Double Discovery Center
Founded in 1965 by Columbia College undergraduates (most notably, the Sachems), the mission of the Double Discovery Center (DDC) is to provide model educational programs, shared experiences and lasting ties through “double discovery” between the Columbia University community and local low-income and first generation college youth and young adults to "ensure academic skills building and focus, high school graduation, college entrance and completion, and responsible adulthood." The DDC office is located on the 3rd floor of Lerner Hall.
DDC offers a range of campus and school-based services designed to close gaps in education, information, and achievement. The organization enrolls both low-income and first-generation college students who live or attend school in Manhattan. DDC works with over 1,000 students in grades 7 through 12, in addition to young adults through age 27 who have not yet completed a college degree. Some of the programs provided include Saturday classes, tutoring, and an educational summer camp.
DDC is affiliated with a Columbia student organization, DDSO, the Double Discovery Student Organization. Together, the two organizations recruit, train, and place nearly 200 Columbia affiliate volunteers interested in education, teaching, nonprofit organizations, community development and more. DDC hires teachers and tutors through the academic year in addition to summer positions as residential TAs, teachers and non-residential TAs. As such, work and volunteer opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students include tutoring, teaching, and administrative positions.
Double Discovery is a department of Columbia College reporting to the Dean of the College.
