Colorado · Public University
Metropolitan State University of Denver Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Dean of Students Office proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know MSU Denver's specific process, not generic advice, but guidance built around how your institution actually works.
⏱ MSU Denver gives you five working days to appeal, and for an academic case you must remain enrolled in the course to keep your right to appeal. You also typically have about one week from the first contact to respond before a decision can be made in your absence, so engage the moment you receive notice.
If you just received notice
What to do right now at MSU Denver
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and calendar every deadline it lists. MSU Denver's response and appeal windows are short, and missing one forecloses your options.
- 2Do not respond substantively yet. Before you reply to the Dean of Students Office, read Student 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 Metropolitan State University of Denver, allow you to bring an advisor to a Dean of Students Office proceeding. AdvocatED can serve in that role.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your MSU Denver meeting. We will explain how the Dean of Students Office approaches cases like yours and what response gives you the strongest position.
Metropolitan State University of Denver's Academic Integrity & Conduct Process
MSU Denver handles conduct through the Dean of Students Office under the Student Code of Conduct, where a Conduct Administrator resolves cases in a conduct meeting rather than an adversarial board. Under a process amended for Fall 2025, academic misconduct is a collaboration: faculty retain full authority over grade outcomes, while the Dean of Students Office provides educational and status outcomes. MSU Denver shares the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver with the Community College of Denver and CU Denver, and a suspension or expulsion can extend across all three.
This specific institutional knowledge is what separates AdvocatED from generic advisors. We provide guidance tailored to how MSU Denver's actual process works, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Key Things to Know About MSU Denver's Dean of Students Office
- →A Conduct Administrator in the Dean of Students Office resolves cases through a conduct meeting; under the Fall 2025 academic-misconduct process, faculty keep full authority over grades while the Dean of Students provides educational and status outcomes
- →MSU Denver applies the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard (more likely than not) in all conduct proceedings, and legal rules of evidence do not apply
- →An academic misconduct finding can carry a permanent F that stays on the transcript and in the GPA even if you retake the course, overriding the Best Grade Stands policy, and you must remain enrolled in the course to be able to appeal
- →Appeals are due within five working days on four grounds (fair process, sufficient evidence, appropriate sanction, or new evidence), decided by an Appeals Administrator appointed by the Provost through a written-only review
- →An appeal cannot result in a more severe outcome, and sanctions are generally stayed pending appeal unless there is a safety concern
- →Because MSU Denver shares the Auraria Campus, a suspension or expulsion can bar a student from all three Auraria institutions (MSU Denver, Community College of Denver, and CU Denver)
How AdvocatED Helps MSU Denver Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
Student Code of Conduct violations, plagiarism, cheating, AI use, collaboration issues
Learn more →Conduct Hearing Preparation
Coaching and preparation for presenting your case before Dean of Students Office
Learn more →Academic Dismissal Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through MSU Denver's appeals process
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating Metropolitan State University of Denver's Title IX investigation and hearing procedures
Learn more →MSU Denver Resources & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions: MSU Denver Students
Who handles conduct cases at MSU Denver?
The Dean of Students Office coordinates the process, and a Conduct Administrator, a staff member designated by the Dean of Students, resolves cases through a conduct meeting rather than an adversarial hearing board. For academic misconduct, a process amended for Fall 2025 has faculty and the Dean of Students Office collaborate: faculty submit an incident report, may take part in the investigation, and retain full decision-making authority over grades, while the Dean of Students provides educational and status outcomes.
What happens to my grade in an MSU Denver academic misconduct case?
Faculty retain full authority over any grade outcome, and a finding can result in a permanent F that remains on your transcript and in your GPA even if you retake the course, overriding the university's Best Grade Stands policy. Importantly, you must remain enrolled in the course where the incident occurred in order to preserve your right to appeal, and if your appeal succeeds, the grade is automatically reconsidered. Suspension and expulsion are rarely used for first-time academic violations.
What is the standard of proof at MSU Denver?
MSU Denver applies the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, defined as more likely than not, in all conduct proceedings, and legal rules of evidence do not apply on campus. The Title IX track uses the same standard. Because preponderance is the lowest standard of proof, how the evidence is framed and how you prepare your response are central to the outcome.
How do I appeal an MSU Denver decision, and what is the deadline?
You appeal in writing within five working days of the decision letter, using the Conduct Appeal Form, or you forfeit the right to appeal. The appeal is decided by an Appeals Administrator appointed by the Provost, not the Dean of Students, and it is a written-only review with no re-hearing. There are four grounds: whether the meeting was conducted fairly and in conformity with procedures, whether the decision was based on a preponderance of the evidence, whether the resolution was appropriate, and new evidence not known at the time. An appeal cannot result in a more severe outcome.
Can an MSU Denver suspension affect the other Auraria campuses?
Yes. MSU Denver shares the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver with the Community College of Denver and CU Denver, and the Code allows an Auraria Campus suspension or expulsion that bars a student from all three institutions. That shared-campus reach is a distinctive feature and raises the stakes of a serious sanction, which is another reason to take the process seriously from the start.
Do I need a lawyer for an MSU Denver conduct case?
In most cases, no. MSU Denver's proceedings follow the Student Code of Conduct, not the court system. What helps most is someone who understands the conduct-meeting process, the Fall 2025 academic collaboration between faculty and the Dean of Students, the enroll-to-appeal rule, and the five-working-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 MSU Denver students
Topic-specific guides that cover the situations MSU Denver students most commonly face.
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