Indiana University Bloomington Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

IU's process is explicitly two-tiered: instructor handles the grade sanction for the course; Dean of Students handles any university-wide sanction (probation, suspension, expulsion), students can appeal either tier separately

Campus Review Boards are convened by different Vice Provosts depending on student status, Undergraduate Education for undergraduates, Graduate Education and Health Sciences for graduate/professional students, providing status-appropriate review panels

Two appeal types are explicitly codified: a procedural-error appeal and a separate sanction-disproportionality appeal, students can pursue either or both

The 7-business-day appeal window is tighter than many peer institutions' 10-day windows

Each IU campus (Bloomington, Indianapolis, etc.) maintains its own campus-level disciplinary procedures within the STU-00 Code framework, so cases differ across campuses

Prior acts of misconduct, both academic and non-academic, can inform the Dean of Students' university-wide sanction decision, linking the two disciplinary tracks

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

IU Maurer Honor Code process

Law students at IU Bloomington are subject to a separate Honor Code administered within the Maurer School of Law.

Indiana University School of Medicine

IU School of Medicine Student Promotions Committee

Medical students face academic progression and professionalism review through the School of Medicine in addition to any university-level misconduct process.

IU Kelley School of Business

Kelley Honor Code process

Kelley applies its own honor code for business students alongside the university Code.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at IU?

Dean of Students (academic misconduct); Campus Review Boards (appellate) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at IU. Academic misconduct cases are initially resolved by the faculty member and reported to the student affairs officer of the campus. The Dean of Students then considers any university-wide sanction beyond the course-level grade penalty. Campus Review Boards, convened by the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Health Sciences or the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, hear appeals for graduate/professional and undergraduate students, respectively. Academic misconduct and non-academic conduct violations under the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct. Each IU campus (Bloomington, Indianapolis, etc.) has its own disciplinary procedures within the Code framework.

What is the evidence standard at IU?

IU applies Preponderance of the evidence (IU's standard for student discipline) under IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct (STU-00) (STU-00 in the IU Policy Library). Dean of Students (academic misconduct); Campus Review Boards (appellate) 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 IU conduct proceeding?

Under IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct (STU-00), students facing a Dean of Students (academic misconduct); Campus Review Boards (appellate) proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice from the Dean of Students of any proposed university-wide sanction; appeal the finding of misconduct, the particular sanction imposed, or both; appeal within 7 business days of receiving the Dean of Students notice; a Campus Review Board hearing convened by the appropriate Vice Provost. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at IU?

If an instructor determines that academic misconduct has occurred, the instructor takes appropriate action with respect to grades and reports the academic dishonesty to the student affairs officer of the campus. This is a two-step process: a course-level grade penalty by the faculty member, followed by university-wide sanction consideration by the Dean of Students based on the nature of the misconduct and any prior acts (academic or personal).

What sanctions can IU impose for academic misconduct?

Dean of Students (academic misconduct); Campus Review Boards (appellate) can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including faculty-imposed sanctions: a lower or failing grade for any assignment, dean of students university-wide sanctions: no university-wide sanction, disciplinary probation, 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 IU, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at IU is 7 business days from the date the student receives the Dean of Students notice. Within seven business days of receiving the Dean of Students notice, the student may appeal the finding of misconduct, the particular sanction imposed, or both. Appeals are submitted in writing to the academic dean of the school in which the alleged offense occurred. Campus Review Boards (convened by the appropriate Vice Provost) hear two distinct types of appeals: procedural-error appeals and sanction-disproportionality appeals. Appeal grounds typically include serious procedural error that deprived the student of a full and fair opportunity to present their response to the misconduct charge, the university-wide sanction imposed by the dean of students (and/or designee) is arbitrary or disproportionate, new information not reasonably available at the time of the original decision. 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 IU Dean of Students (academic misconduct) proceeding?

In most cases, no. IU's proceedings follow university policy under IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct (STU-00), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands IU'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 IU handle Title IX cases?

IU handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the IU Office for Institutional Equity (Title IX Coordinator). Sex-based misconduct and Title IX complaints are handled through the Office for Institutional Equity under IU Policy UA-03 and related sexual misconduct policies, separately from the academic misconduct process. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at IU, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

Does IU's Indiana University Maurer School of Law have a separate conduct process?

Yes. Indiana University Maurer School of Law at IU is handled through IU Maurer Honor Code process, which is distinct from the general university conduct process. Law students at IU Bloomington are subject to a separate Honor Code administered within the Maurer School of Law. 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 IU?

At IU, the most frequently cited violations include: plagiarism and improper citation; unauthorized collaboration on individual assignments; cheating on exams or assessments; fabrication of data or sources. 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 IU conduct case?

At IU, the most consequential deadlines are: Appeal of Dean of Students notice: 7 business days from receipt. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Dean of Students (academic misconduct); Campus Review Boards (appellate), document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.