Student ADDH Glossary
Glossary of Certain Terms and Policy-Related Concepts
The following terms and concepts apply to the interpretation and application of the Anti-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy and Procedures for Students.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Administrative Resolution: An Administrative Resolution process that may be available when a Complainant does not wish to engage in other resolution processes and/or the Office, in its discretion and based on the available information, determines that an Administrative Resolution is necessary and/or sufficient to ensure the ability of all members of the University community to access the University’s activities and programs free from Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment.
Advisor: An individual chosen by a Party who may be, but need not be, an attorney and who may accompany that Party to any meeting or interview.
Appeal: A request that a determination of responsibility or a Sanction be reviewed.
Appellate Panel: A group of University Deans who decide an Appeal.
C
Case Manager: Personnel within the Office who support Complainants and Respondents.
Complainant: is the person (or persons) who is alleged to have been subjected to prohibited conduct under this Policy.
Confidential Resource: Employees of the University who are not obligated to report disclosures of instances or allegations of Prohibited Conduct with some exceptions. See Appendix B.
Conflict of Interest: A reason why the impartiality of any Complainant, Respondent, Witness, Investigator, Sanctioning Officer, or Appellate Panelist, or any other participant in any resolution process might reasonably be questioned.
Contractor: An individual who, while not an Employee, is directly or indirectly retained by the University to provide goods or services.
Cross-Complaint: A case in which a Complainant and a Respondent each makes allegations of Prohibited Conduct by the other presents a Cross-Complaint. In such cases, the Parties will be referred to as “Party A” and “Party B” instead of as Complainant and Respondent. Each Party will have all the same rights and be subject to the same procedures that apply to Complainants and Respondents. Allegations in Cross-Complaints will be resolved simultaneously, other than in exceptional circumstances or at the discretion of the Investigative Team when that approach will create an undue delay. Cross-complaints involving a Columbia University Student and a Barnard Student may be investigated pursuant to a joint investigation, in the discretion of the OIE Vice Provost and the Barnard Non-Discrimination Office, during which information may be shared between the Office and Barnard’s Office of Non-Discrimination and Title IX as necessary.
D
Determination Letter: A letter sent by the Office to inform the Respondent of the Investigative Team’s determination(s) of responsibility following an Investigation and Determination.
Discrimination: Treating individuals less favorably because of their actual or perceived membership in, or association with, a Protected Class, or having a neutral policy or practice that has a disproportionate and unjustified adverse impact on actual and perceived members or associates of one Protected Class more than others. See Section III.A.1 for further details.
Discriminatory Harassment: Subjecting an individual to unwelcome conduct, whether verbal or physical, that creates or contributes to a hostile working, learning, or campus living environment; that alters the conditions of employment or education; or that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work, academic performance, or ability to participate in or benefit from some aspect of the University’s educational programs or activities on the basis of the individual’s actual or perceived membership in, or association with a Protected Class. See Section III.A.2 for further details.
Duty to Report: All Employees, except Confidential Resources, are required to report to the Office any instance or allegation of Prohibited Conduct involving any Student or Recognized Student Group that is disclosed to, observed by, or otherwise known to that Employee, whether or not the Student or Recognized Student Group is a potential Complainant or Respondent and whether or not the Student or Recognized Student Group has any formal connection to the Employee who is subject to this duty.
E
Educational Resolution: A mandatory resolution process that may be available in cases involving a Report of alleged Prohibited Conduct when the Office, in its discretion, deems appropriate based on the totality of circumstances.
Employee: Any individual employed by the University, whether full-time or part-time and in any capacity.
H
Hostile Environment: A learning, working, or living environment created by unwelcome conduct that, considering the totality of the circumstances, is subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from any of the University’s educational programs or activities.
I
Intentional Interference: Intentionally taking action to impede any process of the Office conducted pursuant to this Policy.
Interim Measure: Any action the Office may take or cause to be taken, based on the totality of the circumstances known at the time, to protect the safety of all Parties involved, to prevent the escalation of conflict, to mitigate any risk of further immediate harm in light of the severity of conduct, and to protect the integrity of the resolution process while the process remains ongoing.
Investigation: The portion of the Investigation and Determination resolution process during which the Investigative Team may interview Parties and Witnesses, gather other evidence, and prepare an Investigative Report.
Investigation and Determination: A resolution process involving an Investigation followed by a determination of responsibility.
Investigative Report: A document prepared as part of the Investigation and Determination resolution process.
Investigator or Investigative Team: One or more personnel of the Office assigned to a matter upon the Office’s receipt of a Report of alleged Prohibited Conduct. In the Office’s discretion, the Office may assign appropriate non-Office personnel as an Investigator or Investigative Team.
M
Mediation: A resolution process in which the Parties identify the implications of a Respondent’s alleged Prohibited Conduct and, with the assistance of a Mediator, identify points of agreement and appropriate remedies.
Mediator: A trained facilitator who guides the discussion between the Parties in a Mediation and assists the Parties to identify points of agreement and appropriate remedies.
N
Notice: A written communication between the Office and one or more Parties that is sent pursuant to an Investigation.
O
Office: Columbia University’s Office of Institutional Equity.
P
Party: A Complainant or Respondent. The Complainant(s) and Respondent(s) are referred to collectively as the “Parties.”
Policy: This Policy and the procedures associated with it.
Prohibited Conduct: Conduct that violates this Policy, including, but not limited to, Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment.
Protected Class: A group of people with a common characteristic who are protected from Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment on the basis of that characteristic. This Policy addresses Reports of Discrimination or Discriminatory Harassment on the basis of any of the following characteristics: age; alienage or citizenship status; arrest or conviction record; caregiver status; caste; color; credit history; creed; disability; familial status; genetic predisposition or carrier status; gender; gender expression; gender identity; lactation accommodation; marital status; national origin (including shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics, or citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity); pregnancy; race; religion; salary history; sex; sexual orientation; sexual or reproductive health decisions; status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses; unemployment status; veteran or active military status; or any other protected characteristic as established by law.
R
Recognized Student Group: A group, composed mainly of, and directed by, students which has filed all required registration forms with and completed all requirements outlined by the appropriate University recognition body within the school(s) or University Senate and has been confirmed by that body as meeting all eligibility criteria for recognition. A Recognized Student Group also includes recognized student councils, boards, or equivalent.
Recognized Student Group Representative: One or more students registered at Columbia or Columbia-affiliated institutions who are selected by the recognized student group as their primary leader/contact through the recognition and/or election process. Additionally, the Student or Student(s) designated from a Recognized Student Group to interact with the Office when a complaint is made involving the Recognized Student Group.
Relevant: Helping to show that an allegation of Prohibited Conduct is more or less likely to be true.
Report: An allegation of Prohibited Conduct received by the University.
Reporter: A person who makes a Report of alleged Prohibited Conduct pursuant to this Policy.
Respondent: A Student or Recognized Student Group alleged to have engaged in Prohibited Conduct.
Restorative Justice (“RJ”): An approach to wrongdoing and interpersonal conflict that emphasizes the impact of challenging behaviors on individuals and communities.
Retaliation: Any adverse action or threatened action, taken or made, personally or through a third party, against a Complainant, a Respondent, or any other individual (such as a Witness, Reporter, or Advisor) because the individual has made a Report pursuant to this Policy, engaged with the Office, and/or participated in a resolution process pursuant to this Policy.
S
Sanction: A consequence imposed upon a Respondent who has been determined to be responsible for Prohibited Conduct.
Student: A person who has gained admission to the University, including a person who is not officially enrolled for a particular semester. Students include, but are not limited to, persons registered in any program or division of the University, whether for courses or research, and regardless of whether they are candidates for a degree or certificate. They also include persons who are on leave or suspended or continuing matriculants for any degree or certificate, as well as persons registered during any preceding terms and who have not since that time earned the degree or certificate or withdrawn from the University.
Supportive Measure: An accommodation the University may provide to any Party during or following the resolution process.
U
University: Columbia University only, not including Barnard College or Teachers College.
University Affiliate: A current University Student, Employee, Contractor, or Recognized Student Group, including Students and Employees on a leave of absence, and regardless of a Student’s current registration status.
W
Witness: An individual who may have observed or otherwise have relevant information concerning alleged Prohibited Conduct.