South Carolina · Public University
College of Charleston Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Office of the Dean of Students / Honor Board proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know CofC's specific process, not generic advice, but guidance built around how your institution actually works.
⏱ College of Charleston's most serious academic-integrity findings carry an XXF grade plus suspension or expulsion, and you have only five working days to appeal. Because your peers on the Honor Board largely decide the outcome, preparation is everything — contact us as soon as you're notified.
If you just received notice
What to do right now at CofC
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and calendar every deadline it lists. CofC'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 the Dean of Students / Honor Board, read Student Handbook (Honor Code & Code of Conduct) 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 College of Charleston, allow you to bring an advisor to a Office of the Dean of Students / Honor Board proceeding. AdvocatED can serve in that role.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your CofC meeting. We will explain how the Office of the Dean of Students / Honor Board approaches cases like yours and what response gives you the strongest position.
College of Charleston's Academic Integrity & Conduct Process
College of Charleston runs an Honor System with two components — the Honor Code for academic integrity and the Code of Conduct for behavior — both administered by the Office of the Dean of Students. Cases are heard by the student-led Honor Board (typically three students, one faculty member, and one staff member) under the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, and the Executive Vice President for Student Affairs holds final authority.
This specific institutional knowledge is what separates AdvocatED from generic advisors. We provide guidance tailored to how CofC's actual process works, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Key Things to Know About CofC's Office of the Dean of Students / Honor Board
- →Operates an 'Honor System' with two components: the Honor Code (academic integrity) and the Code of Conduct (behavior)
- →Cases are heard by a student-led Honor Board — a typical panel is three students, one faculty member, and one staff member
- →Decisions use the preponderance-of-the-evidence ('more likely than not') standard, with the burden on the College as complainant
- →Academic violations are graded Class 1-3; the most serious carry an XXF grade (noted on the transcript at least 2 years) plus suspension or expulsion
- →Expulsion requires a unanimous vote of the Board or panel
- →Appeals go to the Executive VP for Student Affairs within 5 working days on three grounds, and the appeal cannot result in a harsher sanction
How AdvocatED Helps CofC Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
Student Handbook (Honor Code & Code of Conduct) violations, plagiarism, cheating, AI use, collaboration issues
Learn more →Conduct Hearing Preparation
Coaching and preparation for presenting your case before Office of the Dean of Students / Honor Board
Learn more →Academic Dismissal Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through CofC's appeals process
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating College of Charleston's Title IX investigation and hearing procedures
Learn more →CofC Resources & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions: CofC Students
Who decides my case at College of Charleston?
CofC uses an Honor System administered by the Office of the Dean of Students, with cases heard by the student-led Honor Board — a body of students, faculty, and staff, typically seated as a panel of three students, one faculty member, and one staff member. The Board determines responsibility and recommends sanctions, and the Executive Vice President for Student Affairs holds final authority. Because students largely decide the outcome, how you present your account to the Board matters enormously.
What standard of proof does College of Charleston use?
Both the Honor Code and the Code of Conduct decide cases by the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, and the burden of proof rests on the College as complainant. Preponderance means 'more likely than not' — a far lower bar than the criminal 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard. Because a student can be found responsible on a close record, careful presentation of the evidence is decisive.
What is an XXF grade at College of Charleston?
For the most serious academic-integrity violations (Class 1, and some Class 2), CofC assigns an 'XXF' — a failing grade with a transcript notation identifying it as an Honor Code violation — often together with suspension or expulsion. The XX notation stays on the transcript for a minimum of two years, after which you may petition to remove the 'XX,' though the F grade remains. Because an XXF brands the failure as an integrity violation to anyone reading your transcript, fighting the classification and the finding both matter.
How do I appeal a decision at College of Charleston?
You appeal to the Executive Vice President for Student Affairs within five working days on one of three grounds: there was no reasonable basis in the record for the decision or sanction, there was a substantive procedural mistake that likely influenced the outcome, or new evidence sufficient to alter the decision was not presented at the hearing. Importantly, the EVP's review cannot result in a more severe sanction, so appealing carries no downside risk on the penalty. The EVP decides within ten working days.
Who can suspend or expel me at College of Charleston?
Suspension and expulsion flow from the Honor Board or decisional panel, with the Office of the Dean of Students rendering the final decision and the Executive Vice President for Student Affairs holding ultimate authority. One important safeguard: expulsion requires a unanimous vote of the Board or panel — a single dissenting member prevents it. Because these outcomes are permanent or long-lasting, they warrant a serious, well-prepared defense.
Does the Honor Code cover the use of AI at College of Charleston?
Yes. CofC's Honor Code forbids lying, cheating, stealing, and plagiarism, and it expressly includes the unauthorized use of generative AI tools as well as unauthorized assistance and collaboration. Whether a given use was 'authorized' often turns on the syllabus and the instructor's instructions, which is exactly the kind of factual question the Honor Board weighs. We help students build that context into their defense.
Related guides for CofC students
Topic-specific guides that cover the situations CofC students most commonly face.
Facing a CofC Conduct Issue?
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