2020-2021 SEAS Student Handbook

Policy on Conduct and Discipline
Life in the Academic Community
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science within Columbia
University is a vibrant academic community. Admitted students, faculty, and
administrators come together and work through committees and other representative
bodies to pursue and to promote learning, scholarly inquiry, and free discourse. As in
any community, principles of civility and reasoned interaction must be maintained.
Thus, methods for addressing social as well as academic behaviors exist.
Standards and Discipline
As members of the Columbia University community, all students are expected to uphold
the highest standards of respect, integrity, and civility. These core values are key
components of the Columbia University experience and reflect the community's
expectations of Columbia University students. Students are therefore expected to
conduct themselves in an honest, civil, and respectful manner in all aspects of their
lives. Students who violate standards of behavior related to academic or behavioral
conduct interfere with their ability, and the ability of others, to take advantage of the
full complement of University life, and will thus be subject to Dean's Discipline.
Undergraduate Community members may find a full description of University policies on
the Student Conduct and Community Standards website.
We expect that in and out of the classroom, on and off campus, each student in the
School will act in an honest way and will respect the rights of others. Freedom of
expression is an essential part of University life, but it does not include intimidation,
threats of violence, or the inducement of others to engage in violence or in conduct
which harasses others. We state emphatically that conduct which threatens or harasses
others because of their race, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or for any other
reason is unacceptable and will be dealt with severely. If each of us at Columbia can
live up to these standards, we can be confident that all in our community will benefit
fully from the diversity to be found here. Any undergraduate student who believes he or
she has been victimized should speak with an adviser in the James H. and Christine Turk
Berick Center for Student Advising, a member of the Residential Life staff, or a member
of Student Conduct and Community Standards; graduate students should speak with
an officer in the Office of Graduate Student Affairs.
While every subtlety of proper behavior cannot be detailed here, examples of other
actions subject to discipline are:
• Access, Unauthorized
• Alcohol, Prohibited use of
• Collusion
• Columbia University Identification Card, Unauthorized use of
• Columbia Identity (or affiliated organizations), Unauthorized use of
• Disruptive Behavior
• Failure to Comply
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