Category Archives: Major memos

MEMO: Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

From: Suzanne B. Goldberg

Special Advisor to President Bollinger on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

In recent weeks and months, Columbia University has taken extensive steps to strengthen our response to all forms of gender-based misconduct, including sexual assault. Building on comments and suggestions from students throughout the past academic year, as well as the ideas of faculty, administrators and staff, new initiatives have been launched and existing programs and resources have been strengthened, all with the aim of creating an environment where students and other community members can flourish free from gender-based misconduct, including sexual violence.

These issues are much-discussed both throughout the University (including within Barnard College and Teachers College) and across the country. Because this discussion is important for informing and engaging the community, I offer this commentary, in my role as Special Advisor to President Bollinger on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, to highlight some of the recent changes, to identify some of what’s to come in the academic year, and to talk about some ways that interested students can get involved.

http://sexualrespect.columbia.edu/gender-based-misconduct-prevention-response-special-advisor-update

MEMO: Opportunity – Earth Institute Student Advisory Council

Dear Students,

Two Journalism School students are eligible to serve on the Earth Institute
(http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/Student Advisory Council whose
role is to develop student and academic activities for the campus around the
issues of earth systems science and sustainable development.

You will serve for one academic year and will receive a $500 stipend.

Members of the Council will assist in the development of events including:
panels, seminars, exhibits, and media screenings. Members will help to
foster relations between student groups, departments, and schools on campus.
They will also advise and assist in the development of professional
resources that will help students gain experience in the field.

If you are interested in joining the council, please complete the
application form at  http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/earthinstitute/

DEADLINE: Monday, September 15, 10 a.m.

MAJOR MEMO: Columbia University – Smoking Policy

Dear Students:

I am writing to inform you of a recent change in the University’s smoking policy. Following a University Senate resolution, smoking is now restricted to 14 designated locations on the Morningside campus. Smoking urns are installed in each area toeasily identify the appropriate location, and to ensure that cigarettes are disposed in the proper waste receptacle. Please view a map of the designated locations [http://policylibrary.columbia.edu/files/policylib/imce_shared/Designated_Smoking_Areas-Map.pdf].

All students, faculty, staff, and visitors are asked to comply with the smoking policy [http://policylibrary.columbia.edu/university-smoking-policy]. As a member of a community, such as ours at Columbia, the respect of individual rights and recognition of personal accountability are highly valued. We ask each community member to act responsibly in observing the smoking locations and to support each other during this time of transition.

If you are interested in learning more about stopping the use of tobacco for you or someone you know, there are many resources available. Smoking cessation programs for students are offered by Columbia Health [https://health.columbia.edu/tobacco-cessation] on the Morningside campus. Information regarding New York State’s smoking cessation program is also available at 1-866-NY-QUITS.

MH

MAJOR MEMO: Registration Instructions

Dear Students,

Below are links to pdfs of the instructions for registration on Monday, July 14.

There are a number of tasks to do in advance of the registration appointment, so please read this document carefully and take action ASAP.

Please be certain to read the correct instructions.  There is a memo for FULL-TIME students and one for PART-TIME students.

AUDITING: Procedure for auditing classes

AUDITING: The requirements for auditing depend on the professor and the school at which the class is being held.

At the Journalism School, auditors pay nothing, may do no work, and receive no mention on their transcripts of having attended. Students simply contact the professor to make a request to sit in.

A professor in any other department is permitted to offer that same arrangement. You may contact any professor directly to see if he/she is amenable.

Some professors in outside departments may ask that you register for “R ” credit. In this case, you will pay for the course, do any work the professor requires, and it will appear on your transcript ( see the “R” section at http://registrar.columbia.edu/content/grade-options for full details).

Please note that taking a class for “R” credit does not count in your accumulation of credits/requirements for graduation.

Major Memo: End Of Year Manual

Use of Journalism Building Facilities After May 21.

Use of Building:

Members of the Class of 2014 will have access to the building and its facilities through June 30, 2014.

Exceptions include: any area under construction, and any classrooms and computer rooms being used for summer classes or special programs. If you are in one of these rooms when a class is scheduled to begin, please leave immediately. Refusal to cooperate may result in the termination of your access to the building.

Equipment
All current fines must be paid by Friday, May 9 or a hold will be placed on your student account. All equipment must be returned to the Equipment Room (507) by Friday, May 16th. Action will be taken to repossess equipment from outstanding checkouts after May 16.

There will be no equipment checkouts from 5/16 – 5/21. (If you will need equipment during this time you must supply a written request from your professor.)

After graduation, students will be allowed to check out equipment, as available, until Friday, June 6th. However, check out of the C100 will require a note from a professor. Please remember that scheduled summer school classes and master’s project students, as well as necessary equipment maintenance upgrades, have priority for equipment and editing rooms.

Please be aware that individual computer rooms will be closed at different times for maintenance and upgrading. Though it is likely, it is not guaranteed that there will always be a computer room or terminal available. Due to maintenance schedules, summer class schedules and the master’s projects, it is possible that you will be unable to use a computer at a specific time. Please use the following online schedule to assist in room space availability, though it is not a guarantee and event or maintenance is currently underway: bit.ly/cujrooms

Student Lockers:
All May graduates must empty their lockers by noon, Friday, May 16.

Continuing part-time students and documentary students may keep their lockers. Graduates who will be working on a demo tape or other approved projects during the month of June may also keep their lockers. To request such a locker extension, please send e-mail to Derek Gano at dg2382@columbia.edu with your name and the reason for your request.

Graduates’ lockers that have not been vacated by noon on Friday, May 16, will be have their locks removed and contents moved to a storage bin and eventually discarded. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES UNTIL YOUR LOCKER IS EMPTIED. All locker questions should be directed to Derek Gano at building@jrn.columbia.edu (must be sent from CU email).

Student Mail Folders:
The mail folders of graduating students may be used until noon, Friday, May 23. All items remaining in boxes after that date will be discarded.

Computer Account and Class Shares:
Access to J-School computer accounts for all graduating students will remain active until June 30, 2014.

All personal server space, class shares and computers (posted below) will be deleted on May 30. Please be sure to backup all of your files to external media (Personal Hard Drives, CDs, DVDs, flash media, iPods, etc.) before your account is deactivated. These shares will no longer be available to you and the data will be unrecoverable. Even if you are not graduating this May please also note these shares will be deleted as they are for class work only, so do not continue to use them. New shares will be provisioned for summer courses.

Shares:

Broadcast
Video
Photo
Radio
City News Room
CNS
International Newsroom
Magazine
Masters
Nightly
Yearbook
Workshop
TVReporting

University Services After May 21

Health Services
Access to Health Services at the University expires on August 31 for all graduating students. For those with major medical health insurance through Columbia (Chickering), coverage ends on August 31 You do have the option of purchasing an extension on this policy. Please see http://health.columbia.edu/student-insurance/about-columbia-insurance-plan for details.

University Libraries
Recent alumni will retain full library privileges, including borrowing privileges and access to licensed electronic databases, for a period of three months beyond the degree conferral date. Access information can be found at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/services/lio/access/. Library Services for alumni can be found at http://www.alumni.libraries.columbia.edu/

Dodge Physical Fitness Center (aka the Gym): You may use the gym over the summer with your current CUID. However, you will have to pay the $91 gym use fee. Beginning in September, you will be eligible for alumni gym use. Please see http://www.dodgefitnesscenter.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9610&ATCLID=205330326

Alumni Benefits and Services
A variety of benefits and services are available to Journalism School graduates. This page answers most of your most questions and concerns, from auditing a class at Columbia to updating your address information, from obtaining a transcript of your time here to using Columbia’s recreational facilities – http://bit.ly/alumni_benefits

Please note that you will automatically be subscribed to your class listserv using the real world e-mail address supplied in your graduation survey (more details en route from Career Services). To update any of your contact information with us or sign up for a regional listserv, use this form:
http://bit.ly/cugsj_update

LionMail: Since all of you began using LionMail while at Columbia, you will be able to continue using your LionMail email account.

Call for Entries: Robert Harron Award

The Faculty is currently accepting nominations for the ROBERT HARRON AWARD.

The ROBERT HARRON AWARD is presented each year to the student (M.S. [FT or PT]; M.A.; Knight Bagehot; Ph.D.) who has demonstrated excellence in writing and reporting as well as exemplary kindness and courtesy to fellow students. It is popularly known as the “nice guy/gal” award.

The award was established in memory of Robert Harron, a former sportswriter and long-time assistant to the presidents of this university, through gifts from his many friends.

While all members of the School (faculty – full-time and adjucts, staff and students) may submit nominations, only students in the Class of 2014 (part-time and full-time, M.S., M.A., Knight Bagehot, Ph.D.) are eligible for the prize, which will be announced with other awards on Journalism Day (this is a separate prize from SPJ’s “Student of the year” and the other awards determined by the Faculty.

A committee will examine the nominations and use the input to pick the winner of the prize. Please understand that this is NOT a popularity contest, and you are not “voting.” You are providing background information on a particular student. The Faculty makes the final decision.

We are looking for concrete examples that describe, as much as possible, the spirit of the award (see first para above), with special emphasis on the exemplary kindness and courtesy to fellow students (while maintaining high academic standards).

Please complete with form (http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Harron/) with a paragraph about the person you are nominating.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Master of Science graduation award.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Master of Science graduation award.

The Richard J. Blood Award For Excellence in Reporting

DEADLINE: Noon, Friday, April 18

Seeking an unpublished investigative, hard-news or news feature story of
publishable quality. Please, no profiles.

*       Submit one article of no more than 1,500 words. Please double-space
entries, and note the word count alongside the headline.
*       A winning entry will overflow with voices, specifics and solid
attribution. Less is more: Leave in only the details that move the story
forward. Make your copy lean, your prose sing and soar.
*       Particular attention will be given to rigorously reported stories
that have the potential to improve social conditions – stories that alert
the community to a danger, explain human behavior, entertain, inform and
educate.
*       You are strongly encouraged to review the article with your
instructor, incorporate any reporting/editing suggestions and rewrite it
before submission.

The award is $500

Please complete this formhttp://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Blood/and attach
your submission by noon on Friday, April 18.

Please note that the competition is for unpublished work, but that articles

that have run on theColumbiaJournalist.org ARE eligible.

We will announce the winner on Journalism Day

This award is administered by the M.S. Class of 1995 Blood Awardcommittee: Stephanie Argy, Raney Aronson, Ellen Butler Bikales, Maria Sanminiatelli and Erin Texeira

*This award is among graduation prizes awarded each year.
Details and application instructions (for those that require submissions) will be distributed at a later date. This one, however, is judged by an alumni committee so has an earlier application deadline.

MEMO: Instructions on Submitting Your M.S. Master’s Projects, Spring 2014

TO: M.S. Students completing the Master’s Project this Spring

FROM: Bill Grueskin, Dean of Academic Affairs

RE: Instructions on Submitting Your M.S. Master’s Projects, Spring 2014

 

The deadline for submitting your finished Master’s Project is Monday, March 24, at 10 a.m.

We will begin accepting completed projects as of Monday, March 10.

All projects must be submitted to Chanel Roche and Evelyn Corchado in 207A.

You will be required to sign your name on the Master’s Project submission log when you turn in your final project. Only those students who received a formal extension from your faculty adviser and the Dean of Students Office have permission to miss this deadline.

All projects (including photos, video & audio) must also be submitted to the Assessment System at http://bit.ly/CUGSJ_Assessment

There are multiple sections of the submission instructions. The portion marked General Instructions applies to all students. There are also sections with specific additional instructions for Hybrid/Video, Hybrid/Photo, Hybrid/Audio and Audio projects.

 

General Instructions:

Please submit your piece (and any other materials as specified by your type of project) in a 9 ½ by 11-inch envelope. This copy will be given to the library. Label the envelope with your name, your class year, the title of your project and the name of your Master’s Project adviser.

Please e-mail a final copy of your project to your adviser. Ask your adviser if he or she also wants a hard copy.

This final version of your project will be available in the Columbia Library, so it must conform to the specific formatting guidelines.

Formatting:

Margins and Numbers: The print version must be double-spaced on one side of white paper, leaving a 1½- inch margin on the left-hand side and a 1-inch margin on all other sides. Pages must be numbered. No binding or staples, please.

Title Page: Include a separate title page with the following information: Your name, class year, the title of your project, the name of your master’s adviser, and, at the bottom of the page in the center, add:

Copyright

(Name of Student)

(Year)

Source List: Submit a complete source list for your project at the end of your project. If you are not certain about the best way to cite a source, consult with your adviser. Be aware that source lists and your entire project, including the “P.S.” portion, will be available for reading and copying by all Journalism School library visitors. If you have confidentiality concerns about sources (i.e. names, phone numbers, personal addresses, etc.), you are responsible for removing the source list from the copy submitted to the Dean of Students Office for the library.

Post Script: At the end of your project, include a first-person narrative describing how you discovered, researched and reported your story. This will help future students see what goes into the making of a successful master’s project. This “P.S.” should be included with all copies of your project after the source list, and should run no longer than 1,000 words. Remember that this post script will be available along with your project in the library.

 

Hybrid/Video Project Instructions

One copy of your print piece per the instructions above for print projects. Please e-mail one final copy of your project to your adviser. Ask your adviser if he or she also wants a hard copy. Include a Post Script and Source List as described above.

One DVD of the video portion of your project. Provide a second DVD directly to your adviser. Label all your DVDs and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser).

 

Hybrid/Photo Project Instructions

One copy of your print piece per the instructions above for print projects. Please e-mail one final copy of your project to your adviser. Ask your adviser if he or she also wants a hard copy. Include a Post Script and Source List as described above.

One DVD of either your audio slideshow or jpgs. If your project includes both, please submit a separate DVD for each presentation. Provide a second DVD (s) directly to your adviser. Label all your DVDs and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser).

 

Audio/Print Hybrid Instructions

One copy of your print piece per the instructions above for print projects. Please e-mail one final copy of your project to your adviser. Ask your adviser if he or she also wants a hard copy. Include a Post Script and Source List as described above.

One copy of your script for the Dean of Students Office, email a second to the adviser, plus a hard copy to the adviser if he/she requests it.

One copy of your project on audio CD for Dean of Students Office, and a second for your adviser. In addition, provide your adviser a copy of the .wav file (i.e. the final mix “bounce,” on a data CD).

Label all your CDs, tapes and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser). Indicate whether CDs are data or audio.

 

Audio Project Instructions

One copy of your script for the Dean of Students Office, email a second to the adviser, plus a hard copy to the adviser if he/she requests it. Include a Post Script and Source List as described above.

One copy of your project on audio CD for Dean of Students Office, and a second for your adviser. In addition, provide your adviser a copy of the .wav file (i.e. the final mix “bounce,” on a data CD).

Label all your CDs, tapes and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser). Indicate whether CDs are data or audio.

 

Your Copy

Keep a copy of your project for yourself. Neither the Journalism School nor the Journalism Library is able to provide on-demand copies of your work.

All projects (including photos, videos and audio) must also be submitted to the Assessment System at http://bit.ly/CUJLearning2013

 

Congratulations!

MEMO: Commencement & Graduation Registration Info

Dear Graduating Students, Just Graduated Students, Spencers, & 3rd semester doc students:

This year’s graduation information page is now live at: http://bit.ly/CUJ14Grad.

Those graduating must register to attend & receive tickets for the University Commencement and the Journalism School Graduation via the separate forms listed below.

You will receive your tickets for both events from the JSchool in early May.

JOURNALISM SCHOOL GRADUATION REGISTRATION/TICKET REQUEST:  http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/gradprogram/

·     * All those graduating must complete this form even if they will not be participating in either ceremony.

·     * Please complete this form before completing the University form.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT:

http://bit.ly/CURegTix

·     * Only those who will be participating in this ceremony need to complete this form.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have not submitted a diploma/certificate application (or graduated in October 2013 or February 2014), you will not be on the graduation ticket eligibility list (so will not be able to log into the university’s registration/ticket request site).  *The 3rd semester doc students have been added manually and do not have to submit a diploma application at this time.

You may check the status of your diploma application in SSOL (https://ssol.columbia.edu/).

If you have not completed the form, please do so immediately AND contact Dean Huff!

http://registrar.columbia.edu/content/application-degree-or-certificate

There will be multiple graduation info sessions in April at which you can ask all of your questions. The dates are listed at http://bit.ly/CUJ14Grad