The Columbia Community Citizenship Initiative starts today!

The Columbia Community Citizenship Initiative (CCI) starts today! The Initiative will help you understand how your choices impact others and help you step into your part of this University-wide commitment to communicating and acting with integrity and respect for others, at Columbia and beyond.

September 26, 2022

Dear Students,

The Columbia Community Citizenship Initiative (CCI) starts today! The Initiative will help you understand how your choices impact others and help you step into your part of this University-wide commitment to communicating and acting with integrity and respect for others, at Columbia and beyond.

The Initiative’s two components – Sexual Respect and Inclusion & Belonging – offer you new skills and the opportunity to contribute to creating an inclusive campus culture. Completion of both components is required to complete CCI.

The Sexual Respect component asks each of us to promote a culture that rejects all forms of gender-based misconduct and empowers students to support eachother and know where and when to get help. The Inclusion & Belonging component is about cultivating inclusion, considering the impact of bias and strengthening resilience – individually and as a community.

Getting started is easy! Check our website for the full schedule of workshops, videos, tutorials and other options.

All students who are new to their Columbia school are required to take the Initiative, and everyone else is welcome and encouraged to participate! Some schools may require you to attend a live workshop or event to fulfill your requirements. Please check in with your school’s Dean of Students office to confirm if there are mandatory workshops.

The Initiative runs from September 26 to November 4, 2022. Get started today!

Upcoming Events

All events are in ET. Here are just a few upcoming CCI workshops to choose from:

  • The Art of the Latinx Rant: A Conversation between Joanna Hausman and Frances Negrón-Muntaner on Identity, Humor, and More
    In-Person and Open to All Students

    Thursday, September 29, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Learn more and register. This event will fulfill the Inclusion & Belonging component of CCI.
  • Bias Reduction Theory & Training: Presentation by Dr. Dana Crawford (Virtual and Open to All CUIMC Students). This event will fulfill the Sexual Respect component of CCI. Monday, October 3, 12:00 - 1:30 PM. Learn more and register.
  • Rethinking Sex–Better than Consent: Lecture & Reception with Author Christine Emba (In-Person and Open to All Student). This event will fulfill the Sexual Respect component of CCI. Monday, October 3, 6:30 - 8:15 PM. Learn more and register.

You’ll receive an evaluation form once you complete both parts of the Initiative. Please share your feedback with us, so that we may continue to improve this program. You can also write to us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Resources for Promoting Social Justice and Combating Bias
University Life is committed to the values of Inclusion & Belonging and Sexual Respect. To support ongoing learning on these topics, we created a set of resources focused on combating bias and promoting social justice.

We’re excited to have you take part in this important Initiative, and we thank you for doing your part to uphold our University’s values.

Take care,

Dennis A. Mitchell, DDS, MPH (he/him/his)
Executive Vice President for University Life
Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement
Professor of Dental Medicine at CUMC