Resources for Faculty/Staff

Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to:

Cheating - Using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, technology (including generative AI), material or study aids in exams or other academic work.

Plagiarism - Using the ideas, data or language of another without specific and proper acknowledgement. 

Fabrication - Submitting contrived or altered information in any academic exercise such as making up data, citing nonexistent articles, contriving events and sources of information.

Duplicate Submission - Submitting any work submitted to fulfill another assignment without appropriate revision to meet the instructional goals of the current course.  In cases of uncertainty or ambiguity, a student should check with the student’s instructor.

Misrepresentation of academic records or attempting to tamper with transcripts of any portion of a student’s academic record;

Facilitating academic dishonesty by knowingly helping another student to engage in academic misconduct;

Unfair advantage through attempting to gain unauthorized access to examination or other course-related materials or obstructing another student’s efforts.

Violations of general misconduct include but are not limited to:

Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, TC procedures and activities, or other authorized activities;

Physical abuse, verbal/written abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion or other conduct that may endanger the health and/or safety of others.  This includes threats of violence against another person and physical or verbal intimidation that unreasonably impairs the security or privacy of another person;

Discrimination and harassment. Prohibited discrimination is adverse treatment of any student on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, gender expression or any other criterion specified by federal, state, or local laws. Prohibited discrimination is subjecting an individual to humiliating, abusive, or threatening conduct, whether verbal or physical, that creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive work, educational or living environment; alters the conditions of employment, education, or residential life; or unreasonably interferes with an individual's work or educational performance or living environment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, gender expression or any other criterion specified by federal, state or local laws.

Please see the TC Policy on Protection from Harassment;

Unauthorized entry or use of TC facilities or unauthorized possession or use of TC property assigned to others;

Disorderly conduct or highly offensive conduct or expression;

Forgery, alteration or misuse of TC documents, records or identification, furnishing false information to TC or Columbia University or use of any false identification or identification belonging to another person;

Identity theft: possessing or using another person’s name, address, Social Security Number (SSN), bank or credit card account number, or other identifying information without that person’s knowledge and/or with the intent to commit fraud or other crimes;

Theft or other abuse of computer facilities and resources including but not limited to:  any violation of TC or Columbia University Computer Use Policy, using computing facilities and resources to send offensive or abusive messages or other unauthorized use of computing facilities and resources;

Violations of copyright law by unlawful copying, distributing, sharing or storing copyright-protected information or material, including but not limited to music, film and internet video;

The unlawful manufacture, possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs, unlawful drug paraphernalia, and alcohol.  

Please see the TC Drug-Free Campus Policy;

Failure to comply with authorized directions of or furnishing false information to TC or Columbia University officials or representatives of the SCC acting in performance of their duties;

Failure to engage in responsible social conduct and to model good civil conduct and citizenship;

Violations of any other TC or Columbia University policy, rule or regulation, or of federal, state, or local law that reflect upon or are related to the Student’s activities or status as a TC student.

All academic integrity and general misconduct concerns, resulting in possible violations of the Student Conduct Code and other policy violations, must be reported, even if they result in an informal process.

When an issue arises involving the academic or general misconduct of a student, the Code provides formal avenues by which the complaint may be resolved:

If attempts at personal resolution, facilitated conversation or mediation fail or are inapplicable due to the nature of the alleged violation, and if any party involved wishes to file a formal complaint, that complainant shall notify the Student Conduct Officer through the appropriate reporting form. 

The Student Conduct Officer will then convene a Hearing Panel from the members of the SCC. The Student Conduct Officer will provide notice of the hearing and a statement of the allegations to the complainant and the respondent within 10 calendar days of receipt in writing of the complaint by the Student Conduct Officer. A primary hearing date will be scheduled along with a follow-up date, about seven (7) days later. This follow-up date is to be used, should it be necessary, for the Hearing Panel to review additional evidence or witnesses if additional evidence or witnesses are requested by the Hearing Panel.

The statement of the allegations will identify the reasons for calling the hearing with sufficient particularity and rationale to ensure the parties have an opportunity to prepare for the hearing.  The statement of the allegations also will contain the names of the proposed hearing panelists.  Either party should notify the Student Conduct Officer of any hearing panelist that is known to them and/or who could present a conflict in the case. The Student Conduct Officer will review the potential conflict and decide whether or not the hearing panelist should be replaced. No member of the Hearing Panel, who is otherwise interested in the particular case, shall sit on the Hearing Panel for that case.

A hearing may be expedited in appropriate circumstances, including disciplinary matters involving students who have been placed on mandatory temporary suspension or conditional attendance, graduating students, or students who are about to take a leave of absence or to leave campus to study elsewhere.

The SCC Hearing Panel will be composed of one (1) student, one (1) professional staff member, and one (1) faculty member, one of whom will serve as Chair. The Chair, in consultation with the Student Conduct Officer, is responsible for ensuring that the hearing process occurs in a timely fashion.

All members of the TC community are required to cooperate with these formal procedures. Individuals who are interviewed, or called as witnesses (including complainants and respondents), are obligated to provide honest and complete statements during the process.

Disciplinary hearings are not trials or legal in nature, and they are not governed by rules of legal procedure, evidence, or judicial formality. They are designed to encourage open discussion among the participants to promote the Hearing Panel’s understanding of the facts, the individuals involved, and the circumstances under which the alleged incident occurred, the nature of the conduct, and the attitudes and experiences of those involved. Information, including hearsay evidence, may be considered if it is relevant, not unduly repetitious, and the sort of information on which responsible persons are accustomed to relying upon in the conduct of serious affairs.

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The above procedures and standards apply to all hearings:

• The complainant and respondent in the process may be accompanied by advisors as described in the section on advisors above.
• At least three (3) business days prior to the hearing, or as otherwise instructed by the Student Conduct Officer, the parties shall submit to the Student Conduct Officer all documents to be submitted as evidence and the names and anticipated areas of testimony of any witnesses.
• Witnesses and Additional Documentation: The Hearing Panel has the discretion to determine which witnesses, if any, they wish to interview during the hearing and may request additional documentation or witnesses when the Hearing Panel determines it is necessary for their decision.
• Both the complainant and the respondent may make opening and closing remarks of not more than five minutes each.
• The Hearing Panel’s findings are based on the statements of the complainant, respondent, and/or witnesses and any evidence submitted.   
• The Hearing Panel will determine a violation of the Code by a preponderance of the evidence.
• All documents presented to the SCC Hearing Panel shall become the official property of TC. 
• If either the complainant or the respondent fails to appear at the hearing, proceedings will continue.  Evidence may be presented and considered even if a party is absent
• After the hearing concludes the SCC Hearing Panel shall deliberate in private.
• All findings of the Hearing Panel require a majority vote.  At the conclusion of the deliberations, the SCC Hearing Panel shall deliver a brief written statement of their findings and any recommended sanctions to the Student Conduct Officer. 
• The AVP/ Chief Student Affairs Officer shall communicate to the respondent the Hearing Panel’s findings, their decision,  and any sanctions imposed. The Student Conduct Officer shall also inform the complainant of the decision. These communications shall be in writing.

When an issue arises involving the academic or general misconduct of a student, the Code provides informal avenues by which the complaint may be resolved:

Personal Resolution: 

Academic Integrity: A faculty member or other instructor who believes that a student has engaged in academic misconduct will apprise the student of the suspected academic misconduct and refer the student to the Student Conduct Code and the Student Conduct Officer. The instructor shall also provide the student with the opportunity to meet with the instructor to discuss the nature and validity of the allegations and the possible institutional responses. After a discussion with the student, the instructor will decide whether the alleged violation was intentional or unintentional. The instructor will then propose a resolution to the student and discuss possible sanctions with the Student Conduct Officer, as appropriate. If a resolution is agreed to that involves the imposition of sanctions, these will be issued by the Student Conduct Officer.

General Misconduct: A complainant may wish to communicate directly with the person against whom the complaint is being made in order to address the issues involved.  However, a complainant may bypass personal resolution if the complainant would feel uncomfortable or unsafe doing so.  In particular, individuals who believe that they were threatened or who was injured by a student are encouraged to speak with the Student Conduct Officer or visit the TC Ombuds to seek assistance before pursuing personal resolution.  Such an individual may wish to pursue other options such as a facilitated conversation, 

Facilitated Conversation:

TC encourages a facilitated conversation, whenever practical and appropriate. A facilitated conversation may take place only if the complainant and respondent both agree to participate. A matter is resolved through a facilitated conversation only if all parties agree on the resolution.

Academic Integrity: If, after following the procedure for personal resolution above, a resolution is not reached, the instructor and student may approach the Program Director (or Department Chair if the instructor is the Program Director) following their discussion and decide to move forward with a facilitated conversation.  The Program Director, or Department Chair, may then facilitate a conversation between the instructor and the student to discuss the allegations and a possible resolution of the matter.  If as part of the facilitated conversation, a resolution is agreed to that involves the imposition of sanctions, these will be issued by the Program Director, or Department Chair, and should be communicated in writing to the student.

General Misconduct: In situations involving alleged general misconduct, any involved party may contact the Student Conduct Officer with a request for a facilitated conversation.  The Student Conduct Officer may then facilitate a conversation between the parties to discuss the allegations and a possible resolution of the matter.  If as part of the facilitated conversation, a resolution is agreed to that involves the imposition of sanctions, these will be issued by the AVP /Chief Student Affairs Officer.

Ombuds Office Mediation: The parties may ask the TC Ombuds to mediate a dispute.  The mediation must be agreed to by both parties.  The TC Ombuds is independent from the College’s administration and determines the procedures under which the mediation will take place.

Disciplinary sanctions may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

• Reprimand: a verbal admonition and an official written warning, course or grade failure;
• Restitution: repair or replacement of property when loss or damage is part of the offense;
• Training: formal or informal training, coaching or instruction relevant to the violation;
• Restriction: loss of privileges that are consistent with the offense and the rehabilitation of the student, except that in cases involving assault, personal injury or other disruptive or threatening behavior, the College retains the independent right to limit campus access or to restrict a student’s activities to those that are essential to a student’s academic progress;
• Disciplinary Probation: the student is no longer in good disciplinary standing for a specified period of time;*
• Suspension: dismissal from TC and its residence halls for a specified time.  Suspension, pending a hearing, maybe imposed when there is reason to believe the action is necessary to maintain TC operations and/or to protect the safety of individuals;**
• Rescind: take back offer of admission to the College*
• Expulsion: permanent dismissal from TC and/or its residence halls; and*
• Revocation: withholding or repealing admission, course credit or a degree award*

*May result in permanent transcript notation (see policy)

**May result in temporary transcript notation (see policy)

Both parties have the right to appeal. The appeal must be submitted to the assigned Conduct Officer within seven (7) business days following written notification of the case. Grounds for appeal include (1) Substantive procedural error, (2) the adequacy or severity of the recommended sanction or, (3) additional evidence or information if  the Hearing Panel requested additional information but it is not possible to reconvene the Hearing Panel.

Appeals must be in writing, must state the ground for appeal, and must provide evidence to support the appeal. 

• The Student Conduct Officer, or their designee, acts as the appellate officer and shall be provided with all information regarding the case. After review, the designated appellate officer may (1) render a decision, or (2) remand the case back to a Hearing Panel for additional consideration. The designated appellate officer will notify both parties in writing of the appeal decision.
• If the Student Conduct Officer is the complainant, a witness, or has any other significant conflict of interest with respect to the case, the appellate officer function shall be discharged by a non-conflicted member from Student Affairs. 
• Subject to the special provision for emergency or other extraordinary situations, there shall be no change in the status of the respondent until the appeals process is complete.

In an emergency or other extraordinary situation, the Student Conduct Officer shall take such interim disciplinary action as is necessary to appropriately manage an incident pending a hearing by the SCC or a decision on appeal.