a092_001_208.jpg

Letter regarding academic conduct and diploma signing

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 3:28:03 PM

Added description

Description

Letter regarding academic conduct and diploma signing

Overview

This is a single textual document, cataloged in the PINAX repository (ID 01KA1FKF0Y1C1JBW1EMVT1YAE5). The letter, written in English and dated 1 January 1800, is a primary source concerning academic policy at Columbia University. It is accompanied by a scanned image (a092001208.jpg, 383 KB) with OCR‑extracted text that reproduces the author’s concerns and proposals.

Background

The letter originates from Columbia’s “St. College” (likely a faculty‑run college within the university) and was addressed to the faculty body. The author is unknown, but the document reflects contemporary debates over academic conduct, the validity of diplomas, and the need for formal regulation. The context is early 19th‑century higher‑education governance, when institutions were formalizing standards for student assessment and credentialing.

Contents

The text expresses a refusal to sign an “invalid diploma” and urges the faculty to prevent recurrence of such issues. It calls for a “reconstruction of regulations” and criticizes reliance on resolutions or pledges alone. The OCR excerpt highlights the author’s frustration with “grade‑striving” and “incapacitants,” and stresses the importance of clear, enforceable rules. Key subjects include academic conduct, diploma issuance, faculty responsibility, and institutional resolutions. The letter is concise, written in a formal tone, and serves as a plea for procedural reform.

Scope

The document covers a single episode of academic policy discussion at Columbia in 1800, focusing on diploma validity and conduct standards. It is limited to the concerns of the faculty at St. College and does not address broader university governance or external educational reforms. The letter is a valuable resource for scholars studying early American university regulation, faculty‑student relations, and the evolution of diploma standards.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_academic_conduct:document {title: "Letter regarding academic conduct and diploma signing", creator: "Unknown", institution: @columbia, created: @date_1800_01_01, language: "en", description: "A letter discussing concerns about academic conduct, the signing of diplomas, and the need for changes in regulations to prevent recurring issues.", place: @st_college, subjects: [@academic_conduct, @diploma, @education, @faculty, @resolution]}

@file_a092_001_208_jpg -> contains -> @letter_a092_001_208:document {source_file: @file_a092_001_208_jpg, excerpt: "rescuing or changing my course of view or conduct. I cannot permit myself to be a party any more to the grade‑striving or incapacitants. ... I shall be glad, if not—I cannot be induced to remain for I have full made up my mind never to sign an invalid diploma."}

@st_college:place {institution: @columbia}

@academic_conduct:concept {description: "Standards of behavior expected of scholars and students within an academic institution"}
@diploma:concept {description: "Official document certifying the completion of an academic program"}
@education:concept {description: "Systematic instruction and learning"}
@faculty:organization {description: "Body of academic staff at an institution"}
@resolution:concept {description: "Formal decision or expression of intent by an organization"}
@invalid_diploma:concept {description: "A diploma considered void or improperly issued"}
@reconstruction_of_regulations:concept {description: "Effort to revise or create new academic policies"}

@letter_academic_conduct -> discusses -> [@academic_conduct, @diploma, @faculty, @resolution]
@letter_academic_conduct -> concerns -> @invalid_diploma
@letter_academic_conduct -> calls for -> @reconstruction_of_regulations
@letter_academic_conduct -> addressed to -> @faculty
@letter_academic_conduct -> signed by -> @unknown_author:person {status: "unknown"}

Metadata

Title
Letter regarding academic conduct and diploma signing
Type
Text
Creator
Unknown
Institution
Columbia
Created
1800-01-01
Language
en
Subjects
Academic conduct, Diplomas, Education, Faculty, Resolutions
Place
St. College
Source
PINAX

Files (1)

a092_001_208.jpgJPEG
374.93 KB
OCR Text

rescuing or changing my course of view or conduct. I cannot permit myself to be a party any more to the grade-striving or incapacitants. If any means can be devised to secure herself from such results as have been reached this session, I shall only be too happy & labor on in St. College & for the Cause as heretofore—but a mere resolve & pledge will not assure me: thus we have had before—several probably did so & really have a stronger desire to do right than previous to the voting this Spring. I yet—in my view & in yours too, now, if I mistake not—the faculty immutably proceed to do wrong—what will prevent such things from recurring? Not resolutions—not pledges. One may as many others have done—"resolve & unresolve—time is the same"—If a reconstruction of regulations or any other mode of effecting the object can be devised I shall be glad, if not—I cannot be induced to remain for I have full made up my mind never to sign an invalid diploma.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 3:28:03 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 3:27:12 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 3:26:36 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 3:26:26 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Academic_and_Administrative_Documents"

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