A Campus Culture Shaped by You
Dear Students,
The Community Citizenship Initiative (CCI) starts today and continues through November 8! I write to share information about this initiative and how to participate.
Who is the CCI for?
All students who are new to their school at Columbia are required to take the initiative, and all continuing students are welcome and encouraged to participate.
What is the Community Citizenship Initiative?
The Community Citizenship Initiative (CCI) is a series of workshops, trainings, self-directed projects, and events exploring what it means to belong to and co-create an inclusive University culture.
It consists of two parts – Inclusion & Belonging and Sexual Respect. The goal is to empower you to support one another and provide you with information on where and when to get help if you need it.
Inclusion & Belonging is about cultivating an inclusive community, considering the impact of bias, and strengthening resilience – individually and as a community. Our value of Sexual Respect asks each of us to promote a culture that unequivocally rejects all forms of gender-based misconduct.
Why does this matter?
You began to learn about these topics as part of your orientation program. Now that you are here on campus, we’re asking you to delve deeper, put your knowledge into practice, and reach out for support if you need it. Each one of you is an important member of our community, and the way you treat one another will leave imprints on individuals and our broader campus culture.
How do I get started?
You can complete the modules via the self-paced Courseworks pages below. On Courseworks you’ll find a variety of options to participate, including video/podcast collections, online tutorials, and independent projects. If you’re more interested in live discussions, you can find a full schedule of workshops and events on our website.
To complete the initiative, select one option for Inclusion & Belonging and one for Sexual Respect. *Participation in both components is required for all new students.
*Please note: Your school may require you to attend a live workshop to fulfill your requirements. Please check in with your school to confirm if there are mandatory workshops.
Inclusion & Belonging Courseworks Pages
Sexual Respect Courseworks Pages
Upcoming Events That Fulfill a CCI Requirement
All events below are in ET, open to all students, and fulfill one of the two requirements for the Community Citizenship Initiative. Keep an eye out for more events in our weekly Tuesday newsletters.
- ‘American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous’ Talkback
Thursday, September 26, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Fulfills the Inclusion & Belonging component. - Campus Conversation: Story of Your Name
Tuesday, October 8, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fulfills the Inclusion & Belonging component. - Speak Now: David Henry Hwang and Leigh Silverman on "Yellow Face"
Wednesday, October 30, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Fulfills the Inclusion & Belonging component.
A Few Key Resources
- Columbia Health Sexual Violence Response
- Sexual Respect and Title IX Information
- Promoting Inclusion & Belonging at Columbia
- Report a Concern
Thank you for doing your part to make Columbia an inclusive environment for all. Our campus culture is shaped by you.
If you have questions, feedback, or need assistance you can reach our team at [email protected].
Take care,
Melanie J. Bernitz, M.D., M.P.H. (she/her/hers)
Interim Executive Vice President for University Life
Senior Vice President for Columbia Health