Student Group Accountability Review Process
The Student Group Accountability Review Board (SGARB) provides a fair, educational process to address concerns about student group conduct that may violate University or school policies. CSSI will review all complaints, in consultation with the appropriate school or central department, to determine the appropriate response. Some matters may be resolved informally through education and guidance, while others may proceed to a formal SGARB panel for review and potential sanctions.
Informal Resolution
If the complaint does not allege a violation of University or school policy, but a possible student council/board policy, the complaint will be referred to the appropriate Dean of Students (schools), Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs (IGB), or appropriate central administrative oversight (central councils/boards). In cases where the University or school policy violation is a first offense and is considered not to be a serious infraction, the school/University recognized student group advisor or Dean of Students, as applicable, may resolve the matter with an informal resolution, which may include education, training, and a letter of warning (to be filed in Maxient). Any further infraction of policy would then go through the formal SGARB review process, with the letter of warning and past infraction considered as part of the review board process. An informal resolution may not require a full fact-finding investigation as outlined in the formal SGARB review section below.
Formal SGARB Review
If the issue raised is deemed to be an alleged violation of University and/or school policy after initial review by CSSI and is not informally resolved, a CSSI staff member will be designated as a Fact Finder. The Fact Finder will investigate and determine if the violation reaches the threshold of a policy violation. If it does, charges will be determined and a notice letter will be sent to the student leader(s) (often the president/chair/equivalent position) of the relevant recognized student group to inform them of the alleged violation. The student group leader(s) will be notified in writing a minimum of twelve (12) business days prior to the scheduled SGARB panel.
The Fact Finder will explain the student group accountability process to the student group leader(s) in question, and the student leader(s) may read all statements, reports, or other information relevant to the report. The facts of the alleged violation will be discussed, and the student group leader(s) will be given ample opportunity to present their own account of the incident in question throughout the process. CSSI will create a report that provides all the information collected during the fact-finding process and compile a file for the student group to review.
The student group’s president, chair, or equivalent position is encouraged to meet with CSSI either in person or via Zoom to review the allegation(s) in the case file. The file will include the incident report (IR) and any other supporting documentation relevant to the case. This is the group’s only access to the file prior to the SGARB panel. In the interest of privacy, copies of the file will not be distributed nor circulated outside of the SGARB review process and appropriate administrative offices. The student representatives will only be able to take handwritten notes during this file review.
Choose and Report Representatives:
No more than three student group leaders (including the president) will be allowed in the SGARB panel. All must be Columbia University, Barnard College, or Teachers College students and leaders of the student group. Justification for the presence of people other than the recognized student group president, chair, or equivalent position must be provided to CSSI seven (7) business days prior to the SGARB panel. Failure to abide by this timeline may result in a denial of additional people at the SGARB panel. Extenuating circumstances must be given if the organization fails to meet the deadlines.
The recognized student group is expected to prepare an opening statement to be read at the SGARB panel which summarizes the events described in the IR after performing their own internal review of what occurred. This statement should include any plans for improvement and their ideas for how to make sure similar incidents do not occur in the future, if applicable. Groups are encouraged to provide the opening statement in writing via email to CSSI no later than five (5) business days in advance of the SGARB panel if the student group wishes for the statement to be provided to the SGARB.
The student group’s president, chair, or equivalent position is encouraged to meet with CSSI either in person or via Zoom to review the allegation(s) in the case file. The file will include the incident report (IR) and any other supporting documentation relevant to the case. This is the group’s only access to the file prior to the SGARB panel. In the interest of privacy, copies of the file will not be distributed nor circulated outside of the SGARB review process and appropriate administrative offices. The student representatives will only be able to take handwritten notes during this file review.
No more than three student group leaders (including the president) will be allowed in the SGARB panel. All must be Columbia University, Barnard College, or Teachers College students and leaders of the student group. Justification for the presence of people other than the recognized student group president, chair, or equivalent position must be provided to CSSI seven (7) business days prior to the SGARB panel. Failure to abide by this timeline may result in a denial of additional people at the SGARB panel. Extenuating circumstances must be given if the organization fails to meet the deadlines.
The recognized student group is expected to prepare an opening statement to be read at the SGARB panel which summarizes the events described in the IR after performing their own internal review of what occurred. This statement should include any plans for improvement and their ideas for how to make sure similar incidents do not occur in the future, if applicable. Groups are encouraged to provide the opening statement in writing via email to CSSI no later than five (5) business days in advance of the SGARB panel if the student group wishes for the statement to be provided to the SGARB.