Pennsylvania · Private University
Lehigh University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know Lehigh's specific process, not generic advice, but guidance built around how your institution actually works.
⏱ Lehigh's appeal deadline is unusually short: appeals are due within three business days of the outcome letter, and Lehigh states no late appeals will be accepted. Read your outcome letter the moment it arrives and calendar that three-day window immediately.
If you just received notice
What to do right now at Lehigh
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and calendar every deadline it lists. Lehigh'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 Student Conduct and Community Expectations, read 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 Lehigh University, allow you to bring an advisor to a Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations proceeding. AdvocatED can serve in that role.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your Lehigh meeting. We will explain how the Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations approaches cases like yours and what response gives you the strongest position.
Lehigh University's Academic Integrity & Conduct Process
Lehigh routes both academic-integrity and non-academic conduct through a single office, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations, which is charged by the faculty with adjudicating all Code of Conduct violations. Faculty report suspected academic dishonesty through an online form. Depending on the case, a matter is resolved through a Disciplinary Conference, an Academic Integrity Conference, or a full hearing panel. Lehigh applies the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard and presumes a student is not responsible until sufficient evidence shows otherwise.
This specific institutional knowledge is what separates AdvocatED from generic advisors. We provide guidance tailored to how Lehigh's actual process works, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Key Things to Know About Lehigh's Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations
- →A single office, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations, is charged by the faculty with adjudicating all Code of Conduct violations, including academic dishonesty
- →Lehigh applies the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, defined in its own Code as a greater than 50 percent chance that a violation occurred, with a stated presumption of non-responsibility
- →Academic integrity cases can be resolved by an Academic Integrity Conference (one faculty member, one student, and a conduct officer) or by a full hearing panel of two faculty, two students, and one staff member
- →Sanctions range from a disciplinary warning through probation, deferred suspension, suspension, and expulsion, and academic-integrity findings can carry a course grade of F
- →Appeals are due within three business days of the outcome letter, and Lehigh states that no late appeals will be accepted
- →The Code covers both undergraduate and graduate students, and graduate students sit on the panel when a graduate student is charged
How AdvocatED Helps Lehigh Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
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 Student Conduct and Community Expectations
Learn more →Academic Dismissal Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through Lehigh's appeals process
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating Lehigh University's Title IX investigation and hearing procedures
Learn more →Lehigh Resources & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions: Lehigh Students
Who handles academic integrity cases at Lehigh?
Both academic integrity and non-academic conduct run through a single office, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations, which is charged by the faculty with adjudicating all Code of Conduct violations. Faculty report suspected academic dishonesty through an online form. From there, a case may be resolved through an Academic Integrity Conference or referred to a full hearing panel, depending on whether you accept responsibility and whether the facts are disputed.
What is the standard of proof at Lehigh?
Lehigh applies the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, which its Code of Conduct defines as 'more likely than not,' or a greater than 50 percent chance that a violation occurred. The Code also states a presumption of non-responsibility: you are presumed not responsible until sufficient evidence shows otherwise. Because the standard is low, how the evidence is framed and how you prepare your response are central to the outcome.
What are the different types of hearings at Lehigh?
Lehigh uses several formats. A Disciplinary Conference is heard by a single member of the Dean of Students Office. An Academic Integrity Conference is heard by one faculty member and one student plus the University Conduct Officer. A full committee hearing panel is five members: two faculty, two students, and one staff member. There is also a Sanction Only Hearing (one student, one faculty, and one other committee member) for cases where responsibility is not contested. Which format applies shapes your strategy, so it is important to understand the route your case is on.
What sanctions can Lehigh impose for misconduct?
Primary sanctions run from a disciplinary warning through disciplinary probation, deferred suspension, suspension, and expulsion. For academic integrity violations, a course grade of F may also be imposed, and secondary sanctions can include restitution, counseling referrals, and loss of privileges. Suspension and expulsion are imposed by the hearing panel in a formal proceeding, and the Dean of Students has separate authority to suspend a student from campus in emergency situations.
How do I appeal a decision at Lehigh, and what is the deadline?
Appeals are due within three business days of the date of the outcome letter, filed with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations, and Lehigh states that no late appeals will be accepted. The appeal provisions are set out in Article IX of the Code of Conduct. Because the window is so short, it is critical to start on the appeal the moment you receive the outcome, rather than waiting.
How does Lehigh handle Title IX cases?
Title IX and sex-discrimination matters are handled through Lehigh's Equal Opportunity and Title IX Compliance Office, led by the Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator, who also serves as Title IX Coordinator. Complaints against students are routed through the Student Code of Conduct process, while complaints against faculty or staff proceed under the Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination. The office uses the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, and formal rules of evidence do not apply.
Do I need a lawyer for a Lehigh conduct case?
In most cases, no. Lehigh's proceedings follow the University's Code of Conduct, not the court system. What helps most is someone who understands Lehigh's faculty-charged system, the different hearing formats, and the very short three-business-day appeal window. An education advocate typically provides more targeted guidance than a general-practice attorney, at a fraction of the cost. AdvocatED can serve as your advisor and help you prepare your response and any appeal.
Related guides for Lehigh students
Topic-specific guides that cover the situations Lehigh students most commonly face.
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