Whistle Blower Policy

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art prohibits retaliation against any person who provides truthful information to Cooper Union concerning any financial impropriety or other serious misconduct such as sexual harassment by any employee of The Cooper Union. Serious misconduct is defined, for purposes of this policy, as conduct that violates any law or any written policy of The Cooper Union.

Any person who 1) has witnessed or reasonably believes that he or she has evidence of such misconduct, or 2) believes that he or she has been the subject of prohibited retaliation, is strongly encouraged to report immediately the facts forming the basis of that belief or knowledge to his or her Dean or supervisor. Alternatively, the person may report such misconduct or prohibited retaliation by submitting a written charge to whistleblower@cooper.edu.

Upon receiving such a complaint, Cooper Union will promptly conduct a thorough investigation. Those responsible for the investigation will maintain the confidentiality of the allegations of the complaint and the identity of the person(s) involved, subject to the need to conduct a full and impartial investigation and remedy any violations of Cooper Union policies. The Chair of the Audit Committee will be fully informed of all complaints.

In the event that an investigation establishes that Cooper Union or any Cooper Union employee has engaged in such misconduct or prohibited retaliation, The Cooper Union will take prompt and appropriate corrective action.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.