• CU Equal Educational Opportunity and Student Nondiscrimination Policies
• The Romantic Relationship Advisory Statement
• Contact

CU Equal Educational Opportunity and Student Nondiscrimination Policies

Columbia University is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment and to fostering a nurturing and vibrant community founded upon the fundamental dignity and worth of all of its members. Consistent with this commitment and with applicable laws, it is the policy of the University not to tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment in any form and to provide students, employees and campus visitors who feel that they are victims of discrimination or harassment with mechanisms for seeking redress.

All members of the University community are expected to adhere to the applicable policies and to cooperate with the procedures forresponding to complaints of discrimination and harassment. All are encouraged to report any conduct believed to be in violation of these policies.

The University's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) has overall responsibility for the management of the University's Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and has been designated tocoordinate compliance activities under these policies and applicable federal,state and local laws. Students, faculty, and staff may contact the EOAA Office to inquire about their rights under the University's policies, requestmediation or counseling, or seek information about filing a complaint.

Complaints against students are governed by the Equal Educational Opportunity and Student Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination and Harassment which are available online at:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa/docs/student_discrim.html.

Complaints against employees are governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Harassment which are available online at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa/docs/nondispol.html.

The Romantic Relationship Advisory Statement

Columbia University's educational mission is promoted by the professionalism in its faculty-student and staff-student relationships. Faculty and staff are cautioned that consensual romantic relationships with student members of the University community, while not expressly prohibited, can prove problematic. While some relationships may begin and remain harmonious, they are susceptible to being characterized as non-consensualand even coercive. This sometimes occurs when such a relationship ends and is exacerbated by the inherent power differential between the parties. A faculty or staff member involved in a consensual relationship with a student isexpected to remove him/herself from academic or professional decisions concerning the student. This expectation arises because the relationship may impair, or may be perceived as impairing, a faculty or staff member's ability to make objective judgments about that student. The Provost has authorized some departments to adopt more restrictive policies, given the special nature of the relationship between their students and faculty or staff. Individuals are, therefore, encouraged to contact their department head if they have any questions about whether a more restrictive policy applies to them. Departments that wish to establish more restrictive policies should contact the Associate Provost for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action before implementation. Should a romantic relationship with a student lead to a charge of sexual harassment against a faculty or staff member, the University is obligated to investigate and resolve the charge in accordance with the Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Harassment. Questions regarding this Advisory Statement may be directed to the Office Of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 103 Low Memorial Library, MC 4333; 212-854-5511.

Contact

For more information about the Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies available here or for assistance, contact:

Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
103 Low Library, Mail Code 4333
212-854-5511
www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa