Columbia University's Degree Revocation Policy: A Comprehensive Overview

Columbia University, like many institutions of higher education, has policies and procedures in place to address academic misconduct and ensure the integrity of its degrees. One of the most serious sanctions the University can impose is the revocation of a degree. This article delves into Columbia University's degree revocation policy, exploring the grounds for revocation, the process involved, and related aspects of academic integrity and disciplinary procedures.

Academic Integrity at Columbia Business School

At Columbia Business School (CBS), faculty members play a crucial role in upholding academic integrity. Their primary responsibility is to report any suspected academic misconduct to Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS). Academic violations can include a range of offenses, such as plagiarism and cheating.

When reporting possible academic misconduct, faculty members should include the following information:

A copy of the course syllabus
A detailed description of the allegation, along with any supporting materials like student submissions or exam/assignment materials
Any expectations communicated to students regarding the specific assignment or exam
Any expectations communicated to students regarding academic integrity in the course

SCCS then reviews the report to determine the appropriate course of action, which may include initiating a formal disciplinary process or referring the matter elsewhere.

Sanctions for Academic Misconduct

Columbia University employs a range of sanctions for academic misconduct, depending on the severity of the offense and the student's behavior during the investigation. These sanctions can include:

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Disciplinary Warning: The student remains in good disciplinary standing but receives education regarding community standards.
Conditional Disciplinary Probation: The student remains in good disciplinary standing, provided no further violations occur.
Disciplinary Probation: The student is no longer in good disciplinary standing for a specified period but is permitted to continue academic progress at the University.
Disciplinary Suspension: The student is temporarily separated from the University for a specified period and is ineligible to participate in any Columbia University-affiliated activities. The student is also prohibited from enrolling at another institution to transfer credit back to Columbia.
Expulsion: The student is permanently separated from the University and not permitted to return.
Degree Revocation: A former student may have his or her degree revoked if the University finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the student engaged in research misconduct during enrollment or obtained the degree through deceit, fraud, or misrepresentation. The revocation is noted on the academic transcript, and the former student becomes ineligible to enroll in any school within Columbia University.

The following sanctions indicate that a student is not in good disciplinary standing: Disciplinary Probation, Disciplinary Suspension, Expulsion, and Degree Revocation.

Degree Revocation: Grounds and Process

Columbia College's award of degrees and academic credit certifies student achievement. The College may revoke degrees for fraud, misrepresentation, or other violations of student conduct standards in obtaining the degree, or for other serious violations committed by a student before graduation.

A recommendation for degree revocation can be made by the Office of Student Conduct, the Office of Internal Review, a Dean, or a designee of the aforementioned personnel to the Provost. If the recommendation results from a conduct investigation, the student is notified at the conclusion of the process.

The Office of the Provost then contacts the student, offering an opportunity to be heard. If the student does not respond within 30 business days, a decision is made without their input. The Provost informs the student of the outcome in writing.

If the student is unsatisfied with the decision, they have 30 days to submit a formal written appeal to the Office of the President. The President's decision is final and cannot be appealed.

If a decision to revoke a degree is finalized, the Registrar is notified and sends letters to venues that received the original transcripts, indicating the degree revocation.

Grading Policies and Academic Integrity

Grading is ultimately determined by faculty. While SCCS does not advise on grades, Columbia Business School takes academic integrity very seriously. Faculty are encouraged to consider giving an F (or zero credit) on the assignment in question, if not an F for the entire course. Cheating on a final exam generally results in serious sanctions, including suspension, and faculty should consider giving an F grade in the course if the breach of integrity occurs on a final exam or similar assignment. Grading penalties should be the same for students who share submissions/solutions as for those who receive them. Faculty are encouraged to include their policy regarding breaches of academic integrity and grades on their syllabus.

Student Rights and Due Process

Columbia provides all students with the right to due process any time they're accused of a policy violation. Under Columbia's policies, students are entitled to due process, whether they're charged with violating the Rules or the Student Code of Conduct. They have important rights, such as the right to a presumption of innocence (“not responsible”). Anyone may accuse a student of committing an offense. If a student has been charged with violating school policy, they should receive official notice of those charges. The university must conduct some type of investigation. A student can only be found responsible for an offense if a “preponderance of evidence” establishes their responsibility. Ultimately, investigators turn their findings over to either a Dean or the University Judicial Board for a full hearing. At the hearing, the student should be allowed to make arguments and present evidence, including witness testimony. The student is “presumed innocent,” meaning the burden of proof rests with the university. Decision-makers in the case then apply the preponderance of the evidence standard to determine the student's level of responsibility. Under due process, the student also has the right to appeal the hearing outcome.

The University Judicial Board (UJB)

The UJB considers cases brought under the Rules of University Conduct. After cases are transferred from Dean’s Discipline to the Rules process, they are submitted to the UJB. Hearings are conducted by the UJB and overseen by the Rules Clerk, consistent with the Rules set forth in the University Statutes and the accompanying Guidelines issued by the Senate Rules Committee. Respondents have multiple safeguards in the process, including the opportunity to defend themselves in the hearings and the option to have two advisors, which could include legal counsel. The respondent is given the opportunity to make an opening and closing statement after the opening and closing statements of the Rules Administrator. Only members of the UJB panel are allowed to ask questions of the respondent, and the respondent is allowed to take breaks during the hearing to confer with advisors. There is an appeal process set forth in the Rules. The respondents or the Rules Administrator may appeal determinations of responsibility, and respondents may appeal sanctions.

The UJB is made up of faculty, students, and staff only. Members of the UJB are selected by the Senate Executive Committee. Each matter has a specific UJB panel comprised of five members of the University community. UJB members complete conflict of interest forms reviewed by the respondent and the Rules Administrator, and both can raise a potential conflict. The Senate Executive Committee reviews any potential conflicts raised with respect to members of the UJB.

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Rules of University Conduct: Affirmative Statement

The Rules of University Conduct are intended to ensure that all members of the community may engage in free expression and open debate. The University has a special role in fostering free inquiry, providing a place for ideas to be tested, values to be questioned, and minds to be changed with as few constraints as possible. The University cannot and will not rule any subject or form of expression out of order on the ground that it is objectionable, offensive, immoral, or untrue.

The University recognizes only two kinds of limitations on the right of freedom of expression, both narrowly construed. First, the University reasonably regulates the time, place, and manner of certain forms of public expression. These regulations do not turn on the content of any message but protect the rights of free speech, free press, and academic freedom. Second, the University may restrict expression that constitutes a genuine threat of harassment, that unjustifiably invades an individual’s privacy, or that falsely defames a specific individual.

Definitions

Several terms are defined within the Rules of University Conduct, including:

University: Columbia University in the City of New York.
University facility: The place where a University function occurs.
University function: Any charter or statutory operation or activity of the University, including instruction, research, study, administration, habitation, social life, space allocation and control, food supply, and other functions directly related thereto.
Deans: Persons appointed by the President, and approved by the Trustees, either as dean, acting dean, or director of one of the divisions or schools of the Columbia Corporation, or such staff persons as they may assign to administer disciplinary affairs.
Delegates: Delegates are appointed by the President and/or the Rules Administrator. In addition, all Deans and Deans of Students are automatically considered Delegates under these rules. Delegates have authority for the enforcement of these Rules. They shall warn individuals and groups whose actions may violate these Rules and may declare their belief that the demonstration does not conform to the Rules of Conduct. They shall, when facts known to them or brought to their attention warrant, file a complaint with the Rules Administrator against alleged violators.
Day: A calendar day, regardless of whether the University is in academic session, except for purposes of the procedures set forth in Section 448 and 450.
Students: Any persons registered in any division of the University, whether for courses or research, and whether or not they are candidates for a degree or certificate.
Faculty: Officers of instruction appointed to any division, school, or other department of the University, including officers on leave.
Staff: Members of the administration, administrative staff, research staff, library staff, or supporting staff, and includes all non-instructional officers.
Violation: The commission of an act proscribed by these Rules.
Rules Clerk: The Rules Clerk appointed under Section 445a.
University Official: A University administrator, including from the Department of Public Safety, or their designee.

Jurisdiction

The Rules of University Conduct apply to all members of the University community: administrators, administrative staff, research staff, library staff, supporting staff, faculty, and students. Visitors, licensees, and invitees on a University facility may also be subject to the Rules of University Conduct. The Rules apply to any demonstration that takes place on or at a University facility or at any University-sponsored activity.

Violations

A person is in violation of these Rules when such person individually or with a group, incident to a demonstration, including a rally or picketing: engages in conduct that places another in danger of bodily harm; causes or clearly attempts to cause physical injury to another person; uses words that threaten bodily harm in a situation where there is clear and present danger of such bodily harm; uses words in a situation of clear and present danger that actually incite others to behavior that would violate Sections 443a (2) or (6); causes minor property damage or loss, or endangers property on a University facility; misappropriates, damages, or destroys books or scholarly material or any other property belonging to the University, or to another party, when that property is in or on a University facility, and by such action causes or threatens substantial educational, administrative, or financial loss; interferes over a short period of time with entrance to, exit from, passage within, or use of, a University facility but does not substantially disrupt any University function; continues for more than a very short period of time to physically prevent, or clearly attempt to prevent, passage within, or unimpeded use of, a University facility, and thereby interferes with the normal conduct of a University function; enters or remains in a University facility without authorization at a time after the facility has been declared closed by the University; enters a private office without authorization; holds or occupies a private office for his own purposes; causes a noise that substantially hinders others in their normal academic activities; briefly interrupts a University function; disrupts a University function or renders its continuation impossible; illicitly uses, or attempts to use, or makes threats with a firearm, explosive, dangerous or noxious chemical, or other dangerous instrument or weapon; fails to self-identify when requested to do so by a properly identified Delegate or other University Official; prevents a properly identified Delegate or other University Official from the discharge of their official responsibilities under these Rules, except through a mere refusal to self-identify; fails to obey the reasonable orders of a properly identified Delegate or other University Official regulating the time, place, and manner of demonstrators or others within the vicinity of a demonstration to assure compliance with University policies and notification requirements, including unimpeded access to or use of a facility or to avoid physical conflict between demonstrators and others; fails to disperse from an assembly upon order of a properly identified Delegate or other University Official when such order results from repeated or continuing violations of these Rules by members of the assembly and the Delegate or other University Official has by verbal directions made reasonable effort to secure compliance before ordering dispersal.

Hearing Process

Once you arrive, you will meet everyone participating (hearing officers, advisor [if applicable], campus partner [if applicable]). You’ll be given a chance to introduce yourself and, often, your hearing officer will ask you to share information about yourself that you're comfortable with in order to get to know you better. After learning about how the hearing will proceed, you will be asked to provide your perspective. After sharing your perspective, you will have the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with your hearing officers. Each hearing officer is a neutral fact finder/investigator. This means all materials submitted and discussed are reviewed through an unbiased lens. The University also has Student Conduct Navigators. These are fellow students who help support their peers through the conduct process. Navigators are not involved in the hearing process and do not have access to files related to the case. They only serve as peer student support regarding procedures. Hearing officers have 10 business days to review all the information and determine if you are responsible for policy violation(s). Along with that determination, if you are found responsible, the hearing officer will determine the most appropriate outcome based on all the information available to them. The hearing officers come to a finding of responsibility by using the standard of proof named the “preponderance of the evidence” standard. The faculty member is informed if you were found either responsible or not responsible for the violation.

Appeals

All students have the right to appeal a decision that finds them responsible for a potential violation. Every student is able to appeal, but it is important to note that a disagreement with the finding or sanction(s) is not a ground for appeal. There are three grounds for appeal: Procedural error, New information, and Sanction is too severe. Appeal decisions are final and binding.

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