The following procedures apply to students enrolled in the MD
program or in the MD/PhD program during their MD years. Students
enrolled in other Schools and programs should refer to their Office of
Student Affairs for information and direction. Students enrolled in the
biomedical PhD program through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
should follow the procedures established by that School which are
available through the Office of Graduate Student Affairs.
P&S believes that the standards of appropriate conduct in the
educational setting are generally respected and practiced throughout
the Columbia University Medical Center and the College of Physicians
and Surgeons. P&S recognizes, however, that there are occasions
when the intensity and pace of study and work, and the differing
expectations that members of it’s pluralistic, diverse community bring
to their work and study, may lead to perceived or to real incidents of
inappropriate behavior on the part of faculty towards students. When
this happens, P&S is committed to establishing the facts through a
fair process which respects the rights and confidentiality of the
involved parties. This process will be the responsibility of a faculty
Committee on Civility in the Learning Environment which will be chaired
by a faculty member appointed by the Vice-President/Dean.
Students who wish to come forward and report inappropriate behavior
on the part of a faculty or staff member may do so without fear of
retaliation or reprisal, and with the assurance that complete
confidentiality will be maintained unless the situation is such that
there is a potential of immediate harm to the student or others.
In reporting such violations there are a number of avenues that students can follow.
- Discriminatory Behavior, Sexual or Physical Harassment:
Students who experience behavior they believe to be discriminatory, or
who are the subjects of sexual or physical harassment should consult
the University guidelines and procedures established for handling these
complaints and contact the University offices designated to work with
students on these issues. These guidelines and procedures are published
annually in FACETS, the University’s Student Handbook, and can also be
found on the Provost’s website.Students who wish to report other incidents of inappropriate behavior
may do so to the Dean of Students; the Dean of Diversity and Minority
Affairs; the Director of the Center for Student Wellness; the
University Ombudsperson; a Special Advocate (see below) or to the Chair
of the Committee on Civility in the Learning Environment. - The Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Education
(OSMPE): Students who wish to file a complaint of sexual misconduct
against another student may do so by contacting OSMPE at (212) 304-7028
(Columbia University Medical Center Campus) or (212) 854-1717
(Morningside Campus). For further information on the Columbia
University Sexual Misconduct Policy, as well as how to file a
complaint, visit the website at www.columbia.edu/cu/sexualmisconduct
- Special Advocates: To provide students with the opportunity to
discuss a situation informally and in complete confidence before
initiating, or in lieu of initiating a formal inquiry, the School has
established a panel of special advocates, faculty selected for their
personal qualities of maturity, empathy, integrity and judgment whose
personal histories and experience reflect the histories and experience
of the diverse student body. Students who seek the assistance and
counsel of a special advocate are assured that all discussions will be
confidential and that no one else will be contacted without the
permission of the student unless the situation holds a potential of
immediate harm to the student or to others. It is the student who will
decide whether or not to carry the matter to the Faculty Committee on
Civility in the Learning Environment. Names of members of this panel
are available from the Office of the Dean. - Committee on Civility in the Learning Environment: The Faculty
Committee on Civility in the Learning Environment is a new standing
committee which the School has established to respond to reports of
inappropriate behaviors where the student wishes an inquiry and gives
permission for the committee to contact the member of the faculty whose
behavior is being questioned. A student can ask the Committee to
consider an incident at any time, whether or not she or he has been
working with a special advocate. The members of the Committee, all
faculty, will be appointed from the Faculty of Medicine by the Dean
with the concurrence of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council.
In order to preserve students’ confidentiality there will be no
standing student member of the Committee. However, students who bring
an incident to the attention of the Committee may have their Class
Ethics Committee representative sit as a member for the consideration
of the particular incident. In addition, students may request that a
special advocate attend the Committee during the investigation of the
incident.
The Committee will conduct its inquiry with fairness and with respect
for the confidentiality of all parties. Its findings will be presented
in the form of a written report to the student, the faculty member and
the Dean who may refer it to the Executive Committee of the Faculty
Council. Recommendations for appropriate action may be made consistent
with Columbia University Policies and Statutes.
The Committee on Civility in the Learning Environment will also
advise the Vice-President/Dean on any measures that, in their judgment,
need to be taken to reinforce the standards of conduct.