Appeals Process for Code of Conduct

Students who have been found in violation of the Code of Conduct have the ability to appeal decisions within five business days in writing. Appeals decisions will be made within ten business days of receiving the request. 

  • If the Associate/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs made the conduct decision of the student, the student can appeal to the Dean or Program Director. 
  • If the Dean or Program Director made the conduct decision, the student can appeal to the Provost.   
  • Honor Code Committee conduct decisions are sent as recommendations to the Associate/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the Dean or Program Director to make the decision. Students who are appealing this decision should appeal to the Provost or their designee. 
  • If the Provost (or their designee) made the conduct decision, the student can appeal to the President. 

Appeal Considerations

  • Requests for appeals must be made in writing to the next level of administrator based on who initially heard your case. The appeal must come in writing within five business days of receipt of your initial decision.
  • The appeal must be based on one or more of the following: 1) a significant error in fact that materially impacted the outcome; 2) evidence of demonstrated prejudice by the initial decision maker or the Honor Code Committee that affected the outcome; 3) new material information or evidence that was not available at the time of the consideration of the matter or was not available and could not be made available to the decision maker at the time of their decision; 4) the sanction imposed is extraordinarily disproportionate to the offense committed; and 5) errors of process under the Student Handbook involving your rights that materially affected the outcome of this matter. Any new material or evidence must be submitted with the appeal.   
  • Once an appeal is decided, the outcome is final. Further appeals are not permitted, even if a decision or sanction is changed on remand.

Prohibition of Retaliation

The University prohibits retaliation against any employee or student who, in good faith, reports, rejects, protests, or complains about a Code of Conduct violation. Retaliation is a violation of University policy. The University will not tolerate discrimination, recrimination, or reprisal against any employee or student who reports or participates under this policy in good faith in a related investigation or hearing.

Complaints of retaliation should be reported to the Associate/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs or the Title IX Coordinator if related to sexual misconduct or Title IX. Such complaints will be investigated and handled in a prompt and equitable manner. Any individuals, including Reporting Parties and alleged Reporting Parties, who are determined to have made knowingly false statements during the course of an investigation, may be subject to discipline, which may include termination or dismissal.