Administration

Charter and Statutes

       The Charter is the legal instrument under which the University operates. It defines the manner in which the Trustees are selected and empowers them to act in all matters on the University’s behalf. The University Statutes were adopted by the Trustees and are amended by them as the need arises. The Statutes enumerate the constituent units of the University, their powers, and their responsibilities. The Statutes also describe the types of officers that serve in the University, their duties, and their prerogatives. Of particular importance to officers of instruction are the Statutes that set forth the titles those officers may hold and the policies governing the terms and conditions of their appointments. Most of these policies can be found in Chapter VII of the Statutes, entitled “Code of Academic Freedom and Tenure.”

       The Charter and University Statutes take precedence over the stated rules of the Faculties and bylaws of the departments, and over all administrative documents issued by the various offices of the University.

Stated Rules and Bylaws

       Each Faculty functions under stated rules, and each department and institute according to bylaws that they have adopted and that have been approved by the appropriate dean or executive vice president and the Provost. The stated rules and bylaws define the criteria for membership in the unit and who may vote on its internal affairs; they identify the unit’s chief officers and committees and their respective powers; and they contain provisions for their own amendment.

Trustees

       The University is governed by 24 Trustees, customarily including the President of the University, who serves ex officio. The Trustees appoint the President and other senior administrative officers of the University, and review and confirm faculty appointments as required. They determine the University’s financial and investment policies, authorize the budget, supervise the endowment, direct the management of the University’s real estate and other assets, and otherwise oversee the administration and management of the University. The Trustees have assigned the details of the University’s administration to the President, Provost, deans, executive vice presidents, and other administrative officers, and have given the University Senate certain policymaking responsibilities subject to their reserve powers and other limitations set forth in the Statutes. However, the Trustees retain the final responsibility for the University and authority over all of its affairs.

The University Senate

       The University Senate was established by the Trustees after a University-wide referendum in 1969. It succeeded to the powers of the University Council, which was created in 1890 as a body of faculty, deans, and other administrators to regulate inter-Faculty affairs and consider issues of University-wide concern.

      The University Senate is a unicameral body consisting of 108 members drawn from all constituencies of the University. The President serves as the Senate’s presiding officer. The membership of the Senate can be found online.

       Faculty constitute a majority of the representatives in the Senate. There are 42 tenured and 16 nontenured representatives from Columbia University proper. The powers of the Senate are defined in Chapter II of the University Statutes. Among its powers are the review of the educational policies, physical development, budget, and external relations of the University. Its approval is required to establish or change the conditions for granting most degrees and certificates. Institutes are established by the President on the advice of the Provost and with the concurrence of the University Senate. It monitors policies governing the conduct of faculty, students, and staff, including the Rules of University Conduct.

       Most of the business of the Senate is conducted by its 15 standing committees. There are also three special committees: the Commission on the Status of Women, the Elections Commission, and the Commission on Diversity.

The President

       The President is the chief executive officer of the University. The President is selected by the Trustees in consultation with the Executive Committee of the University Senate. As the chief executive officer of the University, the President exercises jurisdiction over all of its affairs, subject to the control of the Trustees. The President nominates the deans of the Faculties and the directors of the administrative boards; appoints department chairs and directors of institutes and centers; administers discipline in accordance with the Statutes; grants leaves of absence; confers academic degrees and certificates on candidates recommended by the Faculties, administrative boards, and institutes; and awards honorary degrees and University Medals for Excellence. The President also presides over the University Senate and is the chair of every Faculty and administrative board established by the Trustees.

       Assisting the President in administering the University are the Provost, the Executive Vice President for Arts and Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine, and the deans of the Faculties, all of whom are appointed by the Trustees on the nomination of the President.

       Among the other senior officers of administration reporting directly to the President are the following:

• The Senior Executive Vice President of the University works with the President and the University’s senior leadership on long-term planning, human resources, and other strategic issues, with a particular focus on coordination across departments.

• The General Counsel is responsible for all the legal affairs of the University and represents the University in regulatory matters.

• The Secretary of the University serves as the liaison between the senior administration and the Trustees.

• The Executive Vice President for Public Affairs oversees both the Office of Communications and Public Affairs and the Office of Government and Community Affairs.

• The Executive Vice President for University Development and Alumni Relations leads the University’s fundraising efforts and outreach to alumni worldwide.

• The Executive Vice President for University Facilities and Operations is responsible for new building design and construction, public safety, campus services for students, student auxiliary and business services, building and grounds maintenance, and the University’s residential portfolio.

• The Executive Vice President for Finance and Information Technology oversees the University’s budget and financial planning, the Controller’s Office, Student Financial Services, the Registrar’s Office, the Treasury, finance service management, procurement, internal audit, information technology, and the Investment Management Company.

• The Executive Vice President for Columbia Global oversees the Columbia Global Centers, and cultivates relationships with University alumni and international leaders that are essential to the continued development of a global Columbia University.

• The Executive Vice President for Research has overall responsibility for the University’s research enterprise. The Executive Vice President oversees the University’s strategic efforts to strengthen its research programs and extend them into new areas of intellectual inquiry.

• The Executive Vice President for University Life focuses directly on the University as community, with special attention to student life across the University’s many schools. The Executive Vice President convenes students, faculty, and administrators to work together on issues ranging from inclusion and belonging to mental health and wellness to sexual respect and gender-based misconduct.

• The Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education directs the intercollegiate athletics programs of the University, supervises its physical education programs, and manages the University gymnasium.

The Provost

       The Provost is appointed by the Trustees on the nomination of the President. In selecting the nominee, the President consults with the Executive Committee of the University Senate.

       As Columbia’s chief academic officer, the Provost is responsible for ensuring that its programs and academic staff are of the highest quality. The Provost directs academic planning at the University; supervises the work of all academic units and periodically evaluates their programs; and authorizes the appointments of the faculty, officers of research, officers of the libraries, and student officers. In cooperation with other central administrative officers, the Provost also oversees the budgets and financial planning of the Faculties and the creation of administrative services to support the University’s academic activities.

       The Provost develops and administers the University’s policies governing the terms of academic appointment of its officers of instruction, research, and the libraries; decides which members of the faculty should be recommended to the President and Trustees for tenure; promotes excellence and diversity among the University’s academic officers; serves as the University’s chief affirmative action officer; approves academic appointments and salaries; grants sabbaticals and other leaves of absence on behalf of the President; reviews grievances from academic officers, with the advice of the Committee on Faculty Affairs, Academic Freedom, and Tenure of the University Senate in the case of those from faculty; and oversees the University Libraries.

       The Provost exercises these responsibilities directly or through representatives. The Provost directly oversees the activities of the Faculties on the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses and is responsible for various special academic programs, institutes, and centers outside of the Medical Center. The Provost also has authority over academic activities at the Medical Center but primarily exercises it through the Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences.

       The Provost is a member of all Faculties and administrative boards, evaluates the annual reports of their deans and directors on their activities and budgets, and presides at their meetings in the absence of the President. The Provost must approve the stated rules of all new Faculties and administrative boards and the bylaws of newly created departments and institutes as well as all changes to the stated rules of the existing Faculties and administrative boards and to the bylaws of existing departments and institutes.

       The Provost reviews all proposals for changes in academic programs before they are submitted, as appropriate, to the University Senate and the New York State Education Department for approval. These include the creation and elimination of programs and changes in programmatic content that are sufficiently significant as to require authorization beyond the appropriate Committees on Instruction. If a proposed program will be offered in collaboration with another institution, the Provost signs the document that defines the terms of the agreement and the responsibilities of the collaborating parties on behalf of the University.

       The Provost is aided by a staff that includes: the Senior Vice Provost; the Vice Provost for Academic Programs; the Vice Provost for Communications and Engagement; the Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action; the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement; the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; the Vice Provost for the Fourth Purpose and Strategic Impact; and the Vice Provost and University Librarian.

Executive Vice President for Arts and Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

       Reporting to the President and Provost, the Executive Vice President for Arts and Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences supervises the operations of the Faculties, departments, and other academic units in the Arts and Sciences; coordinates their curricular programs; controls their budgets; and reviews and approves all nominations of officers of instruction and research in those departments before they are forwarded to the Provost.

Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine

       The Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), is responsible to the President for planning and policy affecting the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, but reports to the Provost on matters related to academic programs and personnel. The Executive Vice President also supervises the relationship of the University with its affiliated hospitals and other institutions that interact with the Medical Center, and serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

Ombuds Officer

       The Ombuds Officer serves as an independent, informal, neutral, and confidential resource for all members of the University community. The Ombuds Officer assists individuals in exploring options and University resources, provides coaching, and facilitates conversations. The Ombuds Officer does not arbitrate or adjudicate disputes and does not participate in any formal University grievance proceedings. In order to maintain the independence and impartiality of the office, the Ombuds Officer reports directly to the President.

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