The standard of proof used to make a determination of responsibility is that of “preponderance of the evidence”. This standard allows hearing officers to find a student responsible if the information shows that it is more likely than not that a violation occurred. If the student is found responsible, the degree of seriousness of the offense and the student’s previous disciplinary record, if any, will determine the severity of the sanction to be issued.

Through the Dean’s Discipline hearing process, OJA seeks to support the faculty in ‘the intellectual venture in which we are all engaged’ by promoting the ‘highest level of personal and academic integrity’. (Faculty Statement on Academic Integrity) Academic dishonesty undermines our academic community and we have a shared responsibility to promote intellectual honesty and scholarly integrity.

It is important to report academic misconduct so that we can challenge students to reason through ethical situations they encounter as part of the learning process. Reporting academic misconduct is also important for promoting consistency, fairness and accurate record keeping, particularly when students are found to be repeat offenders.  Academic integrity is essential to the success of our mission as educators and it is our shared responsibility to address behavior that is counter to our values.

Yes. A student may postpone the hearing if there is an academic conflict (for example, a class, a midterm or a final examination).  Please contact the OJA staff for assistance.

Two hearing officers from the Dean of Student Affairs staff and the accused student will be present for the hearing.  The student's Advising Dean may also be present in cases of Academic Dishonesty to support the student.

No. Witnesses are not permitted to attend the hearing. A student may provide the hearing officers with the names and contact information of individuals who may help the hearing officers determine whether or not a violation took place. The hearing officers will determine whether or not they need to speak with said individuals. Students are permitted to present statements from witnesses during the hearing.

No, students are not required to dress up for a Dean's Discipline hearing.

Disciplinary proceedings conducted by the university are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, also called the “Buckley Amendment”). There are several important exceptions to FERPA that will allow the Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Standards to release information to third parties. For example, it is important to note that the release of student disciplinary records is permitted without prior consent to: University officials with legitimate educational interest such as a student's Advising Dean, the Office of Preprofessional Advising, faculty members in academic dishonesty cases, and Columbia Athletics for student athletes; victim/s of an alleged crime of violence or of an alleged sexual assault; and parents of a student who is financially dependent.

Please refer to Essential Policies for the Columbia Community for a complete list of exceptions under FERPA.

A file/record contains information related to the incident. Minimally, the contents will include the incident report, correspondence with/from the OJA, hearing notes, and an outcome letter. A student's file/record is maintained by the OJA.

Please refer to question #10.

A transcript notation may be placed on a student’s transcript if the student has been expelled.

The appeal is considered a review of the record and the process, not a new hearing. Therefore, the appeal officer will not conduct an in-person meeting.  Appeals should be typed and submitted electronically.  Specific instruction is provided on the outcome letter if a student is found responsible. 

There are three grounds upon which a review of a decision of responsible may be made:

1. If a student has new information, unavailable at the time the hearing
2. If a student has concerns with the process that may change or affect the outcome of the decision
3. If a student feels that the sanction issued is too severe.

The student will be contacted if further clarification is needed.  The appeal officer will contact the student in writing once a decision is made.  It is possible for the decision to sustain, overturn, or modify the original decision made by the Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Standards.  The decision of the appeal officer is final. It is important to note that a modification of the original decision may result in a sanction that is more severe.

The OJA will generally not contact parents to notify them about a disciplinary issue their student is having unless there is a specific concern about the student’s safety or the student’s disciplinary case has resulted in a sanction of probation or higher. While the OJA generally does not contact parents, students can give members of the OJA permission to speak with parents about their disciplinary issues if they choose to do so.

Yes! As a Scholar, you participate in an academic enhancement program featuring speakers, cultural events, meals with faculty and alumni, and year-long and summer internship and research assistantship programs. We are always looking for new opportunities to enrich your experience here at Columbia.

We welcome suggestions for future speakers - in fact, some of our most exciting and thought-provoking programs have come about as the result of a Scholar's request for a certain speaker (Ernest Drucker, Diane Ravitch, Philip Gourevitch, Samantha Power, and George Bizos, to name just a few).

Scholars are selected by the Office of Admissions during the application process, based on their academic and extracurricular achievements during high school. All applicants are considered for participation in the Scholars Program; there are no special application forms required.

Throughout your four years at Columbia, we expect you to take full advantage of the resources and programming our office presents. As a first-year, we expect you to attend three of the five large lecture events, as well as the Columbia Journey Seminar series (if you are a first-year Scholar). Most Scholars attend our events regularly throughout their Columbia careers for the intellectual stimulation, social engagement, relaxed atmosphere, and the unique opportunity to interface with remarkable leaders.

No. Currently, each Scholar has to submit a separate application.  However, we encourage Scholars to work collaboratively where applicable.

Yes, some internships qualify for official recognition (R-Credit) on your Columbia transcript.  Please see your CUSP Advisor for further details.

Yes.  This fellowship can be applied anywhere in the world.

No.  While we encourage Scholars to seek and develop relationships with Columbia faculty, we support research endeavors with faculty from other universities as well.  If you have chosen a research advisor who is not a professor at an accredited institution, please see a CUSP Advisor before submitting your application.

Recommenders can submit reference letters directly to the CUSP Office via regular US Mail (please DO NOT use Campus Mail), email to Sophia Sattar (ss4413@columbia.edu), or hand delivery to the CUSP Office.

Yes. For each firm you are interested in, please explain you want to work for the firm, what you intend to learn from this experience and how it aligns with your academic and career interests. This should serve as the answer to the first question on the application form.

No.  Scholars can apply annually for this fellowship until their year of graduation.

Yes.  Please be sure to include all sources of funding that you have secured for this internship.

The CUSP Fellows Selection Committee is comprised of the CUSP Administration, Graduate Student Mentors, and members of the CUSP Board of Advisors.

There is no minimum GPA requirement to qualify for financial aid.  However, the student must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress towards a Columbia degree.

The deadline to submit the renewal application for financial aid is early May.  We will contact you in early March with instructions on how to complete the renewal application process.

Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the Federal Work Study Office website.

After you find a job that interests you, you must bring an Employment Authorization Form (available from the Federal Work Study Payroll Office in 207 Philosophy Hall) directly to the employer. If you are hired for a work study position, your employer will complete the Employment Authorization Form, which then must be returned to the Federal Work Study Payroll Office.

Non-Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the

Center for Career Education

website.

Aetna Student Health manages the medical insurance waiver process for Columbia, which is separate from Health Services. An overview of the Health Insurance information may be found online at http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/overview/index.html. There is an online waiver form, which you must complete and return every year during the summer prior to the beginning of the academic year (and no later than September 30 each year). When they receive the waiver form and are able to determine that you receive adequate medical coverage, Aetna will take appropriate action, and you will not be billed for medical insurance. We encourage you to complete this process no later than July 15 so that an anticipated charge for medical insurance will not appear on your Student Account Statement for the fall term. Please note that the online waiver will not activate for the upcoming academic year until summer: http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/waiver/index.html.

Student employees generally receive biweekly paychecks for the hours they worked.  These earnings do not appear as credits on any bill received from Columbia.  Instead, a paycheck will be given to the student and the money earned may be used to purchase books and other personal items.

Wages for work study jobs range from approximately $7 to $12, depending on the job and your qualifications.  Most first-year students earn approximately $7-8 per hour and therefore work about ten to twelve hours a week to fulfill their work study allocation.

If you are participating in a study abroad program you will be charged regular tuition as if you were enrolled at Columbia.  Your financial aid budget will be adjusted to reflect your costs while abroad.  If your financial aid credits exceed the tuition charged then you will be issued a refund to help cover any costs incurred while abroad (e.g., room, board, books, personal expenses, travel).

Your financial aid budget includes the cost of a standard residence hall room and the standard meal plan, both of which all first-year students are required to purchase. After your first year, you will no longer be required to sign up for a meal plan, however, your financial aid budget will include a food allowance based on the availability of kitchen facilities in your dorm. For dorms with no kitchen, your food allowance will be equal to the cost of the standard meal plan. For dorms with kitchens, your food allowance will be lower than the cost of the standard meal plan, since you will be able to cook some of your meals for yourself. If being on a meal plan is important to you, you should select a dormitory without kitchen facilities, so that you do not spend more on room and board than your budget allows.

At Columbia we call each bill a Student Account Statement.  You will be sent the first Student Account Statement for the fall term in late July or early August, and the first statement for the spring term in early December.  The payment due date will be approximately 30 days after the first Student Account Statement for the term has been sent.

In addition, you will receive monthly Student Account Statements when there is a current activity on your account (a new charge or credit), or if a debit or credit balance remains on your account.

Student Account Statements will not be mailed home.  Instead you will be able to view your Student Account Statement via Student Services Online (SSOL).  Also, on SSOL you may authorize your parent(s) to view the E-Bill.

There is no minimum GPA requirement to qualify for financial aid.  However, the student must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress towards a Columbia degree.

It is not our policy to automatically match other offers, and we do not negotiate financial aid awards. We will not match offers from institutions that offer merit-based awards. However, if you fax us a copy of another need-based offer, we will review your application to determine if a change is appropriate. We do this because different schools may have different information at the time the application was evaluated. Or perhaps your circumstances are complex and have been interpreted differently by another school. The new documentation you provide our office may give us a better understanding of your family’s financial circumstances.

Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the Federal Work Study Office website.

After you find a job that interests you, you must bring an Employment Authorization Form (available from the Federal Work Study Payroll Office in 207 Philosophy Hall) directly to the employer. If you are hired for a work study position, your employer will complete the Employment Authorization Form, which then must be returned to the Federal Work Study Payroll Office.

Non-Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the

Center for Career Education

website.

The scholarships you receive from outside sources will be used to reduce the work study portion of your financial aid package. For example, if you are awarded a $2,000 National Merit Scholarship, your work study expectation will be reduced by the full $2,000. Only after your work study has been completely eliminated will your scholarships begin to reduce any Columbia Grant you may have received.

Student employees generally receive biweekly paychecks for the hours they worked.  These earnings do not appear as credits on any bill received from Columbia.  Instead, a paycheck will be given to the student and the money earned may be used to purchase books and other personal items.

Wages for work study jobs range from approximately $7 to $12, depending on the job and your qualifications.  Most first-year students earn approximately $7-8 per hour and therefore work about ten to twelve hours a week to fulfill their work study allocation.

Once you submit the missing documents we will attempt to notify you of your aid eligibility within a week.  If you have any questions regarding any of the missing materials please call of the Office of Financial Aid & Undergraduate Financing at 212-854-3711.

Yes, Columbia students are expected to work during the summer, incoming first-years are expected to earn $1,850 during the summer before entering Columbia.  This amount should be available to contribute toward your educational expenses during the academic year.

Yes. A family that experiences a change in circumstances may apply for financial aid at any time. For example, it is not uncommon for a family to suffer a job loss or illness or for a younger sibling to begin attending college. Please note that institutional aid will usually be awarded only in cases that involve an involuntary change in circumstances. Parents who decide to retire early or to invest in a business start-up may not be awarded institutional aid. It is a good idea to include a letter describing your family’s change in circumstances with any new financial aid application.

Please note: foreign students and transfer students who were admitted without institutional financial aid are not guaranteed institutional financial aid even if there is a change in circumstances.

Columbia College and the undergraduate division of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science provide need-based financial aid to students, awarding grants, loans and on-campus work-study jobs to applicants on the basis of their family’s financial circumstances. There is no limit on the number of students who receive need-based financial aid as each application is considered individually.  In 2007-2008 the average financial aid package was over $30,000.

The College Board will mail the IDOC cover sheets to your home address by mid-March.  If you do not receive your IDOC cover sheet by this time, you can print another one from the IDOC Web site.  You will need the student’s social security number and date of birth in order to access the IDOC cover sheet.

There are a few payment strategies that Columbia parents commonly use:

Payment Plan: Some families simply take the total billed costs minus the total amount of financial aid and pay the remaining amount through the 10-month payment plan.  If you choose this option you would make ten equal monthly payments starting July 1.  Remember that unbilled expenses are not included in this scenario.  For example a family with billed costs of $30,000 would make ten $3,000 monthly payments.  A family receiving some financial aid that has $15,000 in unbilled costs would make ten $1,500 monthly payments.

Long-Term Financing: Some families choose to borrow most or all of the cost of education, thereby spreading out the payment of educational expenses over ten years.  For example, a family may take a $30,000 Federal PLUS loan to cover the billed costs and would begin making monthly payments of approximately $372 to the lender, beginning sixty days after the second Federal PLUS loan disbursement.  The second disbursement typically occurs in February since the loan is disbursed one-half for the fall term and one-half for the spring term.

Unlike the payment plan only strategy, long-term options like the Federal PLUS loan allows families to finance unbilled costs like books, miscellaneous expenses and travel.  Therefore, a family may choose to borrow more than the billed costs, resulting in a small credit balance for the student each term.  Credit balances are made available as a refund to the student.

Please note that there is usually an origination fee associated with long-term financing options and, therefore, the net proceeds received by the school will be slightly less than the total amount borrowed.

Combination Strategy: We realize that many families do not have the cash flow or liquid assets to accommodate the payment plan strategy.  In addition, many families strive to keep borrowing to a minimum.  As a result, we often counsel families to use a combination of payment plan and borrowing that fits the family’s circumstances.  In general, it is best to pay as much as possible, interest-free, through the payment plan and borrow the rest using one of the long-term financing options.  For example, a family paying $15,000 may choose to sign up for a $10,000 payment plan and borrow the remaining $5,000 using a Federal PLUS loan.  In this case, ten monthly payments of $1,000 would be made to the Payment Plan and a monthly payment of approximately $63 would be made to the Federal PLUS lender starting sixty days after the second Federal PLUS disbursement.

For more detailed Information regarding loans available to students and parents please visit the Student Financial Services Web site.

Approximately 50% of Columbia undergraduates receive some sort of financial assistance. In addition, about 80% of first-year students applying for financial aid for the 2007-2008 year received a need-based financial aid award.

Financial aid award letters for continuing students are mailed at the end of June.

It is extremely rare for a family to ask to be released from the Early Decision commitment for financial reasons. However, on occasion possibly due to a lack of understanding of need-based aid (i.e., they were expecting merit-based aid, they did not submit complete information when using a financial aid estimator, etc) families have requested to be released from their Early Decision contract.

It is the family’s determination that they cannot afford to pay for a Columbia education that allows them to be released from the binding early decision admission offer. The family must first speak with a financial aid officer, before the release is granted. Ultimately, it is the family’s decision whether or not they feel capable of accepting the need-based Columbia financial aid award.

Those who do opt out of their Early Decision contract are released to pursue lower-cost school options, such as state schools and/or schools that award merit aid. The admission offer at Columbia is then cancelled. A candidate who declines Columbia’s Early Decision offer will not be allowed to reconsider Columbia’s financial aid estimate during the spring Regular Decision cycle and will not be able to reinstate the original offer of admission.

There are no academic, athletic or talent-based institutional scholarships at Columbia as all of our institutional financial aid is need-based. Our students are often the recipients of merit-based scholarships from outside organizations (state grants/scholarships, local/national merit-based awards, etc.); however, no merit-based aid is offered directly from Columbia University.

The scholarships you receive from outside sources will be used to reduce the work study portion of your financial aid package. For example, if you are awarded a $2,000 National Merit Scholarship, your work study expectation will be reduced by the full $2,000. Only after your work study has been completely eliminated will your scholarships begin to reduce any Columbia Grant you may have received.

Though Columbia is not need-blind in its admission of foreign students, if you are admitted then we will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need.  If you plan on applying for financial at any point during your four years of study then you must apply for financial aid at the time you apply for admission.

Approximately 50% of Columbia undergraduates receive some sort of financial assistance. In addition, about 80% of first-year students applying for financial aid for the 2007-2008 year received a need-based aid award.

No, you must be an undergraduate SEAS or CC student with guaranteed housing status.

SDA has voicemail request forms that must be submitted to Communications Services at least five working days in advance of your message distribution. The cost is $375. If you want to record your own message, please make an appointment by emailing OCS at ocs-design@columbia.edu or by contacting OCS at 212-854-2897. Remember to keep your message short and to the point.

It can take anywhere from two weeks to a month, depending on the time of year and whether the University has previously paid the vendor. Make sure to include all information including the tax ID number of the vendor and a detailed contract or invoice in order to expedite the process. You can choose to have the check mailed directly to the vendor or held in The Student Affairs Central Business Office for pick-up.

You can rent BBQ equipment from the University. Guidelines for BBQ events are available on the UEM website. Please work with your adviser so that your plans incorporate the current policies. Remember that you must submit a space request form to Lerner Hall staff to reserve outdoor space.

SDA has many resources available to your organization. You can stop by and visit your adviser to look through various catalogues and give-a-way books. Vendors that we use frequently are:
Silver Screen Design
Ultimate Impressions
Imprint Products

There are University Copy Centers in the International Affairs Building (401 IAB, 854-3797) and in the basement of the Journalism Building (106 Journalism, 854-3233). Village Copier, who is one of our vendors, is another option.

The mark of "R" or registration credit is equivalent to auditing a course.  Please note that no points/credits are earned.  The "R" credit option is available only to Columbia College seniors who submit a completed petition.

"R" credit petitions will only be authorized if:

• the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree
• the courses are not used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree, and
• the student has the permission of the course instructor.

For more information regarding the "R" Credit option, please see your Advising Dean.

Science Requirement: Columbia College students who wish to request an exception to the Science Requirement should go to the Dean's Office in 208 Hamilton Hall.

Global Core/Major Cultures: Students who wish to request an exception to the Global Core or Major Cultures Requirement should meet with Senior Assistant Dean Scott Carpenter in 606 Kent Hall.

CC Students: CC students can designate one class per term to take Pass/D/Fail (not including PE courses and other courses that only allow the Pass/Fail grading option).  You cannot take any Core classes Pass/D/Fail, nor any language courses.  Some majors allow you to elect Pass/D/Fail for the first course you take in the department, but it is your responsibility to confirm that with the department before choosing the Pass/D/Fail option. 

Beginning with courses taken in the Fall 2007 semester, students are allowed to uncover a grade of Pass within two weeks of the start of the semester immediately following that in which the grade of Pass was received. Students have until two weeks into the start of the spring semester to uncover the grade of a fall course and two weeks into the start of the fall semester to uncover the grade of a spring or summer term course. The grade of Pass will not be used in calculating grade point average; the grades of D and Fail will be so used.

SEAS Students: The Pass/Fail option is not available to SEAS students except in very rare circumstances; any class with a Pass/Fail grade will not count toward any requirements or toward the 128 credits SEAS students need to graduate.  SEAS students must consult with their adviser before opting to take a class Pass/Fail.

Deadline: The Pass/D/Fail deadline is usually the 10th week of classes.  Go in person to the Registrar (205 Kent) with a completed Registration and Add/Drop Form. 

For more detailed information, consult our Fact Sheet.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students declare their majors online during the major declaration period in their sophomore year.  Engineering students declare in October; CC students declare in March.  Look for an email from your Advising Dean with a clickable link, or visit SEAS Major Declaration/CC Major Declaration to get started.

Some College majors require departmental signatures to finalize online major declaration.  If your major is housed within one of the following departments, download the CC Major Declaration Form and bring it to 403 Lerner:

• Architecture
• Comparative Literature & Society
• Creative Writing
• Earth & Environmental Sciences
• East Asian Languages & Cultures
• Film Studies
• Italian
• Physics
• Latin American & Iberian Cultura
• Sustainable Development
• Urban Studies
• Visual Arts

You can find information about the 3-2 Program in this brochure.  Take a look and contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.

Read the CSA fact sheet regarding the SIPA 5-Year MIA/MPA Program. Contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.

Columbia College:

The minimum requirements to be permitted to study abroad are:

• GPA above 3.0
• Sufficient progress on Core requirements
• At least 4 semesters of language study (or the equivalent) in the language of the country in which you wish to study abroad
• One course about the country or region in which you wish to study abroad

CC students should meet with a study abroad adviser in the Office of Global Programs.

Columbia Engineering:

• GPA above 3.0
• Sufficient progress on First-Year Sophomore requirements

Engineering students should look through the Engineering Global Initiatives website and plan to meet with Dean Leora Brovman.

Our office serves Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science undergraduates and alumni.