The University's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) has overall
responsibility for the University's Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and has been designated to coordinate 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, request mediation or counseling, or seek information about filing a complaint. Complaints by students against students are governed by the Equal Educational Opportunity and Student Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination and Harassment, which are printed in FACETS at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets/
and at: www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa/docs/student_discrim.html.
Complaints by students against employees are governed by the Equal Employment
Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures on Discrimination,
Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Harassment, which are printed below and
available online at: www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa/docs/nondispol.html.
For further information and assistance, contact:
Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
103 Low Library, Mail Code 4333
212-854-5511
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa/

EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND STUDENT NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES
Columbia University is committed to providing a 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 who feel that they are victims of discrimination or harassment with
mechanisms for seeking redress. Columbia University does not discriminate against any person in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs or permit the harassment of any student or applicant on the basis of race, color, sex, gender (including gender identity and expression), pregnancy, religion, creed, marital status, partnership status, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military status, or any other legally protected status. Nothing in this policy shall abridge academic freedom or the University's educational mission. Prohibitions against discrimination and harassment do not extend to statements or written materials that are germane to the classroom subject matter. All members of the University community are expected to adhere to the applicable policies and to cooperate with the procedures for responding to complaints of discrimination and harassment. All are encouraged to report any conduct believed to be in violation of these policies. All students and applicants for admission are protected from coercion, intimidation, interference, or retaliation for filing a complaint or assisting in an investigation under any of the applicable policies and laws. Subjecting another to retaliatory, intimidating, or coercive conduct for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation is prohibited and may be addressed as a separate violation.

Definitions
For purposes of these policies and procedures, discrimination, discriminatory
harassment, and sexual harassment are defined as follows:
Discrimination
Discrimination is defined as: treating members of a protected class less favorably because of their membership in that class; or having a policy or practice that has a disproportionately adverse impact on protected class members.

Discriminatory Harassment
Discriminatory harassment is defined as substantially interfering with an individual's
educational experience by subjecting him or her to severe or threatening conduct or to repeated humiliating or abusive conduct, based on his or her membership in a protected class. This includes sexual harassment, which is described below in further detail.
Sexual Harassment
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: submission to such conduct is madeeither explicitly or implicitly a term or
condition of an individual's education; or submission to or rejection of such conductby an individual is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting that
individual; or such conduct has the purpose or effect ofunreasonably interfering with an individual's academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, demeaning, or offensive academic or living environment. Consensual, romantic relationships between faculty and other employees and students are generally not considered sexual harassment and are not prohibited by University policy. Individuals should be aware, however, that these relationships are susceptible to being characterized as non-consensual, and even coercive, if there is an inherent power differential between the parties, and can lead to complaints of sexual harassment. For further information, students and employees should consult the Romantic Relationship Advisory Statement, which is printed in FACETS and available online at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/eoaa/

Disability Accommodation
Students seeking an accommodation for a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services at 212-854-2388. Information on the services provided by the Office may be found online at: www.health.columbia.edu/docs/services/ods/index.html
STUDENT PROCEDURES ON DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
The University offers a number of options for those seeking the assistance or intervention
of offices and individuals authorized to respond to complaints of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment. Any person who believes that he or she has been the subject of discrimination or harassment may choose initially
to deal with the alleged offender directly through a face-to-face discussion, a personal
telephone conversation, e-mail correspondence, or letters. In some cases, this approach may effectively resolve the situation; in those cases where it fails or falls short, the individual may pursue the other options provided. Students with questions as to the appropriate procedure in a particular situation should contact the Dean of Students for
their school.

Complete information is available online at FACETS http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets/