Student Usage

Space Usage Policy for Students in the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life

Room Request Process

Most rooms in the Kraft Center are available for booking events. 

On Shabbat and Jewish holidays, bookings will be limited to Columbia/Barnard Hillel groups.

Non-Hillel recognized student groups are encouraged to use space on campus before requesting space at the Kraft Center. Such groups’ (ABC, SGA, SGB) requests will be considered only if other appropriate buildings are unavailable. These requests should be made by the group’s advisor directly to the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Program Director (see our staff page for contact information).

The building will not be used for academic classes but for extra- and co-curricular activities.

The building and terrace are non-smoking areas.

Regular Calendaring Process for Student Groups:

1. Hillel student groups wishing to use a Kraft Center room need to submit a Program Planning Form (you may download the form here).
2. During the semester, we plan to give requestors an answer within 2 business days. Email confirmations will be sent to the requestor.
3. Events will be booked on a first come, first served basis, consistent with the overall calendaring approach.
4. A confirmation guarantees that the event will be held in the Kraft Center. However, specific room assignments may be changed depending on Columbia/ Barnard Hillel needs. Every effort will be made to minimize such changes.
5. All bookable rooms are multipurpose and food can be served in any of them (provided clean up policies are upheld).
6. Events in the building must be in keeping with Columbia/Barnard Hillel's mission and philosophy.

Fees for Student Groups:

University-Recognized Student Groups and all Hillel groups will not be charged a room usage fee provided there is no cost to the Kraft Center above normal operations. (For example, if a group wants to show a movie using a TV/VCR during normal maintenance hours, they would not be charged any fee). However, if a group needs additional maintenance or security staff beyond usual coverage, they would be charged for those incurred expenses. Every effort will be made to give groups an estimated cost for budget planning purposes.

Set Up Logistics:

1. In some cases, Kraft Center maintenance staff will set up rooms in the late afternoon for evening events. However there will be occasions when this is not possible, and groups may have to set the room themselves depending on the usage.
2. Groups must submit their set up requests at least 3 working days before the event to be eligible to have the room set up for them.
3. Groups are responsible for basic clean up in the room after the event is complete. This means returning the room to its normal manner (i.e. if any furniture was moved) and bagging and tying up all garbage. The sealed garbage bags may be left in the room if that room will not be used later that night. All leftover food must be removed from the room and properly stored. Any books and materials used must also be returned to their normal storage places.
4. Any group that does not properly clean up the room will be charged a fee of at least $25.

Miscellaneous:

Any decisions called for by the above policies will be made by Columbia/ Barnard Hillel - Kraft Center staff. If these decisions prove to be extensive/ controversial, or the charges significant, appropriate student leaders will be consulted.

General Questions and Answers:

Will other student groups outside Columbia/Barnard Hillel have programs in the building?

Yes, we hope to make the Kraft Center available to the general campus community. Columbia/Barnard Hillel groups will get first priority. Events on Shabbat and Jewish holidays will be limited to those in keeping with the spirit of the day.

Will any Columbia/Barnard Hillel programs still take place on campus?

Definitely. The Kraft Center is not designed as the only address for Jewish campus programming. Decisions about location are the prerogative of each group. Some events may be too large for the Kraft Center or more appropriately situated in other campus locations.

What are the religious services locations and the location for the third meal on Shabbat?

Room assignments will be based on attendance and programmatic needs. No group is permanently assigned to any one room and may, in fact, meet in different rooms are different times. For example, weekday services and Shabbat services may not be in the same room, as attendance is usually different. The location for the third meal on Shabbat will be worked out with that committee chair, depending on size.

What is the relationship between the rooms with Arks and their also being multi-purpose?

Every room with an Ark has an additional set of wood doors on the outside of the Ark (in addition to the regular Ark doors.) This second set of doors will be closed when appropriate. The three rooms with Arks are the Rennert Hall, 5th Floor Auditorium and Kazis Bet Midrash.

Can the Beit Midrash space be reserved for programs?

The Beit Midrash on our fourth floor is designed as a drop-in study center. Accordingly, that room will be made available for student study at all times during the academic year. The only exception is for religious services. The Beit Midrash may potentially be reserved for other use during winter, spring and summer University breaks.

What are the building's hours of operation?

During the week, the Kraft Center is open from 9:00 am to midnight on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 9:00 am to 11:00 pm on Thursdays. On Saturdays 9:00 am to one hour after the end of Shabbat, unless an event is being held on the building on Saturday night; and 9:00 am to 11:00 pm on Sundays.

Will there be swipe access to the building?