Clark Atlanta University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

CAU is a historically Black university (HBCU) in Atlanta, Georgia, affiliated with The United Methodist Church, with a mission rooted in African-American heritage and community service.

The Student Handbook explicitly provides for Reciprocity with Other Atlanta University Center (AUC) Institutions (Handbook p. 113-118), meaning conduct records and findings may be shared across AUC member institutions including Morehouse College, Spelman College, and others.

The Compliance Office, headed by a Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, oversees University-wide policy compliance including the Code of Ethical Conduct and maintains a Compliance Hotline (404-589-8006).

A Special Matter Hearing Panel with separate procedures governs sexual misconduct cases, with distinct Title IX appeals and grievance procedures addressed in the Handbook.

Academic dishonesty can result in both faculty-imposed academic consequences and separate disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct, creating a dual-track system.

Students who submit course requirements that are not their own or commit other acts of academic dishonesty will forfeit the opportunity to continue to matriculate at Clark Atlanta University.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Clark Atlanta?

Office of Student Conduct (OSC) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Clark Atlanta. The Office of Student Conduct is led by a Director of Student Conduct and operates within the Division of Student Affairs under the Vice President for Student Affairs. Specific hearing panel composition for formal hearings is detailed in the Student Handbook but exact member counts were not extractable from available search snippets. All enrolled CAU students on and off campus. The Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct govern conduct including academic dishonesty, behavioral misconduct, sexual misconduct, and violations of University policy.

What is the evidence standard at Clark Atlanta?

Clark Atlanta applies preponderance of the evidence under Clark Atlanta University Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct (2025) (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Office of Student Conduct uses this standard when determining whether a student is responsible for an alleged violation. The evidence standard is critical because it determines how strong the evidence must be before a finding of responsibility can be made.

What rights do I have during a Clark Atlanta conduct proceeding?

Under Clark Atlanta University Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct (2025), students facing a Office of Student Conduct proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice of the nature of charges before any disciplinary sanction is imposed; procedural due process upon request; a learning environment free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment; Protection from arbitrary, prejudiced, or capricious academic evaluation. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Clark Atlanta?

Cases may be initiated by any member of the University community. Complaints are received by the Office of Student Conduct. The Director of Student Conduct (Ernest Moore) and staff review referrals and determine whether conduct action is warranted. Faculty may impose academic consequences for academic dishonesty, including a failing grade for the course, and may separately refer the matter to the Office of Student Conduct for disciplinary action. Students alleged to have committed serious violations are entitled to due process, including written notice of charges, reasonable time to prepare for hearings, and the opportunity to present testimony and evidence.

What sanctions can Clark Atlanta impose for academic misconduct?

Office of Student Conduct can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including academic consequences imposed by faculty, dismissal from an academic program, conduct probation / warning, and more serious outcomes including suspension and expulsion. The specific sanction depends on the facts, the student's prior record, and any mitigating factors presented during the proceeding. Sanction-phase advocacy is often as important as the responsibility phase, since even a first finding can carry long-term consequences on transcripts and graduate school applications.

How do I appeal a decision at Clark Atlanta, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Clark Atlanta is UNVERIFIED: needs human research — the appeal deadline is stated in the Student Handbook but could not be extracted from available search snippets; human review of the full Handbook PDF is required. The Student Handbook (p. 108-109) contains an Appeal Process and an Appeal Review and Response Process. Disciplinary actions are subject to appeal; the process and appeal agent are described in the Handbook. Title IX appeals and Title IX General Grievance Procedures are addressed separately in the Handbook (pp. 129-131). Specific procedural details such as the exact appeal deadline in days and the identity of the appeal decision-maker require human review of the full Handbook PDF. Appeal grounds typically include unverified: needs human research — grounds for appeal are stated in the student handbook appeal section but could not be extracted from available search snippets; human review of the full handbook pdf is required. Appeals that succeed are usually the ones that ground each argument in the record and the specific policy language, not emotional or general objections.

Do I need a lawyer for a Clark Atlanta Office of Student Conduct proceeding?

In most cases, no. Clark Atlanta's proceedings follow university policy under Clark Atlanta University Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct (2025), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Clark Atlanta's specific procedures, the evidence standard, and how sanctions are assessed. An education advocate typically provides stronger, more targeted guidance than a general-practice attorney because the body of law here is university policy, not criminal or civil procedure. AdvocatED brings deep, specialized expertise in these exact processes at a fraction of a law firm's cost.

How does Clark Atlanta handle Title IX cases?

Clark Atlanta handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Title IX: Responding to Sexual Misconduct and Sex-Based Discrimination. Title IX Coordinator is Ramona Roman (also Director of Human Resources), located in Harkness Hall, Room 206, 223 James P. Brawley Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30314. Direct Dial: 404-880-6158; Email: rroman@cau.edu. CAU prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and parental status. Anonymous reports may be submitted via the Compliance Hotline at 404-589-8006. Confidential resources include the Office of Counseling and Disability Services (404-880-8044) and Religious Life staff. No investigation occurs until a Formal Complaint is filed. Title IX appeals and general grievance procedures are addressed separately in the Student Handbook (pp. 129-131). Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Clark Atlanta, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

What are the most common academic misconduct violations at Clark Atlanta?

At Clark Atlanta, the most frequently cited violations include: academic dishonesty: cheating (unauthorized assistance on academic assignments); plagiarism (taking and using another's ideas, writings, or work without proper attribution); fabrication; unauthorized submission for credit of academic work previously submitted in another course. Knowing which violation is alleged is the foundation of an effective defense, because the response strategy differs substantially based on whether the case involves plagiarism, AI use, exam cheating, collaboration, or a procedural technicality.

What are the key deadlines in a Clark Atlanta conduct case?

At Clark Atlanta, the most consequential deadlines are: Academic suspension reinstatement petitions: must be received in the Office of Academic Enrichment and Success within two weeks of notification; Academic complaints (non-grade, non-online): student must initiate conference with instructor no later than two weeks after the relevant incident or dispute; Conduct appeal deadline: UNVERIFIED: needs human research — stated in the Student Handbook but not extractable from available search snippets. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Office of Student Conduct, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.