Professional Ethics & Conduct

Graduate students in our program, along with all members of our academic community, share a responsibility to ensure our scholarship is conducted ethically, in an environment of mutual respect and trust.  To ensure this, all students should be knowledgeable about, and adhere to, Cornell's requirements for academic integrity and personal conduct. 

Cornell has a Code of Academic Integrity to which all Cornell students, faculty and staff are expected to adhere.

Cornell University, and the Cornell Graduate School, offer a number of in-person and online training courses, related to academic ethics and ethical practices, including the "Responsible Conduct of Research" course all graduate students are required to take before their second semester. More information on the available resources and activities can be found here.

The Department of Astronomy is committed to making our campus a safe place for students and staff and stands by both the Cornell Campus Code of Conduct  and Cornell's policy on protected status (including sexual) harassment. Harassment and sexual misconduct are antithetical to the standards and ideals we have within our community and will not be tolerated. 

We encourage any student with concerns to reach out to the Director of Graduate Studies or Department Chair (or any faculty of staff member to whom they feel comfortable raising their concerns). As part of the University's commitment to maintaining student safety, if a student tells a Cornell employee (faculty, staff or student employee) about sexual discrimination, assault or violence involving members of the campus, generally, that employee has a duty to report this information to the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

The University also offers a number of confidential resources (https://www.share.cornell.edu/getcare/help-anytime/) for individuals who are unsure whether to report prohibited conduct and/or who seek counseling or other emotional support in addition to, or without, making a report to the University.

Concerns about violations of the Code of Conduct can be reported to the Office of the Judicial Administrator. Protected status harassment is prohibited under federal law, and should be reported to Office of the Title IX Coordinator. This includes gender-based harassment, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, or other forms of sexual misconduct. It also includes discrimination and harassment based on an individual's or group's actual or perceived age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation and veteran status.

Other acts of bias, which may not rise to the level of a federal violation, are also not tolerated. All community members may direct questions, concerns, or reports of bias, including acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation to the Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity (607 255-3976 or owdi@cornell.edu). Individuals may file reports by using the online reporting form located at biasconcerns.cornell.edu or by emailing report_bias@cornell.edu.