Dear Faculty Colleagues:

As some of you may know, there are many pathways at NYU when it comes to buying things, hiring people, engaging service providers, seeking reimbursement and so on.  In order to get you what you need as quickly and efficiently as possible – and to avoid costly missteps which can bog down requests – I’d like to provide you with the following FAQ that might help guide you and inform your planning.  We are here to help you – please just ask anytime you have questions – we welcome that!   

Contact:  Shirley Lin  sl5244@nyu.edu

There is a full NYU purchasing overview at this link  if you really want to dig into it but I have laid out the main points below:

​​https://www.nyu.edu/employees/resources-and-services/financelink/buying-paying.html

iBuy for supplies and equipment purchases:

This is NYU’s procurement and payment system – there are hundreds of approved vendors in iBuy – they offer NYU excellent pricing and service and fast delivery – iBuy is always the preferred way to go.  

If you need an item – a piece of equipment – quickly, before you look elsewhere, please connect with me or Rob to see if it is available via iBuy.

If what you need cannot be found via iBuy we will help you explore other options.

We strongly recommend that you NOT just take it upon yourself to order something without checking with us first.

iBuy for service providers:

There may be times when you want to hire someone to assist you or provide a professional service (ind. contractor) – these kinds of services are also processed via iBuy.

For the above we are required by NYS law to provide the outside Independent Contractor with a simple contract BEFORE the work is agreed upon and executed.   I can help guide you through this process – just ask.

Note – you cannot hire someone to provide a service and pay them via an honorarium – this will be flagged and create problems for the dept.

Paying NYU people for things:

In general we should never be offering NYU colleagues on the faculty or staff payments for services or help  – if you believe you need to pay a full-time faculty or staff member – or an adjunct faculty member for something please speak with the Chair before you commit to anything!   It may not be possible.

Hiring Students:

You must follow the normal pathway for hiring a student – you need to have a budget in place for it, which also covers note only the current rate of pay, but also a substantial amount of fringe benefits (which adds 30% or more to the cost)  – again, I can guide you if this is a direction you wish to go in.

It is never acceptable to invite a student to start working before they have been formally hired and “just get them paid later…”  Please do not do this!

NYU is, first and foremost, a place of teaching, learning, and scholarship.  We draw together faculty, students, administrators, and staff in a scholarly community to pursue our academic aims.  As a community, we necessarily set standards and expectations for the conduct of community members.  The underpinning of all of our conduct rules is to maintain our academic mission, abide by our principles, and safeguard the well-being of all members of the community.

We provide the following examples and explanations of our policies to help the community better understand not only what the rules say, but how they are applied.  Many people in our community have asked for this additional clarity, which we hope is instructive.  We, of course, can’t exhaustively list all of the types of scenarios that would violate our rules, but we hope that this guidance is helpful in enabling each of us to be a contributing member to our scholarly community.  We provide below examples of conduct that are particularly relevant to the issues of the day, including discrimination and harassment based on identity, as well as examples of conduct that may violate other provisions in our student conduct policy, including our prohibitions on threatening and abusive behavior, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, failure to comply, fire safety, guests and visitors, misrepresentation, misuse of University properties, weapons, and residence hall policies.  However, just because an activity is not prohibited does not mean you should do it.  We encourage everyone to be mindful of the impact of their actions on the wider NYU community, and to partake in activities that build bridges across differences, not those that further divide us.

Jump to:

1. Nondiscrimination and anti-harassment
2. Intimidation and violence
3. Behavior during protest activities
4. Classrooms and academic activities
5. Residence halls
6. University activities and events
7. Signs, posters, banners, etc.
8. Social media and online activity
9. Student organization activity

University’s Expectations on Conduct

1. Nondiscrimination and anti-harassment (“NDAH”)

The University’s Non-discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Procedures for Students (the “NDAH” or “NDAH Policy”) is grounded in our legal obligations.  U.S. civil rights laws, including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504, provide that no one should be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in our programs and activities.  These laws afford students these protections no matter their race or national origin; their shared ancestry or ethnicity, including religious identities; their sex or gender identity; their disability; or other identities covered by law.  Our policies – which apply to all students in all schools and locations, including Study Away Sites and Portal Campuses – are designed to comply with our obligations under U.S. and other applicable laws to take action to address discrimination and harassment.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination and harassment based on a student’s race, color, or national origin.  This extends to students who experience discrimination or harassment based on actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, and citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity and their association with this national origin/ancestry.  For example, students of Arab, Hindu, Israeli, Jewish, Latine, Muslim, Palestinian, Sikh, and/or South Asian descent, or any other faith or ancestry, are protected under Title VI. 

Our NDAH Policy defines discrimination as adverse treatment based on an actual or perceived protected characteristic.  Harassment is defined as unwelcome verbal or physical conduct based on an actual or perceived protected characteristic that, from the viewpoint of a reasonable person under all the relevant circumstances, would create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic or residential environment or otherwise adversely affect the individual’s academic opportunities or participation in an NYU program, activity, or benefit. Policy violations occur when discrimination or harassment is based in racism, colorism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, sexism, transphobia, ableism and other forms of bigotry involving protected characteristics covered by the policy.

Some examples of activities that would violate the NDAH Policy include:

• Refusing to work with each other, or the application of any type of “litmus test” for participation in any academic activity, based on identity.
• Targeting someone for harassment or intimidation on the basis of their identity, their religious attire, their name, their language spoken, their accent, or their association with a religious organization or identity-related student club.
• Ostracism based on identity, such as refusing entry to an open event.
• Use or dissemination of tropes about protected groups.
• Calls for genocide of an entire people or group.
• Actions taken against someone based on their field of study, course enrollment, or study abroad participation could provide evidence of discriminatory motive for NDAH purposes–for example, vandalizing the office doors in a particular department tied to the study of a country or region.

Using code words, like “Zionist,” does not eliminate the possibility that your speech violates the NDAH Policy.  For many Jewish people, Zionism is a part of their Jewish identity.  Speech and conduct that would violate the NDAH if targeting Jewish or Israeli people can also violate the NDAH if directed toward Zionists.  For example, excluding Zionists from an open event, calling for the death of Zionists, applying a “no Zionist” litmus test for participation in any NYU activity, using or disseminating tropes, stereotypes, and conspiracies about Zionists (e.g., “Zionists control the media”), demanding a person who is or is perceived to be Jewish or Israeli to state a position on Israel or Zionism, minimizing or denying the Holocaust, or invoking Holocaust imagery or symbols to harass or discriminate.

Expressing views regarding a particular country’s policies or practices does not violate University policy, but if conduct that otherwise appears to be based on views about a country’s policies or practices is targeted at or infused with discriminatory comments, such as in the examples above, then it would implicate the NDAH.  For example, as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has explained, “if a professor teaching a class on international politics references or criticizes the government of Israel’s treatment of non-Jewish people, the nation of Saudi Arabia’s response to religious extremism, or the government of India’s promotion of Hinduism, so long as such comments do not target Israeli, Jewish, Saudi, Arab, or Indian students based on race, color, or national origin, that would not likely implicate Title VI.”

As noted above, these rules apply equally across the board, no matter what the negative reference might be: race or national origin; shared ancestry or ethnicity, including religious identities; sex or gender identity; disability; or other identities covered by law.  For example, in some religious and ethnic groups, such as in some South Asian communities, discrimination based on caste – i.e. a hierarchical classifications or exclusion – would implicate our prohibition on discrimination based on shared ancestry.  Likewise, various outward displays of identity can be part of a protected identity – like natural hair or ethnic attire – and harassment or a group’s (e.g. a student organization, club, journal, etc.) policies or rules that target these displays closely linked with a protected identity would violate our policies.

NYU is committed to the fair and equal application of our NDAH Policy, on the basis of all protected characteristics, as a matter of policy and consistent with our legal obligations.  To learn more about examples that might implicate our NDAH Policy obligations, you can review information from OCR’s websites, such as information linked here, here and here.

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2. Intimidation and violence

The University has zero tolerance for any form of violence, threats, physical altercation or intimidation, and will promptly move to address such issues with action proportionate to the misconduct.  This includes, but is not limited to: calling for violence on campus; calling for violence against NYU, or someone at NYU; or using language advocating for killing people or groups of people, and all relevant synonyms (e.g. eradicate, destroy, massacre, exterminate, etc.).  In addition, maliciously ridiculing someone or exploiting known psychological or physical vulnerabilities or impairments is impermissible.

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3. Behavior during protest activities

The University remains steadfast in its commitment to academic freedom and affirms the right of all NYU community members to peacefully protest.  But dissent and protest, while enshrined by our policies as vital to “free discourse,” must comply with all applicable University policies.  These include specific building rules, rules on fire safety and ingress/egress, rules on disruptive activities, local NYC laws and regulations, and following the directions of Campus Safety or other University staff to prevent a crowd from becoming unsafe or disruptive.  For example, Bobst Library, Kimmel, and the Paulson Center each have a set of published policies that govern the use of those spaces.  Protest participants are responsible for following policies applicable to any and all buildings at NYU.  The time, place, and manner of your protest activities are subject to these rules as illustrated by the following guidance.

NYU’s unique position in the heart of Greenwich Village brings both opportunities and challenges.  Although it is a public space, many of us think of Washington Square Park when we think about NYU’s Manhattan campus.  The Park has historically been a site of political activism, from mourners protesting the working conditions that led to the deadly fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory at the turn of the 20th century, to our own students – as well as other members of the public – using the Park as a point of assembly, protest and activism.  While protest activity within University properties are constrained by the need to not disrupt the core research, scholarly, and educational function of University spaces, protestors may have more latitude in public spaces like Washington Square Park or other spaces around New York City. 

Public spaces like Washington Square Park offer community members a venue to protest with less likelihood of disrupting University activities and running afoul of University policies, all while being visible to the University community and giving those community members who may disagree an opportunity to avoid the protests.  But to be clear: protesting at an off-campus location does not immunize your conduct from University policies.  If your protest activity has continuing adverse effects on campus or in any NYU activity; substantially disrupts the regular operation of the University; or threatens the health, safety, or security of the University community, then University policies would be implicated.

Some ground rules that apply to any protest activity:

• Peacefully protesting on University property is permitted so long as you do not disrupt or interfere with the regular operation of University activities or otherwise violate University policies, such as the NDAH.
• If your activities become loud or disruptive, Campus Safety Officers or other University administrators may ask you to relocate, lower your volume, or stop, in which case you are required to do so.
• All protest participants must follow the direction of Campus Safety Officers and other University staff.  This includes temporarily removing a mask or showing your NYU ID for identification purposes.
• Access to certain locations may be temporarily limited in order to reduce safety risks for members of the University community.

Some protest activities are never permitted:

• Amplified sound (e.g., bullhorns, speakers, musical instruments, etc.) indoors is never permitted.
• Amplified sound outside that is directly adjacent to classrooms, residence halls, or libraries and that disrupts academic or residential activities inside is never permitted.
• Protesting inside libraries is disruptive to study activities and is not allowed.
• Physically accosting someone who is participating in a protest, encircling, blocking someone’s path, attempting to grab or move their signs or equipment, and/or sabotaging their equipment are examples of violations. 
• Encampments and overnight demonstrations are never permitted, indoors or outdoors, at any University location.  Unauthorized overnight demonstrations on University property will be considered trespassing.
• Erecting unauthorized tents, structures, walls, barriers, or other objects on University property is never permitted.

The following protest activities are permitted: 

• Teach-ins, sit-ins, vigils, poetry readings, holding signs that conform to building-specific rules, and handing out flyers are permitted, so long as they do not disrupt or interfere with the regular operation of University activities (e.g. blocking access to entrances or exits of buildings or rooms; preventing others from studying, teaching or conducting research; or disrupting a class or planned University event) or otherwise violate University policies, in particular the NDAH. You may reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students if you have any questions regarding which spaces and times may be appropriate.
• Subject to the limitations regarding classroom and academic activities as set forth in #4 below, wearing or affixing messaging on clothing is permitted so long as the content does not violate the NDAH.
• Displaying movies in public spaces may be permitted with prior approval from the Office of the Dean of Students, subject to building-specific rules. 
• Displaying light projections on any University building or structure is not permitted without prior approval from the Office of the Dean of Students.

All organizers and participants of a protest or demonstration on campus are responsible for the conduct of the event, including the actions of any non-NYU people who are participating in the event, should that occur.  NYU may set restrictions on guests or any non-NYU individuals and/or require them to leave the premises, and those limitations must be followed.  These rules apply to counter-protests as well.  Additional information and resources regarding conduct during protests is available here.

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4. Classrooms and academic activities

Classrooms, laboratories, and other spaces where teaching and learning occur occupy a sacrosanct place in an academic community.  The University will not tolerate interrupting a class session or otherwise interfering with a classroom or related activity.  Conduct that may be permissible elsewhere, such as the holding or placement of banners, signs, etc., is not permissible in the classroom environment.  Staff have been asked to remove all such materials in the classroom environment, regardless of content.

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5. Residence halls

Behavior that disturbs the normal operations of the residence hall living environment – such as excessive sound and blocking ingress or egress – violates student housing rules.  Signs, posters, flags, and banners may not be posted or displayed on the outside of any residence hall building or in windows.  For displays in common areas of residence halls, students must submit requests ahead of time in accordance with the Residence Life Handbook.

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6. University activities and events

Event sponsors are responsible for researching and following the procedures for scheduling events, which vary for different venues.  Events sponsored by NYU community members must be scheduled well in advance of the scheduled event.  All-University clubs (those under the Student Activities Board) must obtain authorization from the Center for Student Life at least seven business days before the scheduled event; ten business days if the club requires reimbursement for expenses; and thirty business days if the event will host a speaker.

We do not permit “heckler’s veto”; it is a violation to interrupt, impede, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with any University event, including student group or club events.  Consistent with the University’s Guidelines for Administrative Implementation of NYU Policies on Speech, Speakers, and Dissent, silent protests that do not interfere with the ability of a speaker to speak and listeners to hear are permissible. For example, you may:

• Hold signs or banners so long as they do not block the view of other attendees, are not affixed to any University property consistent with a building’s relevant policies, and do not contain threats or other content that would violate the NDAH.
• Put tape over your mouth.
• Turn your back to the speaker.
• Stage a walk-out that doesn’t interfere with the speaker’s ability to speak.
• Organize a counter speaker, panel or demonstration.

But you may not:

• Disrupt the program.
• Block entrances or exits or prevent others from entering or leaving the program.
• Obstruct the view of others.

NYU community members may not serve as “proxies” or provide access to non-NYU affiliated individuals or organizations to  use NYU property to organize or host an event on their behalf.

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7. Signs, posters, banners, etc. 

Affixing Signs: Any sign, poster, banner, flier, or similar display must comply with all applicable requirements of the University building or bulletin board at issue; otherwise it may not be posted.  Non-water soluble, semi-permanent, and permanent substances, including but not limited to spray-chalk, spray paint or other forms of paint, stickers, or markers may not be used on any University property and will be considered vandalism.  Any materials affixed to University property in violation of applicable rules will be subject to immediate removal by the University.  Using water-soluble chalk on public sidewalks is permitted, subject to local NYC laws and regulations.

Removing Signs: Individuals may not remove, deface, or cover over a sign or poster that does not belong to them. Please contact Facilities and Construction Management to report a sign on NYU’s property that you believe is in the wrong place or beyond the scope of permissible content; it is a violation to take action on your own.

Sign Content: Signs containing material that discriminates or harasses through their use of bigoted messages or symbols, or that advocate violence against anyone in the University community are violations of the NDAH Policy and our prohibition on threatening or violent conduct.

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8. Social media and online activity

The University does not generally discipline social media content, however, the University may take student disciplinary action for conduct occurring outside the University context, including online, when such conduct substantially disrupts the regular operation of the University; threatens the health, safety, or security of the University community; or results in a violation of the NDAH (such as a hostile environment).  Individuals and groups should take special care to carefully read and understand materials before offering their support or endorsement.  Endorsing or reposting calls for violence or discriminatory content would implicate the NDAH or other University policies and result in disciplinary action.  Social media posts may also be taken into account to establish context or intent, where relevant, in reviewing other forms of misconduct.

Doxxing (i.e. sharing certain private information concerning a fellow member of the community for the purposes of harassment) is prohibited under the Student Conduct Policy.

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9. Student organization activity

Student organizations and their leaders and members may be held both collectively and individually responsible for violations of University policy.  In accordance with the Student Activities Board Policies and Procedures, student organizations may not receive direct funding from non-NYU sources. 

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If you are ever in doubt about whether a planned activity is permitted, you are encouraged to reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students.

In summary, all community members may peacefully protest in a non-disruptive manner.  But if your planned activity disrupts or interferes with the regular operation of University activities, you can expect to be asked to conform your activities to be in line with University policies or to stop.  If you do not, you will face consequences under the applicable policies and procedures.  And if the content of your speech – whether online, affixed to a sign or an item of clothing, chanted at a protest or otherwise – would violate the NDAH, you can expect to be held accountable pursuant to that policy.

Use NYU Connect to:

• Send a Kudos to students who should be recognized for their performance in the classroom, on their assignments, or in extra-curriculars.
• Raise a Flag to inform a student’s network, including academic advisor(s), when a student needs support (i.e. academic issues, attendance concerns, low grades).
• Receive follow-up communications from advisors and other support providers when a concern has been addressed, so you can be sure your students are receiving the help they need.
• Share timely feedback through Midterm Progress reports and Progress Surveys in select schools and courses.

https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-success/nyu-connect/faculty.html

NYU is committed to the well-being and safety of our community. Unfortunately, sometimes incidents occur, and NYU encourages prompt reporting. 

https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/report-an-incident.html

Plans for Student Safety and Well-being

Date:   October 25, 2023
To:       NYU Students
From:  NYU President Linda G. Mills and Sr. Vice President for University Life Jason Pina

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To Our Student Community,

Over the past few weeks our university has been experiencing a great deal of turmoil in response to events affecting our community both near and far. We have heard from many of you who are deeply concerned about your safety. Confident we can be a foundation of civil discourse, we want to emphasize our university’s standing as a place of reflection, free expression, shared respect and security. There is no place for hate at NYU, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. 

In light of this, we are implementing a ten-point plan that addresses both student safety and emotional well-being, always paramount values, particularly amid times of tragedy. 

1. Enhanced Security Measures.

Over the past few weeks, we have increased the presence of Campus Safety officers in Manhattan and Brooklyn, who are available for students should they feel threatened or unsafe, adding 2,000 weekly hours of foot patrols. As of today, we have added another 2,000 weekly hours, totaling 4,000 additional hours. We are also in close communication with the NYPD, and the city has increased police presence in Washington Square Park. In addition, expect to see an enhanced presence of NYPD officers outside key NYU buildings and residence halls. Please reach out to Campus Safety Officers or NYPD should you need them.

2. Enforcing Codes of Conduct.

NYU has been and will continue to enforce our NYU Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for Students and our University Student Conduct Policy, by which all NYU students are expected to abide, as well as our Residential Life Handbook. Threatening behavior, property destruction, and disorderly or antagonizing conduct, among other actions, constitute breaches of these agreements. We have and will continue to discipline those who violate them, while keeping individual cases confidential.

3. Responding to Complaints.

Instances of discrimination or bias can be reported to NYU’s Bias Response Line. BRL staff members will respond within 48 hours. The university has committed additional resources to ensure the timely and comprehensive review of complaints. Reports can be submitted here. The BRL is not an emergency hotline or service. In case of emergency, please contact the NYPD at 911, NYU Campus Safety at +1-212-998-2222, or Wellness at +1-212-443-9999, as appropriate.

4. Opening Difficult Conversations.

Building on the excellent work that the Center for Faculty Advancement has done with the Office of Global Inclusion, Jason Pina, Senior Vice President for University Life, will develop several workshops on creating curricula for engaging in difficult conversations, which will be implemented throughout residence halls in the coming weeks. 

5. Hosting Listening Sessions.

Working closely with Rabbi Yehuda Sarna and Imam Khalid Latif at NYU, our Student Senators Council and others, Linda Mills will be hosting, in conjunction with senior university leaders, listening sessions with students who have expressed concerns about their safety and well-being.

6. Creating Advocacy & Resource Spaces.

NYU is holding a Pop-Up Student Advocacy & Resources Open House to provide students with an interactive and informative time with direct access to valuable resources and expert guidance. These will be held today, October 25, and tomorrow, October 26, from noon to 3 p.m. on the third floor of the John A. Paulson Center. These events will cover topics like safety planning, understanding freedom of expression at NYU, pastoral guidance and care, and, as always, NYU Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) is available to assist with mental health concerns.

7. Campaigning for Mutual Respect.

Today we are launching a campus-wide campaign to promote mutual respect and to affirm that there is no place for hate on our campuses. All students deserve to live and learn in peace. Signage around NYU will point community members toward helpful resources and policies.

8. Offering Education about Antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Starting next Monday, October 30, our Jewish Ally Zone and Muslim Ally Zone workshops will be offered weekly, providing students places to learn about the history of Islamophobia and antisemitism and their impact, as well as to discuss Jewish and Muslim identity and practice.

9. Community Engagement.

In December, NYU will draw on the extensive knowledge and talent of our community to host a week of activities, including performances, talks and conversations, to cultivate community engagement. Additional information will be later made available.

10. Promoting Understanding.

NYU will devote additional resources to the Working Group to Promote Understanding, a collection of interfaith and secular voices across the University formed last spring. It promotes an inclusive culture of religious, spiritual, and secular expression and belief and develops programs and recommendations for best supporting our entire community.

Many at NYU have already been working tirelessly to help students over the past weeks. We believe these additional steps will promote the safety and well-being of our community, which must be cornerstones of higher education and NYU.

Sincerely,

President Linda G. Mills

Sr. Vice President for University Life Jason Pina

General Policy

In general the students who directly benefit from the extra stuff should pay for it when possible.  For instance students are expected to pay admission to any outings and buy their own expendable supplies. We do have shared tools, facilities items for check out that are too expensive for students but these are not “expendable” need to be shared or returned. The potential cost of the class should be stated in the syllabus.

Faculty members can appeal to the ITP administration if:

1. the purchases will benefit each student in the department,
2. there are large bulk discounts on low cost items,
3. there are logistical difficulties with individual purchases.  

Please note – We buy supplies for the Physical Computing foundation classes because all three of those criteria are met.  For elective classes the first criteria is not as easily met.

Stocking for Physical Computing

Students in Intro to Physical Computing and IMA Creative Computing will receive the following parts in class from their instructors in the first class:

• Arduino Nano 33 IoT
• Breadboard
• Jumper wire kit

The ITP shop stocks a number of electronics components, including potentiometers, pushbuttons, phototransistors, resistors, capacitors, voltage regulators. These are available for students to take as needed. Please take only what you need for a given class exercise, as stock re-supply is not fast, and we want to make sure everyone has the parts they need. Please inform shop staff if a given part is out of stock.  It is possible to do all of the lab exercises in the intro classes with parts we have in shop stock, or in checkout.

Beyond this, students are expected to supply electronics parts for their projects.  It’s not possible to anticipate every possible component that every project might need. However, we try to stock items to help you try things before you buy. Always consult with your instructors, shop staff, and research residents on how to choose the most appropriate and economical parts for your projects.

The shop also has parts available for check-out with an NYU ID, just like the equipment room. These include microcontrollers, advanced sensors, and items which may be specific to various advanced classes. These must be returned after use, just like equipment room stock.

There is a limited stock of components faculty and staff discretionary use. These are meant for loan to students so that you can try out a given component. If you’re considering a part for your project, talk to your instructor or a resident researcher in advance. They can advise whether it’s the right part for the job, and if there’s one available for loan on the floor, they can procure it. These should be returned to whomever loaned them to you when done.

Please watch the film Accommodation. 

The Moses Center for Student Accessibility (CSA) determines qualified disability status and assists students in obtaining appropriate accommodations and services. CSD operates according to an “Independent Living Philosophy”, and strives in its policies and practices to empower each student to become as independent as possible. Our services are designed to encourage independence, backed by a strong system of supports.

726 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-998-4980
Fax: 212-995-4114
e-mail: mosescsd@nyu.edu

Useful Highlights For Faculty

Disability Higher Education functions under a “self identification” concept. It is the responsibility of the disabled student to request reasonable accommodations and to manage the use of their accommodations.

Reasonable Accommodations are provided free of charge for students who are eligible to attend, enroll or benefit from the University’s programs, services, and activities.

Accommodations are provided on an individual basis dependent on the need for services, request for reasonable accommodations, documentation of disability and program requirements

Common Examples of Reasonable Accommodations

• Extended or double time on in-class exams and assignments
• A smaller proctored testing environment
• Supplemental class notes
• Tape recording lectures
• Use of a computer for exams or in-class note-taking
• Accessibility
• Sign language interpreters or other communication services
• Housing
• Foreign Language Substitutions ( are courses essential to the degree or program)

Examples of Accommodations that are Not Reasonable

• Extensions on deadlines for assignments/papers*
• Tutoring
• Exams in an alternate form (oral instead of essay or multiple choice)
• Course Exemptions
• Extra course absences (attendance policy is essential to the degree, mandatory for all students, discretion of faculty)*

* although Moses no longer offers these accommodations, students who have received them in the past have been grandfathered in. The language of each accommodation has changed to offer the faculty more structure.

Tips to Faculty

Include a statement regarding accommodations in your syllabi. This message should simply state, “If you are a student with a disability and feel you need accommodations, you must register with the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities. They are located at 726 Broadway, 2nd fl. and can be reached at 212-998-4980 or mosescsd@nyu.edu.”

If a student tells you they have a disability, they may not feel comfortable disclosing what the disability is. Do not ask. Whatever the discussion, listen and then refer the student to CSD.

Any information the student tells you must remain confidential. Conduct all disability-related meetings in a private location.

Do not accept disability documentation. This information is confidential and should be on record only in the CSD office.

If you choose to provide testing accommodations for students with disabilities who provide you with an official CSD accommodation letter, collaborate with CSD. We can offer helpful hints for providing effective accommodations.

If a student does not provide you with an accommodation letter from CSD but they request an accommodation such as extended time, check with us to make sure the student is in fact entitled to the accommodation. Not all students with disabilities are registered with the office.

If a student fails an exam because he/she chose to take it without their accommodations, you are under no obligation to offer them a make up or another assignment to supplement the grade. Accommodations are not retroactive.

Contact the student’s disability specialist if you are uncertain what is appropriate.

From the University Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays:

1. Students who anticipate being absent because of any religious observance should, whenever possible, notify faculty in advance of such anticipated absence.
2. Whenever feasible, examinations and assignment deadlines should not be scheduled on religious holidays. Any student absent from class because of his/her religious beliefs shall not be penalized for any class, examination, or assignment deadline missed on that day or days.
3. If examinations or assignment deadlines are scheduled, any student who is unable to attend class because of religious beliefs shall be permitted the opportunity to make up any examination or to extend any assignment deadline missed on that day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the University for making available to the student an opportunity to make up examinations or to extend assignment deadlines.
4. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student who avails him/ herself of the provisions of the resolution.

A violation of these policies and principles shall permit any aggrieved student to bring a grievance, provided under the University Grievance Procedure.

At ITP / IMA / NYU, regular class attendance is an important component of academic success. For this reason, we ask for all instructors and students in our department to please abide by the following class attendance guidelines for each program:

Guidance from NYU Senior Leadership on Student Absences Due to Illness effective 9/1/23:

1. For reasons of medical efficacy and equity, we ask that faculty please take students’ reports of illness at face value and excuse short-term absences without requiring a doctor’s note. Our hope is to avoid having students spend effort, time, and (in some cases) money obtaining documentation associated with a doctor’s visit that may be not clinically necessary nor facilitate their recovery. (For this reason, the NYU Student Health Center does not routinely issue doctor’s notes.)

2. It is reasonable to expect students to notify you if they will not be participating in classes due to illness, but you should not ask students to divulge their private health-related information. Starting in Fall 2023, the Office of the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students will remind students each semester that they must notify their instructors in the event of an illness-related absence from class. Unexplained absences can be considered “unexcused” and handled in accordance with your class attendance policy.

3. Up to one calendar week’s absence from class due to illness should be excused. Unless related to chronic conditions, short-term absences typically do not involve formal accommodations via the Moses Center for Student Accessibility. You should direct a student experiencing a short-term illness towards any alternative forms of class participation or engagement that you have identified, e.g., reviewing notes or slides posted on NYU Brightspace, getting notes from other students, viewing class recordings (if available), or attending virtual office hours. Please keep in mind, however, that some recovery period may be necessary before the student is able to engage fully with these kinds of course resources.

4. When a student needs to miss more than one week of class, or has had repeated short-term absences, you should raise an “Excessive Absences” flag in NYU Connect. When you raise this flag, you will have the opportunity to provide comments that will support meaningful student outreach. These comments will not be shared with the student, just with those individuals in the student’s home school who can support them. (Faculty teaching Stern graduate courses should contact the academic advising team directly.) The goal of this action is to ensure that there is a coordinated effort to enable the student’s academic progress in all of their courses. We also remind you that, if you become aware of a mental-health issue, you should call the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 or email them at wellness.exchange@nyu.edu. You can also raise a flag in NYU Connect, but this will be received by the student’s advisor first. If there is a known time sensitivity, please alert the mental health professionals directly.

ITP’s Attendance Policy:

After the first two weeks of the add/drop period, effective in week three onward, students are permitted the following number of unexcused absences:

• For 14-week, and 12-week, full-term courses, up to two unexcused absences are permitted.
• For 7-week, and 6-week, half-term courses, up to one unexcused absence is permitted.
• For shorter term courses, (1.0-unit weekend courses, or courses meeting less than six times) no unexcused absences are permitted.

Exceeding these unexcused absence guidelines is grounds for automatic failure.

Course instructors are permitted to grant additional “excused” absences, at their discretion, provided the student has given advance notice, and is willing to make the necessary arrangements to get caught up on any missed materials and/or assignments.

IMA’s Attendance Policy:

At most two unexcused absences while you are enrolled in the course will be tolerated without effect to your grade.  Any more than two unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your final grade by one whole grade for each unexcused absence.  For example, three unexcused absences will result in your highest possible grade being a B instead of an A. Four unexcused absences will result in your highest possible grade being a C and so on.  Six unexcused absences will result in an automatic F for the course. Two late arrivals (more than 10 minutes late) will count for one absence.  

Any classes you miss due to not being enrolled during the drop/add period are not counted as absences. If you are on the waitlist for a class you should attend during this period or risk being dropped from the waitlist.

Adjustments to the above policy are made by individual faculty members based on the nature of the class, the meeting pattern, and length of the class.  The final policy for each class may be found on the syllabus for that class.

FYI – this policy also lives on the general student-facing Help site here.

How to Submit Grades

For information on how to add final and midterm grades:
https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/registration-records-and-graduation/for-faculty-and-staff/faculty-grading.html

Grading and Academic Probation

This policy is also listed on the ITP Help site for all students to view – see: Grading and Academic Probation.

Grading Bases for Our Programs

• For (ITPG-GT) ITP graduate courses, students receive pass / fail grades.

• For (IMNY-UT) IMA NY undergraduate courses, students receive letter grades (except for Code! / Code! 2).

• For (IMALR-GT) IMA Low Res. graduate courses, students receive pass / fail grades.

Midterm Grades

Instructors teaching undergraduate courses will complete Midterm Progress reports using NYU Connect. These reports will let students know if their progress is strong, satisfactory, or of concern, replacing the current process of uploading a midterm grade to Albert for undergraduate courses.

ITP Policy On Grading and Academic Probation

ITP students are expected to work to a high level of accomplishment — and are expected to earn a grade of PASS in all ITP courses. Specific grading criteria are outlined in the syllabus for each ITP course — common requirements are attendance at all class meetings, no unexcused absences, arriving for class on time and fully prepared, regular participation in class discussion and critiques, delivering assignments by the assigned date. We recognize that ITP majors are often engaging complex, technical material for the first time — therefore we value the effort that a student puts into their course work. We are not always looking for mastery of the material but we do require that a student show a deep understanding of the material — just making the effort and attending the class meetings may, in and of itself, not result in a passing grade. This will be determined by each individual ITP instructor in his/her course.

ITP students who receive a FAILING grade in one class may be placed on Academic Probation. This may have implications on such things as scholarship aid. Furthermore, students whose records indicate that they are not making normal progress toward their degrees (i.e., are completing less than 32 points during the academic year) may be placed on probation.

Two failing grades may result in dismissal from the program.

Student records are reviewed following the fall and spring semesters. Students placed on probation will be informed of their probationary status by email. Students placed on probation will have their records reviewed the following semester. Students whose records fail to meet the school minimum standards or departmental requirements for good standing are subject to dismissal.

Statement from Former ITP Chair Dan O’Sullivan on the Transition to Pass/Fail in 2008

The ITP faculty, after a great deal of thought, decided to move ITP to a Pass/Fail grading system beginning in the Summer 2008 semester.

This policy is also listed on the ITP Help Site, see: ITP Pass/Fail policy.

Who will this effect? 

This effects all ITP students who began the program in or after the Summer of 2008.

Why did you have to change it? 

In the non-competitive environment of ITP, we found that the actual variation in grading was not much more than is more clearly expressed in pass/fail. For the collaborative, project-based work at ITP, it is difficult to very precisely quantify those small variations and with such a diverse faculty we found it difficult to maintain consistency across classes. A-F system is often used to “grading on a curve” but at ITP we grade against your individual progress. We found that the letter grading was misleading and distracting without adding much value. For the students that did find motivation and affirmation in grades, we want them to find better sources of it. This decision was made after a great deal of thought among the full-time and adjunct faculty, many ITP alumni among them.

How will I be rewarded for doing extra work? 

The intrinsic value of the work should motivate you. We found that our best students seemed unconcerned with grades. As in the world you get fired or you don’t, but people find many ways of distinguishing themselves beyond staying employed. Even for class assignments, our students quite often find the feedback and appreciation of audiences and users a better incentive than a single professor’s opinion. We will also encourage more ways to exchange feedback in a narrative form from both professors and peers (eg. blogs).

How will my transcript look? 

We seldom have any request for employers to look at your grades. For further study other institutions are unimpressed with straight A’s from a graduate school (unlike undergrad grades) and used to Pass/Fail. Your portfolio and recommendations are what they look at.

What is the threshold for failing? 

Earning a C grade in the previous system would be a failure in the new system. In the prior system we said that you had to maintain a B average to stay in the program. This system is a bit more strict in that you have to get a B in the class to get credit for it.

Okay so then what got me a C in the old system? 

Because we encourage you to risk failure by stretching to make bridges outside your known interests and aptitudes we cannot, in general, hold you to any absolute level of achievement in any area. Instead, you are graded on effort and progress in the quality of your work. There are some objective measures of your effort for instance missing more than two classes or being chronically late, missing two interim assignments or presentations or one large assignment like the final project or a complete lack of in-class participation might be clear indicators of a failure in the effort. Classes are structured differently so professors will provide a syllabus indicating the requirements and their relative importance. Ultimately the progress in the quality of your efforts is usually a subjective judgment by the professor but students will be given notice when the quality of their work is marginal or failing.

What does this mean for my scholarship? 

A pass equates to a B average or better which is required for some scholarships. You will have to get a pass in all your classes for scholarships that are contingent on maintaining grades.

What happens if I fail a class?

Incompletes and extensions are only granted in cases of extreme eternal problems such as serious illness or family emergencies. When you fail a class you do not get credit for it and forfeit the tuition. If it is a required class you will need to repeat it. You will be placed on academic probation after failing one class. You will be asked to leave the program after two fails.

Incompletes

This policy is also listed on the ITP Help site, see: Policy on Incompletes.

Tisch School of the Arts Policy on Grades of Incomplete

Students are expected to complete all coursework by the end of each semester. If, for compelling reasons, such as illness or a family emergency, a student is unable to complete coursework by the end of the semester, he or she may request a grade of Incomplete. To do so, the student must fill out an Incomplete Request Form, which can be obtained in his or her department’s office, the Office of Student Affairs, or online at http://students.tisch.nyu.edu/, and bring it to the instructor for his or her approval before the last day of classes. The awarding of a grade of Incomplete is at the discretion of the instructor and is not guaranteed.

If the instructor agrees that a grade of Incomplete is warranted, he or she will specify on the Incomplete Request Form the deadline by which outstanding work must be completed, not to exceed the end of the semester following the course, as well as the final grade the student will receive if the outstanding work is not completed by the deadline. The Incomplete Request Form will be registered with the department sponsoring the course and a copy will be provided to the Office of Student Affairs. If the incomplete work is not completed within the designated period, the grade will lapse to the final grade indicated by the instructor. Final grades cannot be changed except in cases of faculty or administrative error.

If a student has good reason for not being able to complete the outstanding work in the specified period, he or she may apply for an extension by the instructor. In order to receive an extension, the student must fill out an Extension on Completion of Work Outstanding form, available in the department, the Office of Student Affairs, or online at http://students.tisch.nyu.edu/, and submit the form to the instructor, who will then decide whether or not to grant the extension. Requests for further extensions must receive the approval of the associate dean for student affairs.

Please remember that it is the student’s responsibility to request the grade of Incomplete and that instructors are not obliged to grant an Incomplete. Note that outstanding grades of Incomplete do not count as earned credit hours and therefore may affect registration time and/or eligibility for financial aid. Students with more than one grade of Incomplete in a semester may be placed on academic probation.

This policy is listed on the official Tisch website, see: Tisch Academic Integrity Policy.

Academic Integrity

The core of the educational experience at the Tisch School of the Arts is the creation of original academic and artistic work by students for the critical review of faculty members.  It is therefore of the utmost importance that students at all times provide their instructors with an accurate sense of their current abilities and knowledge in order to receive appropriate constructive criticism and advice.  Any attempt to evade that essential, transparent transaction between instructor and student through plagiarism or cheating is educationally self-defeating and a grave violation of Tisch School of the Arts community standards.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s original work as if it were your own.  More specifically, plagiarism is to present as your own:

• a sequence of words quoted without quotation marks
• a paraphrased passage from another writer’s work
• ideas, sound recordings, computer data, or images composed or created by someone else.

Students are expected to build their own work on that of other people, just as professional artists, scholars, and writers do.  Giving credit to the creator of the work you are incorporating into your own work is an act of integrity; plagiarism, on the other hand, is a form of fraud.  Proper acknowledgment and correct citation constitute the difference.

Cheating

Cheating is an attempt to deceive a faculty member into believing that your mastery of a subject or discipline is greater than it really is by a range of dishonest methods. Examples of cheating include but are not limited to:

• using notes, books, electronic media, or electronic communications in an exam without permission
• talking with fellow students or looking at another person’s work during an exam
• submitting substantially the same work in multiple courses without the explicit prior permission of the instructors
• submitting work previously created for another course without the instructor’s knowledge and approval
• fabricating a citation or using a false citation
• purchasing a paper or hiring someone else to write a paper for you
• having someone take an exam for you, or taking an exam for someone else
• allowing another student to present your work as his or her own
• altering or forging academic documents, including but not limited to admissions materials and medical excuses
• unauthorized collaboration on work intended to be done individually.

Investigation of Alleged Violations

If an instructor has reason to believe that a student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy, he or she should meet with the student as soon as reasonably possible to present the evidence of the alleged violation and hear the student’s response.  When necessary, the meeting can be conducted by telephone.  If the alleged violation is discovered after the term has ended, the faculty member should enter a grade of incomplete (“I”) until the matter is resolved.  Once an investigation is begun, the student may not withdraw from the course.

All confirmed violations of the Academic Integrity Policy must be reported in writing to the department chair and the associate dean for student affairs.  The written report should include details of the offense, the student’s response, the faculty member’s conclusions, and any penalties imposed (see below).

Penalties

Penalties for violations of the Academic Integrity Policy may range from being required to redo an assignment to dismissal from the School.  For example, if after meeting with the student the instructor concludes that a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy did occur, he or she may require the student to completely redo the assignment; assign a grade of F for the assignment, and factor the failing grade into the student’s final grade for the course; or assign a grade of F for the course, although this must be done in consultation with the department chair.

The associate dean for student affairs may initiate further disciplinary action against a student found in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, depending on the severity of the violation and whether the student has had prior disciplinary violations.  Penalties may range from a formal warning to disciplinary probation to suspension or dismissal from the School.  (For further information about discipline at the Tisch School of the Arts, see the section entitled “Discipline” in the Tisch School of the Arts Policies & Procedures Handbook.)