Academic & Instructional Policies
Committee on Academic Appointments Manual
Columbia University Copyright Policy
Columbia
University has established a copyright policy that sets forth the
rights and responsibilities of the University, including its faculty
in regards to copyright law. This policy lists the rights and restrictions
in regards to distribution of creator-owned works, course content
and courseware, and licensing and shares of works in regards to the
University.
For further
information, the full version of the Columbia
University Copyright Policy is accessible on the web.
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Statement of Nondiscriminatory Policies
Columbia
University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the conduct
of operation of its education programs or activities (including employment
there and admission thereto). Columbia University admits students
of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, and age of all rights,
privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available
to student at the University. It does not discriminate against any
person on the basis of race, color national and ethnic origin, or
age in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,
scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered
programs.
The VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, prohibits discrimination
against any person on the basis of race, color, or national origin
in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
Consistent with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended, and regulations thereunder, the University
does not discriminate against any person on the basis of disability
in admission or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities.
On December
1, 1978, the Columbia University Senate passed a resolution announcing
its general educational policy on discrimination which reaffirms the
University's commitment to nondiscriminatory policies and practices
in the categories of race, color, sex, religion, national and ethnic
origin, age, and disability, as well as its policy not to discriminate
on the basis of sexual orientation. The Senate reaffirmed this policy
on April 27, 1990, adding the categories of marital status, alienage,
and citizenship, and condemning harassment on the basis of any of
the above-amended categories.
All employees,
students, and applicants are protected from coercion, intimidation,
interference, or retaliation for filing a complaint or assisting in
an investigation under any of the foregoing policies and laws.
Inquiries
regarding the above policies may be referred to Ms. Beth Wilson, Assistant
Provost in charge of the University's Office of Equal Opportunity
and Affirmative Action (402 Low Memorial Library, New York, NY, 10027,
(212) 854-5511).
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Statement On Academic Dishonesty
The following
behaviors constitute academic dishonesty:
-
Plagiarism: The use of someone's ideas or words as one's
own without citing the source. It is a serious breach of ethics
and carries penalties not only at this School but in the field of
copyright law. Proper reference must be made for ideas and words
derived from someone else, whether quoted, paraphrases or summarized,
and for facts that are not common knowledge.
-
Submission of the same work for more than one course without
the explicit permission of the instructors involved.
-
Falsification or misrepresentation of data or facts in any
coursework.
-
Exceeding the limits of allowable collaboration in coursework
as specified by the instructor (e.g. asking another person to
rewrite or edit one's work extensively).
-
Altering, defacing, or concealing library materials.
-
Participating in the academic dishonesty of another student
by offering any assistance or advice that encourages such behavior.
-
Falsification or misrepresentation of grades, honors, or any
aspect of one's academic achievement.
-
Cheating on examination or tests: The giving of assistance
to another or receiving of assistance during an examination or test
from another person, another examination paper, other written material,
or any source not explicitly permitted by the instructor, having
access, without the instructor's approval, to examination questions
prior to the administration of the examination.
In situations
in which academic dishonesty is suspected, faculty should contact
the Associate Dean. The Committee on Students also reviews such situations.
See Student Handbook for policy information pertaining to
students.
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Students With Disabilities
Accommodations to students with
disabilities are only to be made when the instructor has received
written information from the appropriate office. In order for the
enforcement of the ADA, all accommodations are made by the University
Disability Officer. Faculty members are not permitted to make
individual disability accommodations. Students who require accommodations
in class and/or field instruction must identify themselves by completing
a Columbia University Disability Identification Form. This form, included
with materials sent to each student upon acceptance to CUSSW, is also
available in the CUSSW Coordinator’s office (310 McVickar) and the
University Disability Services Office (Lerner Hall, 8th
Floor).
In addition to completing the Disability Identification Form, students
requesting accommodation must provide current and appropriate medical
and/or diagnostic documentation as well as a medical release form.
In cases involving students with learning disabilities, appropriate
documentation must provide a current assessment of the student’s learning
style and skills, and must include a report summary and complete test
battery scores.
The University Disability Services Office must receive all of these
materials before any accommodation request can be considered. Once
a decision has been made, Dean Yam’s office (316 McVickar, x43748)
will inform instructors of the appropriate accommodations.
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Policy Regarding Class Size and Permission to Enter
Classes
The School
of Social Work endeavors to control the enrollment size of all classes
and sections. These enrollment limits are determined by the faculty
through the Committee on Instruction and are monitored by the Office
of Student Services. In order to maintain control over enrollment
size, registration for classes is only done through the Office of
Student Services. Individual faculty do not have the authority for
registration into classes.
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Grading Policy
Students
are evaluated in courses by the usual standards of performance, such
as quality of participation in discussion, preparation of written
assignments, evidence of assimilation of reading assignments, attendance,
etc.
The numerical
equivalent of each grade is as follows:
| A= |
A-= |
B+= |
B= |
B-= |
C+= |
C= |
C- |
F= |
| 4.0 |
3.67 |
3.33 |
3.0 |
2.67 |
2.33 |
2.0 |
1.67 |
0 |
P- Pass is used only for T6001, Field Instruction, T6011, Reduced
Residency Integrating Seminar, and research projects where other letter
grades are not given. A student who is registered for credit and who
does not complete assignments will be given the grade of F. The student
may not change his or her registration to "R" at the end of the term.
Once a grade has been submitted, it may only be changed if the instructor
has made a recording error.
Students
may drop course up to and including the last day of class.
Minimal
Grade Point:
Students
are expected to maintain a B (3.0) average in their academic work.
Students who do not maintain this average are in danger of not being
able to complete their training. Students whose average falls below
3.0 will be required to see their faculty advisor and may discuss
the matter with the Dean's Office. A decision regarding the meeting
with their faculty advisor and may include a meeting with the Committee
on Students for modification or interruption of the academic program.
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Students Experiencing Academic Difficulty
If a student
in your class is performing at a C (+ or -) or F level, has plagiarized
an assignment, or is demonstrating other academic performance difficulties,
please contact the student's academic advisor to discuss the situation
as early in the semester as possible. The name of the academic advisor
can be obtained from Ms. Karma Lowe at 854-5185.
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Policy Regarding Incompletes
In professional
education, each semester's course and field work builds upon that
of the prior semester(s). Therefore, timely completion of courses
and field work is essential. An Incomplete, however, may be given
at the discretion of the instructor of a course upon formal written
request by the student. It is permitted only when the majority
of the course requirements and assignments have been successfully
completed and when the student is unable to complete assignments due
to extenuating circumstances satisfactory to the instructor. The
student's written request must identify the extenuating circumstances
and a specific plan for completion of the coursework by the maximum
extension date.
In permitting
an Incomplete, the instructor must establish a specific date for completion.
The maximum extension date is four weeks from the last day of classes
for the term in which the course is taken. The instructor may
set a date within the maximum time allowed by School policy. The instructor
must attach the student's request to the Incomplete form and forward
it to the Registrar at the semester's end. The student request will
be destroyed when a grade is assigned.
If the
student completes the requirement(s) by the extension date, the INC
will be changed to a letter grade. If not, the INC will automatically
be changed to an F by the Office of Student Information Services.
Students who do not complete the requirement(s) by the extension date
in a required practice course will be withdrawn from the subsequent
required practice course.
An INC
in field work is ordinarily given only in the first term and must
be changed to a P or F no later than the eighth week of the second
term. Students may receive an INC in the third term of field work
with the prior approval of the Committee on Students.
Each semester,
the Assistant Dean of Administration and the Student Services will
inform academic advisors of all Incompletes assigned to their advisees.
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Student Absences
If a student
has missed several classes consecutively without prior notification
to the instructor, the instructor should notify the Office of the
Associate Dean of such absences. The Associate Dean will notify the
student's academic advisor who will contact the student and assess
the situation.
Policy Regarding Teaching Absences
It is the
responsibility of the instructor to meet all scheduled classes. In
the event of unavoidable absence due to emergencies, religious holidays
or other scheduling conflicts, the instructor must reschedule missed
classes, arrange for a replacement, or provide alternative instruction.
If an instructor must cancel a class due to an emergency or illness,
he/she must contact the Faculty Support Center (854-0140), and the
Coordinator of Services to Faculty, Ms. Barbara Jarrell (854-5170),
as well as the Receptionist, Ms. Noris Schrils (854-5603). Faculty
should also send an email message to all students in their classes.
Should an instructor be absent for an extended period due to illness
or injury, the instructor should notify the Associate Dean's Office
so that a substitute instructor can be provided.
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Course Syllabus
Course Syllabus to Associate Dean's Office
All class instructors are required to submit a copy of their course
syllabus and bibliographies to the Office of the Associate Dean via
Ms. Barbara Jarrell (854-5170), Coordinator of Services to Faculty.
for each course in the respective semester they will be teaching.
Course syllabi and bibliographies are kept on file in Ms. Jarrell's
office, and have become an integral part in assisting new instructors
with planning.
Course Syllabus on the Web
In addition, beginning with the Fall 2001 semester, all instructors
have been required to submit both printed and electronic copies of their
syllabi to the Faculty Support Center. Jackie Martinez will arrange for a search in ProQuest
for articles online and create links. These and any other materials
submitted will be posted on the Web in Course Works with the assistance
of the School's Computing Department and the Columbia Center for New
Media Teaching and Learning.
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Faculty Advising
Columbia
University School of Social Work's advising system has several components.
These include the assignment of both an academic and a field advisor,
provision of information through orientation and other group meetings
throughout the academic year, the publication of the CUSSW Student
Handbook, and the biweekly distribution of the School's newsletter,
CUSSW Notes.
The primary
responsibilities of academic advisors are to advise students on course
planning in relation to students' educational needs and the School's
course requirements; to consult with students as they appraise their
capacities, interests, and experiences in light of their professional
objectives and the available opportunities; and to advise students
who experience class and field performance difficulties or other issues
related to their professional education.
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Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to respect
its members’ religious beliefs. In compliance with New York State
law, each student who is absent from school because of his/her religious
beliefs will be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes
or make up any examination, study, or work requirements that he/she
may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days.
No student will be penalized for absence due to religious beliefs
and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements
involved.
Officers of administration and instruction responsible for scheduling
of academic activities or essential services are expected to avoid
conflict with religious holidays as much as possible. If a suitable
arrangement cannot be worked out between the students and the instructor
involved, they should consult the appropriate dean or director. Any
additional appeal may be taken to the Provost.
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Code of Ethics of the National Associate of Social
Workers
CUSSW students
are expected to conduct themselves in all aspects of school activities
in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics of the National Association
of Social Workers. Students who do not conduct themselves in this
manner may be deemed to have engaged in unethical conduct and can
be reviewed by the Committee on Students.
The Code
of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers was adapted
by the 1979 Delegate Assembly of NASW, effective July 1, 1980 and
is reprinted in its entirety on the NASW web page
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