The Gateway Residential Initiative

Congratulation, Class of 2013! We are delighted to welcome you to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) and the Office of Residential Programs. We want you to consider applying to the Gateway Residential Initiative (GRI) housed within Living - Learning Center. Begun in 2006, the GRI was designed to help you get the most out of your first year at SEAS by providing you an opportunity to develop a greater connection between your classroom and residential experience.

The GRI:

• Fosters and integrates co-curricular activities and academic interests
• Introduces you to the principles of engineering and tools for academic success
• Helps you develop strong connections with SEAS faculty and alumni
• Inculcates habits of professionalism in the field and interdisciplinary teamwork
• Engages you in meaningful dialogue with your peers, teachers and former Gateway students
• Involves you in the construction of important questions of our time and how to use technology to solve them

Lan Wu, SEAS ‘10, a GRI participant, “feels the program forms a tight peer group that makes it easy to get work done.” Grygorii Yefremov, SEAS ‘10, another GRI resident says, says, “We are doing the same project under the framework of Gateway course, and it is extremely efficient to live together as we can discuss some of the details and nuances of the project at literally any time. Furthermore, living together we developed personal relationships, which helped us to engage into the project almost right away and spend less time on ice-breaking.”

If you are interested in the GRI, or you have any questions, please send an e-mail to Scott Helfrich at sh2409@columbia.edu. Please include your full name and contact information in the e-mail.

Best regards,

Jack McGourty
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science