Alabama · Public University
Auburn University at Montgomery Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Office of Accountability & Advocacy (Dean of Students) proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know AUM's specific process, not generic advice, but guidance built around how your institution actually works.
⏱ At AUM even a first violation can result in suspension, denial of a degree, or expulsion, and the appeal windows are just seven working days. Because AUM runs on its own codes — not Auburn's main-campus rules — getting advice specific to AUM early is essential.
If you just received notice
What to do right now at AUM
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and calendar every deadline it lists. AUM's response and appeal windows are short, and missing one forecloses your options.
- 2Do not respond substantively yet. Before you reply to the Office of Accountability & Advocacy (Dean of Students), read Student Discipline Code / Student Academic Honesty Code so you know the specific procedure that applies to your case.
- 3Preserve everything related to the allegation: emails, drafts, timestamps, citations, and messages with classmates. This evidence often decides the case.
- 4Confirm your right to an advisor. Most schools, including Auburn University at Montgomery, allow you to bring an advisor to a Office of Accountability & Advocacy (Dean of Students) proceeding. AdvocatED can serve in that role.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your AUM meeting. We will explain how the Office of Accountability & Advocacy (Dean of Students) approaches cases like yours and what response gives you the strongest position.
Auburn University at Montgomery's Academic Integrity & Conduct Process
AUM — a separate institution from Auburn's main campus, with its own Chancellor — runs two tracks. Non-academic misconduct goes through the Office of Accountability & Advocacy under the Dean of Students, heard by an individual officer or the AUM Committee on Discipline. Academic dishonesty runs under the Student Academic Honesty Code, where the instructor initiates, an Academic Honesty Committee hears contested cases, and the Provost makes the final decision. Both tracks use the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard.
This specific institutional knowledge is what separates AdvocatED from generic advisors. We provide guidance tailored to how AUM's actual process works, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Key Things to Know About AUM's Office of Accountability & Advocacy (Dean of Students)
- →AUM is a separate, independently accredited institution from Auburn University's main campus, with its own Chancellor and its own codes
- →Non-academic cases go through the Office of Accountability & Advocacy and the AUM Committee on Discipline; academic cases run under the Student Academic Honesty Code with the Provost as final decision-maker
- →Both tracks use the preponderance-of-the-evidence ('more likely than not') standard
- →Even a first violation can bring suspension, denial of a degree, or expulsion — and a recommendation of expulsion by the Committee on Discipline must be unanimous
- →Conduct appeals go to the Dean of Students within 7 working days on three grounds; academic appeals go to the Provost within 7 working days
- →The highest internal appeal in both tracks runs to the AUM Chancellor
How AdvocatED Helps AUM Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
Student Discipline Code / Student Academic Honesty Code violations, plagiarism, cheating, AI use, collaboration issues
Learn more →Conduct Hearing Preparation
Coaching and preparation for presenting your case before Office of Accountability & Advocacy (Dean of Students)
Learn more →Academic Dismissal Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through AUM's appeals process
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating Auburn University at Montgomery's Title IX investigation and hearing procedures
Learn more →AUM Resources & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions: AUM Students
Is AUM the same as Auburn University?
No. Auburn University at Montgomery is a separate, independently accredited institution with its own Chancellor and its own Student Discipline Code and Academic Honesty Code — it is not governed by Auburn University's main-campus procedures. Applying Auburn (auburn.edu) rules to an AUM case is a common and costly mistake. We make sure your defense is built on the codes that actually apply to you.
Who decides my case at AUM?
It depends on the type of case. Non-academic misconduct goes through the Office of Accountability & Advocacy under the Dean of Students, and can be heard by an individual officer or the AUM Committee on Discipline (faculty, staff, and students, with five members required to hear a case). Academic dishonesty runs under the Academic Honesty Code, where the instructor initiates, an Academic Honesty Committee hears contested cases, and the Provost makes the final decision.
What standard of proof does AUM use?
Both AUM tracks explicitly use the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard — whether it is 'more likely than not' that a violation occurred. It is a far lower bar than the criminal 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard, so a student can be found responsible on a close factual record. Building and presenting that record carefully is where these cases are won or lost.
Can I be expelled for a first offense at AUM?
Yes. AUM's Discipline Code expressly provides that even the most severe sanction — suspension, denial of a degree, or expulsion — can be imposed on a first violation. There is one important safeguard: a Committee on Discipline recommendation of expulsion must be unanimous, and a student may ask the Chancellor to review an expulsion. Because the exposure is so high from the outset, an early, serious defense matters.
How do I appeal a decision at AUM?
For non-academic conduct, you appeal in writing to the Dean of Students within seven working days, on one of three grounds: new information unavailable at the hearing, a substantial procedural error, or a reasonable claim that the sanction was unjust. Academic decisions are appealed to the Provost within seven working days on procedural or evidentiary grounds. In both tracks, a further appeal can ultimately reach the AUM Chancellor. We help students meet these tight windows with the strongest grounds.
How does AUM handle academic dishonesty?
Under the Academic Honesty Code, the instructor gives written notice within 10 working days and conditionally assigns an 'IP' grade. To contest, you must deliver a written request for a hearing to the Office of the Provost within five school days, or the right is waived. The Academic Honesty Committee then hears the case (a vote of three of five is required to find responsibility) and recommends to the Provost, who decides. Repeat offenders face a minimum sanction of suspension, so early advice is critical.
Related guides for AUM students
Topic-specific guides that cover the situations AUM students most commonly face.
Facing a AUM Conduct Issue?
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