I am writing to provide additional detail and clarity on the Student Code of Conduct and Procedures review process, announced a month ago. In this letter, I share several points to help clarify misperceptions.
We are following established processes as outlined in the Code
The framework for this process is clearly outlined in pages 2 and 3 of the Student Code of Conduct. We are following that process as it is outlined and have sought to make it even more inclusive, in several ways, than is required by the Code, which I explain below.
This will evolve into a standing committee and ongoing process
The intention is for this process to be ongoing through a standing committee that reviews the Code regularly. This will be the approach going forward, despite this being the first time the committee has been formed since the new Code took effect in August 2021. Members will necessarily change as students graduate or move on from their elected positions, or faculty and staff shift their work responsibilities, but the work of the committee will be ongoing.
This is not a wholesale overhaul of the Code and Procedures or the 2020 trustee decision
We will look at the past four years of experience with the current Code and Procedures and invite proposed amendments based on the lessons learned over that time, now that over 3,300 reports have been received under this version of the Code and Procedures.
The process will be transparent, inclusive and not rushed
Fall Semester
Over the course of the fall semester, we will look for opportunities to hear from the community on what they think is working or not working with the Code and Procedures, and we will engage in community listening sessions to obtain this feedback. We invite the assemblies to share proposed amendments. The assemblies are valuable forums to debate matters like this and elevate the voices of their respective communities. The committee will take this feedback, analyze it and then share any proposed changes for a public comment period.
Spring Semester
The public comment period is planned to be approximately six weeks and, if we can keep to our planned schedule, will be at the beginning of the spring semester. We will engage in additional listening sessions during the public comment period if there are proposed amendments that lack clarity or are disputed within the community. This will be another important time for assemblies to weigh in on any proposed revisions.
Once all of this is done, a revised draft of the Code and Procedures will go to the President, where he will determine whether to accept the recommendations. Our goal is to have this concluded by the end of the spring semester.
There are recent examples where this process format has worked
It is the intent that this overall process mirrors very closely the one used for the revision of the Expressive Activity Policy, led by Dean Colleen Barry last academic year. Relatedly, that committee made some important observations related to the Code and Procedures, which we intend to consider in this review.
Your involvement is welcome
I encourage anyone who has questions about the Code and Procedures or wants to know how to get more involved in this process to reach out. We have created a website and an email address to promote transparency and ease of providing feedback, which you can find here.
Ryan Lombardi is the Vice President of Student and Campus Life. Since acquiring the role in 2015, he has overseen the student experience outside of the classroom. His office can be reached at ryan.lombardi@cornell.edu.
