CAMPUS NEWS: Administration addresses capstone article, vows to review reimbursement processes

Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (Photo/Aarushi Gupta)

By Emily Muller

The Director of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs Capstone Workshop Program, Suzanne Hollmann, has issued a response to The Morningside Post's article, "Capstone reimbursements are late, so is the rent." Hollmann addressed the open letter to the student reporters, Carly Gallo and Rudrani Ghosh, who covered the story of the school's delay in reimbursing travel expenses, which has caused financial stress for students. In her letter, Hollmann outlined the steps being taken to address the issues and ensure timely reimbursements in the future:

“I appreciate you raising your concerns on the reimbursement timeline for Capstone travel and write now to let you know that this has prompted an internal review of our process, with a view to making changes for future semesters.

Since our return to full-scale travel after the lockdown, the University has implemented a new reimbursement platform which streamlines the process. But it remains the case that reimbursements continue to take too long, especially for students with limited financial support.

Over the summer we will assess ways in which we can significantly reduce the upfront costs required of students to participate in this required component of their degree. Specifically, going forward all travel will be arranged through SIPA and no student will be required to pay out of pocket for plane tickets. This is the bulk of the reimbursed expenses and this change will therefore significantly reduce the amount of money students outlay in advance and then receive in reimbursements. We will also work with the Business Office to look for other ways to reduce upfront costs for students. The capstone workshop is a unique opportunity for students to put into practice their learning, and it should not be the cause of financial stress.

Of course, I remain concerned about the financial situation of students who undertook travel this semester and I have confirmed with SIPA’s business office that the only outstanding reimbursement payments for international travel are those awaiting additional documentation from students.

Thank you again for providing SIPA the opportunity to revisit our practice and improve our process.”

The Morningside Post is committed to covering issues that affect the SIPA community, and we are pleased to see that our reporting has prompted positive changes within the Capstone Workshop Program. We will continue to monitor the situation and report on any further developments.

Emily Muller (MIA ‘24) is the Editor in Chief of The Morningside Post.