Howard University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

Howard is a historically Black university (HBCU) and its conduct philosophy emphasizes student development and improved decision-making skills alongside accountability.

The Academic Code of Student Conduct explicitly states that constitutional due process principles are not applicable to academic integrity proceedings, and that the hearings are non-adversarial limited proceedings.

No legal counsel is permitted for either side in academic integrity hearings.

Howard is a dry campus with a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol possession, distribution, or consumption unless explicitly approved in writing by the President or designee.

Marijuana use and possession are prohibited on campus even in jurisdictions where it is otherwise legal.

Professional schools and colleges that have adopted honor codes may have those codes supersede the University-wide Academic Code of Student Conduct.

Howard University cooperates with the Washington Metropolitan Area Consortium of Universities, meaning off-campus incidents at member institutions may fall under Howard's jurisdiction.

Automatic expulsion applies upon a felony conviction; there is no appeal from an expulsion decision.

The University reserves the right to effect a Total Involuntary Administrative Withdrawal when it cannot effectively monitor or control a student's conditions or behaviors.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Howard?

Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSC) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Howard. Cases are heard by an Administrative Hearing Officer or an Administrative Hearing Panel. The Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards, or the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, determines which format applies. For academic integrity matters, a faculty committee of at least three members (none of whom may be the accuser or a witness) is convened by the Dean of the student's school or college. The OSC resolves all Howard University incidents of student misconduct, on-campus and off-campus. Academic integrity matters fall under the authority of the Dean and faculty of the school or college in which the student is enrolled. Jurisdiction also extends to incidents involving students at institutions that are part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Consortium of Universities.

What is the evidence standard at Howard?

Howard applies Substantial evidence under Student Code of Conduct (Policy 600-001) and Academic Code of Student Conduct Policy (Policy 100-012) (Policy 600-001 (Student Code of Conduct); Policy 100-012 (Academic Code of Student Conduct)). Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards 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 Howard conduct proceeding?

Under Student Code of Conduct (Policy 600-001) and Academic Code of Student Conduct Policy (Policy 100-012), students facing a Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to be informed of and to have explained the pending charges; a limited hearing before a faculty committee of at least three members (academic integrity) or before a Hearing Officer or Hearing Panel (general conduct); present witnesses and evidence in support of one's position at the academic integrity hearing; appeal a finding of responsibility, subject to meeting at least one of the stated appeal criteria. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Howard?

For general conduct violations, a complainant must obtain, complete, and submit to the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards an Allegation of Violation form. Violations may also be initiated by University officials or the Howard University Department of Public Safety. For academic integrity matters, any faculty member who has knowledge of an infraction must assemble supporting evidence and notify the Dean of the student's school or college within ten business days of the date of the infraction. The Dean then reviews the evidence and, if sufficient, notifies the accused student of the charge and schedules a hearing no later than ten business days after notification.

What sanctions can Howard impose for academic misconduct?

Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including disciplinary warning or reprimand: official written statement of censure, disciplinary probation: may be imposed for up to two years; bars participation in extracurricular activities, restitution: monetary or service-based, 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 Howard, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Howard is General conduct appeal: five business days from receipt of the Notice of Findings letter or hearing outcome. Academic integrity appeal: five business days from the date of receipt of the Dean's notification. Misdemeanor-conviction enrollment appeal: ten business days from receiving notice regarding continued enrollment.. For general conduct cases, a student found responsible by a Hearing Panel or Hearing Officer may appeal to the Appeal Officer or Appeal Board by submitting the completed appeal form to the OSC. The appeal officer or committee has 30 calendar days to determine an outcome. Each case may be appealed only once. The Vice President for Student Affairs renders the final decision on appeals; that decision is final and may not be further appealed. Expulsion decisions are final and may not be appealed. For academic integrity matters, the student may appeal directly to the Provost and Chief Academic Officer (or Senior Vice President for Health Sciences for Health Sciences students) for reconsideration of any disciplinary penalty. The Provost communicates the decision within ten business days, and that decision is final. Appeal grounds typically include the appeal must meet at least one of four stated criteria referenced in section iv 3a of the student code of conduct (specific criteria text was not fully reproduced in retrieved sources; unverified: needs human research for complete enumeration), new evidence that was not previously available (must be produced and substantiated or documented, with proof that it was not available at the time of the original hearing), procedural or factual matters reviewed by the osc on appeal (cited in the 2023 pdf as 'factual and procedural matters'). 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 Howard Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards proceeding?

In most cases, no. Howard's proceedings follow university policy under Student Code of Conduct (Policy 600-001) and Academic Code of Student Conduct Policy (Policy 100-012), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Howard'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 Howard handle Title IX cases?

Howard handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Howard University Title IX Office. Located in the Johnson Administration Building, Suite G06, 2400 6th Street NW, Washington, DC 20059. Phone: 202-806-2550. Email: TitleIX@howard.edu. The office responds to reports of sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination and harassment, sexual exploitation, dating and domestic violence, stalking, retaliation, and complicity. The governing policy is the Howard University Policy Prohibiting Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct and Retaliation. Title IX matters are handled separately from the general Student Code of Conduct process. All University employees (with limited exceptions for confidential employees such as licensed medical, clinical, or mental health professionals and clergy) are Responsible Employees required to report known or suspected violations to the Title IX Office. The Title IX Office Director as listed in retrieved resources is Angie Logan-Pope (also referenced as interim Title IX coordinator in earlier materials); verify current leadership directly with the office. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Howard, 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 Howard?

At Howard, the most frequently cited violations include: academic cheating: any intentional act of dishonesty in fulfillment of academic course or program requirements, including unauthorized use of individuals, organizations, documents, or other aids; plagiarism: intentionally passing off another's ideas or writings as one's own without attribution; copy infringement: reproducing, distributing, performing, publicly displaying, or making derivative works from copyrighted material without permission; alcohol violations: unauthorized possession, use, or distribution of alcoholic beverages on this dry campus. 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 Howard conduct case?

At Howard, the most consequential deadlines are: Faculty must report academic infraction evidence to the Dean within 10 business days of the date of the infraction; Academic integrity hearing must be scheduled no later than 10 business days after the accused is notified of the charges; Hearing committee transmits results and recommendation to the Dean within 5 business days after the academic integrity hearing. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.