On February 25, 2000, the University Senate adopted a Sexual Misconduct Policy and Disciplinary Procedure that can be used as an alternative to Dean's Discipline.  In 2004, the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Disciplinary Procedure was renamed the Policy on Sexual Assault (PSA) and the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault (DPSA).

The University's Policy on Sexual Assault requires that standards of sexual conduct be observed on campus, that violation of these standards are subject to discipline and that resources and structures are available to meet the physical and emotional needs of individuals who have experienced sexual assault. 

The Policy on Sexual Assault is University-wide.  The Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault  is one option provided by the University which is designed to respond to allegations of sexual assault by a student against a student.  All Columbia University undergraduate and graduate students with the exception of those attending the Law School, Union Therological Seminary and Jewsih Thelogical Seminary can use the DPSA.  Dean's Discipline will address complaints brought against students at those schools named as the exception.  If the accused is a student of Columbia College School (CC) or the School of Engineering and Sciences (SEAS), the DPSA will be the exclusive mechanism for filing a complaint.  The DPSA includes students of Teachers College and Barnard College as well as Columbia Medical Center.

The policy prohibits sexual assault by any student and provides for comprehensive education of students, faculty, and administrators about the issue of sexual assault.

Copies of the policy and procedure are available from the Administrative Manager of the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault.

Address:

Morningside Campus
701A Lerner, Mail Code 2617

2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Phone: 212-854-1717
Fax: 212-854-2728
Web site: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sexualmisconduct

The policy and procedure can also be found in the Office of the Dean of Students of every school and in FACETS, the University student handbook http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets

Definition of Sexual Assault

The University specifically defines sexual assault as:  Non-consensual, intentional physical contact, of a sexual nature such as, unwelcome phpysical contact with a person's genitals, buttocks or breats.  Sexual Assault occures when the act iscommitted either by a) physicalforce, violence, threat or intimidation; b) ignoring the objections of another person; c) causing another's intoxication or impairment through the use of drugs or alcohol; or d) taking advantage of another person's incapacitation, state of intimidation, helplessness, or other inability to consent.

Sexual assault may be committed by men against women, men against men, women against women, or women against men.  The critical factor that distinguishes acceptable sexual behavior from unacceptable behavior is the active consent of all parties involved.  When individuals willingly and knowingly engage in sexual activity with each other, it is consensual, it is the responsibility of individuals to engage in sexual activity only to which their partners consent.