Pennsylvania · Private University
Duquesne University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Hearing Panel proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know Duquesne's specific process under Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research).
If you just received notice
What to do right now at Duquesne
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and mark every deadline it contains on your calendar, at Duquesne, the appeal window is Within five (5) business days after receipt of the Hearing Outcome Letter, and missing a deadline forecloses your options.
- 2Do not respond substantively yet. Before you reply to the Hearing Panel, review Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research) so you know the specific procedure that will be applied to your case.
- 3Identify an advisor who knows Duquesne's specific process. The evidence standard (preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely than not) and appeal grounds are narrow, generic advice is not enough.
- 4Preserve everything related to the allegation, emails, drafts, timestamps, communication with classmates, citations. This evidence often decides the case under preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely than not.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your Duquesne meeting. We'll explain exactly how Hearing Panel will approach your case and what response gives you the strongest position.
Governing Policy
Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct · UNVERIFIED: needs human research
UNVERIFIED: needs human research
Evidence Standard
preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely than not
Jurisdiction
UNVERIFIED: needs human research
Who Decides Your Case
Hearing Panel (UNVERIFIED: needs human research)
A Hearing Panel is a group of three trained faculty, staff, and student members convened to conduct a Hearing, led by a Hearing Panel Chair who is a faculty or staff member. More serious or complex cases are heard by a Conduct Panel, while less complex cases may be resolved by a single Administrative Hearing Officer.
How a Duquesne Case Moves
1. How Cases Begin
The Formal Student Conduct Process generally begins when a Complainant or Reporter submits an Incident Report Form to the Office of Student Conduct, or when the office receives a Police Report or Residence Life Report. Reports should be submitted as soon as possible, generally no later than three months after the alleged conduct. Where a Complainant does not wish to file, the Executive Director of Student Conduct may determine it is necessary for the University to act as the Complainant and initiate Conduct Charges. After a charge is initiated, the Respondent is contacted with sufficient details to respond and is offered a meeting to discuss the charge and an option to accept responsibility.
2. The Hearing
Hearings are normally scheduled within forty-five calendar days of receipt of the Incident Report Form and may take the form of an Administrative Hearing before a single Administrative Hearing Officer or a Conduct Panel Hearing before a Hearing Panel of three trained faculty, staff, and student members for more serious or complex cases. The Executive Director of Student Conduct compiles meeting notes and evidence into a case file shared with the decision-maker, and the Complainant and Respondent receive a Hearing Notice Letter. Each party may be accompanied by one Support Person, a full-time faculty or staff member of the University who may advise but not speak during the hearing, and must identify any witnesses and submit written statements or documents at least five business days before the hearing. Hearings are conducted in private and recorded only by the Office of Student Conduct. At the hearing the charges are read, the Respondent answers responsible or not responsible to each charge, parties present information and questions are posed through the Chair or hearing officer, and the decision-maker then privately deliberates. Findings of responsibility are made using a preponderance of the evidence standard, and the parties are notified in writing through a Hearing Outcome Letter, generally within five business days.
3. Appeals
Both the Complainant and the Respondent may appeal an Administrative Hearing or Hearing Panel decision by submitting a written Request for Appeal to the Executive Director of Student Conduct within five business days of receiving the Hearing Outcome Letter; an Appeal Panel of three trained faculty, staff, and student members (different from the original hearing members) reviews the record and may deny the appeal or grant it and revise the finding or sanctions. Where a Respondent is sanctioned with suspension or expulsion, the Respondent may further request a review by the Senior Vice President for Student Life.
Deadline: Within five (5) business days after receipt of the Hearing Outcome Letter
Grounds for appeal:
- Material procedural defects in the Student Conduct Process that substantially prevented the appealing party from a full and fair ability to prepare and present their information
- New evidence sufficient to alter the finding that was not known and could not reasonably have been known at the time of the hearing
Your Rights at a Duquesne Hearing
- ✓Right to notice of the conduct charges and an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the Student Conduct Process
- ✓Right to view all material that will be considered by the Hearing Panel prior to the hearing
- ✓Right to be accompanied by one Support Person, a full-time faculty or staff member of the University, throughout the process
- ✓Right to identify witnesses and to submit a written statement and supporting documentation before the hearing
- ✓Right to appeal an Administrative Hearing or Hearing Panel decision
- ✓Right to a finding determined under the preponderance of the evidence standard
Sanctions Duquesne Can Impose
Drawn directly from Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research).
- 1.Lowered grade or failure on an assignment
- 2.Lowered course grade
- 3.Course failure
- 4.Suspension or dismissal from a course
- 5.Suspension or dismissal from the College or School
- 6.Suspension or dismissal from the University
- 7.Revocation of a degree
What Makes Duquesne's Process Distinctive
Common Violations Referred at Duquesne
Title IX at Duquesne
UNVERIFIED: needs human research
TAP 31 (Sexual Misconduct and Gender Discrimination) governs Title IX matters. TAP 61 (Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment) also applies.
Duquesne University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
How AdvocatED Helps Duquesne Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
Hearing preparation for Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct cases, including plagiarism, cheating, and unauthorized AI use.
Learn more →Conduct Hearing Preparation
Strategic coaching and preparation for presenting your case before Hearing Panel.
Learn more →Dismissal & Suspension Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through Duquesne's appellate process on the grounds that fit your case.
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating UNVERIFIED: needs human research investigations and hearings.
Learn more →Duquesne Resources & Guides
Related guides for Duquesne students
Topic-specific guides that cover the situations Duquesne students most commonly face.
Frequently Asked Questions: Duquesne Students
Who handles academic misconduct cases at Duquesne?
Hearing Panel (UNVERIFIED: needs human research) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Duquesne. A Hearing Panel is a group of three trained faculty, staff, and student members convened to conduct a Hearing, led by a Hearing Panel Chair who is a faculty or staff member. More serious or complex cases are heard by a Conduct Panel, while less complex cases may be resolved by a single Administrative Hearing Officer. UNVERIFIED: needs human research
What is the evidence standard at Duquesne?
Duquesne applies preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely than not under Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Hearing Panel 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 Duquesne conduct proceeding?
Under Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, students facing a Hearing Panel proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to notice of the conduct charges and an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the Student Conduct Process; view all material that will be considered by the Hearing Panel prior to the hearing; be accompanied by one Support Person, a full-time faculty or staff member of the University, throughout the process; identify witnesses and to submit a written statement and supporting documentation before the hearing. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.
How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Duquesne?
The Formal Student Conduct Process generally begins when a Complainant or Reporter submits an Incident Report Form to the Office of Student Conduct, or when the office receives a Police Report or Residence Life Report. Reports should be submitted as soon as possible, generally no later than three months after the alleged conduct. Where a Complainant does not wish to file, the Executive Director of Student Conduct may determine it is necessary for the University to act as the Complainant and initiate Conduct Charges. After a charge is initiated, the Respondent is contacted with sufficient details to respond and is offered a meeting to discuss the charge and an option to accept responsibility.
What sanctions can Duquesne impose for academic misconduct?
Hearing Panel can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including lowered grade or failure on an assignment, lowered course grade, course failure, 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 Duquesne, and what is the deadline?
The appeal deadline at Duquesne is Within five (5) business days after receipt of the Hearing Outcome Letter. Both the Complainant and the Respondent may appeal an Administrative Hearing or Hearing Panel decision by submitting a written Request for Appeal to the Executive Director of Student Conduct within five business days of receiving the Hearing Outcome Letter; an Appeal Panel of three trained faculty, staff, and student members (different from the original hearing members) reviews the record and may deny the appeal or grant it and revise the finding or sanctions. Where a Respondent is sanctioned with suspension or expulsion, the Respondent may further request a review by the Senior Vice President for Student Life. Appeal grounds typically include material procedural defects in the student conduct process that substantially prevented the appealing party from a full and fair ability to prepare and present their information, new evidence sufficient to alter the finding that was not known and could not reasonably have been known at the time of the hearing. Appeals that succeed are usually the ones that ground each argument in the record and the specific policy language, not emotional or general objections.
Can I bring an advisor to my Duquesne hearing?
Yes. Under Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, students have the right to be accompanied by one support person, a full-time faculty or staff member of the university, throughout the process. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate Duquesne's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at Duquesne the rules are set out in the governing policy.
Do I need a lawyer for a Duquesne Hearing Panel proceeding?
In most cases, no. Duquesne's proceedings follow university policy under Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Duquesne'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 Duquesne handle Title IX cases?
Duquesne handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the UNVERIFIED: needs human research. TAP 31 (Sexual Misconduct and Gender Discrimination) governs Title IX matters. TAP 61 (Interim Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment) also applies. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Duquesne, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.
References and primary sources
The procedural details on this page come directly from Duquesne's own published policies and official university resources.
- https://www.duq.edu/academics/university-catalogs/2024-2025-catalog/undergraduate/academic-policies/academic-integrity.phpAcademic Integrity Policy, sanctions for violations
- https://www.duq.edu/about/policies-and-initiatives/the-administrative-policies/tap-31.phpTitle IX Sexual Misconduct and Gender Discrimination policy
- https://www.duq.edu/about/policies-and-initiatives/student-handbooks.phpCode of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct reference
- https://www.duq.edu/documents/life-at-duquesne/our-campus/public-safety/student-handbook.pdfStudent Handbook structure and conduct process overview
- https://www.duq.edu/documents/about/policies-initiatives/studenthandbook-adacompliant-2025-26.pdf2025-2026 Student Handbook, Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct: Hearing Panel composition, preponderance of the evidence standard, case initiation, hearing process, appeal process and grounds, and student rights
Facing a Duquesne Conduct Issue?
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