Information for Directors of Undergraduate Studies
Directors of Undergraduate Studies are both the principal liaison between their home departments/programs and the undergraduate students and the principal liaison between their home departments/programs and the undergraduate schools. DUS therefore play a crucial role to their colleagues in their experiences teaching undergraduates, and to undergraduates in their experiences studying in their departments/programs.
- Instructors of undergraduate courses may have questions or concerns about undergraduate courses or undergraduate students, and will likely turn to DUS for guidance and insight. In particular, instructors are advised to refer to you any concerns that they have, or that a student has raised with them, that have not been resolved through their own efforts at reasonable dialogue with the student.
- DUS are responsible not only for students pursuing a major or other program of study within a department/program, but also for all undergraduate students taking classes offered by the department/program. If undergraduate students have questions or concerns about a class that they are taking, they are encouraged first and foremost to engage with the instructor of the course for help in addressing those questions or concerns. If their questions or concerns persist, however, they will be advised that the Director of Undergraduate Studies may also be consulted for guidance and assistance.
Guidance from the Office of the Provost
Copied from the website of the Office of the Provost:
Columbia believes that both students and faculty have the right to express their views freely, within an atmosphere of tolerance and civility. Faculty may present students with ideas and interpretations that surprise, and even offend them. But they must do so in an environment that is open to divergent views. Faculty, of course, must not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or other inappropriate categories.
The University offers several avenues of assistance to students who feel that their professors have not lived up to these responsibilities. These range from informal counseling and mediation to formal grievance processes. It is a violation of University policy to retaliate against any student who brings a grievance procedure in good faith.
The Ombuds Office
When students encounter problems that they feel they cannot discuss with their professors, they may, instead, turn to the University Ombuds Office -- http://ombuds.columbia.edu -- for information, clarification of University policies, and confidential advice. The Ombuds Officer may refer students to other offices for further assistance or engage in informal mediation at the request of students. The Ombuds Officer does not have the authority to conduct formal investigations.
Deans and Department Chairs
Students may also approach the chair of the department in which their course is given for advice and assistance in resolving problems with individual faculty. If they are not satisfied with the assistance they receive or consider the chair to be part of the problem, they may seek assistance from the dean of the School within which they are enrolled or the dean or vice president overseeing the School within which the course is offered. The deans and vice presidents are authorized to conduct formal investigation of student complaints against their professors and, when they consider it appropriate, provide relief to the student or impose sanctions against the professor in a manner that is consistent with the University’s disciplinary policies for faculty. The form such investigations take is left to the discretion of the deans and vice presidents.
Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
When students believe that they have been the victims of discrimination or sexual harassment by faculty, they may seek assistance from the Office of the Associate Provost for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action -- http://eoaa.columbia.edu. As described in the University’s Policy Statement on Discrimination and Sexual Harassment, the Associate Provost is empowered to conduct investigations of their complaints, with certain exceptions, as well as provide confidential advice and engage in informal mediation. The Associate Provost may exercise those responsibilities herself or delegate them to a designee. If at any time a complaint is filed with a governmental agency or court, the University procedures must cease immediately.
Procedures of the Undergraduate Schools
Each of the undergraduate schools has its own procedures for addressing concerns and handling possible grievances of students. Please refer to these websites the information on these procedures that is shared with the students enrolled in the school:
Confidentiality
At every level, those involved recognize and respect a student’s need for confidentiality when addressing certain kinds of concerns.
If the student wishes complete confidentiality, any concern may be raised with the University’s Ombuds Office. An Ombuds Officer is a neutral complaint handler for the University. The office offers a range of options and communication channels. Students, however, must be aware that the Ombuds Office has no authority to adjudicate a complaint; it is there as a confidential resource to students, faculty and administrators to advise on various avenues of redress and to mediate disputes, if both parties agree.
Columbia offers a number of other confidential resources to students:
Columbia Health Services
Medical providers are considered confidential resources in the context of providing medical treatment to a patient.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Office of the University Chaplain