Mailman Student Handbook 09-10

C. Full Honor Board Hearing

C. Full Honor Board Hearing: The full Honor Board hearing begins with one of the co-chairpersons presenting the available facts of the case to the other members of the Honor Board. The Board will then hear testimony first from the witness; then from the student charged, who may or may not be accompanied by a chosen advisor (see section D below). Each will testify separately with only Honor Board members present. After hearing all of the testimony, the Board may recall those testifying (either separately or collectively) or other relevant witnesses for further questions or clarifications.

Following the hearing, the Honor Board members will decide on a finding. Possible findings include:

  • The student charged is not responsible for the alleged violation of the Honor Code;
  • The student charged is responsible for the alleged violation of the Honor Code.
  • Hearing is held open pending the acquisition of further evidence (in this case, a continuation of the procedure must be scheduled within one week);

Should the Honor Board, after hearing testimony from all concerned, determine that the alleged infraction did indeed occur and that the student charged is responsible, then the Honor Board may recommend a suitable penalty or course of action. Commonly-imposed sanctions are listed in the next section. The Director of Student Affairs must inform the student charged of the Honor Board's determination (and any possible sanctions) in person and in writing within five (5) business days of the full hearing. If the full Honor Board's finding or sanction is unacceptable to the student charged, then the student charged has the right to an appeal within five (5) days of receipt of written notification of the Honor Board decision. See "Appeal Proceedings" in a subsequent section.

Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. Student Handbook 2008|10

2007 by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York