The Department of Health Policy and Management

Welcome to the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) and the Program in General Public Health. The faculty and staff are committed to offering the best curriculum possible. The Department of Health Policy and Management and the Program in General Public Health will provide information about requirements, course offerings, schedule changes, special events, etc., on a regular basis. However, students are encouraged to assume an active role in determining the scope and quality of their own education. We encourage you to actively participate in the educational program and extracurricula activities of the Department and the Mailman School of Public Health. We hope that this Student Handbook will contribute to an open dialogue between students and the faculty and staff.

The mission of the Department of Health Policy and Management is to advance theory and practice that improve the public’s health, prevent disease, and strengthen the health care system and its component organizations. Our mission is fulfilled through research, education, and service that address the development and implementation of health policy and the effective management of health care organizations, systems, and services. We believe that health policy and health care management are interdependent, and our research and education programs are informed by this view. The primary research goal of the Department is to assist in the effort to reform and more effectively manage the health care system.

The Director of Academic Programs oversees all the educational offerings within the Department of Health Policy and Management, the Macy Scholars Program, and the Columbia On The Job Program.

This individual coordinates the practicum program and assists students in planning their course schedules, practica, and internships, reviews waiver requirements, assists with cross registration, assists in determining compliance with requirements for graduation, etc. The Departmental Advisor has regular posted office hours and students are encouraged to drop in or to schedule an appointment.

The Director administers the General Public Health Program and provides academic advising to students in the General Public Health Program.

All students are assigned to a faculty advisor. In general, while the faculty advisor provides academic counseling, all administrative matters should be directed to the Director of Academic Programs or the Departmental Advisor. Students are permitted to change faculty advisors if another faculty member has agreed to serve in this capacity, or they may request that the Director of Academic Programs reassign them. When making a change, students must formally notify the Departmental Advisor and the Office of Student Services, on a "CHANGE" form, which it provides.

Full‑time faculty of the Department are usually available a minimum of two hours each week for appointments or drop‑in visits. The hours are posted and available in the Department office. Students may make an appointment with adjunct faculty members either directly or through the administrative assistant for academic programs. This is an opportunity to discuss course material, identify a potential tutorial sponsor, etc.

Computer Skills
On entry students are expected to be familiar with basic computer skills in the following areas:

(a) Spreadsheet manipulations (e.g. Microsoft Excel). Example: A brief organizational budget with salaries, fringe benefits, and overhead costs, projected for three years might be presented in hard copy. The student would be expected to create a spreadsheet and calculate several alternative cost scenarios based on different personnel time commitments.

(b) Interface between a word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word) and a spreadsheet application. Example, continued: The student is expected to link a spreadsheet table to a word-processed document.

(c) Presentation skills (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint). Example: the student should be able to graph the company's average salary over time and produce a slide of this graph.

Students should anticipate that they will be expected to use other types of software programs for database management and statistical analyses.

Academic Information Systems (AcIS) offers numerous classes on the Morningside Campus. They are open to all members of the university community and are available at all levels. Courses at AcIS range from no cost to $30.00. To register or get more information, call the Academic Computing Support Center at 854‑1919, go to the Computing Support Center at 102 Philosophy Hall, send e‑mail to courses@columbia.edu, or see their web page at http://www.columbia.edu/acis/acsc/training/. Registration forms are also available at the Media Center on the 2nd floor of Augustus C. Long Library (Hammer Health Sciences Center), 305‑3694.

Other computer training workshops, sponsored by the Department of Continuing Education, are offered at the Health Sciences Campus. Courses range in price from free to $135. To register, please call 854‑2820, ext. 100.

Computer Lab
The Media Center, on the second floor of Augustus C. Long Library (Hammer Health Sciences Center), has Macintosh and IBM computers along with a wide variety of software packages available for student use. Telephone 305‑3694 for current schedule of hours. Additional computers are available on the first floor of Hammer Health Sciences and the 17th Floor of the Presbyterian Hospital Building in the Learning Center. There are computer access ports in the Student Commons of the Mailman School of Public Health on the 10th floor (entry level) of 722 West 168th Street.

Computer Support
Academic Information Systems offers computer support services accessed through the University to students living off‑campus. AcIS sells software to connect to the Internet and responds to problems with student e‑mail accounts. The walk‑in center is located at 102 Philosophy Hall, and the Helpline is 854‑1919. The Computer Center in the Hammer Health Sciences Center offers similar support services to students living in housing on the Health Sciences campus. The Helpline is 305‑3694.

Campus Discount Computer Purchasing
Columbia provides programs to help students, faculty, and staff buy computers and software conveniently and reasonably. The first three vendors listed offer individuals the same corporate discounts provided to Columbia departments. Other personal discounts are also available from certain other University vendors through Purchasing's Preferred Vendor List.

The School’s course evaluations are essential in assisting students with course selection and in providing feedback to the instructors and the Department. Student evaluation of courses occurs at the end of each term through Courseworks. The on-line evaluation allows for numerical rating of course content and instructional methods and materials. There is also a section for comments. It is important to complete this section because student feedback helps us improve our teaching program. A statistical analysis of the evaluation results and a summary of the students’ written comments are given to the individual instructor and Department Chair. All course evaluations and summaries are maintained in the Department and are available for review by students.

Course schedules for the Mailman School of Public Health as well as class room assignments are on the web at:

Students are encouraged to seek a waiver from courses for which they think they may be eligible for exemption. All School of Public Health core courses may be waived by exam. These are given during the registration period prior to the beginning of each semester. The schedule of core course waiver examinations appears in the School's semester course schedule. Students should contact the appropriate core course director (see Faculty and Staff Directory) regarding eligibility requirements, examination arrangements, etc. There is no penalty for unsuccessful waiver attempts. For exemptions from non‑core courses, students should contact the Director of Academic Programs or Departmental Advisor.

After the waiver is graded, the Department Coordinator submits a completed course waiver form, for those who pass, to the Office of Student Affairs with a copy to the student’s home Department.

Prior to the start of each semester a few days are set aside to meet with advisors and to consult faculty about courses (see the official academic calendar). This is an excellent opportunity for students to meet with departmental advisers and plan their program carefully, review course syllabi, and avoid the rush during registration. The registration process should be started early to reduce the risk of being closed out of choices, because written permission must be obtained from the professor for some classes in other departments. In order to register, students must obtain a PIN number from the Office of Student Affairs.

In monitoring the completion of courses, HPM students should be aware of the 3 levels of requirements.

1. All Public Health students are required to complete the School of Public Health CORE courses or their equivalent.
2. All HPM students are required to complete a second set of courses, regardless of their concentration (Policy, Management, or EOR).
3. Finally, each student is required to complete a third set of courses from 3 possible groups—one for those students concentrating in Management, one group for those concentrating in Policy, and one group for those in EOR.

The MPH degree in Health Policy and Management (HPM) offers comprehensive studies in the fields of Health Care Policy, Management, Effectiveness and Outcomes Research (EOR), and Global Health. The MPH is a 45-point program that includes core courses, departmental requirements, and elective courses. The three formats are: full-time, part-time (COTJ), and executive.

The typical full-time course of study for management, policy and EOR students spans three semesters and a summer practicum, lasting a total of 16 months. This format is generally for students with little or no health-related work experience. Students who enter the Global Track are required to have a minimum of one year of international work experience after graduating from college. Global students undertake a six month practicum and complete the program in two years. All full-time HPM students take Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Sciences, Issues and Approaches in Health Policy and Management, Health Economics, and the Practicum Seminar.

Each concentration includes different course requirements. The EOR Track combines the resources of our department with methodological training in biostatistics and epidemiology. Students learn to assess the effectiveness of health care interventions, especially for their effects on health outcomes. The EOR focus on cost implications of alternative strategies has assumed increasing importance for health care policy makers and managers.

There are special one-year programs designed for students in dual degree programs, as well as for students in selected residency, fellowships, and other programs.

HPM REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST FOR
MANAGEMENT AND POLICY TRACKS (45 Points)

*Over the course of study policy students must take one management elective and one other elective in either the spring or fall semesters.

MSPH:
Biostatistics: P8100 Applied Regression Analysis
Biostatistics: P8104 Probability
Biostatistics: P8108 Survival Analysis
Biostatistics: P8109 Statistical Inference
Biostatistics: P8111 Linear Regression Models
Biostatistics: P8115 Sample Survey Theory
Biostatistics: P8116 Design of Medical Experiments
Biostatistics: P8120 Analysis of Categorical Data
Biostatistics: P8140 Randomized Clinical Trial
Biostatistics: P6110 Statistical Computing With SAS
HPM: P8564 Health Related Issues in Quality of Life through the
          Adult Lifespan
Epidemiology: P8401 Epidemiological Evaluation of Drug Safety
Epidemiology: P8406 Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Epidemiology: P8417 Selected Problems of Measurement in
                        Epidemiology
Epidemiology: P8438 Epidemiology II
Epidemiology P8400 Epidemiology III
Epidemiology: P8483 Applications of Epidemiology Research
                        Methods
HPM: P8509 Applied Pharmacoepidemiology and Outcomes
                      Research
HPM: P8590 Applied Policy Development
HPM: P____ Program Evaluation
SMS: P8777 Survey Research Methods

Part-time evening attendance for 28 months, including five semesters and summer courses. This structured format, referred to as Columbia on the Job (COTJ), is generally for employed students with at least one year of relevant work experience. Much of the educational program is problem-based, using case studies and problem solving exercises to enhance student participation and encourage the exchange of ideas and insights. Students are exposed to concepts and practices of group processes to enhance peer interactions and to encourage the development of colleague support networks. COTJ students do not have a concentration; their course of study includes the basics of management, policy, and effectiveness and outcomes research.

Part-time students follow a course of study that includes two evening classes per semester. They may also choose to follow a part-time version of the full-time curriculum if willing to register for several daytime classes. During the final semester of study, COTJ students use their work experience and academic training to develop a final integrating paper that is submitted to the Director of the practicum program.

The part‑time program is a 45‑credit curriculum: 13 points in a public health core and 32 points in a health policy and management concentration. The public health core is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the multiple factors influencing health and disease in populations. This includes the structure and functioning of the health services system, the political environment, socioeconomic conditions, cultural beliefs and practices, health‑related behaviors, and the effects of environmental and occupational exposures. It also equips graduates with the basic analytic skills required for research, planning and evaluation.

Semester Course Credits

Year 1,	Fall	P6103	Biostatistics	3
Year 1,	Fall or Spring	P6530	Issues and Approaches in HPM	3
Year 1	Spring	P6503 P6529	Accounting and Budgeting Health Economics	3 3
Year 1,	Summer	P8557	Managerial and Organizational Behavior	3
		P8558	Strategic Management	3
Year 2,	Fall	CHOOSE TWO		6
		P6300	Environmental Sciences
		P6400	Epidemiology
		P8546	Medicaid, Medicare and Uninsured
Year 2,	Spring	P8533	Health Care Financial Analysis	3
	P		Elective(s)	3
Year 2,	Summer	P8502	Research Techniques	3
		P8541	Cost Benefit Analysis or methods elective	3
Year 3,	Fall	P6300, P6400, or P8546 (see fall two)		3
		P8517	Managing Complexities… or HPM elective(s)	3
Elective(s) (summer or otherwise)

Practicum		Paper based on current position in health care.

Executive format for 24 consecutive, monthly extended weekends. The Executive Master of Public Health in Health Services Management is designed for experienced health professionals working in the public and private sectors who wish to remain employed while completing their degree. It focuses on the managerial side of medicine and the rapidly changing and complex policy environment in which the health care professional works. The goal of the Program is to develop skilled, knowledgeable managers who can effectively meet the multiple responsibilities of American health care institutions.

Graduates of medical, dental, nursing, and other clinical programs, and applicants who have earned master's or doctoral degrees in other health‑related areas, or in other academic or professional areas, will find their academic backgrounds well suited to this program. Five years' previous professional or other relevant work experience is required for all candidates.

An Executive MPH class enters each September, and participants attend classes as a group. Program sessions are held one long weekend each month, Thursday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When classes are not in session, students must communicate with each other, the program staff and faculty via electronic mail. Participants should expect to devote at least fifteen to twenty hours per week to individual study in preparation for each monthly program.

The curriculum is organized around a participatory, problem‑based, and sequenced curriculum. Participation in a series of five capstone seminars, each seven hours long, and designed to integrate material learned throughout the Program, will serve as the culminating experience for each cohort of students. The 45‑credit curriculum includes 16 required courses divided among 13 credits in a public health core, 30 credits in Departmental courses, and 2 credits in an integrating Capstone Seminar.

Students should refer to the brochure entitled The Executive Master of Public Health in Health Services Management for additional information about the program.

Students are encouraged to consider courses in other departments and throughout the University, particularly after the first semester. Public Health students taking courses in other Schools of the University must adhere to corresponding enrollment regulations, and add/drop deadlines. The other Schools must authorize registration for their courses. Registration for students enrolled in Public Health for courses taken in other schools of the University is generally done in person. In the space provided at the bottom of a Cross Registration Form, list the exact course number and section title, and credit units of courses desired. A cross-registration form must be completed to obtain credit for the course.

Students should note that not all schools are on the same time or tuition schedule. Completed cross-registration forms must be brought to Registration Services, 1‑141 Black Building, during the change‑of‑program period. Courses taken at Teachers College will be charged at the TC rate.

SIPA (School of International and Public Affairs)
420 W. 118th Street
New York, NY 10027

Teacher's College (an affiliate of Columbia University)
525 W. 120th Street
New York, NY 10027

Cross-registration for Business School classes is held a few weeks before MSPH registration. Unlike the MSPH, the Business School is on a trimester system (three equal trimesters per year) and observes a slightly different academic calendar, particularly during the summer. Classes for MSPH students at the Business School are only available at the discretion of the Business School faculty and the Mailman School of Public Health Office of Student Affairs. Each semester the Business School provides a list of available courses to the Office of Student Affairs. Students interested in registering for one of these classes must provide an advisor’s signature approving their request, as well as a back-up choice. Cross-registration for a class is based on availability and the final approval of the Business School.

The registration process for non–MBA/MPH students is facilitated through the Mailman School of Public Health’s Office of Student Affairs. When considering cross registration, keep in mind that Business School final exams do not fall at the regularly scheduled class times. Students who cross‑register are expected to take the final exam when scheduled at the Business School. If there is an exam conflict, students should make arrangements to change the exam at MSPH. The contact person for the Graduate School of Business at the Mailman School of Public Health is Marlyn Delva, Director, Office of Student Affairs (305‑3067).

While all students are advised to take one or more courses in other Departments or Schools of the University, some students will prefer to receive a dual degree. The Mailman School fosters a multidisciplinary approach to public health through masters level dual degree programs, which are offered in conjunction with other graduate schools of the University. These dual degree programs provide students with an opportunity to tap into the full resources of the University and to gain knowledge, skills, and perspectives in fields outside of public health. The School currently has ten dual degree programs with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, School of Dental and Oral Surgery, School of Nursing, Program in Occupational Therapy, School of Business, School of International and Public Affairs, School of Social Work, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, and the School of Law as outlined below.

In a dual degree program, the credit requirements for each school are generally reduced. The course requirements also differ. Interested students should, therefore, consult with their program coordinator.

Master of Business Administration and
Master of Public Health Degrees

This program (MBA/MPH) offers a balanced and challenging course of study in the social, economic, and political facets of public health and health administration practices, along with rigorous quantitative training in management. The program is designed to prepare individuals for administrative positions in the health care industry, including hospitals, consulting firms, etc., that require sound management practices and a broad knowledge of public health. Applications for the dual degree should be submitted before beginning the graduate program or in the first term of the MPH program.

Students interested in pursuing the MPH/MBA dual degree in the Department of Health Policy and Management should refer to the MPH/MBA Dual Degree Student Handbook (http://www.mailman.hs.
columbia.edu/hpm/pdf/MPH-MBA_handbook.pdf).This document details academic and administrative guidelines, including program requirements, information, and advice. The booklet can be obtained from the Department of Health Policy and Management office.

Master of Science in Urban Planning and
Master of Public Health Degrees

The primary objective of this program (MSUP/MPH) is to prepare individuals for planning positions in health system agencies, various units of government, health institutions and the private health sector. The program is designed primarily for entry‑level individuals who do not have extensive experience in the health field. Students are expected to show evidence of satisfactory preparation in quantitative areas including statistics and to have some familiarity with the social sciences.

The purpose of this dual degree (MIA/MPH) is to prepare individuals for careers in international and national agencies concerned with health policy analysis and/or administration. The School of International and Public Affairs emphasizes the political and economic aspects of various world regions, which should complement a student's concern with the health problems of these areas.

This dual degree program (MPA/MPH) is aimed at preparing individuals for health policy analysis and administrative careers in local, state and federal governments and in the private not‑for‑profit and for‑profit sectors. The emphasis is domestic in orientation.

The primary purpose of this interdisciplinary program (MSN/MPH) is to prepare nurse practitioners or clinical specialists to function effectively as community health practitioners and/or administrators in a variety of settings. This program is directed toward nurses with at least one year's appropriate experience who expect to be practicing clinicians and at the same time hold responsible administrative positions. Other successful applicants plan a career in clinical nursing but also want to enhance their clinical knowledge with a related public health concentration.

Master of Science in Social Work and
Master of Public Health Degrees

The nature and extent of today's health problems, as well as the alternatives available for their solution, are inextricably bound up with political, economic, community, organizational, behavioral, and other social issues. The objective of this MSW/MPH program is to prepare professionals who can practice effectively within their multidisciplinary framework and function successfully across jurisdictional boundaries. There is no reduced credit requirement in the Mailman School of Public Health for this degree.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and
Master of Public Health Degrees

The School of Public Health and the Program in Occupational Therapy of the Faculty of Medicine offer a dual program for the Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The program is designed to prepare occupational therapists for leadership roles in shaping the health policies of America's increasingly complex health care delivery system. An understanding of public health principles helps students to transfer their clinical skills to community‑based services and to assume policy and administrative positions in school systems, businesses, and national and state agencies concerned with health policies and practices. In addition, they become more effective advocates for traditionally neglected groups such as the homeless, the mentally ill, and, through health promotion, even the well population.

This dual degree (DDS/MPH) is viewed as a major step in the education of professionals who can be effective as practitioners and interpreters at the interface between dentistry, other disciplines, and the health system. In addition to clinical dentistry, students gain insights into the complexities of the evolving health care delivery system and their potential role as leaders in that system.

This program (MD/MPH) is intended for medical students who have a particular interest in social and community aspects of medical care. Its objective is to prepare physicians for an expanding range of opportunities and roles in the changing health and medical care scene. In addition to their pre‑clinical and clinical medical training, students gain substantive knowledge of the health care delivery system and the technological, social, and political forces that affect patterns of illness and changing medical practice. They also develop concrete skills in research and administration applicable in interdisciplinary health service settings.

The JD/MPH program allows students to pursue JD and MPH degrees simultaneously. A graduate of the program will be able to work as a public health professional with expert awareness of the ethical, legal and policy issues or as a lawyer specializing in health care issues in the public, not-for-profit, or for-profit sectors. The separate requirements for both degrees are completed in 3-1/2 to 4 years. Students must have no fewer than 7 terms of full-time residence, five at Columbia Law School and two at the MSPH. To graduate students complete 108 academic points, 73 at Columbia Law School and 35 at the MSPH. Dr. Sherry Glied serves as academic advisor to students in this program.

General Public Health is a program for individuals with health professional training and at least two years of public health experience. The career needs of MPH candidates in General Public Health require an individualized interdisciplinary approach that goes beyond the scope of any single department within the Mailman School of Public Health. In addition to the public health core related learning objectives, the Director of the General Public Health program meets with each entering student and develops learning objectives and a course of study which will assure sufficient competence in at least one disciplinary area of public health. General Public Health students are required to complete the requirements of the Health Policy and Management Practicum Seminar. They meet with the Director of the Practicum Program early in their course of study to discuss the practicum and understand the process of fulfilling the program’s requirements.

The Program in General Public Health is administered by the Department of Health Policy and Management, under the direction of Dr. Jeanne Stellman. The program utilizes the resources of all the departments in the School of Public Health, as well as other schools in the University. During the registration period, students meet with their advisor to create programs of study tailored to meet their specific interests.

The General Public Health (GPH) Program in the School of Public Health allows students broad latitude in the selection of courses for the MPH degree within a focused framework. The only required courses are the five core courses required of all MPH candidates.

P6530: Issues and Approaches in Health Policy and Management
P6103 or P6104: Biostatistics
P6400: Introduction to Epidemiology
P6300: Environmental Sciences
P6700: Introduction to Sociomedical Sciences

Students may register for P6000 or P6001 Perspectives in the History and Philosophy of Public Health to satisfy the Sociomedical Sciences core course requirement.

Apart from the five required core courses, GPH students may select any courses offered by the School, after consultation with their adviser, in order to complete their degree. Graduate‑level University courses are also an option. Courses selected will depend on the interests, career goals, and backgrounds of individual students. Where appropriate, consultation with individual course directors may be desirable.

Because GPH students do not concentrate or "major" in an individual discipline, such as Epidemiology, Environmental Sciences, Population and Family Health, etc., the Program in General Public Health is open only to the following categories of students:

1. Students who already possess a professional degree in the health field, e.g., MD, RN, DDS, or DO.

2. Students who are enrolled in one of the dual degree programs offered by the School of Public Health with other Schools of the University, such as the MIA/MPH, MPA/MPH, MBA/MPH, MSW/MPH, MD/MPH, DDS/MPH, MSOT/MPH, MSN/MPH, or JD/MPH degrees.

3. Students who may already have a graduate professional degree unrelated to health (JD, MPA, MBA, etc.), but who seek a broad public health education in order to expand their career options or to practice a specialty in their chosen profession that branches into the health field, such as public health law, environmental health law, medical risk management, managed care administration, health economics, etc.

4. Selected students who may not have a graduate degree in a health‑related field, but have had considerable work experience at a supervisory level, as administrators or managers of health programs, or in health organizations. These might include hospitals, health departments, HMOs, managed care programs, community health centers, etc.

It is important to note that many students who enter the School and who fit into one of these four categories, nevertheless choose a major in one of the six Departments of the School. This option is open to GPH students once they enter the School, but will require the permission of the Department where entrance is being sought.
Also important to note is that while the GPH Program allows the broadest flexibility in selecting courses and designing an individualized educational program, enrolled students should not take a "smorgasbord" approach to choosing courses to complete the MPH degree. Instead, students should carefully determine the best courses to ensure the development of specific skills and to acquire a defined knowledge base that will expand their current professional abilities and enhance future career options.

The school's grading policy, approved by the faculty, is reprinted here. Final grades are letter grades. In the Department of Health Policy and Management there is NOT a direct correlation between number, letter and symbol grades.

Health Policy and Management Grading Procedures
(effective Fall 1997)
The School uses a letter grade system. Grades are: A, B, C, with + and ‑ as applicable, F, IN (Incomplete), R (Registered), and UW (Unofficial Withdrawal). A pass/fail (P/F) grade option is available in some circumstances. Grades are defined as follows:
Excellent:
A+       Reserved for highly exceptional achievement.
A         Excellent. Outstanding achievement.
A‑        Excellent work, close to outstanding.
Good:
B+       Very good. Solid achievement expected of most graduate students.
B          Good. Acceptable achievement.
Fair:
B‑        Acceptable achievement, but below what is generally expected of graduate students.
C+       Fair achievement, above minimally acceptable level.
Minimally Acceptable:
C         Fair achievement, but only minimally acceptable.
C‑        Very low performance. The records of students receiving such grades are subject to review by the Academic Standards Committee.
Failure:
F          Failure. Course usually may not be repeated unless it is a required course. When the course is required, the student will re‑register and obtain a satisfactory grade. The previous grade remains on the transcript.
Registered:
R         The grade of R (Registered) credit is automatically assigned for Doctoral Research Instruction (PH P9980) and is an option for auditing other courses. Except for Doctoral Research Instruction, courses graded R do not count toward the course credits needed to meet degree requirements. All R credit courses require full tuition payment.
Incomplete (IN) and Unofficial Withdrawal (UW)

There is no automatic grade of "Incomplete" (IN). Students are expected to complete ALL course assignments and exams on schedule by the end of a semester. An Incomplete may be given only when a student has met the attendance requirement but certain course assignments have not been completed for reasons satisfactory to the instructor. The instructor may grant an extension, usually for a specified period of time, and usually no more than several weeks. If the outstanding work is not completed within one calendar year from the date of the close of the term in which the Incomplete was received, the grade will automatically convert to Unofficial Withdrawal (UW).

Unofficial Withdrawal. Unless there is notification of change of grade from IN to a letter grade or P/F within one year from the end of the semester of registration, the IN will automatically be converted to Unofficial Withdrawal (UW), defined as "student did not complete attendance and/or assignments, but failed to withdraw."

Unless students request a pass/fail grade rather than a letter grade, a letter grade will be awarded. This request must be made before the end of the third week of classes in the fall and spring terms and the second week of classes during the summer session. The pass/fail option is not available for School or Departmental core courses.

Students who wish to take elective courses on pass/fail basis must obtain permission from the instructor and their advisor. Check the School's Academic Calendar for deadlines on change of grading.

2. Reporting of grades: Students may obtain their grades (a) by phone (854‑7373), using the Personal Identification Number (PIN) assigned to them by the University; (b) by computer terminal with links to ColumbiaNet, the University's electronic information system. Prior to each term, students' academic records will be available to the faculty advisors for counseling purposes.

3. Maintaining good academic standing: The faculty of the School expects all students to maintain an acceptable grade average. Doctoral students may be expected to meet higher performance standards, as determined by their Departments or the School's DrPH Committee. At least once each year the Dean's Office will review the academic performance of students enrolled in master's programs and will notify students of unsatisfactory academic performance as follows:

Department Approval to Register -- Students carrying two grades of IN or recent grades of UW or a C in a core course will be notified that they must discuss their academic progress with their advisor, and further registration will require advisor's approval.

Dean's Hold -- Students with three or more IN, or one or more grades of F, or three or more grades of C, 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 Department and review by the Academic Standards Committee. Students placed on Dean's Hold may be permitted to continue by meeting conditions specified by the Department and receiving (1) formal written approval of the Department and (2) approval by the School's Academic Standards Committee.

Personal and professional honesty is a keystone of excellence in academic pursuits, scientific research and service. In 1978 the School Assembly drafted an Honor Code relating specifically to student/faculty responsibilities in assuring academic integrity. In 1992 the School’s Academic Standards Committee further define the students’ responsibilities in assuring that academic integrity is maintained. These documents have been merged for simplicity, and appear below.

Public health practice requires the highest degree of responsibility and integrity. Violations of the Honor Code are viewed very seriously by the School. To prevent misunderstanding and to assure the highest possible standards of conduct, faculty and students have agreed to the following:
1. To encourage academic integrity, all course requirements should be clearly specified by the instructor at the beginning of the course. Included should be attendance requirements, performance expectations in reading and writing assignments, and criteria for evaluating performances.

2. The following minimum standards will be the expected norm for all examinations and written assignments unless the instructor specifically states otherwise. They should not, however, be construed as being mandatory. In fact, individual faculty members may well experiment with alternate formats, being careful to present clearly the specifications in advance to the students.

- Written Assignments - Unless otherwise specified by the instructor, all written assignments (e.g. papers, essays) are to be the original work of each student, being completed by the student alone, and using only class notes and other appropriate and approved resources, reference tools and consultations.

-Take-Home Examinations - Unless otherwise specified by the instructor, students may not work with another student nor may they consult with any faculty member without the express permission of the course instructor, and class notes, texts, and readings only may be used in completing and examination; all sources should be referenced and quotations identified.

-In-Class Examination - Unless otherwise specified by the instructor, no assistance may be sought or given by any student, and no notes, texts, or other written material may be utilized during the examination.

The following rules further clarify the student’s responsibilities in all academic work, assignments, papers, examinations, theses dissertations:
- If you use or paraphrase another person’s ideas, you are to acknowledge the source in a proper citation.

- If you use the actual words or expressions of another person or source, including the Internet, you must indicate this through the use of quotation marks and a proper citation. If questions arise concerning proper use of quotations, citations, or bibliography, students should contact instructors.

- You are to provide your own work, not someone else’s, unless explicitly instructed by the instructor. Examples of using someone else’s work include: submitting essays, or portions of essays, written by other people as one’s own; collaborating with others on an assignment or examination without specific permission from the faculty member to do so.

- Students should receive the permission of their instructor before seeking editorial assistance with assignments. In addition, if editorial assistance is received, the name of the person providing that assistance should be indicated in the academic work submitted.

- Students may not submit material prepared for one course, for a second course without having received prior permission from both instructors.

3. Students and faculty are responsible for reporting to the course instructor any acts of cheating observed or otherwise identified or suspected. It will be considered an obligation of all faculty to use these Honor Board procedures in dealing with suspected infractions in their classes, rather than to attempt to deal with them on an individual basis.

Procedures for dealing with alleged infractions
1. Within ten (10) days of receipt of a written complaint addressed to any member of the Steering Committee of the School, the Committee will meet to designate members of an ad hoc Honor Board and will select two co-chairpersons.

2. The Honor Board will consist of an equal number of faculty and students, and there will be two co-chairpersons, one student and one faculty member. All communications may be directed to either chairperson, and they will make decisions jointly (e.g., on dates and on circumstances for meetings and hearings).

3. Immediately following their selection, the co-chairpersons will inform the alleged offender of the charge. Notification will include the nature of the charge, by whom it was made, and the composition of the Honor Board. An early date will be set for a preliminary meeting of the co-chairpersons with the student.

4. A person charged with a violation will be allowed, if he or she so requests, the presence in all proceedings of an advisor, chosen from the student body or faculty of the School.

5. The co-chairpersons will meet with the alleged offender and his/her chosen advisor. If both co-chairpersons and the accused person concur that the allegation is well-founded, and if the co-chairpersons recommend a penalty or course of action which is acceptable both to the offender and the accuser, the matter ends there. If any one of these conditions is not met, a date will be set for a full Hearing of the case before the entire Honor Board.

6. No persons other than members of the Honor Board, those directly involved in a case, and their designated advisors, will be present at the Hearing. One of the co-chairpersons will present the available facts of the case to the members of the Board. The Board will then hear testimony in the following order: the person bringing the charge; the advisor to the accused person; the accused person. Each will testify separately with only Honor Board memb