At The Culinary Institute of America, it is our goal and duty to create a welcoming and inclusive campus that is free of bias and discrimination while fostering respect and consideration. Our students can only grow in an environment that encourages freedom of expression with responsibility and embraces all cultures while celebrating the uniqueness of each individual. This section outlines ways students can protect their rights and help us maintain an enriching campus experience for all students.
Students' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
In order to protect the educational integrity of the CIA student experience and ensure a positive living and learning environment, all CIA students have the following rights and responsibilities. The CIA Student Government Association (SGA) and college administration have both agreed to review this document annually.
- Students have the right to choose a major and receive courses that satisfy their educational goals.
- Students have the right to be treated in a respectful and professional manner in all forms of communication and interaction with college personnel.
- Students have the right to receive information making them aware of opportunities for personal and academic growth within the CIA.
- Students have the right to never be graded on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation, or any protected group or classification under the law.
- Students have the right to learn in an environment free from political, religious, and anti-religious influences[JS1] [ER2] , although understanding that the college encourages appropriate discourse on such matters as a function of its efforts to promote diversity, knowledge, tolerance, and community responsibility.
- Students have the right to be exposed to differing points of view within our industry, including topics that might be currently controversial and/or reflect other practical methodologies.
- Students in the bachelor's degree programs have a right to be given, approximately two weeks prior to online registration, all required information regarding courses and professors. Students in the associate degree programs have a right to view their subsequent semester schedules online two to three weeks prior to the new semester.
- At the New York campus, students have the right to be represented by a democratically elected Student Government Association. Furthermore, students have the right to run for offices for which they are eligible on the Student Government Association without discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation, or any protected group or classification under federal or state law.
- At the New York campus, students have the right to have appropriate issues, questions, and concerns addressed through the Student Government Association. Through the SGA's regularly scheduled open/public meetings, appropriate concerns may be brought to the college's administration for review and consideration. Furthermore, students have the right to be informed on policy changes that involve the student body. At all campuses, students have the right to have appropriate issues, questions, and concerns addressed through members of the college's administration.
- Students have the right to initiate, organize, or join any club, organization, or campus activity, within guidelines established by the college, without discrimination towards age, color, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation, or any protected group or classification under federal or state law. If necessary, hosts of such events will make reasonable accommodations to include all students.
- Students have the right to an appeal process for judiciary and academic issues as outlined within the Student Handbook and Academic Catalog.
- Students have the right to request and receive accurate information regarding their financial obligations to the college. Students shall be provided with a payment policy that is clear and readily accessible through the Student Handbook, Academic Catalog, and CIA Main Menu, the student web portal.
- Students have the right to expect that the college will strive to provide a safe campus community; participating and sharing in this responsibility by observing and practicing appropriate behavior.
- Students have the right to express differences of opinion both inside and outside of the classroom, while acknowledging their responsibility to do so with civility and respect.
- Students have the responsibility to be respectful of all others in the college community, including guests and visitors, and to conduct themselves in a professional manner.
- Students have the responsibility to be respectful of the college's property and the personal property of all members of the campus.
- Students have the responsibility to recognize that student actions, both on and off campus, reflect upon the individuals involved and upon the entire college community.
- Students have the responsibility to recognize the college's obligation to provide an educational atmosphere both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Students have the responsibility to be fully acquainted with the published college student rules and expectations, and to comply with them and all additional government laws and regulations..