Fall 2023 course schedules and assigned classrooms are published in CourseWorks, the SIPA Bulletin. and the University Directory of Classes after July 1, 2023.
Spring 2024 course schedules and assigned classrooms are published in CourseWorks, the SIPA Bulletin. and the University Directory of Classes after August 1, 2023.
Please review your course schedule and classroom assignment and contact Andrew Johnson (andrew.johnson@columbia.edu) and Jenny Labuga-Rumenik (j.labuga@columbia.edu) with questions or change requests as soon as possible. Please include your course number and the course title in your correspondence.
Faculty planning to use the SIPA eRoom audio/visual and hyflex equipment must request training and a key from SIPA AV. Go here for SIPA Classroom Audio/Visual and Hyflex information.
All faculty members must post the complete syllabus of their course, including any course materials required for student purchase, to CourseWorks. The applicable federal law, the Higher Education Opportunity Act, requires that any course material required for student purchase (e.g., textbook, case study) be clearly listed in all course syllabi, and the information made available to students during the registration and ‘shopping period,’ before the start of the course.
Summer 2023 courses: Post by May 1
Fall 2023 courses: Post by August 1
Spring 2024 courses: post by November 1
When possible, faculty provide access to the readings by posting a link from CourseWorks to an online version of the reading (e.g., at Lexis-Nexus or other comparable sites) or by posting the reading (typically in PDF) on their CourseWorks site. New faculty who need assistance with this process should contact SIPA's Office of Academic Affairs at sipa_academicaffairs@columbia.edu.
Additionally, faculty may request the University Libraries to place readings on either electronic or hard-copy reserves via https://library.columbia.edu/services/reserves/faculty/form.html.
For scans of a small portion of a single work, instructors may decide whether or not to scan materials for upload into CourseWorks. The Libraries at Columbia provide access to scanning workstations in all locations, and there are now smartphone apps that use the phone’s camera to scan and create high-quality .pdfs. Uploading material to a course management system requires a Fair Use assessment for each scan. For more information about Copyright and Fair Use, please refer to the Columbia University Copyright Advisory Office website at https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/fair-use.html and https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/fair-use/fair-use-checklist.html.
Related information:
Sign-up for an eRoom Hyflex Classroom Training
SIPA provides Zoom Pro ("licensed") accounts to faculty upon request. Request Zoom Pro here.
Registration dates vary by program. Please consult your academic program staff.
· May 1 – Post your syllabus and course materials to CourseWorks
· June 19 – University Holiday - No Classes
· July 4 – University Holiday - No Classes
Grading deadlines vary by program. Please submit final summer 2023 grades in SSOL within two weeks of the end of your course and no later than Friday, August 25.
· August 1 – Post your syllabus and course materials to CourseWorks
· August 11 – SIPA course registration begins
· September 4 – Labor Day - University Holiday - No Classes
· September 5 – First day of classes
· September 15 – Last day to add or drop a full semester course
· November 6 and 7 – Election Holiday - University Holiday - No Classes
· November 22 - 25 – Thanksgiving Holiday - University Holiday - No Classes
· December 11 – Last day of classes
· December 12 - 14 – Reading period; no make-up classes, exams, or assignments
· December 15 - 22 - Final Exams
· January 3, 2024 - Deadline to Submit Grades for Fall 2023
· November 1 – Post your syllabus and course materials to CourseWorks
· November 28 – SIPA course registration begins
· January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observed - University Holiday - No Classes
· January 16 – First day of classes
· January 26 – Last day to add or drop a full semester course
· March 9 - 15 – Spring Break; no classes
· March 22 – Last day for students to elect Pass/Fail grading
· April 29 – Last day of classes
· April 30 - May 2 – Reading period; no make-up classes, exams, or assignments
· May 3 - 10 - Final Exams
· May 10 - Deadline to Submit Grades for Spring 2024 Graduating Students
· May 116 - Deadline to Submit Grades for Spring 2024 Non-graduating Students
With the COVID-19 national public health emergency ending on May 11, 2023, the University is adjusting its COVID-19 guidance as indicated below. Please also note the additional requirements for those in clinical and clinical research settings.
All SIPA courses have returned to in-person instruction. There is no longer any expectation from SIPA that faculty use Zoom to facilitate courses or student absences. Zoom licenses will only be available to faculty upon request. To request Zoom, please visit the Support & Services tab of the Teaching Guide.
After receiving your appointment letter, you will be contacted by SIPA Human Resources to complete hire paperwork.
The SIPA Human Resources Office will send you the required forms electronically; you will receive an email from DocuSign System (dse_na2@docusign.net). The instructions for completing this paperwork will be included in the email. However, if you have any questions or need assistance with your paperwork, don't hesitate to contact Carla Call, Assistant Director of SIPA HR, at cc3204@columbia.edu.
Employment is contingent upon receipt of proof of eligibility to work in the United States. The latter requires that you complete an I-9 Form in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act. As part of this compliance, you must complete Section 1 of the form on or before your first day of employment.
Please go to https://humanresources.columbia.edu/I9-everify, and follow the instructions provided. A helpful guide to navigating this process is available here.
Within three business days of your start date, you must go to the I-9 Processing Center located at 205 Kent Hall to complete the I-9 process and present original documents, as listed in Section 1 of the I-9 online, which identify you and indicate that you are eligible to work in the United States.
You cannot be appointed or paid until the paperwork has been completed.
If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, you must contact Rita Agyiri, Business Manager for Academic Affairs, at ra2716@columbia.edu to begin the visa application process so you are eligible to teach.
Once you have completed the required HR appointment paperwork, you will be paid on a semi-monthly payroll. Paychecks are issued semi-monthly for the period of your appointment on the approximately the 15th and last business day of the month (please consult the University’s payroll schedule for actual payment dates). You are urged to enroll in direct deposit online through MyColumbia (my.columbia.edu). For questions related to paychecks and direct deposit, please contact Carla Call, Assistant Director of SIPA HR, at cc3204@columbia.edu.
After your appointment paperwork has been completed and your appointment is active, you will have access to MyColumbia (my.columbia.edu). This site allows you to view information about your personnel and payroll information, including:
The key to accessing email and online resources at Columbia is your University Network ID (UNI). Every student, faculty member, and staff member is assigned one of these unique identifiers, consisting of your initials plus an arbitrary number. Once you receive an e-mail from the Office of Academic Affairs with your UNI, go to uni.columbia.edu to activate your UNI. We encourage all adjunct faculty members to have their email forwarded to an alternative e-mail account if they do not think they will check their email regularly, even after the semester ends. You may do this by going to uni.columbia.edu and following instructions for UNI Mail Forwarding.
As a faculty member, you must activate your Columbia UNI to access your class rosters, put your syllabus on CourseWorks, and enter the students' grades at the end of the semester.
If you have forgotten your UNI password, or if your password has expired, go to uni.columbia.edu and follow the instructions for Forgot Password, or call CUIT at 212-854-1919. You will be asked to provide the number on the back of your Columbia University ID. Your UNI and Columbia email is active during the period of your appointment and expires upon termination. For adjunct faculty, the University’s policy is to keep the UNI (and email) active for up to 10 months from the beginning of the most recent appointment.
SIPA faculty need a Columbia ID to tap/swipe into buildings on-campus. If you do not have a Columbia ID, you must first activate your UNI, then upload your photo before you pick up your card at the ID center. Please contact the ID Center for further instructions:
Morningside ID Center
1140 Amsterdam Ave - Kent Hall Room 210
New York, NY 10027
212-854-7225
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
Email: idcard@columbia.edu
Please take a moment to review the SIPA Faculty Directory. If you do not yet have a faculty bio, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/ZseWRS6TP7rJizWe6. Any requests for updates or changes to existing bios can be sent to Julie Kearney in the Office of Academic Affairs.
The Professorial Faculty of the School of International and Public Affairs have adopted the following grading guidelines to ensure consistency and provide guidance to instructors new to SIPA: Grades submitted for SIPA core courses must have an average GPA between 3.2 and 3.4, with the goal being 3.3. Courses with enrollments over 35 are also recommended to follow this rule. Workshop courses will be exceptions to this rule.
These guidelines do not need to be interpreted as a strict curve, and faculty are free to reach this goal in a variety of ways. Faculty may treat "B+" as the mode for their classes and distribute grades above and below B+ at their discretion. Another option is to use the registrar's grade point system (below) to produce a firm 3.3 average for the class.
When the faculty voted to adopt these guidelines, they intended to preserve some faculty flexibility and discretion but also wanted to create some structure and norms.
| Grade | GPA Equivalent |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.33 (Only to be awarded rarely - for extraordinary performance) |
| A (Excellent) | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B (Good) | 3.00 (A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good academic standing and to graduate) |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C (Fair) | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D (Poor) | 1.00 |
| F (Failure) | 0.00 |
| P (Pass) | N/A |
| UW (Unofficial Withdraw) | N/A |
| R (Audit; Registered, no quantitative grade) | N/A |
| CP (Credit Pending) | N/A |
Faculty members submit grades for their courses online through Student Services Online (SSOL). To use this site, you will need to log in with your UNI and password.
About two weeks before the end of the semester, the University Registrar’s Office and Andrew Johnson will email instructions on using this site and notify you of the dates during which web grading opens and closes and the deadlines for grade submission. It is essential to submit grades by the established deadline. Delays in grade submission result in delayed graduation for graduating students. To determine whether or not your grades have been submitted, check the grade roster, which will state the date, time, and UNI of the individual who submitted the grades. For assistance using Web Grading, please email registrar@columbia.edu.
Instructors are responsible for initiating the change of grade requests. Students should not be given the option to re-do work they have already completed (unless all students are afforded the same opportunity and the opportunity is publicized via CourseWorks or the course syllabus). Students should not be allowed to do extra work after the end of the semester to raise their grades. All grade changes must be approved by the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. In the School of International and Public Affairs, grade changes must be initiated by the end of the semester, after which the initial grade is issued, and the instructor must initiate through the Student Services Online (SSOL) Grade Change function.
Core, concentration, and specialization courses cannot be taken pass/fail. Students can only opt to take elective courses on a pass/fail basis. There is no limit to the number of elective courses that can be taken pass/fail.1 Please note the regulations below regarding taking a course pass/fail:
Given to a student who drops a course between the end of add/drop and the fifth week of classes. Students cannot drop/withdraw from a course after the date noted on the SIPA academic calendar.
The mark of Credit Pending (CP) may be entered at the discretion of an instructor in two instances: (1) in courses that regularly involve research or projects extending beyond the end of the term; and (2) in highly exceptional cases where a short extension (generally less than two or three weeks) has been approved for student completion of selected course requirements. Once the work has been completed, the instructor immediately changes the CP to a letter grade using the web grading system. If an instructor does not replace a CP with a letter grade within 30 days, the CP reverts to an Unofficial Withdrawal (UW). A CP may also be entered by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for exceptional administrative circumstances, such as leaves of absence and/or disciplinary matters.
Incompletes are granted or denied at the discretion of course Instructors. Incompletes can be granted in cases of incapacitating illness, serious family emergency, or in circumstances of comparable gravity. Permission can also be granted in order to allow a student to consult research materials not obtainable in the course of the semester.
If an instructor grants an incomplete for a course, the instructor and student must agree on a date on which the coursework will be completed. This date must be no later than the last day of the exam period of the following semester. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure a grade is submitted by the agreed-upon date. The instructor is not required to submit a grade for the course after the agreed-upon date. The mark of incomplete (IN) is not a final grade. Therefore, if a final grade is not submitted by this date, the mark of IN will revert to UW (Unofficial Withdrawal), and the credits in the course will be forfeited. Note that students cannot be certified for graduation with a notation of incomplete (IN) on their transcript. All grades must be final in order for a student to graduate.
SIPA policy states that if the outstanding coursework is not completed by the last day of the exam period of the following term, the grade will automatically revert to Unofficial Withdrawal (UW), defined as "student did not complete attendance and assignments, but failed to withdraw." The mark of UW is a final, permanent grade that cannot be changed. Students with two or more marks of incomplete (IN) will have a registration hold placed on their account and may not register for classes in subsequent semesters (in exceptional circumstances, a student may submit a written appeal to the Committee of Deans for approval to continue, but the Committee of Deans may decline such requests, and there is no further appeal).
Any student who believes that their situation warrants the granting of "IN" must follow this process:
1. Students will initiate the Incomplete process by speaking with the instructor and securing instructor approval.
2. The student will complete the Application for Incomplete and upload the instructor’s approval by the last day of the final exam period.
3. The student will be contacted and counseled by their SIPA Advising Dean. The Advising Dean will approve and post the grading notation of Incomplete.
4. After the Application for Incomplete is received by OSA, the student should meet with their Advising Dean or Program Director. OSA approves and posts the Incomplete grading notation after receiving the student's completed form.
5. Once an Incomplete has been entered into the student’s record, instructors can update that notation with a letter grade in SSOL once the student has completed all course requirements.
For questions on the incomplete process, instructors should contact Senior Assistant Dean Stefan Brown in the Office of Student Affairs at asb167@columbia.edu.
Granted by the instructor, not later than the day of the examination, to a student whose attendance and progress have been satisfactory and who cannot be present because of sickness or some other extreme emergency, which must be substantiated. The student must make arrangements with the instructor to remove the AB.
A temporary mark given at the end of the first term of a course in which the entire year's work must be completed before a qualitative grade is assigned. The grade given at the end of the second term is the grade for the entire course.
Students are allowed to repeat a course in which they received a failing grade (i.e., “F”). A failed course may be repeated only once. If repeated, both grades earned in the course will remain on the student’s transcript, and both grades will be factored into the student’s GPA.
Students cannot repeat a course in which they receive a passing grade.
SIPA Academic Affairs will begin exam scheduling for any particular semester during the second week of classes, including review sessions.
SIPA faculty most commonly hold their mid-term exams and quizzes in-class during their regular scheduled course time. If an instructor needs additional classroom reservations or plans to schedule an in-class midterm exam outside of their regularly scheduled course time. The instructor must alert SIPA Academic Affairs during the second week of classes of their midterm exam schedule to ensure classroom scheduling priority.
If a course has an in-class examination or final presentation during finals week, you must schedule the date with Academic Affairs before posting the information to students. Contact Andrew Johnson (andrew.johnson@columbia.edu) and Jenny Labuga-Rumenik (j.labuga@columbia.edu) to schedule your final exam.
If a research paper is assigned instead of a final exam, the instructor should set the deadline for submission during the early portion of the final exam period - not on the last day of class and definitely not during study days. If an instructor were to set the deadline for papers on the final day of classes, it could create unintended problems for students who have multiple final papers due on the last day of class. It is the discretion of the instructor to decide what deadline works best for their particular course, but instructors are encouraged to be aware of this potential problem for students.
When an instructor schedules a submission deadline, they should allow enough time for grading. It is essential that grades for all students be submitted by the grading deadline and that grades for graduating students be submitted on or before the deadline. The grading period typically ends on the last day of the exam period to ensure that students who are graduating are not delayed.
Faculty members are required to proctor their own in-class exams. If the course has a Teaching Assistant, Reader, or Student Assistant, that person may assist an instructor in proctoring exams if their class schedules permit. Still, they cannot substitute for the faculty member. Faculty members may not ask students who are not officially assigned as student officers to assist in proctoring exams or perform other administrative work associated with the course. Please note that students with disabilities may require special accommodations for exams and in-class work. Please see Teaching Students with Disabilities in this section.
The SIPA faculty offices are not able to distribute or handle final exams or assignments. The best way to return final exams to students is to return assignments digitally using CourseWorks. Alternatively, faculty can distribute papers and assignments during office hours. It is not acceptable to leave any assignments or exams in mailboxes or shared spaces.
If students do not request their exams or papers, SIPA Academic Affairs recommends that faculty members retain exams for at least 120 days, preferably for one year, in the event of a grievance related to the class.
Students are expected to attend all classes unless they have an excused absence: a severe medical issue, family emergency/death, or, depending upon faculty member’s discretion, significant career-related activity. Students should obtain a dean’s note from the Office of Student Affairs for serious medical problems or family emergencies. For career-related activities, students should request to be absent in advance, secure notes from another student, and complete an additional assignment related to the topic for the missed session.
Because MIA and MPA students are expected to complete an internship, and because some internships require students to attend informational activities or interviews, many instructors will excuse students from one class session to participate in such activities or interview for a job.
Instructors should indicate their expectations regarding unexcused and excused absences in their syllabi, articulating clearly how absences will affect a final grade.
Considering the possibility of student absences related to COVID, SIPA provides the following guidance:
When a student has a required absence and when missing class is likely to significantly diminish a student’s mastery of the subject matter, we recommend that faculty make the class session available to the student via live-stream or recording. Because all faculty will live-stream the first two weeks of classes, all be equipped to do so if the need arises.
Note: students will also be required to inform their advising dean so that SIPA has an institutional record of student cases.
For additional information on student absences please contact Associate Dean Hazel May (hm2135@columbia.edu).
The statement below must appear in all SIPA syllabi:
The School of International & Public Affairs does not tolerate cheating and/or plagiarism in any form. Those students who violate the Code of Academic & Professional Conduct will be subject to the Dean’s Disciplinary Procedures.
Please familiarize yourself with the proper methods of citation and attribution. The School provides some useful resources online; we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with these various styles before conducting your research. Cut and paste the following link into your browser to view the Code of Academic & Professional Conduct and to access useful resources on citation and attribution: http://bulletin.columbia.edu/sipa/academic-policies/
Violations of the Code of Academic & Professional Conduct should be reported to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs Tsuya Yee (ty2644@columbia.edu).
Students seeking reasonable accommodations (academic, housing) or support services from University Disability Services (DS) are required to register with the University office.
For questions regarding teaching students with disabilities, please contact SIPA’s Disability Services liaison (https://health.columbia.edu/content/disability-services-liaisons).
Visit Columbia University Office of Disability Services Website
Students must maintain a 3.0 minimum cumulative grade point average for all courses applicable to the MIA or MPA degree. A student whose performance does not meet these standards may not be permitted to continue to enroll in the degree program, and appropriate action will be taken by the School. If, at the end of a semester, a graduate student fails to meet the GPA requirement, accumulates 2 or more INC grades, or in other ways fails to meet the standards for progress, the student will receive a written warning concerning the lack of academic progress. The student must remedy the problem within one semester. Failure to re-establish satisfactory academic standing may result in dismissal from SIPA, subject to review by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. A student who is dismissed must wait a minimum of one calendar year from the date of dismissal before applying for readmission to the graduate program.
Satisfactory academic progress for a full-time student is defined as a minimum GPA of 3.00 and completing a minimum of 9 credits per term toward the degree. Full-time students who do not earn this minimum number of credits will have a Dean's Hold placed on their registration.
A Dean's Hold prevents a student from registering for classes and from receiving the degree. Students with two or more IN or UW or one or more grades of F will have their registration placed on Dean's Hold. In serious cases of unsatisfactory performance, a Dean's Hold may lead to dismissal from the School upon recommendation by the Committee of Deans. Students who are placed on Dean's Hold must be granted permission to register by the Associate Dean.
Effective Fall 2011: Students are required to complete all of the MIA or MPA degree requirements within five years of the first semester of matriculation at SIPA.
The total number of attempted credits toward the degree should not exceed 90 credits.
Advanced Standing/Transfer credits do not impact the cumulative GPA, but count as both attempted and completed credits.
*Note – students enrolled in the part-time Executive MPA Program (EMPA) are required to complete an average of 6 credits per term instead of the 9 required for full-time students.
Following the last day of classes, there is a three-day study period, followed by the final exam period. No make-up classes, exams, final presentations, or deliverables may be scheduled or due during the study period. Faculty or TAs may schedule review sessions during this period. The regularly scheduled class-time and room are not available for faculty during study period. Faculty or TAs must reserve a room for a review session through SIPA Academic Affairs (sipa_academicaffairs@columbia.edu). Please reserve rooms for review sessions at least two weeks before the end of classes. You cannot reserve rooms for study sessions using the online room reservation system (it is only for non-class related activities).
Faculty are expected to hold classes at their regularly scheduled times, in their regularly scheduled locations.
Should a class be canceled, SIPA defers to the individual faculty member to decide how to cover the material from the missed class.
Should an instructor cancel class suddenly due to illness or emergency, the instructor must contact Academic Affairs (sipa_academicaffairs@columbia.edu) and email their students as soon as possible to inform them of the cancellation. A member of SIPA staff will post a sign on the door of the classroom notifying students of the cancellation. If the instructor cannot notify Academic Affairs staff during business hours, the instructor should request that a student from their class post a sign.
The University Statutes and the general policies of the University describe the roles and responsibilities of faculty in their teaching and research. The rights, duties and obligations of the faculty can be found in the Faculty Handbook at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/vpaa/fhb/main.html.
For a further description of university policies please see FACETS appendices at http://facets.columbia.edu/
For a description of student grievance procedures at SIPA, please visit bulletin.columbia.edu/sipa/academic-policies/student-grievance/.
Independent Studies are voluntary agreements between individual faculty members and individual students, in which students complete a course of study and assignment. The course of study and assignment for a three-point independent study typically consist of a reading list comparable to that required for a regular three-point course, which can range from 75-150 pages per week, and a research paper (at least 20 pages). Independent study courses also can be taken for 1.5 points; in this case, the reading and research paper are customarily half the length of those for a three-point course. Because independent studies (particularly for three-points) are intensive activities, faculty members regard them as a significant commitment. Faculty members are not obligated to undertake the supervision of independent studies, and they typically do so with students who have completed a class or other educational/research activity under their supervision. If a SIPA faculty member is willing to supervise an independent study, the student should ask the faculty member to sign an “Application for Individual Research Course” [sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/student_affairs/forms.html] and then submit the signed application to the Office of Student Affairs no later than the change of program deadline. Full-time faculty members who are not appointed at SIPA, but are appointed in other schools, also are eligible to supervise independent studies with SIPA students; non-SIPA faculty follow the policies and procedures established by their schools, not SIPA.
SIPA students typically ask SIPA faculty members or other faculty from whom they have taken a class to serve as their independent study faculty supervisor. On occasion, adjunct faculty members currently teaching at SIPA supervise independent studies. Since adjunct faculty receive no additional compensation for supervising independent studies, and are generally engaged in full-time activities outside of SIPA, many adjunct faculty are reluctant to undertake this obligation. If an adjunct faculty member is approached by a student about supervising an independent study and is interested in learning more, she/he should contact the SIPA Office of Academic Affairs.
SIPA provides two scheduled opportunities for students to give feedback on their courses and instructors: 1) the Course Implementation Survey, which is conducted for full-semester courses during the third week of classes, and 2) the end of semester Course Evaluation, which is conducted for all SIPA courses beginning the last week of classes and ending during the week of final examinations. Faculty should consider these evaluations as opportunities to reflect upon their teaching practices.
The course implementation survey contains approximately ten yes or no questions regarding the commencement of a course. The survey is designed to alert SIPA Academic Affairs of any problems that should be immediately addressed.
End-of-semester teaching evaluations allow SIPA to work with faculty and academic faculty program directors to improve existing courses and make changes in the curriculum – and they are an essential element of the faculty review process. Additionally, SIPA uses quantitative evaluations to identify recipients of the “top five” teaching awards each semester and identify the shortlist for the annual Distinguished Teaching Awards (winners of this award are selected by a student ballot).
Evaluations submitted through CourseWorks (and its applications) are ANONYMOUS. Neither instructors nor SIPA administrators can trace any response back to a student’s identity.
The quantitative and qualitative results for the end-of-semester teaching evaluations are made available to SIPA students.
NB Students may contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at any point during the semester with urgent faculty or course concerns and, where relevant, the Associate Dean may address these concerns directly with the instructor.
Columbia’s learning management system is CourseWorks. For support and workshops using CourseWorks, please visit https://ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/courseworks/.
All faculty members must post the complete syllabus of their course, including any course materials required for student purchase, to CourseWorks, by August 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. The applicable federal law, the Higher Education Opportunity Act, requires that any course material required for student purchase (e.g., textbook, case study) be clearly listed in all course syllabi, and the information made available to students during the registration and ‘shopping period,’ before the start of the course. Please consult the SIPA syllabus template for guidelines for syllabus content – the template is available from Director for Curriculum and Instruction.
A helpful reference for navigating CourseWorks can be found at: https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/courses/58. Additionally, CTL also holds open hours for faculty support Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. CTL can be reached via phone (212-854-9058) or Zoom (https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/my/ctlhelp). SIPA Faculty can contact Alyssa Famolari, Learning Designer II at Columbia Teaching and Learning (CTL) at af3367@columbia.edu, who can assist you with any remaining questions you may have with CourseWorks technology.
The CTL offers professional development programs and events to connect Columbia faculty and instructors to effective teaching approaches, resources, and instructional technologies. The Center offers programs ranging from standalone workshops and workshop series to immersive multi-day institutes and semester-long seminar programs. https://ctl.columbia.edu/faculty/offerings/
All faculty members must post the complete syllabus of their course, including any course materials required for student purchase, to CourseWorks, by August 1 for the Fall semester and November 1 for the Spring semester. The applicable federal law, the Higher Education Opportunity Act, requires that any course material required for student purchase (e.g., textbook, case study) be clearly listed in all course syllabi, and the information made available to students during the registration and ‘shopping period,’ before the start of the course.
Class Materials
When possible, faculty provide access to the readings by posting a link from CourseWorks to an online version of the reading (e.g., at Lexis-Nexus or other comparable sites) or by posting the reading (typically in PDF) on their CourseWorks site. New faculty who need assistance with this process should contact SIPA's Office of Academic Affairs at sipa_academicaffairs@columbia.edu.
Additionally, faculty may request the University Libraries to place readings on either electronic or hard-copy reserves via https://library.columbia.edu/services/reserves/faculty/form.html.
PDF Scanning
For scans of a small portion of a single work, instructors may decide whether or not to scan materials for upload into CourseWorks. The Libraries at Columbia provide access to scanning workstations in all locations, and there are now smartphone apps that use the phone’s camera to scan and create high-quality .pdfs. Uploading material to a course management system requires a Fair Use assessment for each scan. For more information about Copyright and Fair Use, please refer to the Columbia University Copyright Advisory Office website at https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/fair-use.html and https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/fair-use/fair-use-checklist.html.
Lehman Social Sciences Library, located on the 3rd floor of the International Affairs Building, assists faculty with all aspects of research and teaching. Lehman contains electronic databases including, but not limited to, the following: AccessUN, Conference Proceedings/Working Papers (SSRN to World Bank), Country Profiles (Armed Conflict Database to Eurostat Country Profiles), Digital Dissertations, Journals (JSTOR, Lexis Nexis, PAIS International & Archive 1015-present), New Sources (Factiva to GenderWatch), Statistics (U.S. Govt, Catalogs, Almanacs), World Bank e-library. Lehman’s subject guide represents SIPA's areas of inquiry and knowledge. Faculty may use Lehman’s Digital Social Science Center for advanced information/technology assistance (data, maps, government documents). https://library.columbia.edu/locations/lehman.html
Instructors can set up a free Educator Account at https://hbsp.harvard.edu/registration/educator/. An Educator Account gives faculty access to world-famous HBS cases, download Educator/Desk Copies, up to 60% off materials for students when creating coursepacks, and many more.
We strongly suggest using a Columbia email (LionMail) to sign up for an account for a more straightforward verification process. When submitting a verification request, we recommend submitting the following:
If further verification is requested, please contact SIPA's Office of Academic Affairs at sipa_academicaffairs@columbia.edu.
Fall 2023 SIPA course registration will begin on August 11, 2023. Non-SIPA students who petition to register for your course will be able to register for an available seat or join the waitlist for your course via SSOL, September 11 - 15, 2023.
Instructors with questions about student registration process may contact Senior Assistant Deans Andrew Johnson (andrew.johnson@columbia.edu) in Academic Affairs, or Alleyne Waysome (aaw54@columbia.edu) in Student Affairs.
Students with questions regarding registration should contact SIPA Student Affairs on the 6th floor of SIPA or they can email siparegistration@columbia.edu.
During the registration period, which typically lasts through the first two weeks of the semester, it is common to see a daily fluctuation of students registered for your course. Rosters on SSOL and CourseWorks update once daily, overnight. It can take up to 24 hours for students to appear on your CourseWorks and SSOL roster once they register.
When the enrollment limit in your course is met, a waitlist will automatically be created in Student Services Online (SSOL). The system defaults to register students automatically from your waitlist as seats become available.
Students who audit (receive R-credit) a course must be registered for the course in SSOL and appear on the grade roster. If students are not officially registered, they will not have access to CourseWorks. Students who wish to receive R-credit for a course must request permission from the instructor during the registration period. Registration priority should be given to students who wish to take your course for full-credit. Instructors are not obligated to grant R-credit; however, if permission is granted, the student must meet course requirements established at the discretion of the instructor. Upon successful completion of the course, instructors will submit the grade of R for these students. Should students not meet course requirements or fail to attend class, instructors have the option of submitting a grade of UW (Unofficial Withdraw) or F (Failure). Students approved for R-credit registration are only exempt from final examinations by University policy.
SIPA allows Columbia University scholars to audit SIPA courses on a case-by-case basis. Please consult with Andrew Johnson and Alleyne Waysome prior to approving a scholar to audit your course. When considering a scholar, your course should have seats available, and registration in your course should be open to non-SIPA students.
Math and Writing Tutors are available to students at no cost through the SIPA Student Affairs. Please visit OSA Tutors for additional info.
Columbia Writing Center provides students with one-on-one consultations and workshops.
Faculty can reference the Blue Folder for guidance on how best to respond to and support students in distress.
If you are concerned about a student and they are not in immediate danger:
Contact SIPA's Dean of Students, Associate Dean Tsuya Yee, at ty2466@columbia.edu
Help the student connect to one of Columbia’s counseling services, or
Consult with a counseling provider to discuss how best to support the student.
If you believe a student is in immediate danger of self-harm and is in New York City, first call 911, then call Public Safety — Morningside (212-854-5555).
Audiovisual services are available to SIPA students, faculty, and administration in the SIPA electronic classrooms (eRooms). Faculty who plan to use the audio/visual equipment in the classroom must request an eRoom training and/or an e-podium key.
Visit SIPA Audio/Visual website
SIPA eRoom Training Videos and Access
If you require the use of the SIPA computer lab for your course, please contact Jenny Labuga-Rumenik, Coordinator for Curriculum and Instruction, as soon as possible. Reservations for the computer lab need to be made during May for the fall semester and October for the spring semester. If you require special software for the lab, please email Harpreet Mahajan, CIO of SIPA, as early as possible. There is a limited budget for acquiring additional software for the lab, and sufficient lead time is required to install it.
The SIPA computer lab accommodates a maximum of 44 students per session. All students taking classes or attending recitations in the computer lab must adhere to this limit. Additional students will not be allowed to share computer stations, sit on the floor, or sit in the back of the room. Instructors, TAs, and the computer lab staff will enforce this policy.
A helpful reference for navigating CourseWorks can be found at: https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/courses/58. Additionally, CTL also holds open hours for faculty support Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. CTL can be reached via phone (212-854-9058) or Zoom (https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/my/ctlhelp). SIPA Faculty can contact Alyssa Famolari, Learning Designer II at Columbia Teaching and Learning (CTL) at af3367@columbia.edu, who can assist you with any remaining questions you may have with CourseWorks technology.
Columbia's Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
The CTL offers professional development programs and events to connect Columbia faculty and instructors to effective teaching approaches, resources, and instructional technologies. The Center offers programs ranging from standalone workshops and workshop series to immersive multi-day institutes and semester-long seminar programs. https://ctl.columbia.edu/faculty/offerings/
The instructor or TA can pick up blue books for exams in the 14th-floor SIPA faculty suite, Room 1426, during business hours, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. We recommend you make a reservation to pick up blue books by emailing SIPA Academic Affairs (sipa_academicaffairs@sipa.columbia.edu) at least 2 business days before the exam. Any unused blue books should be returned to the SIPA Academic Affairs.
Adjunct faculty will have a mail folder in the 13th-floor floor SIPA suite. As you walk into the suite, these folders are in the black file cabinet directly in front and to your left. Please check your mail regularly.
SIPA Faculty are expected to be available for office hours up to two hours each week per course they teach. Faculty office hours can be made by appointment only. Faculty may hold their office hours in a SIPA faculty office or via Zoom. Questions? Contact SIPA Academic Affairs.
Scheduling Office Hours In-Person: To request an adjunct faculty office space, please complete this form.
Scheduling Office Hours via Zoom: To schedule your office hours via Zoom and for those links to appear within your CourseWorks site, please follow the instructions here.
Small print jobs in the SIPA suites are limited to no more than 75 pages at one time.
Copy jobs submitted to Print Services in the Journalism building or Village Copier will be paid for by SIPA. However, these copies are limited only to those items that must be copied, such as exams. Usually, materials should be posted to CourseWorks or compiled as a Course Reader through the Bookstore. To send copy jobs to Print Services, please email SIPA Academic Affairs (sipa_academicaffairs@sipa.columbia.edu) at least two business days in advance.
Basic office supplies (pens, paper, paperclips, highlighters, and notepads) are kept on hand. The SIPA Academic Affairs team can support additional supplies and blue book requests. The instructor or TA can pick up supplies in the 13th & 14th-floor SIPA faculty suites, Rooms 1318 or 1426, during business hours, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. We recommend you make a reservation to pick up supplies by emailing SIPA Academic Affairs (sipa_academicaffairs@sipa.columbia.edu) at least two business days in advance.
Plagiarism detection tool for written assignments and papers.
Turnitin Tool on CourseWorks (Canvas) Assignments: When creating an assignment on your course page, after clicking "Online" then "File Uploads" for Submission Type, select "Turnitin" for Plagiarism Review to allow for a seamless and automatic check for plagiarism. Once students submit their documents, you can view plagiarism and originality details in SpeedGrader.
Should you forget to turn on the plagiarism review before students submit their assignments, you can go back to edit the settings. Once you go to SpeedGrader, you should see the option to "Resubmit to Turnitin" on the grading panel to the right for each submission. However, we strongly suggest downloading the submissions and noting down the time of submission for each student before resubmitting.
Getting Turnitin Access: Please write Harpreet Mahajan (hm3@columbia.edu), Chief Information Officer, to request an instructor or admin account. When requesting, please ensure to include your UNI and course number. Once approved, you should receive an email from Turnitin to activate your account.
SIPA believes faculty-student engagement outside the classroom creates and sustains a dynamic community. The Time Out program brings SIPA students and SIPA faculty together outside the classroom for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
For students, we hope these sessions inspire spontaneous and free-flowing discussions about their coursework, expectations, and questions concerning career choices and professional opportunities.
For SIPA faculty, we hope the sessions provide a chance to engage students on topics influential to their teaching, research, and matters important to the school.
Funding Criteria:
Time Out funds $25 per person up to a maximum of $150 per meal/event.
A minimum of one SIPA faculty/administrator and two students are required at each event.
Students may host one such event per semester.
SIPA faculty and administrators may be reimbursed for up to two (2) outings per academic year.
The event should include a meal: breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
This event must be hosted outside of class and outside of the normal class meeting hours.
Request forms MUST be received at least one (1) week (5 business days) before the event.
You will receive a notice of your approval via email, and this approval in advance is required before any expenses can be incurred.
TimeOut funding is a reimbursement; no funding will be distributed before the event. Additionally, you may not use vouchers.
All events must comply with applicable Columbia and SIPA health and safety requirements, and funding can be denied if such health and safety rules are not honored by any of the participants.
Instructions for Reimbursement
After the event, you should complete a Travel/Business Expense Form, which can be accessed here.
Attached to your completed Business Expense Reports, you must include:
Original receipt(s) for the event; Credit/debit card statement if your purchases were made with a credit/debit card.
Approval email from the Office of Student Affairs.
A completed expense report should be submitted to Concur not more than two weeks following the event. You will receive instructions in your confirmation email.
Funds are limited; as noted above, you can only be reimbursed up to $150 for each meal/event.
If you have questions about the Timeout Program approvals, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at sipa_osa@sipa.columbia.edu.
SIPA courses are in-person. There is no expectation that Zoom be used to facilitate teaching or instruction. Some faculty may use Zoom for meetings, office hours, and the like. SIPA will provide Zoom Pro ("licensed") accounts to faculty and teaching assistants upon request. Request Zoom Pro here.
E-mail: sipa_academicaffairs@columbia.edu
Staff Directory: https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/academic-affairs
E-mail: sipa_osa@columbia.edu
Staff Directory: https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/students/academic-advising-staff
Note! You can find your student's advisor in CourseWorks! In your CourseWorks class site, click on the Photo Roster module and navigate to the List/Advisor tab.
E-mail: sipahr@columbia.edu
Staff Directory: https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/hr/how-reach-us
E-mail: sipa.dean@sipa.columbia.edu
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