Loyola University Chicago Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

Jesuit Catholic identity: the Community Standards are grounded in the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis (care for the whole person) and the Student Promise.

Peer-to-peer hearing option: the Student Community Board (SCB) of 10 to 15 trained undergraduate students hears cases with a more substantial community impact.

Conflict Resolution Liaisons (CRLs): trained student peers available to support any respondent through the conduct process at no cost.

Dual-track approach: behavioral conduct cases are handled by the SRCR Team while academic integrity disputes are handled separately through the relevant college's academic dean using a faculty hearing board process.

The SRCR Team was formerly known as the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR); the team name changed but official web addresses still include 'osccr'.

Good Samaritan (Medical Amnesty) Policy: students who seek help during a medical emergency involving alcohol or other drugs receive conduct protections.

Tobacco-free campuses: all Loyola campuses prohibit tobacco and nicotine products including cannabis, vaping devices, and electronic smoking devices.

Multi-campus structure: Community Standards apply across Lake Shore, Water Tower, Health Sciences, LUREC, Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, and the John Felice Rome Center (JFRC); some deadlines differ at the JFRC (e.g., AOR response is one business day at the JFRC versus three business days at domestic campuses).

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Loyola Chicago?

Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team (SRCR) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Loyola Chicago. Professional and paraprofessional University staff from within the Division of Student Development serve as Conduct Administrators. The Student Community Board (SCB) is a standing peer board of 10 to 15 undergraduate students; each SCB hearing is facilitated by three or more trained SCB members. All Loyola University Chicago students across all campuses and programs, including conduct occurring at University-sponsored activities on or off campus.

What is the evidence standard at Loyola Chicago?

Loyola Chicago applies Preponderance of the evidence: the conduct administrator or board must determine it is more likely than not that an alleged violation occurred, based on the totality of available evidence. under Loyola University Chicago Community Standards (Student Code of Conduct) (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team 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 Loyola Chicago conduct proceeding?

Under Loyola University Chicago Community Standards (Student Code of Conduct), students facing a Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice of alleged violations via an allegation letter sent to the student's Loyola Outlook email; an administrative hearing before a decision of responsibility is made; decline an Acceptance of Responsibility letter and request a hearing instead; request a Conflict Resolution Liaison (CRL), a trained student peer advisor, to serve as a support person during the conduct process. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Loyola Chicago?

The SRCR Team receives an incident report. If reasonable information suggests a violation occurred, an allegation letter (notice of complaint) is sent to the student via Loyola Outlook email listing the nature of the report and possible Community Standards violations. The student is directed to schedule or attend an administrative hearing. For minor matters, a Conduct Administrator may instead issue an Acceptance of Responsibility (AOR) letter allowing the student to accept responsibility without a hearing; the student must respond within three business days or the proposed outcomes are finalized. Failure to respond to an allegation letter may result in a decision being made in the student's absence.

What sanctions can Loyola Chicago impose for academic misconduct?

Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including educational experiences: attendance at required meetings, restorative service hours., fines, 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 Loyola Chicago, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Loyola Chicago is Academic integrity instructor-sanction appeal: written appeal received by the appropriate Dean no later than four University business days from receipt of the instructor's notification. Academic hearing board decision appeal: written appeal to Dean and/or Dean's designee within 30 days of notice of the board's decision. Student conduct (Community Standards) hearing decision appeal: deadline specified in the decision letter per the Community Standards; specific calendar deadline not separately published on the SRCR website (consult the Community Standards document or the decision letter).. For student conduct (Community Standards) decisions: students may appeal a hearing decision; appeals of AOR-based decisions are not permitted except on grounds the student lacked a reasonable opportunity to receive and respond to the AOR letter. The decision letter issued after a hearing explains the appeal process. Once the appeal process has expired or been completed, the decision is final. For academic integrity decisions at the undergraduate level: a student may appeal a finding of academic misconduct by submitting the Academic Appeal Form; the appeal goes to the appropriate academic Dean or Dean's designee. For the academic sanction imposed by an instructor, a written appeal must be received by the appropriate Dean within four University business days of receiving the instructor's notification of the academic sanction. For board-level academic hearing decisions, an appeal letter may be submitted to the Dean and/or Dean's designee within 30 days of receiving notice of the board's decision. Appeal grounds typically include new substantive information was not reasonably available at the time of the hearing and could substantially impact the original findings or outcomes., a substantive procedural irregularity or violation of the right to a fair hearing affected the outcome., a substantive error in the interpretation of university policy occurred., among others. 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 Loyola Chicago hearing?

Yes. Under Loyola University Chicago Community Standards (Student Code of Conduct), students have the right to request a conflict resolution liaison (crl), a trained student peer advisor, to serve as a support person during the conduct process. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate Loyola Chicago's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at Loyola Chicago the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a Loyola Chicago Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team proceeding?

In most cases, no. Loyola Chicago's proceedings follow university policy under Loyola University Chicago Community Standards (Student Code of Conduct), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Loyola Chicago'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 Loyola Chicago handle Title IX cases?

Loyola Chicago handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Office for Equity and Compliance (OEC). The Title IX Coordinator is Timothy Love, J.D., M.S., Executive Director for Equity and Compliance, located at Granada Center Suite 403, 6439 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60626; phone 773-508-7766; email tlove@luc.edu. Deputy Title IX Coordinators include Samantha Maher Sheahan (Associate Dean of Students, ODOS) and multiple OEC Equity Investigators. Reports may be filed online (via Maxient), in person, by mail, by phone, or by email at any time. The OEC coordinates the University's Comprehensive Policy and Equitable Resolution Procedures for Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Retaliation. Loyola treats Title IX requirements as a minimum standard and reserves the right to address any sexual misconduct allegation even if it does not meet Title IX definitional or jurisdictional thresholds or occurs off campus. The OEC describes itself as an equity and compliance office, not solely a Title IX office. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Loyola Chicago, 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 Loyola Chicago?

At Loyola Chicago, the most frequently cited violations include: plagiarism: appropriation of ideas, language, work, or intellectual property of another without sufficient acknowledgment or citation; cheating: unauthorized use of materials, information, or aids during an academic evaluation; unauthorized collaboration on homework, lab reports, programming assignments, or other outside-of-class coursework; facilitation of academic misconduct: allowing another student to copy one's work or exam. 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 Loyola Chicago conduct case?

At Loyola Chicago, the most consequential deadlines are: Acceptance of Responsibility (AOR) letter response: three business days at domestic campuses; one business day at the John Felice Rome Center; Instructor academic-sanction appeal: written appeal to the appropriate Dean within four University business days of receiving the instructor's notification; Academic hearing board decision appeal (undergraduate): written appeal to Dean and/or Dean's designee within 30 days of receiving notice of the board's decision. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.