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Dean's Discipline Policy and Procedures
SIPA Code of Academic and Professional Conduct
As part of the preparation of students for careers in international and public affairs, the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) promotes the highest academic and professional standards. To clarify the school's expectation of professional and ethical conduct, including honesty, accuracy and integrity in academic and professional activities, the administration, faculty and students have adopted the following Code of Academic and Professional Conduct. It is the responsibility of all members of the SIPA community to encourage academic integrity and to deter, confront and report all acts of academic dishonesty. To signify their knowledge and acceptance of the SIPA Code of Professional and Academic Conduct, students will review and sign the following pledge.
"In order to promote honesty, professionalism, fairness and academic integrity within the SIPA community, I hereby pledge to abide by the standards of academic and professional conduct outlined below:”
"I will fully participate in the academic life of the school by understanding degree and course requirements, and putting forth my best efforts in completing all assignments and exams according to the guidelines and procedures established by faculty, instructors and teaching assistants.”
"I will dedicate adequate time to my studies by effectively managing conflicts between my academic responsibilities and other commitments. I will communicate responsibly with faculty, administrative staff and the Student Affairs Office about matters that affect my ability to participate as expected in my classes and other school activities.”
“I understand that the falsification of academic or admissions records can result in disciplinary actions.”
"I will recognize the diversity of SIPA and understand that professional and civil conduct is expected to guide interactions between all constituents of the school: including employees, students, faculty, administrative staff and student staff. SIPA students are ambassadors for the school and should behave accordingly in professional and academic settings.”
"I understand that the commission of criminal acts against Columbia students, the University or its employees is considered a violation of the SIPA Code of Academic and Professional Conduct.”
"I will read and abide by the Honor Code, and will undertake my academic work with honesty and integrity. I will submit original work and will properly attribute any ideas that are not my own according to established academic procedures. If I am unsure about what constitutes proper academic procedure in a particular instance, it is my responsibility to consult with a professor or appropriate staff member. I will not give or receive unauthorized aid on any assignment or exam. I will not cheat or plagiarize or condone such conduct in others in any academic or professional undertaking while enrolled at SIPA.”
"I understand that cheating comprises the giving or receiving of unauthorized and or unfair aid in academic work. This may include, but is not limited to: lying, deceiving, stealing, talking, signaling, copying from other students, and unauthorized usage of books, data (both in hardcopy and electronic formats), study aids, or other sources in a manner inconsistent with the expectations established by SIPA and my classroom instructors. I understand that cheating also includes falsifying data in support of laboratory, internship, Workshop or Capstone Project work.”
"I understand that plagiarism includes but is not limited to:
"If graded together with other students in study groups, I pledge to contribute to my fullest capacity. I will not seek unauthorized help outside my study group, unless specifically authorized by the faculty member."
- Submitting written work of any kind (e.g., reports, essays, exercises, papers) , or portions of such written work that is not my own, but rather the written work of another author;
- Failing to acknowledge, through proper footnotes and bibliographic entries, the source of ideas not my own;
- Failing to indicate through proper use of quotations and footnotes whenever my work includes paraphrases of ideas or verbatim expressions not my own;
- Submitting written work prepared for one course to meet the requirements of a second course without having received in writing prior permission from both instructors;
- Collaborating with other students or outside sources on an assignment or examination without specific permission from the faculty member to do so;
- Using another person's or institution's research or data without attribution.
"I have read the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct, and will undertake my academic work with honesty and integrity.
Dean's Discipline Procedures
Preface to Procedures
The continuous review of University policies and practices, federal laws, new and unanticipated situations and other considerations may result in changes in the policies, rules and regulations applicable to students. The Faculty of the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) therefore reserves the right to amend these policies at any time. These changes may affect such matters as tuition and all other fees, courses, degrees, programs offered (including the modification or possible elimination of programs), degree and other academic requirements, areas of concentration, academic policies, rules pertaining to student conduct and discipline and regulations applicable to students.
The authoritative version of the School of International and Public Affairs Academic and Disciplinary Policies is updated annually and published on the web. It is also available in printed form. In the event of any discrepancy, the version published on the SIPA website is the authoritative version. Students are expected to be familiar not only with SIPA policies, but also with rules and regulations of the University as well as those specific to their own degree program(s).
Procedures
Disciplinary procedures apply when students or student organizations are found to be in violation of University or SIPA policies, including the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct. In certain cases, SIPA’s disciplinary procedures are superseded by the Rules of University Conduct, which cover alcohol and drug use, sexual assault, equal opportunity and nondiscriminatory conduct, and such activities as demonstrations, rallies, picketing, and the circulation of petitions. The Rules of University Conduct can be found in the, Essential Policies for the Columbia Community 2009-2010.
All suspected violations of University or SIPA policies should be reported to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, who will receive the complaint and, if necessary, initiate proceedings as described below or refer the matter to the appropriate university office. Complaints regarding the conduct of SIPA students may be submitted by students, staff, or faculty. All members of the SIPA community are expected to report actions that are inconsistent with the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct and University policies. Reports will be assessed by the Associate Dean to insure that possible violations are reviewed in the appropriate venue and according to applicable disciplinary procedures outlined below.
Informal Resolution
In many cases charges of misconduct are resolved by the individual faculty member and the student involved. Either party may wish to involve the Associate Dean for Students at the outset of the resolution process.
Informal Procedures
Evaluation of student performance is the exclusive province of the faculty. If in the faculty member’s opinion, there is evidence the student has committed an act of academic misconduct, the faculty member is responsible for taking appropriate action. The burden of proof rests with the faculty member, who will gather the available information and supportive documents. Whenever possible the faculty member will discuss his/her allegations with the student(s) as soon as possible, giving the student(s) an opportunity to explain. Upon determination that an infraction did occur, the faculty member must report the act of dishonesty to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, who will contact the student(s) to provide information about the charges and schedule a meeting to discuss the alleged infraction. The Associate Dean will also counsel the relevant faculty member on the appropriate sanction to be applied; prior infractions may result in harsher penalties.
The faculty member in whose course the infraction has occurred may elect to assign a lower or failing grade for an assignment, examination, or the entire course. The faculty member will notify the Associate Dean of his/her decision and may recommend that additional sanctions be considered. The Associate Dean will notify the student in writing of the all sanctions imposed as a result of the infraction. All records of academic dishonesty shall be maintained for five (5) years; in cases of severe infractions the record may be maintained for a longer period or permanently.
Formal Resolution
Incidents of Academic and/or Non Academic (behavioral) misconduct involving SIPA students in which the alleged violation, due to its severity, cannot be resolved informally result in formal disciplinary proceedings under the direction of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Such misconduct includes, but is not limited to, egregious acts of cheating or plagiarism or behavioral misconduct such as theft, acts of violence, and offensive or disruptive behavior that interferes with the normal academic and community activity.
Investigation Phase
When a SIPA student is charged with a violation of University or SIPA policy, including the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct, the Associate Dean makes a preliminary inquiry into the case and determines whether there is sufficient cause to bring a formal complaint. If there is sufficient cause for a formal complaint, the student is notified in writing and provided with a copy of the disciplinary procedures.
Disposition of the Complaint
If the Associate Dean determines that a formal complaint is warranted, the Associate Dean: (1) may issue a letter of warning, which becomes a part of the student’s file until graduation; or (2) may convene a Discipline Hearing Panel, notifying the student of this in writing. Upon receipt of a letter of warning, the student may request that the Associate Dean convene a Discipline Hearing Panel.
Discipline Hearing
All complaints not disposed of informally or by uncontested letter of warning from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, or referred to another university office, must be reviewed by a Discipline Hearing Panel. A panel is assembled for each case, comprised of two students, an Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and two faculty members, all of whom are selected by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. All members chosen for the panel are expected to recuse themselves if they have a relationship with the accused student that may affect their ability to hear the case objectively.
The Discipline Hearing Panel informs the student of the charges made and asks him/her to respond in writing. The panel members are charged with fact-finding and designate one panel member to carefully document all testimony and proceedings. The student has the opportunity to present information on his/her behalf, which may include testimony by witnesses, written information or other evidence, but may not have an attorney or other advisor present at the hearing. Witnesses giving testimony must have direct knowledge of the situation being investigated; character witnesses are not allowed in disciplinary hearings. The student is not present to hear witnesses and there is no cross-examination or adversarial aspect to the hearing process. The Associate Dean is present at the hearing to present the facts of the case and is also available to the student to answer questions and provide information about the hearing process. The Associate Dean is not a voting member of the hearing panel.
After hearing all the evidence, and reviewing the facts, the Hearing Panel reaches a decision about whether a violation has occurred and, if so, imposes appropriate disciplinary measures. Sanctions may include a warning or censure to be placed in the student's file, notation on the student's transcript, loss of certain rights and privileges, reduced or failing grade, probation, suspension or expulsion from the school. The Hearing Panel's decision is determined by a majority vote.
The Hearing Panel notifies the student of its findings via email and letter within 24 hours of its decision. At the same time, a copy of the findings and a written report of the proceedings, including relevant documents and evidence are forwarded to the Dean of SIPA.
Appeal Process
In the event that the Associate Dean for Student Affairs or a Discipline Hearing Panel finds a student to have committed a violation of University or SIPA policy, the student may appeal the decision and disciplinary sanction to the Dean of SIPA. Appeals must be made in writing within five working days of the student's receipt of the decision of the Discipline Hearing Panel, and must clearly state the grounds for the appeal.
In reviewing the appeal, the Dean relies on the written record and does not conduct further factual investigation, except in instances where the Dean determines that further information is needed. The purpose of the appeal process is to determine if the decision made and the discipline sanctions imposed are reasonable. The Dean notifies the student of the decision in writing. There is no further appeal within the University.
Records
The detailed record of each disciplinary case and the proceedings of the Hearing Panel will be retained by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for access by future hearing panels. The Student Affairs Office will retain all records related to complaints brought, and both confirmed and unconfirmed violations, in a secure file. All records will be kept secure and confidential, and names will be kept confidential, regardless of the finding. The Dean may release general information about cases and proceedings as long as this information does not violate the right to privacy of the individuals involved. All disciplinary cases are retained on file for five (5) years.