishwasher and would like one, send an email to housing@tc.columbia.edu, Teachers College will supply the dishwasher but the resident is responsible for all other costs associated with the install. Teachers College will get pricing from TC authorized vendors. Portable dishwashers are prohibited.

There are two elevators in the building.  The staff will utilize the right elevator to assist with move-ins and move-outs Monday – Friday, 8am -5 pm. (3pm on early Fridays), and garbage.

Washers and Dryers are located in the Seth Low Basement, and the laundry room is open 24 hours/7 days.  However, the laundry room is operated on a very strict schedule.  The machines will accept quarters, and also accept debit and credit cards. The laundry room rules were set up by years ago by tenants and have been maintained by tradition. There is a laundry room schedule posted in the laundry room.  Residents are expected to use their assigned time or one of the available times not belonging to another resident. The schedule is displayed in the glass case just to the right of the laundry room entrance. You'll see that residents get slots at the start of the hour for washing machines, and at the start of the following hour for dryers.  Choose an unclaimed spot, and leave a note to the Seth Low front desk asking to be assigned that time for the washers and dryers. Please do not make any changes on the schedule itself.

If you won't be using the machines during your appointed hour, you can release your time by noting that on the blackboard in the laundry room. This is a courtesy to the other residents, who might want to use your time slot. If you will be using the machines during the appointed hour, you must do so before 15 minutes after the hour. If you need to use the machines during a time slot that is not yours, you are free to do so any time after 15 minutes after the hour. Please wait the full15 minutes after the hour to give the assigned person a chance to start the laundry by then, and please start YOUR wash by 20 after the hour so you will be finished by the top of the following hour. Most tenants do not use all the machines at once, so there is a good chance a machine may be available at 15 after the hour on most days. The dryers must be shared by everyone, whether scheduled or not. Those previously scheduled up for a particular time have priority over those who are unscheduled.

Please do not remove another tenant's clothes from a dryer or washer until their hour is over.  Residents are requested to be considerate, and to remove all clothes from washers and dryers promptly.

Problems with the machines as well as any issue regarding the loss of funds and/or refunds should be reported to MacGray at 1-800-622-4729 by the residents or the staff.  Residents may also report issues via the ChangePoint Machine, located in the laundry room.

There are no automatic sprinklers or fire alarms in the building. In the event of a fire in your apartment, close the door to the room with the fire; leave your apartment, closing the door behind you. When time permits, knock on your neighbors' doors as you leave. TAKE THE STAIRS, NOT THE ELEVATOR (use the fire escape as necessary), and tell the person at the front desk to call 911. Get outside and wait for the fire trucks to arrive so you can tell them where the fire is located.

Each apartment is supplied with battery operated smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.  The units will only sound in the location of the device.   In the event of an emergency, residents and staff should call x911 and follow-up by calling TC Public Safety, x3333.

Residents should submit maintenance Work Requests to the Office of Facilities for any defects or malfunctioning equipment.

Each Fall the Seth Low staff will change the batteries in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (also replace as necessary).

The USPS will drop off mail to the Seth Low desk.  The staff will sort and distribute the mail during their shift.  Residents wishing to have mail held, for up to 4 weeks, should notify the staff how long they will be gone.  The mail will be held in a separate area marked with their apartment number. 

Residents who are vacating Seth Low should complete address change forms with the USPS before moving out.  Residents can also leave a forwarding address with the Seth Low staff.  Mail is held until the post office delivers to updated address. 

Routine Maintenance Requests 

Residents should always submit a work request for non-emergency maintenance. A work request can be submitted the following ways:

• Online at http://facilitiesweb.tc.columbia.edu/

• Via the kiosk outside the Seth Low front desk. The staff can assist in showing how to submit a work request.

Once a work request is submitted you will receive two emails regarding the status of your work requests (one indicating work request was received and one when it’s closed).   If you do not have internet access or do not feel comfortable using the computer kiosk in the lobby, you can call the Office of Residential Services at 212-678-3235.

Unless there is an emergency, residents should not submit any requests to the handyperson or any of the other staff.  All requests should be made through a central office so they can set priorities, schedule work, monitor progress, and keep a record of all of the work performed to identify recurring problems. It also tends to be more efficient for the residents.

Emergency Maintenence Requests

Emergency maintenance issues that occur between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F (non-holidays), please contact the Office of Facilities at 212-678-3010.

If an emergency occurs after-hours, weekends and holidays, call the front desk from your house phone by dialing x0.

The building staff member will attempt to repair

• If the Seth Low staff cannot repair, he/she will contact Public Safety at 212-678-3333 who will then contact the On-Duty Facilities Manager for next steps.
• Emergency maintenance request should include:  Resident’s name, location of issue, date and time of issue and detailed explanation of issue.

Residents have been known to ask building staff to assist with non-routine maintenance requests.  Any resident who chooses to pursue such requests must understand that any such work must occur during the employees off-clock hours, and the College does endorse nor accept any responsibilities for such work.  Additionally, tipping employees for routine or emergency work is discouraged.

Newspapers are delivered daily to your apartment by the Front Desk staff once they arrive.

Noise travels on the first floor. Residents and staff alike need to remember to keep conversations low in public areas, especially near the elevator, front desk and front steps. If noise is a problem, email the Office of Residential Services at housing@tc.columbia.edu.

As for outside noise, which can be problematic on summer weekends, New York City has a hotline number, 311, for making "quality of life" complaints. 

TC’s policy is to completely re-paint each apartment every three years. If prior to the three year time period you notice cracking and peeling paint bring it to the attention of the Office of Residential Services at housing@tc.columbia.edu.

TC will paint your apartment with their standard Benjamin Moore Linen-white paint, or will use custom colors if you purchase the paint at your own expense.

• Columbia University Station, 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam (always a long wait)
• Cathedral Station, 104th between Broadway and Amsterdam (later hours, shorter lines)
• Manhattanville Station, 125th between Morningside Avenue and St. Nicholas (passport applications & processing available)

Recycling is available in the basements of all buildings. New York City has many programs and educational opportunities to learn about Zero Waste and recycling.

There are also places where residents can donate or give items they no longer need so others can use them. DonateNYC is another helpful resource to help reduce waste.

Building Access
The front door of Lowell Hall is locked 24hrs/7days. Apartment keys can be used to unlock the door.

Whittier Hall Front desk
The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Guests
Should you have guests staying in your apartment while you're away, a Guest Notification Form should be completed at the Office of Residential Services.  This will allow them to utilize a TC Guest ID Card for access to Whittier as well as allow them to have access to the Keytrak key in event of lockout.

Also, any outside vendor (babysitter, housekeeper, dogwalker, etc.) that works in you apartment for long term circumstances should be listed on your housing license agreement so that they can get a Photo and have access to the Keytrak key in the event of a lockout. 

Keys
All Lowell tenants will receive 6 Apartment keys.  Residents needing any additional keys should contact the Office of Residential Services, housing@tc.columbia.edu, or 212-678-3235.

If you or a member of your family is locked out of the building or apartment, go to the Lowell and produce a picture ID.  The Public Safety Officer will issue you the spare key that must be returned within 1 hour of issuance.

Lost Keys
If an apartment key is lost there is a $150 lock change charge for the apartment.  The charge will appear on your monthly statement.

Teachers College ID Card
All family members (over the age of 12) of the residents who live in Lowell should go over to the Office of Card Services, Whittier Hall Suite 1B, to receive a Teachers College ID card. These ID cards will allow access into Whittier Hall and other campus facilities.  If you are locked out of your apartment, you must present this ID to the desk staff in order to receive a loaner key. Lost cards result in a $20 replacement fee.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building including apartments, the basement, restrooms, or service areas. 

Solicitation is not permitted in the building.  Staff and residents should report all solicitors to the Office of Public Safety at x3333. 

Each apartment has a storage cage located in the Seth Low basement.  To access the storage area, exit to the left once the elevator reaches the basement, and walk all the way back to the first door on the right.

Residents whose apartment key is on the building’s master key system can access their storage cage using their apartment key.  Otherwise, they have been issued a key solely for the lock on their storage cage for which the residents have the only key, (i.e. key not in Keytrak.) 

Buidling Intercom

The building provides an internal intercom system that allows the desk to contact residents, residents to contact the desk, and residents to residents.  To contact residents, dial 20 and the apartment number.  For example, if the apartment number is 20, the caller will dial 2020.  Residents needing to contact the front desk simply call 0 from their house phone.  The intercom system does not allow incoming or outgoing calls from Seth Low. 

Any issues regarding the intercom system (missing telephones, non-working telephones, or the intercom malfunctions) should be directed to the Office of Telecommunications, x3456, or by email at telecomhelpdesk@tc.columbia.edu.

Resident Private Phone Lines

Each resident who wishes to have telephone service in their apartment should contact a vendor such as Verizon, Time Warner, Sprint, etc.

Cable Service

Contact Time Warner Cable at 212-567-3833.

Small bags of garbage can be put down the garbage chutes in the incinerator room on each floor (but please not before 6:30a.m. or after 10:30 p.m. in deference to the apartments abutting the chutes). Nothing should be left on the floor of the incinerator room. For non-recyclable trash that can't fit down the chute, there are several large garbage cans in the basement.

Con Edison (for setting up gas): 1-800-780-2884

Electric is included in your rent.  However, should you have an air conditioner, you will be charged $30 per month for each air conditioner during the months of June through September.

Resident Responsibilities

1)    Inform Office of Residential Services of vacate date.

2)    Inform Payroll of vacate date to stop payroll deduction, if applicable.  Payroll should be informed of last month of residence.

3)    Inform Office of Students Accounts of new address for security deposit refund.

4)    Contact USPS to provide forwarding address --- https://moversguide.usps.com

5)    Provide Office of Residential Services with of proof of insurance for moving company.

6)    Empty storage unit located in basement.

7)    Empty apartment completely.  Security deposit is subject to be kept if resident leaves any items behind in the apartment.

8)    Leave apartment in broom swept condition (appliances wiped down, bathroom cleaned, floor swept clean, etc.)

9)    Take apartment keys (should be 6), front door keys (should be 6), and mailbox key(s) as applicable to the Office of Residential Services.  Failure to return all will result in lock change fees and lost key fees being deducted from the security deposit.

10) Move ins/outs may only occur between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  No move ins/out may be scheduled on holidays or outside of the hours mentioned above. 

Moving companies must supply the Office of Residential Services with proof of insurance and must name Teachers College as an "Additional Insured."  This documentation should be received by Residential Services at least one day prior to move-out and can be sent via fax to 212-678-3222 ATTN: Director of Residential Services.  The documentation should reference the faculty member moving in /out and the apartment number.

Residential Services Responsibilities

1)    Terminate billing according to the vacate date.

2)    Informs building staff of vacate date so that elevator pads can be installed for usage.

3)    Charge resident as required for any damages, items left behind, unit not being broom clean, missing keys, etc.

4)    Process refund for security deposit and associated interest – deposit takes approximately 4 weeks to get from the bank.  Once received, deposit will be posted to resident account whereby a check is requested as applicable. 

Teachers College does not provide window screens.  If interested, residents may purchase a window screen at a local hardware store.

Window cleaning, both interior and exterior, is the responsibility of the tenant in each apartment. The windows are designed to swing in for exterior cleaning. If you need assistance, the building staff can demonstrate how the windows swing open for cleaning.

The building staff is responsible for cleaning windows in public corridors and spaces.

The law requires you to have window guards on every window if you have children under the age of 10. If you have window guards that you want removed because you have no young children living in your apartment or they are not installed, click here to submit a work order via the online system.