Georgetown University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

Transcript Notation, 'Censure: Violation of Honor System', is a mid-level sanction that is permanent and cannot be reduced, distinct from transcript-notation-for-suspension at many peer schools

Letter of Warning is destroyed at degree conferral, a built-in expiration that distinguishes minor sanctions from more serious ones

MD and JD programs at Georgetown are explicitly carved out of the main Honor System and maintain their own separate processes

The four-stage process (report, investigation, adjudication, sanction) is clearly codified in the Student Handbook

Appeal grounds are narrowly drawn to new evidence or significant procedural violation, disproportionate sanction alone is generally not a stand-alone appeal ground

The Honor Council Executive Committee, not a university administrator, decides whether to grant a new hearing on appeal

Cases are reported through the GU360 portal, a formalized digital reporting system

Georgetown Law Center (JD program)

Georgetown Law Honor Code process

JD students are explicitly carved out of the main Honor System and are subject to Law Center's separate honor procedures.

Georgetown School of Medicine (MD program)

School of Medicine professional conduct process

MD students are explicitly carved out of the main Honor System and face professional conduct review through the School of Medicine.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Georgetown?

Georgetown University Honor Council has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Georgetown. The Honor Council is the principal administrative body for Georgetown's Honor System. It has two primary responsibilities: to administer the policies and procedures of the Honor System and to educate faculty and students about the standards of conduct and procedures. The Council is overseen by a Faculty Chair who issues decision letters; the Honor Council Executive Committee reviews appeal petitions. Undergraduate and graduate programs across Georgetown, with the exception of the MD and JD programs which maintain their own honor processes.

What is the evidence standard at Georgetown?

Georgetown applies Preponderance of the evidence under Georgetown University Honor System Policies and Procedures (Honor Council Student Handbook). Georgetown University Honor Council 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 Georgetown conduct proceeding?

Under Georgetown University Honor System Policies and Procedures (Honor Council Student Handbook), students facing a Georgetown University Honor Council proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice of the investigation and alleged violation; an advisor during the Honor Council process; present evidence and respond to allegations at the hearing; review evidence 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 Georgetown?

Any member of the University community with information concerning a possible act of academic dishonesty should report it to the Honor Council via the GU360 portal. Faculty members are obligated to report apparent violations. The process then proceeds through four stages: report, investigation, adjudication, and sanction.

What sanctions can Georgetown impose for academic misconduct?

Georgetown University Honor Council can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including letter of warning, letter of censure, transcript notation, 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 Georgetown, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Georgetown is One week from receiving the Faculty Chair's decision letter. If the student has new evidence or believes there was a significant violation of Honor System procedures, they may file an appeal with the Honor Council Faculty Chair. The Honor Council Executive Committee reviews the petition and may grant a new hearing if the majority of the attending committee agrees with the grounds. Appeal grounds typically include new evidence not available prior to the original hearing, significant violation of honor system procedures. 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 Georgetown hearing?

Yes. Under Georgetown University Honor System Policies and Procedures (Honor Council Student Handbook), students have the right to an advisor during the honor council process. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate Georgetown's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at Georgetown the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a Georgetown Georgetown University Honor Council proceeding?

In most cases, no. Georgetown's proceedings follow university policy under Georgetown University Honor System Policies and Procedures (Honor Council Student Handbook), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Georgetown'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 Georgetown handle Title IX cases?

Georgetown handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Georgetown Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action / Title IX Office. Sex-based misconduct and Title IX complaints are handled through Georgetown's Title IX processes, separately from the Honor Council. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Georgetown, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

Does Georgetown's Law Center (JD program) have a separate conduct process?

Yes. Georgetown Law Center (JD program) at Georgetown is handled through Georgetown Law Honor Code process, which is distinct from the general university conduct process. JD students are explicitly carved out of the main Honor System and are subject to Law Center's separate honor procedures. This matters because professional school findings carry licensure implications, and the remediation and appeal pathways are different from the undergraduate process.

What are the most common academic misconduct violations at Georgetown?

At Georgetown, the most frequently cited violations include: plagiarism on written work; cheating on exams or quizzes; unauthorized collaboration on individual assignments; fabrication of data, sources, or research results. 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 Georgetown conduct case?

At Georgetown, the most consequential deadlines are: Appeal: one week from receiving the Faculty Chair's decision letter. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Georgetown University Honor Council, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.