Columbia University is a private university located in New York City. Columbia is an Ivy League school with a strong reputation and a very selective admission rate. When attending a university that expects high levels of performance, students can feel overwhelmed. Pressures may cause a student to make a bad choice. Cheating, plagiarism, collaboration, and other violations of the honor code are taken seriously. What should a student at Columbia do if they are caught breaking the Honor Code? Read on for the answer from a defense attorney for students.
What are considered violations of the Columbia Honor Code?
Helping another student commit of Academic Dishonesty Unauthorized Assistance Cheating Unauthorized Collaboration Dishonesty (Falsification, forgery, or misrepresentation of information) Violation of Ethics, honor codes, and professional standards Unauthorized Giving or Taking Academic Materials Obtaining Advanced Knowledge of exams or assignments Plagiarism Self-PlagiarismViolation of Test Conditions
How will a student at Columbia know they are accused of violating the Honor Code?
The student be contacted by the Dean and the student will be given written documentation of the charges against them.
What happens at a Columbia Disciplinary Hearing?
The student must be prepared to present and question witnesses, make statements regarding evidence, and answer questions asked by the panel. This is the student’s chance at making a solid defense presentation. Detailed preparation for an honor code hearing is a must.
Can you serve as my adviser at my Columbia hearing?
No. Columbia restricts advisers to just faculty or staff of the university.However, even though Columbia restricts my appearance at the hearing, I can still prepare a student for their hearing. Panel hearings can be intimidating, and students often fail to realize how prepared they must be to succeed. I prepare the student’s statements, witness questions, evidence presentation, and much more to give a student the best chance at a positive outcome.
What types of punishment can a Columbia student face if they are found guilty of an Honor Code violation?
The Hearing Officer decides the sanction for a student. At Columbia, there are a range of sanctions from a disciplinary warning up to expulsion. The sanction will depend on the severity of the accusation and the effectiveness of the student’s defense presentation.
Can I appeal a sanction from a Columbia disciplinary hearing?
Yes. After a student receives a decision from the Hearing Officer, they have 10 business days to submit a written appeal. Students should also note that like many other universities, Columbia restricts the grounds for appeal to just a few. They are:
- Procedural Errors
- New Information
- Excessive Sanction
These limited appeal categories can be a challenge for students to overcome. I help students write student disciplinary appeals. Using my skills as an appellate attorney, I have specialized skills that excel at issue spotting and crafting persuasive arguments.
Can you help me fight my academic violation at Columbia?
Yes. I assist students throughout the United States to defend academic violations. Using my nearly two decades of legal experience combined with unique knowledge of the student disciplinary process, I give Columbia students the best chance at a successful outcome.
Call now for a free consultation. 855-338-5299
Richard Asselta is an award-winning attorney who assists Columbia students facing academic violations. Call today to avoid suspension, dismissal or expulsion from Columbia University. Click here to read what clients are saying about Richard on AVVO, an attorney review website. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/studentconduct/documents/StandardsandDiscipline.pdf